Best Tent Camping near Mobile, AL

Tent campsites in the Mobile, Alabama region provide access to wooded surroundings and waterfront opportunities. Shepard State Park Campground in Gautier, Mississippi, approximately 30 miles from Mobile, offers dedicated primitive tent camping areas with spacious sites situated near multiple trailheads. Escatawpa Hollow Campground in Wilmer, Alabama provides year-round tent camping options with water and electric hookups available. Bluff Springs Campground in northern Florida represents another option for tent campers willing to travel slightly farther from Mobile.

Sites at these campgrounds vary in terrain and amenities, with most offering basic facilities for tent campers. Shepard State Park features level gravel areas with fire rings and picnic tables at established sites. The primitive camping areas provide more secluded experiences near boat launches and trail access points. Bathroom facilities range from newly renovated to basic, with most tent-specific campgrounds providing toilets and showers. During summer months, insect activity increases substantially throughout the Gulf Coast region, requiring proper preparation for tent campers. Most areas permit pets with standard leash requirements.

The tent camping experience near Mobile offers both waterfront and forested settings. Areas within Shepard State Park provide privacy despite moderate campground occupancy. According to one visitor, "The primitive campsite was very nice. Even though the park was a bit crowded we still had privacy." Trails connect to many tent camping areas, allowing for hiking opportunities directly from campsites. Multiple campgrounds feature water access for fishing or small watercraft launching. Most tent sites in the region provide adequate shade from the Gulf Coast sun, though summer heat remains a consideration for tent campers. Sites typically feature enough space between neighbors to maintain a natural camping experience, with primitive areas offering greater seclusion than developed campgrounds. Tree cover varies by location, with most tent sites benefiting from partial to full shade.

Best Tent Sites Near Mobile, Alabama (6)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Mobile, AL

5 Photos of 6 Mobile Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Mobile, AL

459 Reviews of 6 Mobile Campgrounds


  • Asher K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2017

    Blakeley State Park Campground

    Educational Trails

    The park is set up on a historic site where they have several trails set up talking about civil war battles that occurred there. They have two separate areas for camping where one is for RVs and tents and the other is the more basic tent only sites. I visited the tent only area which had many many sites and most had a nice amount of space with a good bit of privacy. I was there in June though and it gets really hot during the day and night and also very buggy. If you were here in the fall or winter it could be a great place to camp though. The bathrooms were nice but nothing special. There is a single bathroom for all of the tent sites so if you are far you could have a pretty long walk. The sites are pretty cool to see so if you are a civil war buff it might be worth checking out. The camping is expensive though at $20 a night for the tent sites and $30 for an RV site. People were friendly though and it was one of the nicest places in the area.

  • Karen L.
    May. 17, 2018

    Blakeley State Park Campground

    Very large park, hiking, camping, battlegrounds

    Blakely State Park is a very large State Park, with different choices for camping. There are larger primitive tent sites, smaller tent sites with power/water hookups, RV sites, two primitive cabins and 2 newer cabins which are very nice. There's TONS of hiking, a battleground for history buffs, a playground, a boatdock, lots of hiking, horseback riding etc.

    I stayed in one of the two Squirrels Nest, which are primitive cabins. Basically open air cabins. 2 walls, a roof and 2 walls of screens. There are two wooden platforms for beds. A twin and a queen, and barstools to sit inside and look out into the woods, over the hill in which they are nestled. There's a sink (but no water) and a cabinet, and outside a large deck with bench seating. Below is a fire pit and picnic table. There is a shared porta potty outside of the two cabins. These cabins are a bit of a drive out in the woods, so make sure your vehicle is up to it. It's very peaceful out there. My cabin was inhabited by mice at night, so I kept my food in airtight plastic paint bucket containers & my belongings covered by garbage bags on one of the platforms and had my air mattress inside a pop-up mosquito tent, so the mice did not bother me. I was after all in their house. I sprinkled peppermint oil around my gear & my bed platform to keep the mice away. Next time I will have my food in a large cooler so that the wildlife is not attracted.

    There are hiking trails by these sites, as well as, steps down the hill, leading off into another trail.

    i would stay there again. Great place to get away.

  • Lisa S.
    Apr. 5, 2021

    Harper - Blakeley State Park

    Beautiful Well Maintained Huge Park

    April 4, 2021 Camper Van Site: Harper #7 Primitive $20 Over 2,000 acres crisscrossed with trails. Interesting replication of the ghost town of Blakeley which disappeared around 1830, but before then it rivaled Mobile in population and economy. Harper loop, where I camped, is at least a mile into the woods and has no hook ups. The sites have picnic tables and fire rings and offer decent privacy. Bath house is 7 minute walk. My shower was cold. Dumpsters near bath house. Staff house nearby. Staff very pleasant and helpful. Wish I could stay more than two nights.

    RV park closer to entrance.

  • G
    Jul. 12, 2021

    Big Lagoon State Park Campground

    Big Lagoon State Park - Florida - Nice, quiet state park.

    Stayed at Big Lagoon 7/8/2021 for 4 nights in 24” travel trailer. There is a mixture of sites that have dirt, gravel, sand, fully paved, partial paved drives.

    Our first site: # 45 was a back in and was in low area, near a marshy area. Entire site was muddy, and caked on to your shoes. (It had been pretty rainy the previous day, but we stayed at this site 2 nights and never really dried out.

    Went to Ranger who was very helpful and moved us, 1 site over: # 46. This site had a paved area for Trailer and wide cement area to walk in and out of.. a much better site. With the heavy foliage through out the park, sites are pretty private.

    If you look at the campground map, you will see the sites on the north side are a bit higher and elevation and did not seem to have any issue with water. When booking, read the description of the site, carefully, some are tent only, or very short drive so limited what you can put where.

    Campground is gated, and you are given a code for “off hours” entrance. Used rest rooms and shower. Very clean and really hot water. No water views, short walk to water BUT, board walk was still closed due to last hurricane. Looks very close to being done.

    Lastly: Campers: if you do not plan on keeping your reservation, please be kind and formally cancel. We wanted to move the first night but sign at Ranger stated “campground full” so we did not ask.. next morning there were at least 5 or 6 sites where people did not show nor cancelled.

  • Sam S.
    Jan. 18, 2022

    Mystic Springs Recreation Area

    And it comes with a cat!

    Loved this place. It doesn’t look like it on the campground map, but most sites are secluded and come with their own picnic table, fire ring, and cover! The cover is amazing - you can put your tent, car or camper under it to stay dry. Makes me wonder why more campgrounds don’t have something similar. There’s a portapotty available, and it’s one of the cleanest I’ve visited.

    Only issue with this place is the reservation system. I like that you can reserve a site in advance, but it seems like a lot of people take advantage of it and don’t end up showing. While I was here I think almost all the sites were officially booked, yet less than half actually were occupied. Please don’t do this if you’re staying here!

    Oh yea, there was a pregnant cat at my site (6) as well. She was very sweet and maybe you’ll get to see her kittens if you stay here!

  • Lynn G.
    Sep. 30, 2017

    Blakeley State Park Campground

    Civil war history and beautiful scenery

    When you think Alabama this is the kind of beauty you imagine. The water, huge oak and cypress trees, Spanish moss, boardwalks are all lovely to explore. The Civil War history is interesting and the rangers are well-versed in history (I think they have reenactments sometimes). Great hiking trails (all easy, not too long) that are horse friendly (BYOH). There’s a nature center and lots of different ecosystems.

    Yay: Campgrounds are shaded in fairly dense forests for good privacy. They have simple campsites to full RV campsites, all have a fire ring and similar atmosphere. There are a few different campgrounds, one is tent only. They also have relatively new camping shelters that get you out of the bugs.

    Nay: Close to Mobile so can be crowded. A little expensive for camping. Some areas have just a pit toilet and some have full flush.

    Surprise: amazing cruises along the Delta with lots of wildlife viewing and history!! They have sunset cruises, seafood cruises, and seasonal themed cruises. Definitely the highlight of visiting this whole area. Loved the boardwalk.

  • M
    May. 16, 2018

    Gulf State Park Campground

    Great Spot for Family Fun

    You could stay at this park for your whole trip and not have to leave. There is an awesome pool and splash pad, basketball courts, and boat launch on the property, plus a laundromat and impressive camp store. The restroom facilities are relatively nice and are always air conditioned during the warmer months. The only complaint I have of this park is that there are only 11 tent camping sites. They claim any site can be used for tent camping, but no one in a tent wants to set up on a concrete pad, especially when it is hot! The tent sites they do have are primitive without water or electrical hook ups - it would be nice to have some sites with hook ups. The sites they do have for tents are very shady and clean. They do back up to a swampy canal, but I have never seen any alligators although I am sure they are in there somewhere.

    I would definitely recommend this park for families.

  • Chirleen E.
    May. 13, 2020

    Blakeley State Park Campground

    We love Blakely!

    Great tent campground. Most sites have some privacy but a few are close to neighboring sites. Its a short walk to the bathhouse and tons of hiking trails are nearby. Rates are reasonable, picnic tables, and fire rings at the sites. Our favorite nearby camlground!

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 27, 2018

    Gulf State Park Campground

    Tent Camper Beware

    I will preface this review with this: if you're an RV camper who enjoys all the amenities then you may very well love this campground. I will also say that the staff were very accommodating when we expressed our concerns and we were able to move to my parent's RV site and pitch our tent there for our four night stay. That being said, I am going to continue my review as it pertains to my experience as a tent camper.

    I've stayed here before and the tent sites, of which there are only 12 (the entire campground has over 500 RV sites, so it's big) have really been neglected. When we arrived to our site it was littered with trash, the lantern post had been run over and was on the ground, there were more fire ants than grains of sand and the small marshy canal that ran through the back of the site was only about 10 feet from the picnic table and frequented by large alligators sunning themselves in the campsite. There was no way, especially with two dogs, that we were going to stay in this site. The campground personnel had us move to another tent site which was just as bad as the first one. We wound up pitching our tent in my parent's RV site where the grounds were actually maintained and landscaped.

    You can rent bikes here, there's also a pool and a cool little nature center. Lot's of amenities available to guests and many of the RV folks are here for weeks upon weeks. It's a short bike ride to the beach and there are many miles of bike/walking paths throughout the park (it's quite large in terms of real estate).

    There is a "dog park" but use at your own risk. My cousin lives a short drive from this spot and passed by frequently, often seeing large alligators sunning themselves on the "dog park" beach. They live in the "pond" that is fenced in as part of the dog area. There have been a few incidents and interactions with dogs and gators.

    The RV sites are quite nice, large concrete pads and picnic tables. Stand up grills and lantern/trash poles (not run over and on the ground). Be aware of the raccoons and other critters that like pilfering through the garbage at night. Some of the sites are on canals which are home to large alligators and they do sun themselves in the sites from time to time. Unlike the heavily wooded tent sites, you can see the reptiles in the RV sites due to the impeccable landscaping in that part of the campground.

    BONUS: We were there during the super moon and it was spectacular!


Guide to Mobile

Tent camping near Mobile, Alabama offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the comforts of well-equipped sites. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a place to gather with friends, there are several options to consider.

Tent campers should check out Shady Grove Campground

  • This campground features fifty amp hookups, making it a convenient choice for those who want to enjoy tent camping with some added amenities.

Tips for tent camping near Mobile

  • Mystic Springs Recreation Area is a well-reviewed spot that provides a covered pavilion with picnic tables and fire rings at each site, ensuring a comfortable camping experience even in unpredictable weather.

Enjoy local activities at Bluff Creek Campgrounds

  • Located in Mississippi, Bluff Creek Campgrounds offers a serene environment perfect for fishing and hiking, allowing campers to fully embrace the natural beauty of the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mobile, AL is Shady Grove Campground with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Mobile, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.