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Best Campgrounds near Shannon, AL

417 Reviews

Camping near Shannon, Alabama centers around several established campgrounds within a short drive of Birmingham. Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama's largest state park, sits approximately 20-40 minutes from downtown Birmingham and features a mix of RV sites, tent camping, cabins, and backcountry sites. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground in nearby McCalla offers historical context with its ironworks museum alongside camping facilities. Both parks maintain year-round operations, providing convenient access for urban residents seeking quick nature getaways.

Alabama summers bring intense heat and humidity, making shade a critical consideration when selecting campsites. Many reviewers note that electric hookups become essential during summer months for running fans in tents or air conditioning in RVs. Most campgrounds in the region provide water and electric hookups, with several offering full sewer connections for extended stays. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area campgrounds, though coverage may vary in more remote sections of the parks. Reservations are recommended, especially during weekends and summer months when Birmingham residents frequently use these parks as weekend retreats.

The camping experiences vary significantly between the developed campgrounds and backcountry options. Oak Mountain's backcountry sites require a short 15-minute walk from parking areas but provide significantly more privacy than the main campground. According to one visitor, "The backcountry site felt like a totally different world. We couldn't hear a single car and it felt very secluded from the rest of the park." RV-specific parks like Birmingham South RV Park and Hoover Met Complex RV Park cater primarily to motorhomes and travel trailers with level pads and full hookups. Most campgrounds in the region are pet-friendly and offer amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to bathhouses with showers, making them suitable for both weekend campers and those seeking longer stays.

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Best Camping Sites Near Shannon, Alabama (86)

    1. Oak Mountain State Park Campground

    95 Reviews
    Hoover, AL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 620-2520

    "It is located only about 20-40 min outside downtown. Oak Mountain has several of options of things to do away from just camping and hiking (which of course are also great to do here)."

    "Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park. Located just outside of Birmingham, it’s easy to escape to nature without being too far off the beaten path. This park is HUGE!"

    2. Birmingham South RV Park

    18 Reviews
    Pelham, AL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 664-8832

    $35 - $65 / night

    "They put us in a pull though site which was awesome for being easy to make quiet exit. Never I’m hooked the truck."

    "Easy access to highway, very spacious and new bathrooms and showers. Very much enjoyed our stay."

    3. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Green Pond, AL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 477-5711

    $20 - $30 / night

    "Situated on a beautiful mountain side just minute from university of alabama. Camp beside a churning creek and listen to nature."

    "The park is in a great part of Alabama and is located close to a lot of the best hiking in the state. Additionally, the park is set up on an old ironworks plant where many people lived and worked."

    4. Hoover Met Complex RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Helena, AL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 739-7400

    "On the outskirts of a parking lot of a stadium!"

    "In addition to the Hoover Met sports complex and sports arena there is a new brewery within walking distance of the campground."

    5. Backcountry Site — Oak Mountain State Park

    1 Review
    Pelham, AL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 620-2520

    $6 - $18 / night

    "You’ll never run out of things to do between the endless hiking trails, the museum of wildlife, and the wildlife rescue center. There’s an archery station within the park and a petting farm."

    6. Cherokee Campground

    1 Review
    Helena, AL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 428-8339

    7. Brookside Greenway Park

    3 Reviews
    Birmingham, AL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 209-2824

    "Grassy area behind some ball fields in a small town. They have hookups but I just parked in the grass. I also understand there are bathrooms and showers but I didn't use them. Wifi works."

    8. M and J RV Park

    1 Review
    Midfield, AL
    4 miles
    +1 (205) 788-2605

    9. Deerlick Creek

    26 Reviews
    Peterson, AL
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 759-1591

    $20 - $30 / night

    "My campsite was near the bathroom/shower which was convenient.  Enjoyed the hillside view I had and the walks in the woods surrounding the campground."

    "Greta place to camp in the fall for Alabama football games, only about 15-16 miles from campus, yet very secluded. Really a great place to camp, whether with RV or tent camping!"

    10. Rolling Hills RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Calera, AL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (205) 668-6893
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Recent Camping Photos near Shannon, AL

108 Photos of 86 Shannon Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Shannon, AL

417 Reviews of 86 Shannon Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • Peyton P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Hollins Hunting Camp

    Open and quiet

    Best for overlanding/camper/tents. No marked sites, just pull in and find a spot. I got in around 8 and there were only a couple people here, lots of space and easy to find a private spot. Hardly any bugs, no amenities

  • Randi P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 — Great mix of nature, history, and family fun

    We stayed at Tannehill Ironworks Campground for a long weekend and had a great experience. We arrived late on a Thursday night and appreciated that the ranger is on-site 24/7, since the campground doesn’t take reservations. The process is easy—you just pull in, find a site, and register/pay the next morning. It was a little hard to find a spot in the dark, but that was on us.

    There are three main campground areas. • Campgrounds 1 and 2 offer full hook-ups, with many outer sites backing up to a scenic creek. • Campground 3 has water and electric only.

    We stayed in site 122 in Campground 1, right on the creek. The sites are all gravel with picnic tables (a little worn—we brought our own table setup). Ours was pretty spacious, and since it wasn’t full, we had empty sites in front of and behind us, which made it feel even more open.

    The creek is peaceful and adds great ambiance, but there’s no designated access area for wading or swimming. That said, lots of kids were playing in the water right near their sites.

    T-Mobile service was decent—we were able to use our hotspot to stream TV at night. There’s no public Wi-Fi, but we didn’t miss it. We didn’t use the dump stations, but they looked clean and easy to access.

    Check-out time is 1:00 PM, and we didn’t see an official check-in time or posted quiet hours. The campground was fairly calm and relaxed, especially at night.

    The best part of Tannehill is everything there is to do. We brought bikes and explored miles of trails, all clearly marked by difficulty level. The park is also full of historical buildings like an old mill, furnace, blacksmith shop, and restored cabins (some are available to rent). There’s a Sunday church service at 9AM, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, a general store, a miniature train ride, and even an ice cream shop.

    If you visit during one of their Trade Days weekends, you’re in for a treat—it’s like a huge flea market with over 400 vendors, food stands, and all kinds of local treasures.

    Tannehill is a unique blend of history, nature, and activities for all ages. We’ll definitely be back and would recommend it to anyone looking for a laid-back getaway with lots to explore!

  • Melinda S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Oak Mountain State Park Campground

    Oak Mtn State Park Equestrian & section B campground

    A great State Park. I stayed one night in the Equestrian campground. They are all pull thru with as remodeled bathhouse. It was extremely clean. Then moved over to Section B of the main camp ground. Remodeled spaces with adequate space for a newbie to back her travel trailer in with no problems. “ What an Ego booster!” Remodeled bathhouses as well and kept clean even on a busy July 4th weekend. Gets morning sun but shade in the afternoon.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 30, 2025

    Thousand Trails Hidden Cove

    Very nice, quiet campground

    Great campground & people! Only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is the lack of things to do. No fenced in dog park but plenty of space to have one. Right on the lake but unaware of any kind of rentals available nearby— closest rentals are 40 mins away on the opposite side of the lake. Nearest Walmart is Cullman which is 45 mins away. Wouldn’t recommend staying here if you prefer to be closer to the city but perfect if you want to be in the middle of the woods and have no reason to leave. Very hot, humid and rainy time of year! Would be back in the fall perhaps.

  • Nick E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 23, 2025

    Hidden Cove Thousand Trails

    Clean, Quiet, and Spacious

    Great little campground with awesome access to the lake. Great for Starlink and good AT&T reception.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Birmingham South RV Park

    Ants, Dogs and Smells

    To be fair, the check in and staff were nice. Sites are level and partially shaded. Rules loosely enforced as there were trucks parked on grass which was noted as a very prominent rule on reservation and check in. Ants attempted to infest anything we sat outside (not food related items were specifically targeted as it was a pair of diving boots and our leveling blocks). It was horrible. There’s little to no control over everyone’s dogs. The best you can get is that they are leashed, otherwise, lunging at people or other dogs and barking all throughout the day is completely permitted. The sites are very small and your neighbors sewer hookups happen to be about 3 feet from your site’s picnic table. It’s just gross.

  • Patrick P.
    Jun. 20, 2025

    Birmingham South RV Park

    Nice place ,

    Nice place , but the internet doesn’t work, bathrooms clean

Guide to Shannon

Camping near Shannon, Alabama, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an action-packed adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the numerous trails available at Oak Mountain State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The park has so many different activities including hiking, BMX trails, swimming, and an archery range."
  • Water Sports: At Deerlick Creek, you can enjoy kayaking and paddleboarding. A reviewer noted, "The site views and peace & quiet are worth it," making it a great spot for water activities.
  • Historical Sites: Visit Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground for a mix of history and nature. One camper shared, "Trails to hike, water to play in, fishing, history places to see and go through."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms. A visitor at Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground said, "Bath houses were spotless and smelled good."
  • Friendly Staff: Many reviews highlight the helpfulness of campground staff. One camper at Brierfield Ironworks Historical Park mentioned, "Great staff. Clean restrooms. Easy in and out."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers enjoy having room to breathe. A review for Burchfield Branch Park noted, "This is a quiet campground with well-spaced sites."

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Peach Queen Campground, may lack certain facilities. A visitor remarked, "The bathrooms are dirty, and the pool could use a vacuum."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for noise at certain times, especially during holidays. A camper at Deerlick Creek mentioned, "It was noisy at night with some folks partying but eventually it died down."
  • Accessibility Issues: Some campgrounds may not be fully ADA compliant. A review for Rickwood Caverns State Park Campground pointed out, "The bathrooms are old and dingy and not ADA at all."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. One parent at Oak Mountain State Park Campground said, "There are things to do year-round and the weather was great for mid-July."
  • Check for Playgrounds: Some campgrounds have playgrounds for kids to enjoy. A reviewer at Deerlick Creek mentioned, "My kids enjoyed hiking and the basketball court."
  • Plan for Safety: Be aware of potential hazards. A camper at Deerlick Creek warned, "Oh and be aware of poison ivy. It was EVERYWHERE."

Tips from RVers

  • Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer campgrounds with full hookups. A visitor at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park Campground noted, "We chose to go with just power and water and it came to $25 even, no extra charges."
  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure the sites can accommodate your rig. A review for Deerlick Creek mentioned, "If you have a rig longer than 30ft and want room to breathe, get a pull-through site."
  • Be Prepared for Navigation Challenges: Some campgrounds may have tricky layouts. A camper at Deerlick Creek said, "The campground doesn’t do the best job at marking how to get to each site."

Camping near Shannon, Alabama, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just be sure to check out the specific campgrounds to find the perfect fit for your adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Shannon, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Shannon, AL offers a wide range of camping options, with 86 campgrounds and RV parks near Shannon, AL and 3 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Shannon, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Shannon, AL is Oak Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 95 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Shannon, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Shannon, AL.

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