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Tent Camping near Langston, AL

26 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Primitive tent camping opportunities near Langston, Alabama include both established campgrounds and backcountry sites within a short drive of town. Little River Adventure Company offers spacious tent campsites with riverside access, while the Walls of Jericho - Hurricane Creek Backcountry Campsite provides more remote options for those seeking a wilderness experience. Most sites in the region are within an hour's drive of Langston, with several tent-only options in nearby wildlife management areas across the Alabama-Georgia border.

    Sites range from well-maintained dirt pads to more rugged forest clearings with minimal preparation. Drive-in access varies significantly across locations, with some sites requiring high-clearance vehicles. A camper at Sawmill Lake Campsite noted that "the road leading up to the campsite is extremely rough and washed out" and that they "bottomed out several times" even in a Subaru Outback. Most primitive tent setups in the region lack potable water, with tent campers needing to filter from nearby creeks or bring their own supply. Fire restrictions apply seasonally, though many sites feature established fire rings. Several areas like Blue Hole Dispersed Camping require wildlife management permits.

    Tent-only areas provide distinctive camping experiences impossible to replicate with larger setups. According to one visitor at Little River Adventure Company, "Although there are other sites nearby, they are more geared towards RVs whereas this location is for those who want to tent camp." The tent campsites often feature better seclusion, with sites spaced far enough apart to provide privacy while maintaining access to natural features. Hurricane Creek campsites offer level ground suitable for small groups of tents or hammock camping among the trees. Fall and spring provide the most comfortable tent camping conditions, though summer heat and humidity can be challenging. Proximity to waterways is a common feature, with many backcountry tent sites offering direct creek or river access, allowing for convenient water filtration and swimming opportunities.

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    Best Tent Campgrounds near Langston (26)

      1. Lake Guntersville State Park Campground

      4.6(43)12mi from Langston279 sitesTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Lake Guntersville State Park campground is just about as idyllic as it gets."

      "Anywhere in F would be pretty nice) The primitive section is quite nice looking and right on the waterfront.  "

      2. Cathedral Caverns State Park Campground

      4.3(18)8mi from Langston38 sitesTents, Cabins

      "state employees live fulltime within walking distance of the campsites."

      "There was one picnic table, one set of water/electric utilities, and two fire rings (not sure why there were two). This site could easily fit a large Class A or two smaller campers. "

      3. Buck's Pocket State Park Campground

      4.4(10)5mi from Langston44 sitesTents

      "The sites are very nice with full concrete pads, 50/30 amp electrical, water, picnic table, fire ring and grill."

      "We then set up our picnic lunch at the campsite area and enjoyed some time under the covered tables while the weather turned and a torrential downpour started."

      4. DeSoto State Park Campground

      4.8(76)27mi from Langston120 sitesTents, Cabins

      "Desoto State Park Campground is a large campground with 94 full hookup sites, 16 primitive tent sites, and 2 primitive backcountry sites. All sites with hook ups also included cable hook ups."

      "This part of Alabama is absolutely stunning, at close to 1700 feet in elevation, this area provides some of the most elevation in the state with absolutely stunning natural beauty."

      from $36 / night

      Check Availability

      5. Monte Sano State Park Campground

      4.7(83)28mi from Langston104 sitesTents, Cabins

      "I stayed at site number 063, which was an RV site with electric and water, and it was adjacent to the primitive sites."

      "I'm a local and tent camping saves my sanity from a high preassured daily life. When I cant leave to camp I'll set up at a primitive site here for a week at a time. It's a simple space."

      6. Little River Adventure Company

      4.7(9)27mi from Langston2 sitesTents

      "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."

      "This is a great little campground super close to Little River Canyon! Although there is nowhere to camp inside of the park this is my preference for the closest you can get."

      from $25 - $30 / night

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      7. TGL Adventures

      5.0(2)25mi from Langston5 sitesTents, Glamping

      "We ended up fishing til daylight because the river was physically only 10 steps from our tents. The campsite had just enough light to be able to see go get to the restroom and showers."

      from $25 - $250 / night

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      8. Walls of Jericho - Trailhead Campsite

      2.7(6)31mi from LangstonTents

      "The trailhead campsite is a short walk from the parking lot, but makes for a great basecamp for exploring the area. The campsite is level and large enough to accommodate many tents."

      "The Walls of Jehrico trail offers a handful of first-come/first-serve primitive campsites set adjacent to two separate water sources (streams). "

      9. Hurricane Creek Campground

      5.0(1)27mi from Langston2 sitesTents

      10. Walls of Jericho - Hurricane Creek Backcountry Campsite

      4.3(3)31mi from LangstonTents

      "I just got back from a weekend backpacking trip to Wall of Jericho and stayed at this site located right after coming down the hill before crossing the bridge."

      "This is a great spot to camp if you are wanting to do some easy backpacking in Alabama. It is quiet and right on Hurricane creek on the way to Walls of Jericho."

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    Tent Camping Reviews near Langston, AL

    813 Reviews of 26 Langston Campgrounds


    • Melissa K.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 3, 2017

      Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground

      Beautiful

      This park was really nice. We stopped while passing through. The only sites available were walk in tent sites. This isn't a huge big deal but it wasn't ideal for us at that particular time. We had a hard time identifying our site number as they really weren't marked but it wasn't far from the parking lot. There was a tent pad and fire ring but no picnic table. Not the end of the world as we arrived late and were really just sleeping there for the night. The sounds were amazing, owls for a good part of the night. We did have an issue with noise, there was a large group somewhere that was very loud well in to quiet hours and without a camp hose or attendant in the walk in sites, nothing was done about it and the noise started back up first thing in the morning as well. The park did acknowledge other complaints but without knowing which site they were in, it was hard to correct the situation. We did decide to explore the park before driving on and hiked to two waterfalls. Both hikes contained many stairs which is a good workout. The falls were really pretty and well worth the walk with a toddler.

    • A
      Sep. 5, 2016

      Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground

      Walk-in sites

      Love the tent-only serenity of the walk-in sites. There is a separate parking lot at the back of the park for the walk-in sites, which are a short distance away (easy to haul your gear). The sites have a tent pad, picnic table and fire ring, and lots of privacy as the sites are very far from each other. The bath house has showers and running hot water. the long hike around the canyon and down into it provided amazing views! I'm always thrilled to find camping areas where I can have the convenience of my car-but can avoid the noise of RVs - and you definitely get that here!

    • Katie S.
      Jun. 18, 2019

      Tomahawk Campground

      Ranger Review: GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker with SunShade camp chair at Tomahawk Primitive Campground

      Campground Review: 

      Tomahawk Primitive Campground is located near Cullman, AL right off of Highway 278. The campground is primitive, and has no electricity or water pumps or hookups at the individual sites, but there is a common room area attached to the back of the owner’s house that has a clean bathroom, a coffee maker, and electricity. There are 3 campsites with fire rings as well as a large, open field at the main campground area, and additional sites by the creek, about a 10 minute walk from the main area. The trail to the creek-side sites was partially cleared, but there were a few fallen trees blocking the path that could make it difficult to carry gear to those sites. My husband, puppy and I stayed at one of the tent sites in the main campground area. If you are staying in a tent, I highly recommend air mattresses for this camp. While the ground has been somewhat cleared, there are still large stocks sticking one or 2 inches out of the ground that would make sleeping without an air mattress very uncomfortable. However, the bigger issue making sleep difficult for us was the road noise from the highway, which stayed busy throughout the night. I assume that if you are in a camper you won’t notice it as much, but in a tent it made us feel like we were camping on the side of the highway and not at a camp. Another problem that we ran into, unfortunately after we set up camp, is that our site had a ton of fire ants. I’m not sure if this is a problem at all of the tent sites or if it was just ours, but I advise caution when choosing your site and where you set up your tent. Our favorite part of this campground was the creek. It was beautiful and clear, perfect for our dog to play in, and had good locations to set up a hammock and enjoy the peaceful creek sounds. If we were to stay at this camp again, we would bring gear that could be hauled to the creek-side campsites. 

      Gear Review: GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker with Sunshade 

      As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I sometimes get gear to review on my camping trips. For this trip I got the GCI Pod Rocker with Sunshade camp chair. I LOVE this chair, and so did my husband and dog. The chair comes in a durable carrying case, which is great because I’ve had many camp chair bags fall apart after just a few uses. The chair was a little confusing to set up/take down at first, until I realized that easy-to-follow instructions are attached to the bag. The chair is larger than most camp chairs and provides more support. The sunshade is adjustable and can be moved in several positions as well as completely collapsed. The only complaint that we had about the Pod Rocker is that the included cup holder is a pouch that doesn’t seem like it would actually prevent your drink from spilling. For me, the benefit of having a camp rocking chair far outweighs this one detractor. This chair was wonderful for camping but would also be perfect for outdoor sporting events and concerts. I highly recommend the GCI Pod Rocker with Sunshade! Here is the link for the GCI Pod Rocker with SunShade:  https://www.gcioutdoor.com/rockers/pod-rocker-with-sunshade/

    • Cassandra C.
      Sep. 2, 2017

      Monte Sano State Park Campground

      Quiet campground

      I stayed at site number 063, which was an RV site with electric and water, and it was adjacent to the primitive sites. This campsite had a gravel pad, and setting a tent up outside of the pad was impossible as all of the surrounding area was a steep slope. The pad was plenty big for my one person tent, but I can't imagine anything bigger than a 4 person tent fitting in the area. I definitely recommend the primitive campsites if you're tent camping. The sites in this part of the camp were pretty far apart, and there was plenty of privacy. The park was riddled with trails (22 miles of them), many of which were also open to bikes. The bathhouse was pretty far from site 063, but they were clean.

    • Steve V.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 30, 2019

      DeSoto State Park Campground

      Relaxing Fall Weekend

      This was our first time staying at Desoto after being here previously to hike. Desoto State Park Campground is a large campground with 94 full hookup sites, 16 primitive tent sites, and 2 primitive backcountry sites. All sites with hook ups also included cable hook ups. All the sites are gravel and most sites are wooded with lots of shade. The sites are a little sloped, so have leveling equipment ready. The sites vary from small and close together in the pull through area, to medium size with plenty of separation for some privacy. All style sites include a picnic table and fire ring. 

      Check-in is at the camp store if you arrive during store hours or at the lodge if you arrive after hours. We stayed on site 15, which had a little sun in the morning and complete shade in the afternoon. This site does have a little slope in it, which was no problem for leveling our trailer, but our friends that were with us and in a tent had to deal with setting up on a little slope. 

      The bathhouse is centrally located, newer, and cleaned daily. There are also laundry machines available between the men’s and women’s area.. 

      Firewood, ice, limited grocery items, and lots of souvenirs were available at the camp store. There is a full grocery store less than 15 minutes away. 

      We found ok to limited cell phone service with Verizon throughout the property. The state park did have wi-fi near the camp store. 

      The park has lots of hiking to enjoy the outdoors, a few smaller waterfalls along some of the trails, a zipline and sky bridge course(for a fee), and a large waterfall a short 5 minute drive from the campground. The river above the large waterfall is also available for kayaking and canoeing, and a small outfitter rents boats if you need one. 

      The state park is located in a very outdoorsy area with various activities to take inn. We look forward to visiting here again.

    • Aly V.The Dyrt PRO User
      Mar. 23, 2025

      Woodybrooke Farm

      Hipcamp near cloudland canyon

      This place is perfect. Small outhouse and far away from everyone. Long gravel road you can drive or walk to three separate ponds to fish(they keep them stocked) and you can also kayak or canoe on the ponds. They have a great little community kitchen and the Hipcamp owner is so sweet! Lots of tent sites and a couple rv electric sites but no water or sewer hookup for the fancier campers needing more accommodations. No shower area besides an outdoor shower near the community kitchen area and good cell signal! And a store is ten minutes from camp so grab some food to cook over the fire! This is a perfect get in touch with nature spot. They have fire rings and tables everywhere and also have firewood! And dog friendly!

    • Taylor H.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 8, 2026

      Rocky 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.

    • Jeremy H.
      Jun. 22, 2019

      Cathedral Caverns State Park Campground

      Clean, Quiet, Comfortable

      My son Charlie(age 8) and I camped at Cathedral Caverns State Park on June 17, 2019. It was a Monday night. We chose one of the primitive campground sites and paid a little under$20 for one night. Since we were camping we received a discount on our cave tour the next day. It's worth noting that all of the primitive and RV campsites are outside of the state park’s main gates which means that anyone can easily enter or leave the camp at anytime day or night; however, two state employees live fulltime within walking distance of the campsites. It was encouraging to know that help was only steps away if we needed it. One of the rangers actually stopped and introduced himself while making his early evening round. He verified that I had registered at the camp, informed me that it might rain that night, and wished us a good evening. A father and son also drove through the campground about that time in a personal car. I expected him to camp, but later when we went for a walk, we didn’t find him. On our walk we went down to the restrooms gathering kindling in large, reusable grocery bags. We also brought our one gallon water jug. It’s quite a walk to the restroom and unless you are driving, it would be unreasonable to rely on it as your bathroom. Bring a camping toilet or a shovel. The RV sites are right next to the restrooms, which means that if you are in the primitive site it is very unlikely that you will hear RV generators all night. There were no RVs there on our night because the sites were being overhauled and it was closed though the restrooms were still up and running. The restrooms were very clean and spacious with clean, new shower curtains and it was fully stocked with supplies. I can’t say if the water was hot, but my suspicion is that it probably was since the rest of the facility is well kept. Back to the kindling: There’s plenty to be had and we even found four or five logs left by our campsite by a previous camper. Speaking of firewood, there’s plenty of that for sale for a reasonable$10.00 at the restroom facility. Money’s left in a box on the honor system. After cooking two cans of Southgate chili on an improvised Sweedish fire using the charitable camper’s firewood, we played in the field which was easily accessible from the primitive campsite. It’s guarded by a feral but entertaining cat who has an appetite for small rabbits. He almost caught one when he chased it through the campsite and under the picnic table where we happened to be eating supper. I’m not sure if he ever caught him but the last time I saw them they were running through the campsite like the wind. The campsite was simple. There was a fire ring and an old picnic table. You might want to bring a table cloth along or use a tarp if you’re doing more than heating up canned chili. The site was clean as was the entire park. I was easily able to back into the site with a 2007 Trailblazer. Though we had planned on tent camping, we ended up sleeping in the Trailblazer. Dad brought the tent, but he forgot the poles. All of the sites were clean and would have made wonderful tent sites. They were spaced adequately apart to provide a sense of privacy though if you’re pooping in a bucket you might have to be strategic in your temporary John placement. I don’t think my wife would have liked the bathroom situation at all and it might have been a bigger issue for Charlie and me if there’d been anyone else on the campground. We were the sole campers at Cathedral Caverns during our visit. We weren’t the only people using the park though. There were plenty who come to see the cave which true to its name feels like a Cathedral. I’ve been in a few tourist caves but there’s something different about this one. Our tour guide did a great job not only telling us about the beauty and history of the cave, but helped us to imagine one of the caves first explorers and its benefactor Mr, Gurly. If that description doesn’t make you want to visit, here’s this: Legend says there’s a ledge in the cave and if you toss a coin and land it right on the ledge you get your wish. After I tossed my dime I regretted instantly not wishing for a billion instead of a million dollars. I was assured by the tour guide that I could expect my check any day now, so the star review might change depending on how quickly the check rolls in.

    • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 14, 2017

      Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground

      Gets its name honest

      Outside Trenton, Ga, off of I59 Cloudland Canyon State Park has the views!

      The West Rim trail was not super difficult but lots of roots and rocks, so watch your step. Plenty of overlook opportunities, the main overlook is at the Interpretive Center. Bear Creak is a back country 7+ mile adventure, check in before you go. There are several other shorter trails including a waterfall Trail. Then there's 5 Points Recreation Area which has bike, horse and hiking trails.

      There are cabins, yurts, RV camping, back country sites and walk in tent sites, BUT reserve early! Friendly helpful staff have taken good care of the maintenance of the camping areas and the trails.

      I liked the walkin campsite. It was far enough away from the other sites to not be disturbed, had connector trails to other areas of the park and a stream nearby. Plenty of room for more then one tent or hammocks and a picnic table and fire ring.


    Guide to Langston

    Tent camping opportunities near Langston, Alabama sit within the Southern Appalachian foothills at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,800 feet. The region spans portions of Jackson County and extends into neighboring Georgia and Tennessee, offering diverse terrain from riverside campsites to mountain plateaus. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall maintain more moderate 65-75°F daytime temperatures.

    What to do

    Cave exploration: 45 minutes from Langston. Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA offers access to Ellison's Cave, one of the deepest cave systems in the continental United States. "We stayed 3 days 2 nights here in our 21' pop up camper with our generator. Road is pretty well maintained, spots are good size, some only large enough for tent/car camping. We were never bothered and it's right down the road from blue hole and Ellison Cave trail," notes Ava R.

    Rock climbing: Short drive from most campsites. The area around Sawmill Lake Campsite provides access to world-class bouldering. "This is a nice primitive camp site just a 2 min walk from Petty John Cave and a 5 min drive to Rock Town Trailhead. Come here to try your hand at rock climbing and spelunking. The permit was 15 dollars to access Rock Town and the Caves," shares Lisa.

    Swimming holes: Direct water access. Multiple tent camping areas feature nearby swimming opportunities. At TGL Adventures, Heather B. describes how "we ended up fishing til daylight because the river was physically only 10 steps from our tents. There were even steps to take down to the river where we were able to get in and splash around."

    What campers like

    Secluded tent-specific areas: Unlike many campgrounds prioritizing RVs, Little River Adventure Company caters specifically to tent campers. John S. explains: "I tent camped on a drive-in deluxe site in September with my dog. My site was flat, spacious, and easy to unload and set up on. The rest of the sites also looked very spacious and fairly flat."

    Backcountry river access: Many campers value the isolation and direct water proximity. At Hurricane Creek Backcountry Campsite, Hannah C. notes "This is a great spot to camp if you are wanting to do some easy backpacking in Alabama. It is quiet and right on Hurricane creek on the way to Walls of Jericho."

    Mountain camping without facilities: Sites on Pigeon Mountain offer primitive camping with extraordinary access to natural features. Michael M. describes camping at Blue Hole: "It has a blue hole and caves, no electricity or running water but the camp sites are pretty good. An they do have a handicap access area for RVs to do disperse camping also an parking for the bluehole...no one to bother you!"

    What you should know

    Required permits for wildlife areas: Several tent camping options require special permits. "Land pass required. No alcohol is permitted. This is a wildlife management area. The camp sites are first come, first serve," explains Sarah H. about Blue Hole Dispersed Camping.

    Difficult road conditions: Many campsites have challenging access roads. Mitchell M. advises about Sawmill Lake: "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."

    Bathroom limitations: Most primitive sites have minimal or no facilities. At Little River Adventure Company, one camper notes the "'Bathhouse' advertised was a freezing shed with a horse trough as a shower that was a quarter mile from all of the sites," while another more positive review clarified "I do recommend bringing your own toilet accommodations since you'll probably pick a site further from the bath house (which was very clean and maintained)."

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground amenities: When tent camping with children, Whippoorwill Woods Nature Retreat offers facilities that cater to families. "Kristine was very communicative and hospitable. She provided plenty of water complimentary along with a s'mores gift bag. There was even a very clean local porta potty," says Katie.

    Kid-friendly water features: TGL Adventures provides river access with specially constructed steps for safe water entry. Chris B. notes "This place is really nice. The folks that run it are caring and inviting. It is a great experience. Nice playground for the kids as well."

    Camp host assistance: Some sites offer on-site hosts who can help families. At Little River Adventure Company, Lonni B. shares "Giorgio has an amazing set up here. He was super helpful and accommodating. We were in a mini van and were still able to navigate the grounds and dirt road pretty easily. Our kids were amazed by the water access and walking trails."

    Tips from RVers

    Access limitations: Most tent camping areas have restricted RV access. At the best tent camping near Langston, Alabama, Dakota F. appreciates Little River Adventure Company because "It's completely different than any other campground we've been to in the sense that the campsites are secluded and private."

    Site selection for larger vehicles: Campers with small trailers should choose carefully. Sierra Y. advises about Sawmill Lake: "I came from the west and had no problems getting my 23ft camper up the mountain. Trees fall easily so if it's windy be careful where you park. You do need a land pass to be here, the website is on the sign coming in and it was around $60."

    Extended-stay options: Some campgrounds allow longer stays. Sierra Y. reports "Stayed 13 days" at Sawmill Lake, noting "There were a few people that stayed in a tent for a night or two here and there, but I didn't see any other RV/Campers so every spot was open."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Langston, AL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Langston, AL is Lake Guntersville State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 43 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Langston, AL?

    TheDyrt.com has all 26 tent camping locations near Langston, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.