Cullman, Alabama offers forested camping areas with varied terrain between 700-1,000 feet elevation. The area experiences humid subtropical climate with moderate winters and hot summers, making spring and fall ideal for camping. Primitive camping options provide secluded sites while established campgrounds offer more developed facilities.
What to do
Creek exploration: At Tomahawk Campground, visitors can enjoy the clear creek that runs along the property. "Our dogs and the host dog, named Bear, loved playing together in the creek!" reports one visitor who found hanging a hammock by the water creates a relaxing afternoon.
Cave tours: Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground features unique underground exploration opportunities with guided cave tours offered four times daily, January through November. "The tour of the caverns was well worth the trip," notes a camper who found the natural formations fascinating.
Hiking trails: Explore the extensive network of trails at Corinth Recreation Area, where paths range from easy walking routes to more challenging terrain. A camper reports, "This place has an amazing trail, spots of gorgeous sunset or sunrise gazing, and shade."
What campers like
Lake access: Clear Creek Recreation Area receives praise for its waterfront sites. "The perimeter lake lots in the Hoot Owl Loop all had steps or path access from the site to the shore. This would be especially nice in the summer," mentions a visitor who appreciated the direct water access.
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds near Cullman offer generous spacing between sites. At Thousand Trails Hidden Cove, campers appreciate the layout: "Big campground. Great guest service. Staff friendly. Spots are very bigs and a good distance between them."
Convenient location: While feeling remote, many campgrounds provide easy access to supplies. "Off the beaten path but conveniently located close to town. The showers are really clean," notes a visitor to Cullman Campground who appreciated both seclusion and convenience.
What you should know
Water conditions: Smith Lake beaches often have rocky areas that can be challenging for bare feet. "The beach area had a lot of rocks! Probably due to water level low had to go buy some water shoes, but then it was all good," advises a camper from Smith Lake Park.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies widely across campgrounds in the area. At Thousand Trails Hidden Cove, "I had no reception with Verizon but my AT&T hotspot had good reception," reports one visitor, suggesting bringing multiple carrier options if connectivity is important.
Seasonal considerations: Summer brings larger crowds, especially to water-focused campgrounds. A camper at Rickwood Caverns noted, "We had a wonderful camping trip here, very nicely run state campground. The tour of the caverns was well worth the trip."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated children's areas. At Clear Creek Recreation Area, families appreciate the recreational spaces: "There was a basketball and volleyball area in a nice green space area near the boat launch."
Swimming options: Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground features a unique swimming experience. "Olympic size pool fed by cave water!! Kids loved this campground! Low and high dive, great gift shop and cave tours," shares an enthusiastic family camper.
Wildlife viewing: Children often enjoy observing local animals at Cullman Campground. "Quiet country setting, clean park, friendly staff. Gravel level full hook up 30 and 50 amp sites. Pond with ducks, bossy goose and horses," notes a visitor describing features that appeal to young nature enthusiasts.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When selecting RV sites, consider seasonal factors. At Corinth Recreation Area, one camper advised, "We made the mistake of booking the Firefly loop, the bathhouse was closed due to COVID. The camp host was very nice and helped us move to Yellowhammer where the bathhouse was open."
Accessibility notes: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain for larger rigs. "GPS took us in a very rural way with lots of twisty roads. Once there we found an open spot on our own since it was a holiday the office was closed. Full hook ups and a fairly level grass pad," reports a visitor to Smith Lake Park.
Utilities information: RVers should note power availability varies by campground. At Rickwood Caverns, a camper mentioned, "We had a wonderful camping trip here, very nicely run state campground. One additional note, the campsite we had did have electricity, much easier to make pancakes for breakfast carrying the electric griddle."
