Hayden, AL is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Hayden campgrounds just for you. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Alabama camping adventure.
From its humble beginning as a 940-acre park atop Double Oak Mountain established by the Alabama State Lands Act of 1927, Oak Mountain State Park has grown to 9,940 acres making it Alabama’s largest state park. With the largest land-area, one of the widest varieties of outdoor activities of any state park, and its proximity to Birmingham, Oak Mountain is a perfect stop while traveling to and from the state’s largest city. Topping it all off is the park’s stunning physical landscape, which alone makes for an unforgettable experience.
Oak Mountain State Park has once again been awarded the coveted "Certificate of Excellence" from Tripadvisor!
The Clear Creek Recreation Area has become one of Alabama's most popular recreation areas and has many repeat visitors. The Bankhead National Forest___s largest recreation area, Clear Creek is in Winston County about 13 miles north of Jasper, ALlabama and was constructed on the shore of Lewis Smith Lake giving direct recreational access to the lake via the day use boat launch, to boating, water skiing, personal watercraft use, as well as fishing for largemouth bass, striped bass, and crappie. With many modern conveniences, it offers facilities for individual and group camping, picnicking, swimming, boat launching, hiking, and biking.______ Check-out time for Clear Creek is no later than 12:00pm the day of departure. Check-in time is no earlier than 2:00pm. This 2 hour window allows our staff adequate time to clean and maintain each site. The campground itself has four paved loops with paved parking spurs, and offers 102 RV campsites, including 32 double sites; 11 of these are pull-through sites. Each campsite has water and electrical hookups, a fire ring, picnic table, and lantern posts. All campsites have 50-amp and 30-amp electrical service. There is a trailer dump station located within the recreation area. Each of the four loops has a bathhouse with flush toilets and showers. All sites are level and spacious; Single campsites accommodate up to six people and two vehicles; double sites up to twelve people and four vehicles. No garbage dumpsters are in the campground; users are required to pack out trash and deposit it in the dumpsters by the dump station. An entrance station with an electronic gate is available to control access to the campground. Two group camping areas, available by reservation only, accommodate up to 25 tent campers each and share a bathhouse with flushing toilets and showers.__ The day use portion of the recreation area focuses on the swimming beach, served by a bathhouse with flushing toilets and showers. Next to the beach is a 50-person group picnic pavilion, with a flush toilet. On the other side of the beach lies a picnic area with 53 family units, all connected by newly paved paths. On the point, adjacent to the lake, are two more 50-person picnic pavilions, served by a nearby flush toilet. A 1.5-mile paved bicycle trail connects the campground to the day use area. Also, there is the 2.5-mile recently paved Raven Cliffs hiking trail in the day use area. Use of the picnic pavilions is by reservation only; users also pay the day use fee as they park in the facility. A year-round boat launch is available with an SST vault toilet and boat/trailer parking. Welcome to the Clear Creek Recreation Area...____ Use the Recreation.gov Mobile App. Visitors on-the-go can use the Recreation.gov mobile app to reserve and pay for upcoming stays, reducing the need for on-site transactions and cash handling. Download the Recreation.gov app through the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Functionality of the iPhone app available here...__ Functionality of the Android app available here...__
The campground has a basketball and volleyball court, and horseshoe pit. Interpretive programs are hosted during the summer.__ Day-use visitors and campers have access to a boat ramp and swim beach. The lake provides excellent fishing for Kentucky Spotted Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.__ There are two trails in the area; the 2.5-mile Raven Interpretive Trail and a 1.5-mile bicycle trail.
The campground has a basketball and volleyball court, and horseshoe pit. Interpretive programs are hosted during the summer.__ Day-use visitors and campers have access to a boat ramp and swim beach. The lake provides excellent fishing for Kentucky Spotted Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.__ There are two trails in the area; the 2.5-mile Raven Interpretive Trail and a 1.5-mile bicycle trail.
The 180,000+ acre Bankhead National Forest is in northwestern Alabama, and its prominent feature is the Sipsey Wilderness . Known as "The Land of a Thousand Waterfalls," the Sipsey is at the juncture of three separate geologic areas: the Appalachian Plateau, the Cumberland Plateau and the Coastal Plain. The vegetation from these three unique environments blend into a remarkable diversity of species, with overlapping ranges creating many unusual plant associations. The Sipsey is a 12,726 acre area of swift streams, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, undisturbed gorges, majestic hardwood forests, wildflowers, birds, animals and is home to Alabama's largest tree, a tulip poplar with a 21-foot circumference at its base.__ Lewis-Smith Lake (or Smith Lake) is located in the counties of Cullman, Walker and Winston. The 300-foot high dam, completed in 1961 by Alabama Power Company, impounds the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River to form the lake. Smith Lake has a surface area of 21,200 acres, 500 miles of shoreline, a watershed area of 944 square miles, a retention time of 435 days, and a maximum depth of 264 feet. What's Happening in Your Alabama National Forest Video__
Four nearby attractions within Bankhead National Forest are:__ The Little Natural Bridge is the longest rock arch east of the Rockies. It was formed 200 million years ago when the sea washed the sandstone away leaving iron ore veins holding the bridge. In this area thrive 27 varieties of Ferns and a number of Canadian Hemlocks traced to the Ice Age. Satellite Map of Natural Bridge Park__ The 19th-century Pine Torch Church is one of the oldest churches in Alabama and one of only four surviving log churches. The church is located in the Bankhead Forest in Lawrence County at the intersection of Country Roads 70 and 73 Several online sources say it was built in the 1890s but a sign at the site claims in was built in the 1840s. According to legend, Pine Torch got its name from the pine knots that were set ablaze to light the building after dark. It is made of hand-hewn logs. The original floor, made of hand-hewn poplar planks, was stolen piece-by-piece and was replaced in 1940, according to a historic marker at the site. The original roof was made of hand-split wooden shingles. It was later replaced with tin. Behind the church is a cemetery whose grounds are covered with sand to make maintenance easier. A newer and larger wooden church was built at the back of the property. It is still in use. Satellite Map of the Pine Torch Church__ The Houston Civil War Jail - Houston, Alabama served as the first county seat for Winston County. The area known today as Winston County was originally established in 1850 as Hancock County, named after John Hancock, signer of the Declaration of Independence. In 1858 the county was renamed Winston after the first native-born governor of Alabama, John Anthony Winston. Old Houston, located a few miles away from present day Houston, was the first county seat. Citizens voted to move the county seat to present day Houston in the late 1850's and a log jail was constructed at that time. The jail burned during the Civil War and was rebuilt in 1868. The Houston jail was built of hand-hewn logs filled with nails to prevent prisoners from "sawing their way to freedom". The jail held prisoners and provided a site for court. In 1884 the county seat was moved from Houston to present day Double Springs. Houston Historical Society__ Discover the Incredible Variety of Habitats and Birds in the Bankhead National Forest. Birding on the Bankhead__
$30 / night
The Corinth Recreation Area is a state-of-the art campground located on the on the shores of the upper part of Lewis Smith Lake in Winston County. Initially built in the 1960s and renovated in 1998 it offers facilities for individual and group camping, picnicking, swimming, and boat launching.____ Check-out time for Corinth is no later than 12:00pm the day of departure. Check-in time is no earlier than 2:00pm. This 2 hour window allows our staff adequate time to clean and maintain each site. Two camping loops contain 52 campsites, with electrical, water, and sewer hookups. There are four bathhouses, with warm showers, serving the camping areas. A boat ramp is provided for campers. An entrance station with an electronic gate is available to control access to the campground. Corinth also offers eight rustic tent camping sites with nearby community hydrants and a bathhouse. No garbage bins are in the campground; users are required to pack out trash and deposit it in the dumpsters by the dump station.____ADA accessible sites are available.__ The day use portion of the recreation area focuses on the swimming beach, served by a bathhouse with an outdoor beach shower. Twenty-nine family picnic sites are available nearby, and paved access paths connect all. Near the beach is a 100-person group picnic pavilion, with a flush toilet that serves both it and a portion of the picnic sites. A 1.25-mile hiking path is located along the shoreline of the lake. A year-round boat launch is available, with an SST vault toilet; and it has boat/trailer parking. A separate boat launch is available to the campground.____ Welcome to the Corinth Recreation Area...____ Use the Recreation.gov Mobile App. Visitors on-the-go can use the Recreation.gov mobile app to reserve and pay for upcoming stays, reducing the need for on-site transactions and cash handling. Download the Recreation.gov app through the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Functionality of the iPhone app available here... __ Functionality of the Android app available here... __
Day-use visitors and campers have access to a boat ramp and swim beach.____ The lake provides excellent fishing for Kentucky Spotted Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.____ Hikers can access the 1.3-mile Bobwhite Trail.____ Interpretive programs are hosted during the summer.
Day-use visitors and campers have access to a boat ramp and swim beach.____ The lake provides excellent fishing for Kentucky Spotted Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.____ Hikers can access the 1.3-mile Bobwhite Trail.____ Interpretive programs are hosted during the summer.
The 180,000+ acre Bankhead National Forest is in northwestern Alabama, and its prominent feature is the Sipsey Wilderness . Known as "The Land of a Thousand Waterfalls," the Sipsey is__at the juncture of three separate geologic areas: the Appalachian Plateau, the Cumberland Plateau and the Coastal Plain. The vegetation from these three unique environments blend into a remarkable diversity of species, with overlapping ranges creating many unusual plant associations. The Sipsey is a 12,726 acre area of swift streams, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, undisturbed gorges, majestic hardwood forests, wildflowers, birds, animals and is home to Alabama's largest tree, a tulip poplar with a 21-foot circumference at its base.__ Lewis-Smith Lake (or Smith Lake) is located in the counties of Cullman, Walker and Winston. The 300-foot high dam, completed in 1961 by Alabama Power Company, impounds the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River to form the lake. Smith Lake has a surface area of 21,200 acres, 500 miles of shoreline, a watershed area of 944 square miles, a retention time of 435 days, and a maximum depth of 264 feet. What's Happening in Your Alabama National Forest Video __
Four nearby attractions within Bankhead National Forest are:__ The Little Natural Bridge__is the longest rock arch east of the Rockies. It was formed 200 million years ago when the sea washed the sandstone away leaving iron ore veins holding the bridge. In this area thrive 27 varieties of Ferns and a number of Canadian Hemlocks traced to the Ice Age. Satellite Map of Natural Bridge Park __ The 19th-century Pine Torch Church is one of the oldest churches in Alabama and one of only four surviving log churches. The church is located in the Bankhead Forest in Lawrence County at the intersection of Country Roads 70 and 73 Several online sources say it was built in the 1890s but a sign at the site claims in was built in the 1840s. According to legend, Pine Torch got its name from the pine knots that were set ablaze to light the building after dark. It is made of hand-hewn logs. The original floor, made of hand-hewn poplar planks, was stolen piece-by-piece and was replaced in 1940, according to a historic marker at the site. The original roof was made of hand-split wooden shingles. It was later replaced with tin. Behind the church is a cemetery whose grounds are covered with sand to make maintenance easier. A newer and larger wooden church was built at the back of the property. It is still in use. Satellite Map of the Pine Torch Church__ The Houston Civil War Jail - Houston, Alabama served as the first county seat for Winston County. The area known today as Winston County was originally established in 1850 as Hancock County, named after John Hancock, signer of the Declaration of Independence. In 1858 the county was renamed Winston after the first native-born governor of Alabama, John Anthony Winston. Old Houston, located a few miles away from present day Houston, was the first county seat. Citizens voted to move the county seat to present day Houston in the late 1850's and a log jail was constructed at that time. The jail burned during the Civil War and was rebuilt in 1868. The Houston jail was built of hand-hewn logs filled with nails to prevent prisoners from "sawing their way to freedom". The jail held prisoners and provided a site for court. In 1884 the county seat was moved from Houston to present day Double Springs. Houston Historical Society__ Discover the Incredible Variety of Habitats and Birds in the Bankhead National Forest. Birding on the Bankhead __
$50 / night
Lake Guntersville State Park offers Town Creek Primitive Campground which provides primitive campsites (boondock camping allowed 7 night maximum) on the water, bathhouses, boat rentals, ethanol-free gas (accessible by water), and the Town Creek Fishing Center.
$5 / night
Honeycomb Campground, the popular campground and day use area owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority on Lake Guntersville, AL, re-opened in 2009. There are currently 141 short-term and long-term stay sites available. Most of these sites have electricity and water. There is a dump station on site and a pumping service is available for campers who do not want to move their RV. The campground offers a newly built general store and laundry room. Our recently renovated bath houses are walk-in units offering complete privacy.
We offer pull through spots as well as luxury tiny cottages for those who want to visit without an RV. Each spot has cable, electric, water & sewer. Three swimming pools with a splash pad for the littles, 40x80 infinity edge pool, private boat launch, fishing piers, a clubhouse, laundry facilities, an RV supply store, fire pits, walking trail, and much more. We are also in walking distance to many area restaurants, shops, parks and other attractions. We welcome pets on a leash but they must not be left unattended. No tents. All of our buildings and facilities are non-smoking
$35 - $38 / night
$99 - $150 / night
I grew up near oak mountain and it’s always been a decent campground for the price. After we purchased our first camper this summer we decided to go give it a shot at Oak Mountain before we went further out. We were unaware that they had completely revamped the entire place. The bathhouses were awesome and clean as were the laundry rooms. They had plenty of supplies in the store if you forgot something. We will be returning during the fall. Sites are pretty spacious and well maintained.
Somewhat crowded, but it was a holiday weekend. Very clean bathrooms and campground. Employees were extremely friendly, inviting, and knowledgeable!
Having visited 3 times now, twice before the renovations and now once after, I can confidently say I love this park! I have previously primitive camped here and now camper at a full hookup RV site. Tent sites range from "water in vicinity," "water at site," and "water and 20 amp power at site." Rv sites are water and electric or full hook up. I think all RV sites are now 50/30/20 but I'm not certain. There is a dump station near the exit of the campground. Sites are mostly level/slight grade but found that not all drain very well when it rains, including our site a17.
The park has so many different activities including -Hiking -Bmx trails -Swimmimg -Archery range And more I can't even remember.
Flip side watersports operates at 2 locations and paid activities include -wake boarding -Aqua Park And rentals of -Kayaks -stand up paddle boards -paddle boats And -Canoes.
There are things to do year round and the weather was great for mid July.
Deep ditches around my site made it very, very difficult to park my van - terrified that one of my wheels would fall off the edge. Don’t think I will be back.
This state park has it all. A place to swim, numerous hiking trails, playgrounds, etc. The newly remodeled campground is spectacular. The pads are super level (at least in A16. Small tent spots sprinkled in. Saw security and police several times just passing through to check on folks. Love that. We will be back many more times for sure.
Visited Lake Guntersville State Park, for the day. After taking our granddaughter to Screaming Eagle Zip-line Adventures, located at the gorgeous Lodge, we visited the Campground…and it’s amazing! At the office, we were helped by Rocky, who was friendly and knowledgeable! We received CG info and a map, as well as rates. We are already planning our next trip to visit! The general store was stocked with necessities, as well as souvenirs. Of course we had to get some ice cream! There are several types of sites, monthly, cabins and tent camping. There are boat slips (local rentals) and a Pavilion on the water, basketball and tennis courts, playground, shady dog park, splash pad, and clean bathhouses. Firewood and ice can be purchased at the store. There are also many trails to hike and bike . It is easy to see that this SP is well maintained! The SP Lodge is worth visiting, which has a nice restaurant. LGSP has a golf course, and the quaint town is close by and has shopping and several restaurants.
This is a motocross, zip line and paint ball camp. The people that checked us in were great. Charge was $5 per person. So $11.00 for us. The sites are grassy. We are the only ones here so we pulled up to the bath house. They will be out to turn on the hot water in a bit. Quiet. Relaxing after a day of seeing the sites. I have 2 bars on my Verizon.
Excellent place for an overnight rest on trip out West. Clean, spacious rv sites, and great views of lake.
No wifi per office with no known date of repair. Relatively quiet, lots of vehicle traffic and golf carts. Office staff is very helpful and friendly. Majority of park is longterm. Dog friendly, no dog park at location. Close to shopping but far enough away for quiet.
The natural beauty in that area is amazing however the camp ground in firefly loop leaves little to be desired and the camp host/hostess are extremely rude. Electric sites are advertised that they accommodate 2 tents however they do not. There is very little area to set up and the gravel is like concrete. There is grass and they don’t tell you a head of time but you can’t set up on the grass unless you are in the tent camping area. It’s is overpriced and poorly staffed.
We visited Honeycomb a few days before Thanksgiving and had a good time.
PROs: • Beautiful views from lakefront sites • not crowded, very quiet in mid-November • hard packed gravel pad was level left-to-right, no leveling blocks under tires needed • easy driving distance to lots of local activities/attractions
CONs: • only one working bathroom/shower house…could be an issue when the campground is crowded considering their are no sewage hookups on site • sites are pretty close together, not much room for outdoor family activities • WIFI (extra charge) was very inconsistent
We stayed three nights in primitive camping and it was fantastic. Our site was right on the water and far away from any other campers. The RV camping is not as secluded. Bath houses were very clean and tons of fun things for kids to do around the park.
First, I’ve stayed here many times tent camping with more than one tent on one site with no issues. We took a camper this time and met up with some family who would be staying in a tent. We set up site and hung up a hammock, and within minutes, an employee came and rudely told us our set up wasn’t allowed. We had to take down our hammock (never had that happen anywhere else before), and forced us to pay an extra $75 to rent the neighboring site for our family to set up their tent for the weekend. When they came back around, they said, “You didn’t have to move your tent, you just had to rent the extra site.” It made zero sense, especially when we had noted at reservation that we’d have more than one vehicle, a tent, a camper, and 4 adults + 3 kids. Next came check out. We waited for 3 hours for our turn to use the dump site, we were all packed up and ready to go at 9:30am. To be such a large park, more than one dump site is needed. There’s also a ton of traffic going in and out, so it wasn’t super quiet or anything. We won’t be back, it’s overrated, over priced, and run by rude people.
Great place for the kids our neck of the woods was very quite and right next to where the deer like to graze, nothing like seeing Bambi and friends in the mornings and nights. Come prepared very few items at the camp store
This is a great campground that has ONLY long term camping so you really get to know your neighbors. The power is not included but the prices are very reasonable.
Our lot is spacious, gravel pad with a cement patio.
At the regular campground, there’s only 30amp connections. Some have sewer and some not. There is no camp wifi. Swimming is quit a distance from campground.
The campground at the stables are pull through and 50 amp and full hookups.
A great beautiful lake. Lots of deer. Also numerous thunderstorms, unfortunately. Avoid area B where we stayed. Had no choice since we were there for our first Oliver Owners Rally and didn’t book soon enough. Those along Lake are best then F. Town of Guntersville has what you need, restaurants, etc.
Rv sites were paved, pretty level and well spaced. Bathhouses were pretty rough, dirty in disrepair and dated.
I have camped at the horse campground a few times. Nothing fancy there, they are side by side pull thrus similar to a KOA. And the horse trails are nice. This time I camped at the regular campground in a travel trailer. Site A14. Site was pull thru across from camphosts and bathroom. Site was small but nice - water/elec only and pull thru. Picnic table and fire ring, no grill. Camp hosts (woman) was friendly. Asked for assistance in moving a bench so my son could get his wheelchair along the sidewalk to the men’s bathroom: her husband (assume they are married) never came out despite being asked by his wife a few times and me waiting 20 min. On that note, the bathrooms are old and dingy and not ADA at all. But it would have been nice to get some assistance. Overall, this is a good campground if you have young kids and like a lot of activity around you and don’t need anything ADA. Oh and be aware of poison ivy. It was EVERYWHERE
Family friendly with 2 playgrounds. Dog friendly. Walking and biking trails. Laundry facilities on site and open 24 hours. Camp store on site and open everyday until 5pm.
Bathrooms needed updating. Paid more than it was worth. Our site was nice and could walk down to the lake.
Although weather is extremely cool this time of the year the campground is great very clean and quiet awesome experience
The customer service was terrible! There was a bit of confusion while checking in and they ended up over charging my card by 40 dollars. Which would have been fine we chose to extend our reservation. However, they don't want to refund my money. I have had to jump through hoops just to gain consideration on the matter. In the beginning I was completely shut down with one excuse after another as to why my transactions from the bank were not accurate. Then I had to print off a official statement from my bank which is not a option. For security reasons they only mail requested statements physically to the address on file aside from the monthly statement issued at the end of each month and its th 8th! So I had to pay another 39 dollars to extend. I used the same card to show the same type of charge previously because we ended up paying cash upon check in. That wasn't enough! Its 2 days after check out and I still don't have my money back. She said the accountant had to review the alleged charge. I was outraged. Not to mention the fact that it wasn't I who made the mistake why was I having to jump through hoops regardless.
I didn’t have a reservation prior to arriving, but the staff was extremely helpful with locating a spot to my specifications (close to bathroom, full shade). There’s a great paved trail for biking or walking. I use Verizon and had no problem getting cell service.
Love this park!
Our site had great access to the lake but not on the busiest part of the lake. We tried out the paved bike trail which was very nice. We also like the other trails near the campground. All the facilities are very nice.
We arrived one day early which was semi planned, but we were not in the spot we were staying for 11 days. Thank goodness because the pic on the site Vs reality was a pretty big difference. We have a big rig and no way we would fit. I figured I would have to finagle something in my own to get us a different site. NOPE! They guy at the gate helped us out and 5 min later we had a site! Store has a few things in it, including some Lake stickers/shirts/etc with Lake Guntersville on them. There is a little library box by the store with books people have put in after reading. There are sites for full hookup, water/electric, or primitive. There are long term sites as well. There is plenty to do! Beach, boat, water pad, basketball and tennis courts. Laundry available. Nice bathrooms and bathhouse. Dog park for bigs and Littles! The power went out once for a couple minutes and then again due to an accident on the mountain. There are neat things within the park to see and do. Hike/trails, golf, fish, zip line, horseback riding. A must stop is to see the donkeys, goats and emus. Towing to get here is interesting, but doable! We have a 42 ft RV with a 16 ft boat behind and we made it. Close enough to town but you have to go over the mountain. There are some neat stores down town and a farmers market.
Camping near Hayden, Alabama, offers a mix of beautiful nature and unique experiences. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned camper, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping around Hayden, Alabama, has its quirks, but with the right preparation, it can be a great experience for everyone!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Hayden, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Hayden, AL is Oak Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 91 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Hayden, AL?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 glamping camping locations near Hayden, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
