Best Campgrounds near Gurley, AL

Campgrounds in the Gurley, Alabama area range from established state parks to outdoor resorts with various accommodation options. Oak Mountain State Park Campground, located near Pelham, provides tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals in a year-round setting. The Ridge Outdoor Resort offers similar amenities plus glamping options and attracts visitors with its motocross tracks, zipline, and paintball facilities. Several campgrounds within a 30-mile radius provide water and electric hookups, with many featuring shower facilities and reservable sites.

Most campgrounds in the region remain open year-round, though seasonal considerations affect amenities availability. Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground features primitive tent sites and RV spaces with access to cave tours and a seasonal pool. Sites at many locations fill quickly during summer months, especially on weekends. Campers should be aware of size limitations at some parks, as several reviews note tight spacing between sites. "These are the tiniest campsites I've ever seen in a State Park, worse than an RV park even. When I am at the back of my camper cooking, I am literally 2 feet from the campers in the next site sitting at their picnic table having dinner," noted one visitor to Rickwood Caverns.

Campers report varying experiences across the region's facilities, with amenities and natural features being key differentiators. Smith Lake Park and Noccalula Falls Park & Campground offer waterfront settings with cabin options. The primitive camping area at Rickwood Caverns receives positive mentions for spaciousness compared to the tighter RV section. According to reviews, The Ridge Outdoor Resort stands out for adventure activities beyond standard camping: "My group goes to The Ridge the second weekend in November each year. There are dirt bike trails, a zip line, an air soft course, a pond, and stunning views of the valley below." Cell reception varies by location but is generally available at established campgrounds. Most developed sites provide trash disposal, drinking water, and picnic tables, with firewood often available for purchase.

Best Camping Sites Near Gurley, Alabama (99)

    1. Oak Mountain State Park Campground

    95 Reviews
    Hoover, AL
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 620-2520

    "It is located only about 20-40 min outside downtown. Oak Mountain has several of options of things to do away from just camping and hiking (which of course are also great to do here)."

    "Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park. Located just outside of Birmingham, it’s easy to escape to nature without being too far off the beaten path. This park is HUGE!"

    2. Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Hayden, AL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 647-9692

    $17 - $30 / night

    "Somewhere in the vicinity, there was a faucet for washing dishes, etc., but it was surrounded by a giant mud puddle."

    "The sites were bordered by woods and hills which gave the kids lots to explore.

    The pool was closed when we were there in April, but I believe they said it was closed indefinitely."

    3. The Ridge Outdoor Resort

    3 Reviews
    Oneonta, AL
    8 miles
    Website

    $5 / night

    "There are dirt bike trails, a zip line, an air soft course, a pond, and stunning views of the valley below."

    4. Brookside Greenway Park

    3 Reviews
    Birmingham, AL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 209-2824

    "Grassy area behind some ball fields in a small town. They have hookups but I just parked in the grass. I also understand there are bathrooms and showers but I didn't use them. Wifi works."

    5. Big Canoe Creek Outfitters

    1 Review
    Ragland, AL
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 587-4828

    $20 / night

    6. Smith Lake Park

    12 Reviews
    Bremen, AL
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 739-2916

    "Staying on tent site #55 power/ close to water spout. Bathhouse really close by nice shady lot."

    "I really enjoy Smith lake campground it has a lot of great sites. There are plenty of shades sites for summer camping."

    7. Noccalula Falls Park & Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    36 Reviews
    Gadsden, AL
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 549-4663

    "Here you can swim in the pool, play with your kids on the play ground or take them on walk to view the waterfall . Noccalula Falls is a very large water fall and spectacular to see. "

    "The park is an urban oasis just outside of Gadsden. It is gated. The campground has concrete pads, mostly back in, some shade trees, little grass around the camp sites."

    8. Brookside Campground

    1 Review
    Birmingham, AL
    18 miles
    +1 (205) 674-5550

    $30 / night

    10. Country View RV Park

    1 Review
    Hayden, AL
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (256) 352-4678

    $32 / night

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Recent Reviews near Gurley, AL

510 Reviews of 99 Gurley Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • Randi P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 — Great mix of nature, history, and family fun

    We stayed at Tannehill Ironworks Campground for a long weekend and had a great experience. We arrived late on a Thursday night and appreciated that the ranger is on-site 24/7, since the campground doesn’t take reservations. The process is easy—you just pull in, find a site, and register/pay the next morning. It was a little hard to find a spot in the dark, but that was on us.

    There are three main campground areas. • Campgrounds 1 and 2 offer full hook-ups, with many outer sites backing up to a scenic creek. • Campground 3 has water and electric only.

    We stayed in site 122 in Campground 1, right on the creek. The sites are all gravel with picnic tables (a little worn—we brought our own table setup). Ours was pretty spacious, and since it wasn’t full, we had empty sites in front of and behind us, which made it feel even more open.

    The creek is peaceful and adds great ambiance, but there’s no designated access area for wading or swimming. That said, lots of kids were playing in the water right near their sites.

    T-Mobile service was decent—we were able to use our hotspot to stream TV at night. There’s no public Wi-Fi, but we didn’t miss it. We didn’t use the dump stations, but they looked clean and easy to access.

    Check-out time is 1:00 PM, and we didn’t see an official check-in time or posted quiet hours. The campground was fairly calm and relaxed, especially at night.

    The best part of Tannehill is everything there is to do. We brought bikes and explored miles of trails, all clearly marked by difficulty level. The park is also full of historical buildings like an old mill, furnace, blacksmith shop, and restored cabins (some are available to rent). There’s a Sunday church service at 9AM, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, a general store, a miniature train ride, and even an ice cream shop.

    If you visit during one of their Trade Days weekends, you’re in for a treat—it’s like a huge flea market with over 400 vendors, food stands, and all kinds of local treasures.

    Tannehill is a unique blend of history, nature, and activities for all ages. We’ll definitely be back and would recommend it to anyone looking for a laid-back getaway with lots to explore!

  • Melinda S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Oak Mountain State Park Campground

    Oak Mtn State Park Equestrian & section B campground

    A great State Park. I stayed one night in the Equestrian campground. They are all pull thru with as remodeled bathhouse. It was extremely clean. Then moved over to Section B of the main camp ground. Remodeled spaces with adequate space for a newbie to back her travel trailer in with no problems. “ What an Ego booster!” Remodeled bathhouses as well and kept clean even on a busy July 4th weekend. Gets morning sun but shade in the afternoon.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 30, 2025

    Thousand Trails Hidden Cove

    Very nice, quiet campground

    Great campground & people! Only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is the lack of things to do. No fenced in dog park but plenty of space to have one. Right on the lake but unaware of any kind of rentals available nearby— closest rentals are 40 mins away on the opposite side of the lake. Nearest Walmart is Cullman which is 45 mins away. Wouldn’t recommend staying here if you prefer to be closer to the city but perfect if you want to be in the middle of the woods and have no reason to leave. Very hot, humid and rainy time of year! Would be back in the fall perhaps.

  • Nick E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 23, 2025

    Hidden Cove Thousand Trails

    Clean, Quiet, and Spacious

    Great little campground with awesome access to the lake. Great for Starlink and good AT&T reception.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Birmingham South RV Park

    Ants, Dogs and Smells

    To be fair, the check in and staff were nice. Sites are level and partially shaded. Rules loosely enforced as there were trucks parked on grass which was noted as a very prominent rule on reservation and check in. Ants attempted to infest anything we sat outside (not food related items were specifically targeted as it was a pair of diving boots and our leveling blocks). It was horrible. There’s little to no control over everyone’s dogs. The best you can get is that they are leashed, otherwise, lunging at people or other dogs and barking all throughout the day is completely permitted. The sites are very small and your neighbors sewer hookups happen to be about 3 feet from your site’s picnic table. It’s just gross.

  • Patrick P.
    Jun. 20, 2025

    Birmingham South RV Park

    Nice place ,

    Nice place , but the internet doesn’t work, bathrooms clean

  • WThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2025

    River Rocks Landing

    Nice Camp Ground

    Nice water views, campground staff helpful and friendly. Nice area close to restaurants if need to leave park.


Guide to Gurley

Camping near Gurley, Alabama, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and unique experiences. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned camper, there are plenty of options to explore.

What to do

  • Explore the Caverns: Check out the Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, “We toured the caverns on Saturday and enjoyed the tour.” The caverns are a fun way to learn about geology while enjoying the natural beauty.
  • Hiking and Trails: Oak Mountain State Park Campground has numerous hiking trails. A visitor shared, “The park has so many different activities including hiking and BMX trails.”
  • Water Activities: At Lake Guntersville State Park Campground, you can enjoy swimming, kayaking, and fishing. One camper noted, “There are many trails to hike and bike.”

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate cleanliness. One reviewer at Noccalula Falls Park & Campground said, “The bathhouses were very clean and heated.”
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many enjoy the peacefulness of the campgrounds. A visitor at Clear Creek Recreation Area mentioned, “The campground is quiet and has no light pollution.”
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. A reviewer at Greensport RV Park and Campground said, “The staff were very helpful, lots of planned activities for the kids.”

What you should know

  • Site Sizes: Some campgrounds have small sites. A camper at Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground noted, “These are the tiniest campsites I've ever seen in a State Park.”
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have extensive amenities. One visitor at Honeycomb Campground remarked, “Only one working bathroom/shower house…could be an issue when the campground is crowded.”
  • Noise Levels: Some areas are near highways, which can be noisy. A reviewer at Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground mentioned, “The park is kind of near a highway and I could hear cars in the evening.”

Tips for camping with families

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Accessibility: Make sure your RV can fit in the site. A reviewer at Honeycomb Campground noted, “Deep ditches around my site made it very, very difficult to park my van.”
  • Be Prepared for Limited Services: Some campgrounds may not have full hookups. A visitor at Corinth Recreation Area mentioned, “There are dump stations but they are far from the campsites.”
  • Stay Connected: Check for Wi-Fi availability. One camper at Birmingham South RV Park said, “The doggie park is the size of my bathroom and the Wi-Fi doesn't work.”

Camping around Gurley, Alabama, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for adventure or relaxation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Gurley, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Gurley, AL offers a wide range of camping options, with 99 campgrounds and RV parks near Gurley, AL and 6 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Gurley, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gurley, AL is Oak Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 95 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gurley, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Gurley, AL.

What parks are near Gurley, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Gurley, AL that allow camping, notably Talladega National Forest and National Forests in Alabama.