Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Mentone, AL

This review is for Tranquility RV and Campgrounds in Mentone Alabama. I really enjoyed camping here. A lake front campsite with water & power hookup was $30 per night and that was on Memorial Day Weekend. The campsite was a nice size and it’s pet friendly. There is a 6 acre lake for fishing but it’s catch & release. And no swimming or kayaks allowed. There was a bath house with toilets and showers not too far from the tent camping sites. DeSoto Falls and Desoto State Park are also very close by. I have map of the campground that shows the lot numbers, I’ll post it with my photos.

Due to some poor planning on my part, we had a free night in-between Tennessee and Georgia, we found this place here on the Dyrt, and it was absolutely spectacular. 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 the nearby waterfalls, which are a short drive from the campground to Little River Canyon national river, also a short drive, this area has so much to offer. The campground itself is perfectly maintained, beautiful, spacious, and wooded sites with functioning hookups, clean restrooms, and beautiful natural surroundings. Initially, we stayed here just to tag the base and say we’ve camped in Alabama, but after spending the night, we will absolutely go back to this facility!

This campground is beautiful in the middle of the mountains. It is unique as well, in that there is a cavern entrance right on site. You are able to do a quick 45 minute knowledge tour or you can do a muddy tour, which is longer and takes you further into the cavern.

There are RV and tent sites available as well as large group sites. The bathhouse a nice size and very well kept. There is also a laundry facility on site, which is nice for those the want to go in the mud rooms on the long tour. There are two different stores, one is for the camping reservations, and the other is for the caverns. They are doing renovations, so the cavern store is in a little trailer right now (August 2018).

The people were very nice and helpful. We stayed during the rainy season, so the lady in charge that day, made sure to drive around and warn us that in an emergency situation, we would either go in the cave for shelter, or the bathhouse, which is made of brick. It was nice to know she cared so much to drive to each site and warn us. Luckily, we only got a small shower the next morning, so we had no weather issues.

Lastly, and very important to us, was the on site dog park. My dog was very happy to run and chase her ball off of a leash. Its large and well maintained with a small dog ramp inside.

Side note, there are about 12 cats that roam the facility. The are very friendly and will not hesitate to jump in your car or trailer so keep an eye out for them!!

Located just barely on the Georgia side of the GA/TN border, Holiday Travel Park has a community feel with its many full hook-up sites, most of which are extremely close together. 

We are tent campers and there is not much here if you are not in an RV--they are nestled into the back of the campground, and have the benefit of a large grassy area so kids can run and stretch their legs, but quiet and privacy are still lacking. There is also a dog park located at the campground entrance so the four legged kids can run freely, and a playground next to the dog park, however it is in full sun so will be hot during the summer months--which is the perfect time to use the pool! Unfortunately due to COVID-19 both the pool and playground are closed at the time of this review, but it is good to know they are there once public spaces can open again.

This campground has two sides; to the right of the main entrance is decidedly more shady while the side to the left gets more sun, and it seemed as though the shady side hosted many campers who were there long term. We even saw one set-up where it looked like someone had a couple of tomato plants growing in containers! These sites are all very close together but still had a peaceful vibe under the shady trees. The sunnier side (sites in the 100s) is where the playground, tent sites, and large grassy field are, so while the sites are still very close together there is a little bit more public space for larger groups or families. 

There are three camping cabins that rent to groups of 2 people, and two camping cottages; a loft for groups of 4, or a one bedroom for groups of 6. Cabins and cottages have beds (you must bring your own linens), electricity, running water, grills, picnic tables, and the loft has a small kitchen. 

This is a great stop for campers who want to see the Chattanooga/Chicakmauga area, and it has great amenities for families. However this is not a campground for those looking for a relaxing experience in nature due to proximity to the interstate and surrounding neighborhoods, and the small sites and lack of privacy from fellow campers.