Oak Mountain State Park Campground features an equestrian campground with pull-through sites that accommodate horse trailers. Located 5.5 miles from the main entrance in Pelham, Alabama, this dedicated area provides water and electric hookups for RVs while keeping campers close to the horse stables and farm area. Regular RV campers are permitted at the equestrian center, which remains quieter than the main campground areas. The campground offers clean, recently remodeled bathhouses and maintains proximity to the park's extensive trail system. Very happy at this campground with reasonable prices and peaceful surroundings.
The park maintains multiple horse-friendly trails throughout its 10,000+ acres, making it Alabama's largest state park. Riders access miles of designated equestrian paths directly from the camping area, with stables located adjacent to the equestrian campground. The park's extensive trail network accommodates various riding experiences, from beginner-friendly paths to more challenging terrain. Beyond horseback riding, Oak Mountain offers numerous amenities including lakes, waterfalls, nature trails, a petting zoo, water sports, BMX trails, and a wildlife rescue center. Campers should note that while the equestrian campground provides basic amenities for horses, riders should bring their own feed and equipment. The campground typically has good availability compared to the often-crowded main camping areas.
"But regular RV campers are allowed at the Equestrian center. We are close to the farm/petting zoo. Also the horses are next to the campground. Very quiet and reasonably priced."
"It's the largest state park in Alabama."
$6 - $18 / night
"You’ll never run out of things to do between the endless hiking trails, the museum of wildlife, and the wildlife rescue center. There’s an archery station within the park and a petting farm."
"Its main claim to fame is the off roading trails for bikes or side by sides. They can be heard all over the campground so if you like peace and quiet not the park for you."
"Paved asphalt roads, concrete sites and patios, private baths and showers, scenic walking trail around lake, strong wireless coverage..."
$10 - $30 / night
"They have nice paddocks for your horses. The multiple trails are so beautiful . I have been here many times."
"Lots to do and amazing trails. Helpful and friendly farmers. Clean washrooms and near campsite. No too far from town."
GuideVery happy at this campground. But there aren't many campers here. I think they are at the main campground. But regular RV campers are allowed at the Equestrian center. We are close to the farm/petting zoo. Also the horses are next to the campground. Very quiet and reasonably priced.
ScoutOak mountain state park has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. There's so much to do; and its always growing. It's the largest state park in Alabama. Theres lakes, waterfalls, nature trails, basket ball court, volley ball, a petting zoo, horses back riding, water sports, dirt bikes trails, BMX course, archery, cabins, primitive camping and rv's , a beach, a wildlife rescue center and so much more. If you're in the area do yourself a favor and check it out.
GuideWhat an amazing campground! Alabama knocked this one out of the park. From the first time you enter the park, which isn’t too far from BHam or the interstate, you’re transported to a different place where things move much more slowly just the way we like it. The campground is a 5 mile ride from the main entrance. A beautiful winding road takes you all the way, deep into the property. If you’re lucky, you will see plenty of wildlife (we saw 7 deer and one rabbit). The campsites are very spacious, we stayed in site A30 which was great! But if you want a view, try A26 which overlooks the lake. There is a general store on property that even has propane. If you’re active, they offer bike and hiking trails, horse riding, kayak and paddle boat rentals, and a couple of beaches. Don’t wait, book your stay here ASAP!
ScoutI've been wanting to visit Oak mountain and we booked last minute May 1st-3rd. They were booked completely except for an equestrian pull through site. I had already made plans with my family and another (both first timers with our own young families). I asked about pitching tents on the gravel and they said people do it. We had two tents on complete gravel and had enough tarp and mats that it really didn't bother us. The stables were right in front of our eyes, and we could hear the peacock next door, which was lovely actually. Their horses on their farm were roaming around and it was beautiful! Bathrooms were absolutely perfect and cleaned what seemed twice a day from the cleaning logs. They were maybe 300 feet from us and since the RVs all have hook ups we seemed to be the only ones using them, really. Everything else was basically closed down, but when we went to hike the water fall trail, it seemed so crowded that I wasn't surprised when we saw the ranger show up to send people out of the falls, so we didn't waste our time. I'd go back to enjoy the beach and trails, with a bike definitely!
GuideWe needed a one night stopover Campground. Aesthetics are important, so we chose Oak Mountain State Park for its mountain beauty. We thought we’d reserve the campsite (B36) based on its being at the end of the area and near the shower/restroom. Major pros to the campground would be an apparent lot of things to do: what looked like a zip line water skiing place, lots of major inflatable stuff in the beach swimming area, equestrian trails and stalls for horses, hiking trails... and our site was near one of the playgrounds in the campground. The staff in the office and host folks were wonderful and friendly. But, our site was an asphalt pad ( perfectly level) with no grass around it. While the campground is surrounded by forest, There were some trees, and some shade, but not enough space around us to sit back ( on our asphalt) to enjoy them. The shower was perfectly hot and adequate water pressure, but there is one shower in each shower house/restroom, and it was right inside the restroom door with a bend in the wall and one plastic shower curtain. My daughter felt exposed, but there weren’t so many people using the showerhouse to be problematic. The two toilet stalls were also enough for the number of people that needed to use them. (There are other similarly sized showerhouse/restrooms not too far away.) This campground met our needs well, but we weren’t overwhelmed and didn’t rush to book a return overnight after our trip. There are many reasons to love this place ( and the tent camp spaces looked fantastic!!!) but for what we needed I’d have to say it was just perfectly adequate.
LegendThis state campground in the Birmingham AL metro area is a quick getaway for city and suburban dwellers. We were looking for continued warm fall weather on a slow trip north; this met the warmth and fall criteria in late October. The proximity to the city made it a good choice for exploring Birmingham.
Campground as Hotel
We left in the morning and came back in the evening. Using the campground strictly for accommodations worked out well; it wasn't a place where we would have wanted to hang around the campground all day. The large RVs crammed on sites that weren't very large gave us a closed in feeling. We pulled down the shade in our teardrop to avoid the light pollution from the campers who leave ground lights and other decorative lights on all night. (Do they leave their outdoor holiday lights on all night at home?)
Tent Only Sites
The tent only sites are the best feature of this park. You can pitch your tent among the trees away from the RVs packed together in the rest of the park.
There's no power or water at these sites.
These sites are listed as tent only, but the park office attendant told us there were a few where we could fit our vehicle and teardrop. We declined because we thought we'd be too close to the road although we later saw several that would have been fine
Site 42B is the BEST SITE IN THE PARK! You walk down to the site from the parking area, and then there's a great view of the water. I took a photo looking back at the site from the beach area.
Other Sites
All sites not designated tent only have electricity and water. There are some sites with sewer hookup as well as 50 amp power. See site map photo.
Loop A's sites are more spread out than sites in Loop B.
Loop B: B33 was ok. I recommend sticking to the outside of this loop because there are two roads down the center where you'll have sites on both sides, across the road and behind you. Inside the loop seemed crowded because there were large RVs.
Restrooms
Several restrooms are spread throughout the park. They each have a couple toilets and a shower along with hot and cold water in the sinks. Restrooms are clean and a checklist indicates they're inspected 2 or 3 times per day. Everything works fine, but they could use an update inside. If the usage at the end of October is any indication of overall usage, this park is heavily used. It's close to Birmingham which has over a million people, one-fourth of Alabama's population. The state of Alabama should step up and do some renovation.
Site Taxes are HIGH
Be prepared for a significant jump to the cost when taxes are applied. Our campsite fee was a reasonable $22.65/night which included a 15% senior discount. Regular price is $26.65. Taxes and a $4.50 one-time fee were added for a grand total of $85.62 for 3 nights. If you're counting, that's 20+% in taxes.
Things To Do In The Park: boating, fishing, swimming, hiking. You can purchase a detailed hiking map for $1. If you aren't from the area and want to take in some Birmingham history, there are options.
Red Mountain Park has hiking trails along with old iron ore mines. There's an adventure park with zip lining, climbing, etc.
The base of Vulcan, Alabama's entry in the 1904 World's Fair, is the best place to see Birmingham. The museum next to the statue was well done; it provides a history of this steel city.
The park across from the 16th Street Baptist Church (site of the bombing on 9/15/1963 that killed 4 young girls) is a window into the sad part of Birmingham's history. There's also a civil rights museum nearby.
The craft breweries (Good People and Avondale) were good. And great barbecue at Saw. Pizza was good at Post Office Pies but they need to put more basil on a pizza advertised as a white basil pizza, not 5 little scraps.
GuideWe stayed at the equestrian campground at Oak Mountain. It was very nice and quiet. Once you go through the gate take your first left and keep driving. We only stayed 2 nights and didn't get to see everything they have at the park. We want to go back!
LegendOak Mountain is a great camping spot for people that want to have a quick escape from the city of Birmingham. 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). The roads offer a great opportunity for a nice long bike ride. There is a huge lake which is perfect for swimming and family picnics, especially on a hot and humid Alabama summer day. We had a fantastic time camping at Oak Mountain and will definitely be back!
Guide*It's been a while since my last visit, but since I camp there every year, several times each summer, I figured I'd go ahead and do a quick review anyway.
Every summer for the past few years I've traveled to Oak mountain, typically going several times each summer (July and August) to run the Southeastern trail series. Although there are numerous back country camp sites, I've always stayed at the campground due to its convenient location, and always stay at the same campsite (B6) each visit. The campground is divided into two sections (A & B) and each campsite has parking right at the site itself.
Although the first few tent sites on the B-side are located right off the road, they're set back far enough that they feel pretty secluded with plenty of trees to give a slight sense of privacy. These first few sites have no electrical hookup or water, but are located a short walking distance from the front bathhouse (bathroom and shower). The bathhouse directly across from my site is rarely busy, and the single shower is clean with plenty of hot water.
Each site has a cinderblock retaining wall, a picnic table, and a steel fire ring with a flip-top cooking grate. If you're tent camping, the pad is dirt with a layer of pea-gravel, so a sleeping pad is a must. Firewood is easy to find in the surrounding woods if there hasn't been a lot of people thru the area. Otherwise, wood is available at the store at the entrance to the campground. The campground is easily accessible from the parks back gate entrance, which is only a short driving distance to pretty much anything you could need (restaurants, gas, groceries, etc). There's even a small beach area at the back of the campground exclusive to campground guests. The staff is always friendly and reserving a campsite online is easy.
One of the great things about Oak Mountain State Park is that there's plenty to do aside from the camping; hiking, mountain biking, horse stables, a BMX track, an archery range, canoeing, paddle boats/ paddle boarding, several lakeside beaches with playgrounds, a wakeboarding course, a wildlife rehabilitation center, and a treetop nature boardwalk which features several enclosures where you can view birds of prey up close. Also, if you're into trail running or mountain biking, there are several race series held at the park each year.
All in all, I love this park and already have my reservations made again for this summer!
Oak Mountain State Park, located just 18 miles southeast of Bessemer, Alabama, encompasses over 10,000 acres of woodland terrain with elevations ranging from 600 to 1,300 feet. The park operates multiple camping areas including backcountry sites accessible via hiking trails and an equestrian campground that accommodates visitors with horses. The equestrian facilities maintain separate trail systems from the park's standard hiking and mountain biking routes.
Hiking trails with varied difficulty: Oak Mountain State Park offers extensive trail networks beyond the equestrian paths. "Don't miss the TREE TOP NATURE TRAIL!" advises Napunani at Oak Mountain State Park Campground. For backpackers, the park provides more remote options. "The site we stayed at was only a short walk, maybe 15 min from the road but it felt like a totally different world," writes Asher K. about his backcountry experience.
Water recreation options: The park contains multiple lakes for various activities. "Big lakes for fishing, swimming or canoeing," notes Scott C., highlighting the water-based recreation options. During summer months, the beach area provides a designated swimming location with nearby picnic facilities.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The park houses a wildlife rescue center featuring rehabilitated animals. Cat explains at Backcountry Site — Oak Mountain State Park: "You'll never run out of things to do between the endless hiking trails, the museum of wildlife, and the wildlife rescue center."
Recently renovated facilities: The campground has undergone significant updates to improve visitor experience. "They put a massive amount of money into updating this place. This is the #1 best state park campground I have ever been at," shares Soren B. The improvements extend to both main camping areas and specialized facilities.
Multiple camping options: The park offers diverse camping environments from developed sites to backcountry experiences. "I love that you can choose what type of camping you want- RV, car camping, or even backcountry!" writes Elyssa M. about Oak Mountain State Park Campground.
Year-round accessibility: For those seeking equestrian trails near Bessemer, Alabama, Oak Mountain remains open throughout all seasons. "We were able to get into the primitive section without any reservations which is always wonderful. Sites are beautiful and the lake near our site was a nice place for a dip," reports Denise K., highlighting the flexibility of camping options.
Navigation challenges: First-time visitors should prepare for orientation issues upon arrival. "Poor signage upon entering Park. We stopped at the first building on the right, as it was marked RANGER OFFICE with a large, rig-friendly parking area, but it was not a check-in for campers," warns Napunani at Chilton County Minooka Park, which experiences similar wayfinding issues as Oak Mountain.
Variable connectivity: Cellular and internet service varies throughout the park. "It has wifi throughout and almost everywhere in the park has cell reception," notes Soren B., though signal strength depends on specific location and carrier.
Reservation system: For equestrian camping options near Bessemer, reservations can be made up to one year in advance. "Reserved 363 days prior to arriving," mentions one camper, indicating the popularity of certain sites and the need for advance planning.
Kid-friendly amenities: The park offers multiple attractions specifically designed for younger visitors. "There's an archery station within the park and a petting farm," notes Cat at Faye Whittemore Farms Inc, which provides similar animal interactions to Oak Mountain's facilities.
Campsite selection for families: Sites in the main campground areas provide easier access to facilities. "My campground was great for true car campers. The campsite was only a few strides from my car and there was a water spigot 5 steps away," reports Elyssa M., noting the convenience for families with young children or extensive gear.
Educational opportunities: The wildlife center offers learning experiences about local fauna. "The park provides a very neat trail with rescued owls, turkeys and red hawks," explains Scott C., highlighting the educational value for children interested in wildlife.
Campground section differences: RV campers should consider the distinct characteristics of each camping area. "A30 level site and nearly full shade coverage," reports Napunani at Bama RV Station, comparable to some of Oak Mountain's shaded sites. For equestrian-focused RV camping near Bessemer, the dedicated equestrian campground offers a quieter alternative to the main camping areas.
Utility connections: Full-hookup sites with sewer connections are available in specific sections. "Remodeled spaces with adequate space for a newbie to back her travel trailer in with no problems," shares Melinda S. about Section B of the main campground, noting the campground design accommodates less experienced RV drivers.
Seasonal considerations: Summer weekends typically experience the highest occupancy rates. "I went on a very busy weekend but typically there is less action," notes Elyssa M., suggesting weekday reservations for those seeking quieter camping experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bessemer, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bessemer, AL is Oak Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 100 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bessemer, AL?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Bessemer, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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