Best Campgrounds near Fort Payne, AL

Several campgrounds surround Fort Payne, Alabama, with options for different types of campers. DeSoto State Park Campground works well for families who want to hike trails and see waterfalls, and it has both RV and tent sites along with basic restrooms and picnic tables. Little River RV Park and Campground sits a few miles from town and includes full hookups plus a small fishing pond. Wills Creek RV Park has bigger sites that can handle larger RVs and is close to Fort Payne. You can reach all these campgrounds on good roads, though some spots might need vehicles with higher clearance because of rough ground. Some campsites give you more space from neighbors than others. Most camping areas have good tree cover for shade when Alabama gets hot in summer. Watch for fire rules, which can change during dry weather. It's smart to make reservations ahead of time, especially on weekends and during busy seasons. You typically don't need special permits to camp here, but double-checking never hurts. Most places let you stay up to two weeks, giving you plenty of time to check out the area. Fort Payne has camping that works for quick trips or longer stays.

Best Camping Sites Near Fort Payne, Alabama (138)

    1. DeSoto State Park Campground

    74 Reviews
    Alpine, AL
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 845-5075

    $38 / night

    "Desoto State Park campground is located about 15 miles from Fort Payne Alabama. Nice spacious sites some gravel and not very level."

    "Desoto State Park is one of our favorite Alabama places to visit, located in Northeastern Alabama and the southern end of Lookout Mountain."

    2. Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground

    183 Reviews
    Trenton, GA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 657-4050

    $10 - $290 / night

    "Campground Review:East Rim Campground Pro’s: 1-Handicap Accessible, there is a cabin which is also HDA. 2- If your visiting for a get together your right next to the day use area and there is a picnic"

    "But we didn’t let that stop us hiking the West Rim Loop Trail and camping at the Walk In Campsite. We loved the views, waterfalls, and walk ability of this park."

    3. Little River RV Park & Campground

    19 Reviews
    Fort Payne, AL
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 619-2267

    $45 - $55 / night

    "This is my go to campground in fort Payne Alabama. The owners are super nice!! There is a pond with cute ducks!! You can buy a bundle of fire wood for $5."

    "This campground is in a great location with amazing trails, history stops, waterfalls, and more located very close by. The owner stopped by our RV to welcome us and is very friendly and helpful."

    4. Little River Adventure Company

    9 Reviews
    Fort Payne, AL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (866) 729-1148

    $25 - $30 / night

    "I had seen postings for the Little River Adventure Company over the last few moths and while looking at the map, I realized it was close to the TAT as it dips into AL (Sam's route), which I would be riding"

    "I tent camped on a drive-in deluxe site in September with my dog. The host, Giorgio, was pleasant and helpful. He had firewood for sale on the property at a reasonable price."

    5. Wills Creek RV Park

    8 Reviews
    Fort Payne, AL
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 845-6703

    "Easy to get to from I-59 in Fort Payne. They have some sites that are shaded, but the pull through sites are in an open area."

    "Quiet RV park close to Ft Payne and surrounding parks such as Desoto state Park. Close to Little River Canyon waterfall among others. (A must see)."

    6. Cherokee Rock Village

    33 Reviews
    Leesburg, AL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 523-3799

    $0 - $35 / night

    "We attended North Alabama trails and recreation’s Rock and Rig event here. The park is beautiful with amazing views."

    "the locals) since 2011, starting back when it was still largely undeveloped and free…totally worth paying for these days - they’ve made it such a great place: showers, bathrooms, dumpsters, plenty of walk-in"

    7. James H 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park Campground

    26 Reviews
    Summerville, GA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 857-0826

    $15 - $200 / night

    "Easy access to campground. Swing wide to get centered between the fence post and the culvert. Then you are home free. Getting into the sites was easier."

    "Close to home but a nice clean campground. Decent trails. nice lake to jave a lazy day next to..."

    8. Tranquility Campground

    7 Reviews
    Mentone, AL
    9 miles
    Website

    $25 - $35 / night

    "This review is for Tranquility RV and Campgrounds in Mentone Alabama. I really enjoyed camping here."

    "A beautiful and peaceful space for tent or RV camping very close to downtown Mentone as well as Desoto State Park."

    9. 1776 RV And Campground

    5 Reviews
    Mentone, AL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 619-1776

    "Nice quiet small campground just outside downtown Mentone. Friendly helpful camp host, clean bathhouse, full hook ups and great wifi access so husband could work from camper."

    "It's located right off the main highway, and has pull-through spots with full hookups. But the best part is the screaming fast internet!"

    10. Hurricane Creek Campground

    1 Review
    Alpine, AL
    4 miles
    +1 (334) 300-7474
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Recent Reviews near Fort Payne, AL

867 Reviews of 138 Fort Payne Campgrounds


  • K
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Campville LLC

    Close to Interstate 75

    This camp ground is amazing. Especially if you have kids. Indoor pool. Pickleball courts. Amazing game room. The host is very hospitable!!

  • William  Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Marion county park Tennessee

    Hospitable spot to overnight with great fishing

    Spent the evening of the 9th Sept at Marion County Park near Chattanooga, right on the water, along Hwy 41. Fantastic hosts…Lots of fishing going on all around us. Good camping spot…level, water and electricity for $38.00. Bathhouse was older but clean with lots of hot water. Downside, only one shower stall had a bench for changing and there was no counter at the bathroom sink. The other downside was the traffic noise across the beautiful water from I-24. Very welcoming spot just off of I-24

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground

    Beautiful park, great hiking

    Cloudland Canyon is one of Georgia’s prettiest parks. There are 2 campgrounds. West Rim campground has more privacy, with the sites in the trees. Sites in The East Rim campground are closer together, and is noisier.. There are also backcountry campsites. The West Rim Loop Trail, considered one of the top 10 hikes in the United States, according to Backpacker Magazine starts in the West Rim Campground. There is also a strenuous waterfall trail into the canyon. The campground was water and electric sites. There are no full hookup sites, but there is a dump station. Modern showers and bathrooms.

  • b
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Campville LLC

    Great stay

    Super clean campground with great amenities!! Only a mile from 75 but doesn't feel like it's located by the interstate. Highly recommend checking the place out!

  • dolphmike The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Walls of Jericho - Trailhead Campsite

    Quite

    Quite at night, but the primitive camping area is overgrown, and I have seen a lot of trash in the woods. Stayed one night just to hike the trail the next morning.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Calhoun A-OK Campground

    Now called CedarBreak…

    Not KOA anymore - the campground has been renamed CedarBreak. New owners and they are very nice and helpful. Nicely Renovated office and store. Upgraded our site when they knew our plans. Minor sound from adjacent road, other than that very quiet, clean, nice layout with trees, good site spacing, I’ll be back.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Lake Guntersville State Park Campground

    Great place for kids

    We went to Guntersville State Park campground for our first camping trip and really enjoyed it. We went on Labor Day weekend so it was pretty full. Even though nearly every campsite was booked, there was plenty of room for kids to roam, ride bikes, and play. I was really surprised how quiet it was despite the number of people there. No noise issues (other than my own kids). We spent alot of time at the playground and also a morning on the beach area. We’ll definitely be back one day.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Wills Creek RV Park

    Convenient location

    This was an overnight stay on our way to the Smokies. Easy to get to from I-59 in Fort Payne. They have some sites that are shaded, but the pull through sites are in an open area. Gravel roads and pads (thankfully, as everything around was standing in water from the recent downpour)

    The facility is dated, but clean and an easy on and off on the way through.

    Nightly rate was $45

    WiFi worked

  • Stephanie S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Misfit Mountain

    Cute off grid cabin

    We had a great experience here! It is such a cute cabin with everything you need including a luxurious outdoor shower and composting toilet. The trails on the property looked nice and well maintained but we unfortunately didn’t get a chance to try them. I would just recommend texting the host before showing up as it can be tricky to find and she has some additional info that’s useful.


Guide to Fort Payne

Camping spots near Fort Payne, Alabama offer diverse terrain with elevation changes ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 feet, creating microclimates that affect camping conditions throughout the year. The area sits at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains where limestone formations create unique camping environments. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-90s while winter nights can drop below freezing.

What to do

Hiking to waterfalls and caves: DeSoto State Park has multiple trails leading to waterfalls with varying difficulty levels. "The park is well maintained, has two lakes and 25 camp sites," notes a camper at James H 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park Campground.

Rock climbing: Cherokee Rock Village offers numerous climbing routes for various skill levels within 30 minutes of Fort Payne. A reviewer mentioned, "There are a number of wonderful hiking options here as well. It's a little pricey, especially with the convenience fee and the 13% lodging tax but you get what you pay for and this place is NICE."

Fishing: Many campgrounds have small ponds or lake access. At Tranquility Campground, "There is a 6 acre lake for fishing but it's catch & release. And no swimming or kayaks allowed."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: The West Rim camping at Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground offers more seclusion. "This loop is far more wooded and offers a greater variety of site size and privacy, and has an extremely quiet and peaceful vibe to it."

Clean facilities: Bathhouses at most campgrounds are well-maintained. One visitor to Cherokee Rock Village noted, "Bathroom facilities very clean, well kept with lots of light, heat and hot showers."

Year-round accessibility: Most campgrounds remain open through all seasons. "Each season offers something different. Summertime you can swim, Spring has full waterfalls and beautiful flowers, Fall has colorful leaves, and the winter gives just enough bare trees and icicles for great pictures."

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly by location. A camper at Little River Adventure Company mentioned, "The host, Giorgio, is pleasant and helpful. He had firewood for sale on the property at a reasonable price."

Reservation requirements: Most popular sites fill quickly, especially during fall color season and summer holidays. Sites can be reserved as early as 13 months in advance at state parks.

Terrain challenges: Some campgrounds have steep driveways or rough access roads. "Google tried to send us on an alternate road that had a big sign saying ABSOLUTELY no trucks - and from other reviews we gather that's the more treacherous one."

Tips for camping with families

Junior Ranger programs: Some state parks offer educational activities for children. "They have scout activities, a Junior Ranger program, playgrounds, swimming pools, and plenty of trails to hike."

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas near camping loops. At 1776 RV And Campground, a visitor reported it's a "Nice quiet small campground just outside downtown Mentone. Friendly helpful camp host, clean bathhouse, full hook ups and great wifi access."

Swimming options: Lakes and pools provide summer cooling opportunities. "Bob and his family recently purchased the park and are working hard to make it better. Phone number is now 256-619-1776. 14 Gravel RV sites FHU 30/50 6 tent sites with electric and water."

Tips from RVers

Site levelness: Many campgrounds feature sloped sites requiring extra leveling blocks. "Sites are unlevel and tight. But LRC is an awesome park and awesome swimming."

Utilities placement: Some RV sites have unusual hookup configurations. "The sites weren't particularly level, all gravel and the grass appeared hastily sown over unleveled soil with large clumps of clay and rocks present."

Access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging approach roads. "Google tried to send us on an alternate road that had a big sign saying ABSOLUTELY no trucks - and from other reviews we gather that's the more treacherous one. This route wasn't bad but for someone who hates windy mountain roads without a camper attached, it did give me a few stomach drops."

Frequently Asked Questions

What tent camping options are available near Fort Payne?

Fort Payne offers excellent tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. DeSoto State Park Campground provides dedicated primitive camping areas with gated access to prevent unnecessary traffic, making it ideal for tent campers seeking tranquility. The park features numerous hiking trails and historic TVA sites. For a more unique experience, Little River Adventure Company offers tent sites with essential amenities and convenient access to outdoor activities. Their location is perfect for those exploring the Trans-America Trail. Both locations provide beautiful natural settings typical of the Lookout Mountain region, with elevations around 1,700 feet offering cooler temperatures than surrounding lowlands.

Are there any state parks with camping facilities near Fort Payne?

Yes, there are excellent state parks with camping facilities near Fort Payne. Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground is a nearby option with handicap-accessible sites and facilities, including a specially designed cabin. The East Rim Campground is conveniently located next to day-use areas, making it perfect for group gatherings. Another option is James H 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park Campground near Summerville, which offers drive-in and walk-in access with reservable sites, toilets, and big-rig-friendly spaces. Both parks provide beautiful natural settings with hiking trails and recreational opportunities within reasonable driving distance from Fort Payne.

Where are the best campgrounds in Fort Payne, Alabama?

Fort Payne boasts several outstanding campgrounds. Little River RV Park & Campground is a local favorite located less than a mile from Little River Canyon National Park. The facility offers various lot options, affordable firewood ($5/bundle), and features a charming pond with ducks. The owners receive consistent praise for their hospitality. Another excellent option is Tranquility Campground in nearby Mentone, providing a peaceful retreat with full amenities. For those seeking larger sites or traveling with RVs, Wills Creek RV Park offers expanding facilities, though the newer sites can be somewhat tight for larger rigs.