Monte Sano State Park sits on a mountain plateau just east of Huntsville at an elevation of 1,600 feet. Surrounded by limestone formations and hardwood forests, the area provides numerous hiking and camping options within a 30-mile radius of Elkmont. The region experiences mild springs and falls with occasional summer humidity, making seasonal planning important for campers visiting north Alabama and southern Tennessee.
What to do
Hiking at Monte Sano: Access over 20 miles of trails directly from your campsite with varying difficulty levels. Monte Sano State Park Campground offers multiple trail connections for day hikes. "Very beautiful campground and lots of places to hike. The only drawback for me was no fishing but we still had a great time hiking and looking around," notes Collin D.
Kayaking at Honeycomb: Paddle on Lake Guntersville with rentals available on-site. Honeycomb Campground provides lake access and equipment. "There are few places in Alabama that RVers can camp on a pristine Lake Front. Honeycome Campground is located on Lake Guntersville," shares Patti S., who recommends booking during weekdays if possible.
Cave exploration: Visit historic caves within a short drive from Elkmont. "Southport Saltpeter Cave is a historic cave located 12 miles south of Columbia TN. We offer cave tours, primitive camping, hiking, and exploring," explains Buddy B., highlighting options for guided spelunking experiences.
Seasonal water park access: Cool off at Point Mallard water park during summer months, located just 30 minutes from Elkmont. "Located in Decatur, AL, you are close to grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and more," writes Lenice G., noting the family-friendly atmosphere.
What campers like
Direct trail access: Sites along the ridge provide immediate access to nature trails. "Sites are spaced well, wooded, and many have direct access to the trails. The trails! So many! We saw 4 waterfalls, including one inside a cave," shares Greg S. about Monte Sano State Park Campground.
Lakefront camping: Waterfront sites allow for swimming and fishing directly from your campsite. "We stayed at Campground #1, site on the river #18. It was peaceful and so beautiful. The wood and ice prices were very reasonable," reports Melonie P. about her stay at David Crockett State Park Campground.
Security features: Gated campgrounds provide extra safety for families and solo campers. "Coded gate entry and plenty of trail access right from the campground. Some excellent overlooks a cool waterfall hike and an adjacent land grant," notes Shelly S., describing the security measures at Monte Sano.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses make longer stays comfortable. "The bathhouse has a pay washer and dryer in the front. Older building but well maintained," mentions one visitor to Monte Sano State Park.
What you should know
Yurt camping options: Yurt camping near Elkmont, Alabama is available at Henry Horton State Park Campground, located about 45 minutes from Elkmont. "HH has RV sites, cabins, 'hammock sites,' and a large group site. They also have a camp store, firewood, and restrooms," notes RL, who visited regularly while living in Tennessee.
Site selection strategies: Choose sites away from ponds to reduce mosquitoes. "I was in site 19 which was in the way back, unfortunately near a 'pond' so a few mosquitoes were about. Otherwise pretty spacious sites," shares one camper about their experience.
Bridge clearance issues: Some parks have low bridge access points requiring alternate routes for large RVs. "They have a low bridge right outside of their park that prevents you from getting here the easy way. The bridge is at 12ft if I remember correctly, it is too low for most 5th wheels and many class As," warns Laura H.
Limited cell coverage: Prepare for spotty reception at more remote campgrounds. "The park does not have good TMobile or AT&T and other campers stated that Verizon is ok but not streamable," reports one visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly layout: Sharon Johnston Park offers extensive open spaces for children to play. "It's a great site to bring the kids. In the summer the pool is open which is great for the hot days. There's also a track, a baseball field, and soccer fields," describes M&P M., noting that their "kids run free -- there are 200 acres of open space."
Playground access: Multiple parks feature dedicated play areas for different age groups. "There are cool little wooden play obstacles for the kids in the campground and a huge playground 1/2 mile away inside the park," notes Greg S. about Monte Sano State Park.
Swimming areas: Look for designated beach areas with shallow entries for safer water play. "My kids did love the beach front entrance that was built for lake access and swimming," shares M&P M. about their experience at Honeycomb Campground.
Nature programs: Check for ranger-led activities that engage children in learning about local wildlife. "We had an excellent outdoor class to learn about snakes, hiked the trails, and enjoyed the falls," reports Steve G. from David Crockett State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: Fairview Campground — Tims Ford State Park offers level sites for easier setup. "We are in a 35' 5th Wheel. Most sites easy access, some sites maybe tight for bigger Rigs," advises Becky S., who recommends checking site dimensions before booking.
Power stability: Look for campgrounds with consistent electrical service for comfort during extreme weather. "Great steady power and water. Clean sites, mostly level even for my 43' rig," shares Alexis G. about Monte Sano's reliable utilities.
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have rough interior roads requiring careful navigation. "The roads throughout the park need some work, there are large pot holes that are difficult to avoid," warns Laura H. about certain parks in the area.
Double-wide options: Some parks offer wider sites for RVs with slide-outs. "We were on site 18 and it was very level, paved and double wide. Parking was easy and it accommodated the 38' RV and a SUV," notes Randy C. about Henry Horton State Park.
