Monte Sano State Park Campground sits at 1,600 feet elevation on a mountain plateau overlooking Huntsville, offering cooler temperatures than surrounding areas. The park provides 89 improved campsites with most sites featuring natural shade from the mature forest. Several campgrounds in this region fill quickly during spring and fall when temperatures are most moderate.
What to do
Trail exploration: Monte Sano State Park has extensive hiking and biking trails with varying difficulty levels. One camper notes, "The hiking is moderate to extreme up and down some interesting rock formations. The mountain bikers and bikers seem to enjoy themselves too, flying down the closed roadway or the steep roadways and challenging themselves on the rocky terrain."
Water activities: Decatur / Wheeler Lake KOA Holiday offers numerous water-based recreational options. According to a visitor, "There's horse back riding, paddle boards, jet skis, electric bicycles to rent & Kayaks. We can not wait to stay again."
Golf access: Several campgrounds provide easy access to golf courses. Point Mallard City Campground has a golf course at its entrance, with a camper mentioning, "The golf course is at the campground entrance."
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Monte Sano State Park Campground receives praise for site layout. One camper shares, "The campground is well kept, sites spacious and they have trees in between for some privacy. There are several that are double spots if your going w/friends and family."
Waterfront locations: Many campers value water access. A visitor at Wheeler Lake KOA stated, "We stayed in spot 12. Beautiful lakefront location! Electric/water hookup only. Workers were wonderful and place all together is clean and well maintained."
Quiet settings despite proximity to towns: Campers appreciate the balance of seclusion and convenience. A reviewer noted, "Monte Sano State Park is conveniently situated right next to Huntsville, Al. So you can feel as if your out in the middle of nowhere and town is 10 minutes down the road."
What you should know
Military-exclusive camping: Redstone Arsenal RV Park & Campground requires military ID for entry. A camper advises, "You must have access to military base to use. They have Laundry. Showers and bath. Full hook up."
Seasonal variations: Summer temperatures can reach above 90°F with high humidity. Winter camping is available but can include freezing temperatures. Monte Sano State Park has a seperate tenting area connected to the rear of the campground.
Limited facilities at some locations: Not all campgrounds offer full amenities. A visitor at Northgate RV Travel Park reports, "This is a bare bones CG with no amenities. Most of the sites have FHUs. The pad was plenty long enough for our 40' fifth wheel and F450 plus fairly level."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds have dedicated play areas for children. At Monte Sano State Park, "There are cool little wooden play obstacles for the kids in the campground and a huge playground 1/2 mile away inside the park."
Kid-friendly water options: Wheeler Lake KOA offers water activities suitable for various ages. A family reported, "It was breathtakingly beautiful! They have a rope course, water activities/rentals, cabins, rv/camper/tent sites waterside, and more."
Pet friendly options: For families traveling with pets to T's Outback RV Park, sites are well-maintained. A reviewer mentioned, "Gravel road but cement pavements on site. Site is very clean and landscape is well maintained."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: At Northgate RV Travel Park, certain sites offer additional benefits. A camper explained, "The advantage of this site, is that it has a yard area as the other sites do not."
Navigation cautions: Some parks have challenging entrances. At Northgate, "There's a deep ditch on either side of the driveway when you pull in, so keep an eye on how your rig tracks."
Full hookup availability: For those requiring complete services, several options exist. At Jay Landings Marina & RV Park, "Site was very clean and well spaced from other campers. Site was level and required no adjustments to level the RV."
Reservation timing: Pet friendly camping near Madison, Alabama often requires advance planning. One camper advised, "We had to maneuver the trailer around the trees but not complaining about the shade. The staff were very helpful. Everyone had to wait while we backed in & unhitched because go the narrow roads but we had a wonderful few nights there."
