The region around Houston, Alabama features rolling hills and hardwood forests that connect to Bankhead National Forest. Situated at an elevation of approximately 700 feet, the area experiences mild winters and warm summers with high humidity levels from June through September. Several camping cabins dot the landscape, offering year-round access with electricity and water connections.
What to Do
Fishing opportunities: Smith Lake Park provides excellent fishing access with boat launch facilities. "Awesome place with a beautiful lake! Lots of playgrounds for the kids and some very nice camping spots!" notes a visitor who enjoyed the lake activities.
Hiking nearby trails: Forest trails provide access to scenic waterfalls and native plants. "You must check out the nature bridge nearby as well as the Houston jail," recommends a camper who stayed at Hidden Cove RV Resort, pointing out local attractions within driving distance.
Wildlife viewing: The wooded settings around Houston cabins offer opportunities to spot deer, birds, and small mammals. "Our dog was happy and made friends w/ the resident deer," shares one camper who enjoyed the natural surroundings at Togetherness Works RV Park.
Water activities: Paddleboarding and kayaking options exist on multiple lakes. "This RV park is right on a lake, but a bit away from anything else. If you have any sort of boat, kayak, paddle board, bring it!" advises a visitor about water recreation options.
What Campers Like
Privacy between sites: Bama Campground & RV Park receives praise for its layout. "This is a great little campground tucked away on the edge of Bankhead National Forest. The campground was laid out well with spacious gravel sites and full hookups," writes one reviewer who appreciated the site arrangement.
Clean bathhouses: Many cabins share centralized bathroom facilities that receive regular maintenance. "Bathhouse is brand new and squeaky clean," notes one visitor to Hidden Cove, though they also mentioned limitations: "neither of them have a caddy or any spot where you can put your soap."
Lake views: Waterfront cabin locations offer direct lake access. "We stayed in spot 12. Beautiful lakefront location! Electric/water hookup only. Workers were wonderful and place all together is clean and well maintained," explains a visitor to Decatur/Wheeler Lake KOA Holiday.
Recreational facilities: Many campgrounds offer playgrounds, swimming areas, and game rooms. "The clubhouse was very nice and had a lot for kids to do as well," mentions a camper about the indoor activities available at one location.
What You Should Know
Cell service variability: Signal strength differs significantly between locations. "Wifi weak cel signal weak," reports a visitor to Hidden Cove, while another notes, "I had no reception with Verizon but my AT&T hotspot had good reception."
Distance from supplies: Most cabin locations require planning for groceries and supplies. "We love this park but it is about 45 minutes from a town with a good grocery store or restaurants," shares a camper from Hidden Cove Thousand Trails.
Seasonal considerations: Summer humidity affects comfort levels in cabins without air conditioning. "Very hot, humid and rainy time of year! Would be back in the fall perhaps," advises one visitor who experienced peak summer conditions.
Reservation timing: Popular cabins book quickly during peak seasons. "We booked this campground due to all they had to offer. Arrival was good and the pull through spots were great and level. I wish we would had known all the lake spots are taken by people who stay there year round," notes one camper about availability challenges.
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly activities: Joe Wheeler State Park Campground provides numerous options for children. "Very clean, well kept campground. Bath houses kept very clean. Small general store at check in with necessities. Beautiful location with several hiking trails and places to kayak," explains a visitor who enjoyed the family-oriented atmosphere.
Playground conditions: Check recent reviews about playground maintenance before booking with children. "The wood on the playground needs to be replaced and the grass really needed cut. There were no horse shoes to play and no golf stuff," notes one family's experience at a local campground.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas for children, though availability varies by season. "The day use lake beach is wonderful. There were several places to launch a kayak, and the views on the river are hard to beat in the area," shares one visitor about water recreation options.
Evening entertainment: Some cabins provide space for family gatherings after dark. "After we got everything set up and got all the lights out, we noticed the glowing dismalites along the Canyon wall behind our tent!! It was super cool," describes one family's unexpected nighttime nature experience.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Terrain around Houston varies with some challenging parking spots. "Not many even close to level spots. It is sad because it is on such a lovely lake," mentions one RVer about their experience finding a suitable site.
Seasonal availability: Dismals Canyon Cabins and Primitive Campsites offers unique experiences but with seasonal limitations. "I booked this campsite earlier in the year. I specifically wanted a night tour. They did not tell me that they wouldn't have night tours at that time of year. I wish I would've known," shares one visitor who recommends checking all activity schedules when booking.
Hookup variations: Electric and water connections differ between properties. "The older sites seem to be mostly 30 amp, FHU. They do have some 50 amp, and it looks like all the new sites are 50 amp," notes one RVer about the utility setup at Hidden Cove.
Access considerations: Some cabins require walking from parking areas. "It's about a quarter of a mile walk to the campsite, but the site is absolutely gorgeous! Very secluded and very roomy!" explains a visitor about the trade-off between convenience and location quality.
