Best Campgrounds near Marion Junction, AL

The Alabama River region surrounding Marion Junction contains multiple established campgrounds operated by the Army Corps of Engineers and State Parks. Millers Ferry Campground and Chilatchee Creek Campground provide water access camping with boat ramps along the Alabama River system. Most sites accommodate both tent and RV camping, with amenities varying between basic and developed. Prairie Creek Campground and Roland Cooper State Park offer year-round camping options, while others like Gunter Hill operate seasonally from March through October.

Access to many campgrounds requires driving on rural roads, with some sites located considerable distances from towns or major highways. Chilatchee Creek Campground features a rough dirt road section before reaching the campground entrance. Most campgrounds provide water and electric hookups, though sewer connections are limited to select locations. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winters remain mild. Reservation requirements vary by location, with most Corps of Engineers sites using the Recreation.gov system. Cell service can be unreliable at more remote locations. "Don't let the partial dirt road fool you. What a find. Secluded, quiet, plenty of wildlife and great fishing," noted one visitor about Chilatchee Creek.

Waterfront camping represents the primary draw throughout the region, with multiple sites providing direct access to the Alabama River and associated lakes. Fishing proves particularly popular, with catfish mentioned frequently in visitor feedback. Campers consistently rate water access sites highest, with spacious, shaded locations receiving positive reviews. Several campgrounds feature boat ramps and fishing piers. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, visitors appreciate the region's relative seclusion and peaceful atmosphere, though bathroom facilities receive mixed reviews. Millers Ferry earns praise for family-friendly amenities including a swimming area and playground. Paul M. Grist State Park shows evidence of budget constraints with limited maintenance, while Chilatchee Creek visitors consistently mention excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, including birds, turtles, and occasional alligator sightings.

Best Camping Sites Near Marion Junction, Alabama (46)

    1. COE Alabama River Lakes Chilatchee Creek Campground

    8 Reviews
    Camden, AL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (334) 573-2562

    $14 - $26 / night

    "Very isolated with full amenities on the Alabama river system.. David and Lora Fitch."

    "I thought I was lost I had traveled so far off the beaten path. Suddenly I see a sign! Whew! Surrounded by water this campground was not very full in November."

    2. Millers Ferry Campground

    12 Reviews
    Camden, AL
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (334) 682-4191

    $26 / night

    "Great camground, with plenty of access to river. There is even a beach for swimming!"

    "It is by a beautiful lake and a friendly, well kept campground. It's also close to home so it is easy to run down and get out of town."

    3. Prairie Creek Campground

    16 Reviews
    Selma, AL
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (334) 418-4919

    $22 - $32 / night

    "We stayed here for one night while traveling through Alabama. Looks like most of the sites are level with concrete parking pads. Many great waterfront sites with lots of big shade trees."

    "Sites along the lake tended to be closer together than I like, but with great views. Sites across the street tended to offer a little more space and, in some cases, more privacy."

    4. Paul M. Grist State Park Campground

    2 Reviews
    Stanton, AL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (334) 872-5846

    "Great hiking trail for a quick half day visit and also plenty of room on the ponds dam for tent camping!"

    5. Buckaroo Campground and Rv Park

    Be the first to review!
    Selma, AL
    10 miles
    +1 (334) 267-5390

    $35 - $50 / night

    6. Elm Bluff Campground — Alabama River Lakes

    1 Review
    Camden, AL
    20 miles
    +1 (334) 872-9554

    $14 / night

    7. Gunter Hill

    35 Reviews
    Prattville, AL
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (334) 269-1053

    $26 - $32 / night

    "Very quiet peaceful campground on the wooded shores of the Alabama River. Plenty of level sites. Bathroom and showers centrally located."

    "Gunter Hill Park is a Corp of Engineers campground just outside of Montgomery, Alabama. Although we have not camped at many COE parks, I can't imagine any of them topping this one!"

    8. Roland Cooper State Park Campground

    3 Reviews
    Camden, AL
    26 miles
    Website

    "last couple of months on my motorcycle you see I have recently got into Hammock camping… as I was looking for a destination I wanted to go somewhere out-of-the-way so I found this little state park in Alabama"

    9. Six Mile Creek

    Be the first to review!
    Selma, AL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (334) 872-9554

    $26 - $60 / night

    10. Payne Lake West Side

    7 Reviews
    Moundville, AL
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 926-9765

    "The lake was full of lily pads in bloom when we arrived mid-morning."

    "Watching the sun come up on this lake was so calming. We camped in site 16 and had a good view and a little walk way to the water."

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Recent Reviews near Marion Junction, AL

183 Reviews of 46 Marion Junction Campgrounds


  • Hannah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 10, 2025

    Runaway Branch

    Great boat launch and picnic spot

    This is a great boat launch with picnic areas. Well maintained with public restrooms. You cannot camp here, but there is nearby camping facilities in both Forkland and Demopolis.

  • Hannah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 10, 2025

    Bells Landing

    Needs maintenance

    I was driving through and hoped to find a beautiful campground to come visit. However the campground needed maintenance and a good cleaning. The boat ramp is still in good condition, but the campsites were covered in leaves and I couldn’t even see the tent pads. If this had been updated, it would be a nice quiet park.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    COE Alabama River Lakes Chilatchee Creek Campground

    Weekend trip

    Wonderful remote campground. Definitely has that out of the way,secluded vibe. It was very peaceful. The sites are nice level concrete and gravel pads, many of which have beautiful water front views. There are provisions for fishing as well. The camp host is very helpful. The bathhouses are minimal and outdated, but very clean. Would definitely come back.

  • Krystal T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Jennings Ferry

    Wonderful people

    We pulled in after dark so we couldn’t see much at first. I will say the turn to go in is a bit steep and we bottomed out in the camper but no harm no foul. Our host, Mini, was an absolute treasure. We found our spot and set up quickly on the nicely paved spot (2). The next day we were blown away. It was quiet, insanely clean bathrooms (thanks bill and co) and a cute play area for our 6 yo. We rode bike in a loop and checked out the trail while stopping to speak to several COE employees that were a delight. The other campers were respectful, kind and courteous. The next host (didn’t catch her name) was just as accommodating and instead of the one night, we stayed 3. Would go back again and again. One of the best experiences for us, we are novices but don’t need a lot of frills. There is a walking trail and boat ramp along with riverside campsites that we did not utilize but checked out. Gold star.

  • R
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Chilton County Minooka Park

    Fine for big RV’s

    It’s more of an RV park than campground. There are spaces for tents, but they don’t have picnic tables. The trees are actually behind the sites. So, don’t think about a hammock. The bathrooms are clean, but there are no showers.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 14, 2025

    Gunter Hill

    Overnight at Gunter Hill Cmpgrd

    We stayed overnight on site 35. It has full hookups , however the sewer was a bit far from the paring pad. If you have a single black tank hose this may be N issue. However, seeing as we only stayed 1 night I did not plan on hooking up anyway. The site is right across from the bathroom/showers which are individual rather than community type layout , and they were clean and well maintained. For the kiddies there is also a sizable modern playground right next to the bathhouse. The park attendant at the entrance was very pleasant and my pass was ready and available in the rack outside the check-in station which made it extremely easy. It was a Thursday night following 4th of July and there were several others there but only a small number of other campers. Reservations can be made online at recreation.gov

  • Hannah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2025

    Payne Lake Spillway

    Spillway recreation area

    The Payne Lake spillway is a nice place to have a picnic and view the lake. There is a pavilion with four picnic tables underneath it and then there are isolated picnic tables around the area. They have fire pits and grills nearby for cooking. There are also bathrooms across from the pavilion. The boat ramp for the lake is right down the road from the spillway parking area. No camping is allowed in this area of the campground.

  • Shellie K.
    Apr. 16, 2025

    Millers Ferry Campground

    Great little getaway

    Peaceful! Wish it had more trails but it was nice.

  • Michael U.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 13, 2025

    Moundville Archaeological Park

    Tent camping not recommended

    The rv sites look maintained. Tent camping is not. Ground is unkept so be careful of sticks poking holes in the floor. If you have a truck-mounted tent, you will have to get an RV site as you have to carry your tent a short ways. The rest of the park is great.


Guide to Marion Junction

The Alabama River Lakes region near Marion Junction features multiple established campgrounds providing water access and varied camping experiences. Chilatchee Creek Campground, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site, offers waterfront RV and tent sites with concrete pads and electrical hookups along the Alabama River. Other nearby options include Millers Ferry Campground and Prairie Creek Campground, both providing amenities for recreational vehicles and tent campers. The region has several sites with boat launch facilities, making them popular destinations for fishing and water activities.

Road conditions vary when accessing some campgrounds in the area, with several sites requiring travel on dirt or gravel roads. Most campgrounds in the region offer water and electric hookups, though sewer connections are limited to select locations like Prairie Creek and Gunter Hill. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though some like Gunter Hill operate seasonally from March through October. Bathhouse facilities exist at most locations but vary in quality and upkeep. Cell service can be limited at more remote sites. As one camper noted about Chilatchee Creek, "Don't let the partial dirt road fool you. What a find. Secluded, quiet, plenty of wildlife and great fishing."

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the Alabama River system. Several campgrounds feature private docks, fishing platforms, and boat ramps that provide direct water access. Sites at Millers Ferry and Chilatchee Creek Campgrounds receive particularly high ratings for their spacious, well-separated campsites and peaceful settings. Reviewers frequently mention wildlife viewing opportunities, including birds, turtles, and occasionally alligators. While bathhouse facilities at some locations are described as dated but clean, the natural settings and water access compensate for these limitations. According to one visitor at Millers Ferry, the campground features "great space between sites, pet friendly, nice bathrooms and showers, friendly and helpful host, clean site with concrete pad and picnic table and fire pit."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Marion Junction, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Marion Junction, AL is COE Alabama River Lakes Chilatchee Creek Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 8 reviews.

What parks are near Marion Junction, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Marion Junction, AL that allow camping, notably Alabama River Lakes and Black Warrior and Tombigbee Lakes.