Tent camping near Hollywood, Alabama offers access to backcountry sites within a 30-mile radius across Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia state lines. The region features a mix of wooded terrain at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,800 feet, with campsites available year-round due to the moderate southeast climate. Winter temperatures can drop to the 30s at night while summer camping typically involves high humidity with daytime temperatures often exceeding 90°F.
What to do
Swimming at natural water spots: Blue Hole in Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA offers a refreshing spot for campers. "The spring looked amazing," notes one visitor, with the site situated near caves and hiking trails. Blue Hole Dispersed camping areas are free but require a land pass for access.
Hiking to waterfalls: The Father Adamz Campground provides direct access to waterfall trails. "The short hike down to the base of the waterfall is fairly steep and very rocky, but well worth the effort," reports one camper. The Father Adamz Campground sites are accessible via a half-mile hike that leads to a swimming hole and waterfall.
Rock climbing access: Sawmill Lake Campsite serves as an excellent base for climbers heading to Rocktown. "It is a free, primitive camping site just a short 5 min drive (or walk) from the Rocktown trailhead," notes one visitor. The proximity allows climbers to maximize time on the rocks rather than hiking to them.
Caving adventures: Visit Petty John Cave near Sawmill Lake Campsite. A camper mentioned, "This is a nice primitive camp site just a 2 min walk from Petty John Cave." Access to both the cave and Rocktown climbing area requires a $15 permit.
What campers like
River proximity: Little River Adventure Company offers campsites with immediate water access. One camper noted, "Our kids were amazed by the water access and walking trails. Our dog was also able to free roam in the spot we picked." The site includes options ranging from secluded riverside locations to open field camping.
Privacy between sites: At Whippoorwill Woods Nature Retreat, campers appreciate the thoughtful layout. "The other campsites are pretty spread out and well hidden from one another," observed a visitor. However, they noted that the Pond #3 site has less privacy due to a trail that passes by.
Wildlife viewing: Davis Pond Campsite offers a peaceful setting with wildlife viewing opportunities. "This lightly developed site has two picnic tables, and two lantern posts near the tables. However, it can easily accommodate many more campers in the space and has multiple dirt-and-rock fire pits," according to one visitor who enjoyed the pond and natural setting.
Hammock-friendly trees: Foster Falls Campground features tall trees ideal for hammock camping. One camper appreciated the "fairly large campsites with easy access to Foster Falls and the Fiery Gizzard trail. Clean bathrooms + showers, and lots of trees (perfect for hammocking!)."
What you should know
Bathroom facilities vary widely: TGL Adventures maintains clean restroom facilities, but many other sites offer minimal or no facilities. At Davis Pond, a camper warned about the toilet conditions: "While there is a two-station pit toilet, it's a bit of a horror show with a lot of trash accumulating in the structure."
Road conditions: Access to some sites requires careful driving. At Sawmill Lake Campsite, "The road leading up to the campsite is extremely rough and washed out. We were in a Subaru Outback, and it was a very slow-going, bumpy ride — we bottomed out several times."
Water sources: Hurricane Creek Campground requires bringing water or filtering from natural sources. A camper noted the importance of proper preparation: "This is backcountry camping so plan appropriately... Water can be sourced from Hurricane Creek, but should be treated/filtered."
Permits and fees: Some areas require permits or passes. At Sawmill Lake, "You do need a land pass to be here, the website is on the sign coming in and it was around $60."
Tips for camping with families
Easy swimming access: Foster Falls Campground offers family-friendly water features. "Really beautiful scenery on somewhat strenuous hikes to waterfalls, some good sport climbing, and a few trails that will take you really high up so you can look down at the beautiful green canopy. Beautiful spot any time of year but we like to go when it's warm enough to swim in the waterfall."
Kid-friendly amenities: TGL Adventures provides facilities that appeal to families. "Nice playground for the kids as well," mentioned one reviewer, making it more appealing for families with younger children who need activity options beyond hiking.
Spacious camping areas: Davis Pond offers ample room for family setups. One visitor described it as "a huge meadow area. Tons of spots to pitch a tent or park vehicles... If you are coming with a group this is an awesome spot. We counted 5 fire pits but you could literally fill the meadow with dozens of tents easily."
Weather considerations: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity. A camper at Sawmill Lake advised, "Nights turned a bit chilly, so make sure to pack layers if camping in the fall or winter season."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options: Most campgrounds near Hollywood prioritize tent camping over RVs. Little River Adventure Company accommodates small trailers but not large RVs. One camper shared, "We have a turtle back trailer with RTT on it and we arrived later than planned & were greeted by Giorgio and he is great host."
Road access challenges: Access roads to many campgrounds are problematic for trailers. At Sawmill Lake, a camper advised, "If you have a trailer or rv I recommend coming in from the west direction, if you can tell from maps. The east way had 180 degree sharp turns up the mountain, so may be difficult."
Dispersed camping for small RVs: Blue Hole Dispersed offers some options for small campers. "They do have a handicap access area for rvs to do disperse camping also an parking for the bluehole," noted one visitor, though most sites are better suited for tents.
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