Lake Guntersville sits at an elevation of 595 feet and covers over 69,000 acres with 963 miles of shoreline. The lake's extensive watershed drains 3,573 square miles through parts of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Seasonal temperatures range from winter lows around 30°F to summer highs averaging 89°F, with humidity increasing during summer months when most campers visit pet-friendly campgrounds near Guntersville.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Guntersville's reputation for bass fishing extends beyond the state park. "The park is one of the nicer parks. Great mountainous drive to get to the entrance of the park. Right on the banks of Guntersville lake which has great fishing and watersports," notes Brad W. about Lake Guntersville State Park Campground.
Cave exploration: Cathedral Caverns offers underground adventures just 24 miles from Guntersville. "Our tour guide did a great job not only telling us about the beauty and history of the cave, but helped us to imagine one of the caves first explorers and its benefactor Mr, Gurly," reports Jeremy H. from Cathedral Caverns State Park Campground. Daily cave tours run year-round with discounts for campers.
Hiking trails: Buck's Pocket State Park features challenging terrain for hikers seeking elevation changes. "There are a few hiking trails that range in levels of difficulty, we hiked the trail to the overlook that I would classify as pretty arduous, the pay off was the Little Sauty Creek waterfall near the top and the beautiful vista of Point Lookout," explains Tony C.
What campers like
Waterfront access: Honeycomb Campground offers direct lake access with swimming areas. "Our site was spacious and right on the lake. The beach was very nice and the staff was beyond helpful," shares Derenda M. about Honeycomb Campground. Many sites have shoreline access for fishing without needing to move your vehicle.
Clean facilities: Consistently maintained bathhouses across multiple campgrounds receive positive mentions. "Clean restrooms, hot showers. Great hiking and mountain biking. Nice playground for children, much nicer than many private campgrounds," notes Brent W. about Monte Sano State Park.
Pet exercise areas: River Ridge Retreat provides spacious sites for pets to enjoy. "Very spacious, tons of spots lake side or on the hill. Beautiful views, pet friendly," comments Matthew R. about River Ridge Retreat Guntersville. The open layout allows for walking pets within campground boundaries.
What you should know
Limited shade coverage: Multiple parks lost trees to severe weather events. "A few years ago a tornado took out a lot of the big pines so it's a bit hot with very little shade. But it's still the best place to camp around Guntersville!" Greg H. mentions about Lake Guntersville State Park.
Connectivity challenges: Some campgrounds have limited cell service due to their geographic location. "There is absolutely no cell service or tv stations available due to the geographic makeup of the park. They make up for this by excellent Wi-Fi throughout the park," explains Ward about Buck's Pocket State Park Campground.
Reservation demand: Waterfront sites book quickly, especially during summer months. "Book in advance, water sites are hard to come by in the summer!" advises Malissa R. about Honeycomb Campground. Weekends see significantly higher occupancy rates than weekdays at most facilities.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Little Mountain Marina Resort offers both indoor and outdoor pools for year-round swimming. "My kids love the pools and the indoor pool is awesome during colder months. My kids love that," shares Holly about Little Mountain Marina Resort. The indoor pool maintains comfortable temperatures even during winter visits.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated children's play areas. "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 Campground.
Water activities: Various campgrounds offer water recreation options beyond swimming. "The swim area makes it worth the stay. Easy gravel walking/biking trails. Trails around and beneath the falls," shares Brianna L. about Noccalula Falls Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Georgia Mountain RV Resort provides well-maintained sites for extended stays. "The park is exceptionally well kept and the people we met were very friendly and helpful. The park is predominantly full time sites but they keep many open for daily camping," explains John T. about Georgia Mountain RV Resort.
Level sites: Some campgrounds offer concrete pads while others have more challenging terrain. "All rv sites are level large concrete, most are power and water. I did see a few that offered sewer but only a few," notes Ward about Buck's Pocket State Park. Sites 1-12 at Buck's Pocket provide the most level options for larger rigs.
Hookup availability: Know what utilities are available before booking. "There are few places in Alabama that RVers can camp on a pristine Lake Front. Honeycomb Campground is located on Lake Guntersville; AL. Only downfall is no sewer hook up but they do have a honeypot service and 2 dump stations," advises Patti S.
