k
kyle W.
Scout
ScoutBattlefield Campground & RV Park
Friendly Fairly easy access
Jacqueline super sweet and helpful as was her husband when the electric pedestal went out. Unfortunately couldn’t fix at the time but we had our generator.
Camping near Fort Payne, AL
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Several campgrounds surround Fort Payne, Alabama, with options for different types of campers. DeSoto State Park Campground works well for families who want to hike trails and see waterfalls, and it has both RV and tent sites along with basic restrooms and picnic tables. Little River RV Park and Campground sits a few miles from town and includes full hookups plus a small fishing pond. Wills Creek RV Park has bigger sites that can handle larger RVs and is close to Fort Payne. You can reach all these campgrounds on good roads, though some spots might need vehicles with higher clearance because of rough ground. Some campsites give you more space from neighbors than others. Most camping areas have good tree cover for shade when Alabama gets hot in summer. Watch for fire rules, which can change during dry weather. It's smart to make reservations ahead of time, especially on weekends and during busy seasons. You typically don't need special permits to camp here, but double-checking never hurts. Most places let you stay up to two weeks, giving you plenty of time to check out the area. Fort Payne has camping that works for quick trips or longer stays.
Best Campgrounds near Fort Payne (151)
1. DeSoto State Park Campground
"Desoto State Park campground is located about 15 miles from Fort Payne Alabama. Nice spacious sites some gravel and not very level."
"Desoto State Park is one of our favorite Alabama places to visit, located in Northeastern Alabama and the southern end of Lookout Mountain."
from $38 / night
Check Availability2. Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground
"Campground Review:East Rim Campground Pro’s: 1-Handicap Accessible, there is a cabin which is also HDA. 2- If your visiting for a get together your right next to the day use area and there is a picnic"
"But we didn’t let that stop us hiking the West Rim Loop Trail and camping at the Walk In Campsite. We loved the views, waterfalls, and walk ability of this park."
from $10 - $270 / night
Check Availability3. Little River RV Park & Campground
"This is my go to campground in fort Payne Alabama. The owners are super nice!! There is a pond with cute ducks!! You can buy a bundle of fire wood for $5."
"This campground is in a great location with amazing trails, history stops, waterfalls, and more located very close by. The owner stopped by our RV to welcome us and is very friendly and helpful."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability4. Little River Adventure Company
"I had seen postings for the Little River Adventure Company over the last few moths and while looking at the map, I realized it was close to the TAT as it dips into AL (Sam's route), which I would be riding"
"I tent camped on a drive-in deluxe site in September with my dog. The host, Giorgio, was pleasant and helpful. He had firewood for sale on the property at a reasonable price."
from $25 - $30 / night
Check Availability5. Wills Creek RV Park
"Easy to get to from I-59 in Fort Payne. They have some sites that are shaded, but the pull through sites are in an open area."
"Quiet RV park close to Ft Payne and surrounding parks such as Desoto state Park. Close to Little River Canyon waterfall among others. (A must see)."
6. Cherokee Rock Village
"We attended North Alabama trails and recreation’s Rock and Rig event here. The park is beautiful with amazing views."
"the locals) since 2011, starting back when it was still largely undeveloped and free…totally worth paying for these days - they’ve made it such a great place: showers, bathrooms, dumpsters, plenty of walk-in"
from $0 - $35 / night
Check Availability7. James H 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park Campground
"Easy access to campground. Swing wide to get centered between the fence post and the culvert. Then you are home free. Getting into the sites was easier."
"Close to home but a nice clean campground. Decent trails. nice lake to jave a lazy day next to..."
from $15 - $180 / night
Check Availability8. Tranquility Campground
"This review is for Tranquility RV and Campgrounds in Mentone Alabama. I really enjoyed camping here."
"A beautiful and peaceful space for tent or RV camping very close to downtown Mentone as well as Desoto State Park."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability9. 1776 RV And Campground
"Nice quiet small campground just outside downtown Mentone. Friendly helpful camp host, clean bathhouse, full hook ups and great wifi access so husband could work from camper."
"It's located right off the main highway, and has pull-through spots with full hookups. But the best part is the screaming fast internet!"
10. Hurricane Creek Campground
Drive Time
- 42 min from Gadsden, AL
- 44 min from Rome, GA
- 1 hr from Chattanooga, TN
- 1 hr 11 min from Anniston, AL
Recent Camping Photos near Fort Payne, AL
369 Photos of 151 Fort Payne Campgrounds
The Dyrt
Little River RV Park & Campground
Lonni B.
Little River Adventure Company
Asher K.
DeSoto State Park Campground
Lance B.
Tranquility Campground
Mike D.
1776 RV And Campground
Nic S.
Dekalb County Public Lake
Kevin H.
Cherokee Reserve RV Park & Campground
Nathan T.
Mountain Cove Resort
theresa E.
Woodybrooke Farm
Peter S.
Michelia's Forest
Brian P.
James H 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park Campground
Dori H.
Cherokee Rock Village
Recent Reviews near Fort Payne, AL
916 Reviews of 151 Fort Payne Campgrounds
- ssav
GuideDavis Pond Campsite
Great!!
Absolutely beautiful. Took a couple of rounds of trial and error to find the spot, which is just a pro for me personally. Once we got there, the place was beautiful. Logging is going on right now, so we were woken up around 6:30 am by the beautiful sounds of machinery and whatnot. Did not catch anything in the pond unfortunately. That’s to be expected when you’re only armed with a Barbie fishing pole and no patience. I have saved the spot and will always be returning whenever I visit Chattanooga!!
- Michael L.Guide
Tillson Bend Campground
One of the nicest campgrounds I have ever been to
An extremely nice campground with a pool, hot tub, swim up tiki bar. Decent bank fishing, Restaurant, very nice bait and takel shop. The bathrooms are only available at the pool area but they are extremely nice and clean, air conditioning, and an ADA shower with a shower chair.
My only complaint is about the wheelchair accessibility of the outdoor area, a few paved ADA sites would be really nice and the transition from the gravel to any paved surfaces have a curb you will have to bump over. There is no pool lift so if you need you are out of luck. I bring a battery powered floor lift chair I purchased off Amazon.
- SSherri B.
TravelerCloudland Canyon State Park Campground
Scenic & Serene
Lots of hiking trails for all levels with beautiful views of waterfalls and canyon. Visitor center is currently under construction so check in at temporary location now. West rim campground seems more desirable, secluded, and natural. East rim campground closer to trailhead and current check on location.
Taylor H.GuideRocky Mountain Recreation and Public Fishing Area
Socially Secluded
Site 24 has a large pad that easily fit our 14x10 tent. It is part shade; our tent received a little sun when we arrived around lunchtime, but only for a couple of hours.
Although the site is next to the walk-in tent parking lot, it sits higher than the parking area, making the parking lot barely noticeable from camp. The wooden railing and a few trees around the site helped create a sense of privacy while still preserving our view of the water. The railing also came in handy for drying towels.
The fire ring includes a cooking grate, and we loved watching the lightning bugs around our site at night. Unlike the fishing areas near the tent sites, we didn’t experience any mosquitoes around our campsite during our stay.
What stood out most about this campground was what I can only describe as being “socially secluded.” There were plenty of other campers, and many sites appeared to be occupied by families and groups camping together. You could occasionally hear laughter and conversation while walking through the campground, which made it feel welcoming and lively. Yet once back at our site, those sounds seemed to disappear. We often forgot we even had neighbors. It was a surprisingly peaceful experience and one of the things we enjoyed most about Site 24.
A gravel path from the tent parking lot leads to a small fishing area with a metal bench and a timed fish feeder, making it a great spot for anglers, especially kids wanting to catch bream/panfish. During our stay they were constantly stealing bait from our hooks until we started using size 8 hooks. Once we switched, we had the best luck fishing close to shore and caught fish one after another. Honestly, if your kids want to make their own fishing pole by tying line and a hook to a stick and yanking fish out of the water, this is the place to do it! You don’t even need worms—a ball of bread worked like a charm! 😂
⛺ The bathrooms were close enough to walk to, clean, and had lighting. However, I recommend bringing a flashlight for nighttime trips since the road leading to them is quite dark.
⛺ There is another small fishing area near the swimming beach, though we didn’t have a chance to try it.
⛺ The dumpsters are located near the swimming beach. Taking your trash on the way there is an easy way to help keep ants out of your campsite.
⛺ The camper registration tags for your site post are located on the information board beside the tent parking area.
⛺ Be aware that Game Wardens actively enforce the rule requiring everyone to be off the lake by sunset, including anglers, swimmers, and boaters.
Next time we visit, we plan to try one of the walk-in tent sites. The path appeared easy enough to navigate with a wagon loaded with camping gear from the parking lot.
- JJosh P.Guide
Tennessee Wall Camp
Avoid.
The road to get to the sites is long, bumpy, and very curvy (so you’ve got to go slow). The sites themselves were full of trash, graffiti, and a homeless camp. We elected to not stay.
- cceleste D.Scout
The Cove RV Resort and Campground
Great campground!
This place has a pretty spring fed lake and a pool. Very clean and an attentive staff.
- Taylor H.Guide
Pocket Campground — Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest
Rain or Shine!
So happy with our short visit and already planning to return!
We stayed one night at Site #2. The site is nicely shaded and has two easy access points to the water—a footpath on one side and a level path with steps on the other. The footpath leads to a beaver dam, which was a neat find. Just be aware there is poison ivy in some areas of the footpath, and we found a few ticks during our visit.
I also don’t suggest swimming in the water near the campsites since there are beavers present. The frogs were very loud at night, which we enjoyed, though it was raining so they may have been more active than usual. The bear-proof trash cans were right across from our site, which was very convenient.
The bathrooms are located across from the picnic area, so driving was an option, but we enjoyed the walk from Site #2. There was no soap in the bathrooms during our visit, so I recommend bringing your own just in case.
If you enjoy birding, this is a fantastic spot, especially around the picnic area. We saw a variety of birds and spent quite a bit of time listening to them.
Our 7-year-old had the best time exploring the creek and spring system. I highly recommend bringing a small net if you’re visiting with kids. We found crawfish and even a baby salamander, which made his day.
The sound of the creek throughout the campground was incredibly relaxing, and the natural beauty of the area made this one of our favorite quick camping trips. We can’t wait to come back and spend a little longer next time.
- BBenjamin G.Scout
Cherokee Rock Village
Great last minute trip
Clean and easy to get to.
Guide to Fort Payne
Camping spots near Fort Payne, Alabama offer diverse terrain with elevation changes ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 feet, creating microclimates that affect camping conditions throughout the year. The area sits at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains where limestone formations create unique camping environments. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-90s while winter nights can drop below freezing.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls and caves: DeSoto State Park has multiple trails leading to waterfalls with varying difficulty levels. "The park is well maintained, has two lakes and 25 camp sites," notes a camper at James H 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park Campground.
Rock climbing: Cherokee Rock Village offers numerous climbing routes for various skill levels within 30 minutes of Fort Payne. A reviewer mentioned, "There are a number of wonderful hiking options here as well. It's a little pricey, especially with the convenience fee and the 13% lodging tax but you get what you pay for and this place is NICE."
Fishing: Many campgrounds have small ponds or lake access. At Tranquility Campground, "There is a 6 acre lake for fishing but it's catch & release. And no swimming or kayaks allowed."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: The West Rim camping at Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground offers more seclusion. "This loop is far more wooded and offers a greater variety of site size and privacy, and has an extremely quiet and peaceful vibe to it."
Clean facilities: Bathhouses at most campgrounds are well-maintained. One visitor to Cherokee Rock Village noted, "Bathroom facilities very clean, well kept with lots of light, heat and hot showers."
Year-round accessibility: Most campgrounds remain open through all seasons. "Each season offers something different. Summertime you can swim, Spring has full waterfalls and beautiful flowers, Fall has colorful leaves, and the winter gives just enough bare trees and icicles for great pictures."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly by location. A camper at Little River Adventure Company mentioned, "The host, Giorgio, is pleasant and helpful. He had firewood for sale on the property at a reasonable price."
Reservation requirements: Most popular sites fill quickly, especially during fall color season and summer holidays. Sites can be reserved as early as 13 months in advance at state parks.
Terrain challenges: Some campgrounds have steep driveways or rough access roads. "Google tried to send us on an alternate road that had a big sign saying ABSOLUTELY no trucks - and from other reviews we gather that's the more treacherous one."
Tips for camping with families
Junior Ranger programs: Some state parks offer educational activities for children. "They have scout activities, a Junior Ranger program, playgrounds, swimming pools, and plenty of trails to hike."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas near camping loops. At 1776 RV And Campground, a visitor reported it's a "Nice quiet small campground just outside downtown Mentone. Friendly helpful camp host, clean bathhouse, full hook ups and great wifi access."
Swimming options: Lakes and pools provide summer cooling opportunities. "Bob and his family recently purchased the park and are working hard to make it better. Phone number is now 256-619-1776. 14 Gravel RV sites FHU 30/50 6 tent sites with electric and water."
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: Many campgrounds feature sloped sites requiring extra leveling blocks. "Sites are unlevel and tight. But LRC is an awesome park and awesome swimming."
Utilities placement: Some RV sites have unusual hookup configurations. "The sites weren't particularly level, all gravel and the grass appeared hastily sown over unleveled soil with large clumps of clay and rocks present."
Access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging approach roads. "Google tried to send us on an alternate road that had a big sign saying ABSOLUTELY no trucks - and from other reviews we gather that's the more treacherous one. This route wasn't bad but for someone who hates windy mountain roads without a camper attached, it did give me a few stomach drops."
Frequently Asked Questions
What tent camping options are available near Fort Payne?
What tent camping options are available near Fort Payne?
Fort Payne offers excellent tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. DeSoto State Park Campground provides dedicated primitive camping areas with gated access to prevent unnecessary traffic, making it ideal for tent campers seeking tranquility. The park features numerous hiking trails and historic TVA sites. For a more unique experience, Little River Adventure Company offers tent sites with essential amenities and convenient access to outdoor activities. Their location is perfect for those exploring the Trans-America Trail. Both locations provide beautiful natural settings typical of the Lookout Mountain region, with elevations around 1,700 feet offering cooler temperatures than surrounding lowlands.
Are there any state parks with camping facilities near Fort Payne?
Are there any state parks with camping facilities near Fort Payne?
Yes, there are excellent state parks with camping facilities near Fort Payne. Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground is a nearby option with handicap-accessible sites and facilities, including a specially designed cabin. The East Rim Campground is conveniently located next to day-use areas, making it perfect for group gatherings. Another option is James H 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park Campground near Summerville, which offers drive-in and walk-in access with reservable sites, toilets, and big-rig-friendly spaces. Both parks provide beautiful natural settings with hiking trails and recreational opportunities within reasonable driving distance from Fort Payne.
Where are the best campgrounds in Fort Payne, Alabama?
Where are the best campgrounds in Fort Payne, Alabama?
Fort Payne boasts several outstanding campgrounds. Little River RV Park & Campground is a local favorite located less than a mile from Little River Canyon National Park. The facility offers various lot options, affordable firewood ($5/bundle), and features a charming pond with ducks. The owners receive consistent praise for their hospitality. Another excellent option is Tranquility Campground in nearby Mentone, providing a peaceful retreat with full amenities. For those seeking larger sites or traveling with RVs, Wills Creek RV Park offers expanding facilities, though the newer sites can be somewhat tight for larger rigs.
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