The Eclectic region sits at approximately 560 feet above sea level with mixed pine and hardwood forests surrounding several significant waterways. The Alabama Power Company created Lake Martin in 1926 by damming the Tallapoosa River, forming one of the largest man-made lakes in the United States with 750 miles of shoreline. Camping sites near Eclectic, Alabama offer varying terrain from waterfront locations to wooded settings with notable temperature variations between waterfront and inland areas.
What to do
Fishing opportunities year-round: Lake Martin Recreation Area provides access to one of Alabama's premier fishing destinations. "This place isn't fancy but it is a military owned campground. With that being said, sure I've been to far better places! But for the price it's totally worth it! You have amazing fishing, and a beautiful lake there!" notes camper Brendon W.
Mountain biking trails: Chewacla State Park offers trail systems for cyclists of all skill levels. "Many of the sites back up into the woods for shade and a hint of privacy with plenty of space to setup outside. Beautiful hiking, amazing mountain bike trials, and lake swimming give you plenty to do in the park," reports Jared W.
Historical exploration: Fort Toulouse-Jackson Park contains archaeological sites and reconstructed forts. "This is a National Historic Site with preserved/restored sites of historic French and early American forts from the 1700s-early 1800s. There are frontier re-enactments at various times of the year," explains Tim G.
What campers like
Spacious waterfront sites: Gunter Hill receives consistent praise for its site layout. "Very long and level concrete pad. Great Verizon signal and numerous free digital TV stations to choose from," notes Rick G., while another camper mentions "Large sites, shaded, have sewer hookups, concrete pads, many on a beautiful lake."
Private camping spots: Several campgrounds offer secluded sites away from crowds. "This is a great little place to hide away for a few days and just enjoy the outdoors," says a visitor to Fort Toulouse. At Hideaway Cove, a glamping site near Eclectic, Michelle S. reports, "It was impeccable, secluded but still accessible by my 2WD car, plus a walk down a hill to the site."
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds feature active wildlife habitats. "This park is very quiet with deer walking through in the early morning and late afternoon," notes Deanna N. about Fort Toulouse, while at Gunter Hill, the setting provides excellent opportunities for bird watching along the water's edge.
What you should know
Weather preparation: Spring storms can be intense with rapid temperature changes. "Initially planned to stay two nights, but made it four! Beautiful, quiet campground," notes Cheri at Fort Toulouse-Jackson Park. "Each site was big and never felt too close to other campers."
Seasonal facility conditions: Maintenance varies widely across campgrounds throughout the year. "We stayed in C section with full hook-ups. They have playgrounds throughout the campground, trails from 1 mile long to 15 miles long that can be utilized by horse, bike, or on foot," shares Romeo M. about Wind Creek.
Cellular connectivity: Service quality depends on carrier and specific location within campgrounds. "WiFi works great in our section as well if you need that. Speed test showed 10Mbps on my device and I had no issues streaming 4K on a Roku TV," reports Jared W. about Chewacla State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Wind Creek State Park offers numerous structured recreation options. "They have a zip line and tree line adventure course, mini-golf, a beach area for swimming, and plenty of fishing spots. They also offer church services on Sunday morning," notes Romeo M.
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain play equipment for younger children. "They have playgrounds throughout the campground," mentions a Wind Creek visitor, while Gunter Hill has "a sizable modern playground right next to the bathhouse," according to Richard A.
Swimming options: Designated swimming areas provide safe water recreation. "Tent camping with family during Hurricane evacuation. Beautiful park, numerous bath houses, laundry, camp store, playgrounds, mini golf, and so much more," shares Kim T. about her experience at Wind Creek.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: For optimum comfort, research specific loop characteristics. "We stayed at site 100 it was an excellent site right on the water next to us was like a private beach," recommends Rachel G. about Gunter Hill.
Utility placement awareness: Some sites have unusual hookup configurations. "Each site has water, electric, sewer and TV connections," notes a visitor to Chewacla, while at Camp Sherrye on the Coosa, Linda H. observed "wonderful, well maintained and nicely sized sites, with the cutest water and electric hook-ups I've ever seen."
Level site advantages: Concrete pads at certain campgrounds eliminate setup difficulties. "Spaces are a little tight, but had our own patio and typical campground layout," shares Gordon D. about Capital City RV Park, while at Chewacla State Park, a reviewer noted "very clean and very quite forest with flat level sites."
