Karen C.
Traveler
TravelerFlorence Marina State Park
Level sites under the pine trees. Lots of shade, some sun. Near the Chattahoochi River. Quiet, 10 miles from Providence Canyon State Park, aka Grand Canyon of GA.
Tent Camping near Opelika, AL
12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Tent camping near Opelika, Alabama includes free sites, river-access campgrounds, and secluded walk-in spots within driving distance. Bush Head Shoals Park across the Georgia state line offers six maintained tent sites with picnic tables and fire pits along the Chattahoochee River. Kings Pond at Fort Benning provides free tent camping with basic amenities including toilets and trash service, while smaller sites like Pine and Oak Campsite and Hideaway Cove offer more secluded experiences.
Most tent sites in the region feature rustic amenities with varying levels of service. Bush Head Shoals provides well-maintained gravel tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings but currently lacks running water facilities. Sites like Hideaway Cove offer drinking water but no toilet facilities, requiring campers to be self-sufficient. Several locations permit fires and allow pets, though restrictions vary by site. At Kings Pond, campers can access basic toilets and trash service while experiencing a more natural setting. The area's mild climate allows for year-round tent camping, though summer months bring high humidity and potential thunderstorms.
The camping terrain around Opelika provides a mix of wooded and waterfront sites suitable for tent setups. Bush Head Shoals features spacious sites that can accommodate multiple tents, with nearby hiking trails and river access. Kings Pond offers a more secluded experience despite being on a military installation, with one camper noting, "Although it's on post, and you can still hear training some nights, you feel as if you're a million miles away." Sites like Hideaway Cove require walk-in, boat-in, or hike-in access, creating more isolated experiences for tent campers seeking solitude. Most locations in the region have enough trees for hammock camping, and wildlife viewing opportunities include potential bald eagle sightings along the Chattahoochee River.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Opelika (12)
1. Chewacla State Park Campground
"Sewage is nicely placed in a low spot so you won't need a hose lifter (a rarity in our experience). Out spot is across from the bath house, but also the dump station."
"Chewacla was a favorite to visit for a few hours a a local college student and now it’s an excellent location to take the family on an RV trip."
2. Wind Creek State Park Campground
"Clean campsites with power and water and fire rings, near by bait store that sells a lot more than just bait. The park rangers and staff are here help and friendly."
"Tent camping with family during Hurricane evacuation. Beautiful park, numerous bath houses, laundry, camp store, playgrounds, mini golf, and so much more."
3. Southern Harbor
4. Lakepoint Resort State Park Campground
"The campsites are spacious and thoughtfully laid out, providing just the right amount of privacy while still feeling connected to the natural surroundings."
"Safe for kids to ride around on bikes for hours. Site are big and the one we were at backed up on woods. Great view of the lake and sunset. "
5. JAM Mission
from $5 - $25 / night
Check Availability6. Kings Pond/ Fort Benning
"I have a 5th wheel and its pretty flat gravel roads, no electric or sewage or water; only a pit toilet) must be self sufficient to stay here."
7. Bush Head Shoals Park
"They have Ice and firewood available. You just grab it and either venmo Raven or drop money in the drop box. There is a nice hiking trail right across from site 1."
"They have 6 camp sites that all have a picnic table, fire pit and a large fine gravel plot for a tent. All the components are extremely well kept."
from $20 / night
Check Availability8. Star Point Reserve
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability9. Pine and Oak Campsite
from $23 - $30 / night
Check Availability10. Hideaway Cove
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 13 min from Auburn, AL
- 40 min from Columbus, GA
- 46 min from Montgomery, AL
- 1 hr 43 min from Anniston, AL
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Opelika, AL
28 Photos of 12 Opelika Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Opelika, AL
426 Reviews of 12 Opelika Campgrounds
- DDavid P.Traveler
Rood Creek Park Camping
Beautiful, quiet camping by the water. There’s about 12-15 spots. We arrived on a Tuesday and spent 2 nights. No problem finding a great spot for our camper van to set up camp and enjoy the views. Very peaceful. Price is right too, its free!
Lisa M.
ScoutFranklin D Roosevelt State Park Campground
Site 204 Sep 9 to Sep 14
Site is a good size located on the shore of Lake Delano under trees. Great view. Fire ring and picnic table equipped. The temp is still hot and humid but there is a breeze which makes it bearable in the daytime, nights are cooler and comfortable. Plenty to explore with Pine Mountain Trail close by. Would stay here again. This site is water and electric only with dump station at entrance.
- BBroc G.Scout
Bluff Creek Campground at COE Walter F George
Wasted potential
This campground has so much potential to be great. The volunteers were awesome and helpful. They checked on us multiple times during out stay. The grounds were poorly maintained. The gravel area in most sites were overtaken with grass and ants. The water line at our site leaked and the concrete slab was flooded. The road to the boat launch was closed due to a downed tree limb that looked to have been there for weeks. Laundry services had been removed.
On a positive note, deer were plentiful and a great bonus. Wife, infant son, and I left a day early as our tent and bedding had been infested with ants.
Verizon coverage was spotty. Data speeds were very slow if available at all.
Nancy W.
LegendR. Shaefer Heard Campground
Nice COE Campground
This is a typical park where not all sites are created equal. Some are paved, some are gravel. Some have 50 amp, some are 30-amp. Some are perfectly level and some have really steep grades. Some sites are pull-thru, some are back-in. Some are really long, some are much shorter. The roads in the campground are paved, free of potholes, and fairly easily navigable for big-rigs. All sites are pet-friendly and have water and electric. There are no sewer sites. Campsites 1-27 and 85-106 have 50-amp electric while the others are 30-amp. Some sites (40, 47, 50, 52, 65, 80, 84, 87, 89, 101) are “double-unit” (or buddy) sites which is reflective in the $60/night price. There are bathrooms scattered throughout the campground in each loop but there are only two shower houses in the entire campground. Sites 1-16 are perfectly level as are a few others. Reservations can be made online and the website has pictures and descriptions as well as length of site. The campground is very dark at night with the only lights being at the bathrooms. We love dark campgrounds where the moon and stars are bright. Unfortunately, numerous campers left their lights all night which we find really annoying. Our Verizon phone was very spotty and not reliable. We were able to use our portable Dish satellite to get television. There is a dump station located conveniently on your way out which is quite busy on Sundays at check out.
Phillip H.
GuideFlorence Marina State Park Campground
Small but nice
Site 22 full hookup. Small campground with nothing around in terms of town or business. Bathhouses were very well kept. Laundry was $1! Went to Providence Canyon SP. Very interesting hikes and sites. Watch those log trucks they move!
Rusty R.GuideAuburn RV Park at Leisure Time Campground
Great Faciliites
A little hard to find but the facilities are very clean and the spots are well laid out. The pool is part of a water park which is only open seasonally, so check the dates if you are wanting to take a dip
Rowland L.ScoutFranklin D Roosevelt State Park Campground
Great Getaway
I have been to FDR 3 times in the last 3 years and I hope to come more frequently. I came here multiple times over 50 years ago and I find it as enjoyable now as I did then. The check in is always easy. It is quiet there and there is so much to do. The trails are great for hiking. The facilities are always clean.
Georgia state parks are always nice but this is my favorite.
Christy W.ScoutLake Pines RV Park & Campground
Very Rude Staff - Sites directly adjacent to active train tacks
If I could give these guys 1/2 a star, I'd go with that. Their applaingly rude behavior truly deserves no stars. Though they advertise as a place that offers month to month business, my husband and I were offering them a guaranteed month to month business for a good bit of time while working in the area, however long they would work with us on, bouncing to another place if we exceeded their desired amount of time, and both people we spoke with- a woman one day and a man named Justin another, were very rude and"uppity/snooty". We have a 2023 Primetime Sanibel Widebody 5th wheel, 43 feet in length, very nice condition, and are two professional people(my husband an Operations Manager for a billboard company and I a Bid/Dept Manager for a Food Distributor, with a combined income of over$175k per year) and their response was"we wouldn't be a good fit" after we spoke with them guaranteeing we would abide by their strict rules. When we mentioned we may once in a blue moon babysit our grandkids while there, before I even finished my sentence, we were given a very terse response which was a strong indicator they do not want kids there. Obviously not family friendly. They mentioned not wanting"trashy trailers" and"trailer trash" type people in their campground- of which we aren't, but wow, the judgement- and that they currently have some campers they are"trying to be rid of", so camp with ease or expect to be thrown out. They want only new campers there, and royalty. I guess if you take a stab at them you'll have to see if you meet their high standards or contrarily meet their definition of"trailer trash". Beware, if your camper, though well maintianed yet only a 2021 model, you're trailer trash. Again, very picky, very high standards, strict rules, unbending, uppity, and just rude with a"holier than though" attitude. Apparently not very interested in keeping their business running either. We drove through the park on 4/20/26 and over half their campsites were empty. I wonder why. Yet, they turn down guaranteed month to month business for a time we were willing to allow them to designate. We will gladly take our business elsewhere to a much friendlier staff at a nicer, more secure campground nearby we have recently learned of- where we won't have to listen to trains pass behind us all day, and can watch kids be kids and play. Sad thing is, we've given them our business before while in Columbus, but never will again, and will tell all we know of a large group of campers we are affiliated with of their rude, snooty ways. Traveling through the area? I'd recommend staying elsewhere. Corps of Engineer parks on nearby West Point Lake(Amity, Shaefer Hard, Holiday, and WhiteTail Ridge), a campground on nearby Lake Harding(Blanton Creek), two near Fort Benning(one GA side- Camp David, the other AL side), one in Fort Benning(Uchee Creek), a KOA in nearby Americus, Ga and Auburn RV Resort in nearby Auburn, AL to name just a few. That is, unless you like to hobknob with the snooty folk.
Guide to Opelika
Tent campsites near Opelika, Alabama extend beyond established campgrounds into several primitive options within a 45-mile radius. The region sits at elevations between 700-800 feet in Alabama's Piedmont region, where sandy soil conditions affect tent stability during heavy rains that average 52 inches annually. Winter camping remains viable with January lows typically staying above freezing at around 35°F.
What to do
Kayaking access points: Bush Head Shoals Park provides convenient river access with kayak rentals available on-site. Michael P. noted, "We scheduled a kayak trip for Saturday, but needed to change the time. They were very accommodating."
Bird watching opportunities: Several campgrounds offer chances to spot diverse bird species including raptors. At Bush Head Shoals Park, Justin K. shared, "Almost every time I camp here I see a bald eagle flying over the river."
Hiking trails exploration: The Pine and Oak Campsite connects to multiple unmarked hiking paths through dense southeastern pine forests. Hideaway Cove requires a half-mile hike to reach the secluded sites, making it ideal for those seeking a more immersive forest experience away from developed campsites.
What campers like
Clean, spacious tent pads: Most tent-focused campgrounds feature level, well-maintained tent pads. Justin K. appreciated Bush Head Shoals noting, "There is plenty of room for all my fishing tackle, coolers, and chairs in each spot."
Affordable primitive camping: Pine and Oak Campsite provides budget-friendly camping with basic amenities at lower rates than state park alternatives. Ron G. commented about Bush Head Shoals, "For the price, you won't find a better campground."
Quiet atmosphere: Despite proximity to urban areas, most sites maintain a peaceful environment. Christy R. explained, "We are normally private land secluded campers and avoid public campgrounds; however this one is so nice and spacious and CLEAN that we will definitely be back!"
What you should know
Limited water facilities: Most tent sites near Opelika have minimal water infrastructure. Julia M. noted about Bush Head Shoals, "They currently do not have running water or a shower house but they indicated they are trying to construct one soon."
Supply access planning: JAM Mission requires campers bring all supplies including drinking water, as the nearest store is 9 miles away. At Bush Head Shoals, campers appreciate the convenience of on-site supplies, with Michael P. noting, "They have ice and firewood available. You just grab it and either venmo Raven or drop money in the drop box."
Bathroom considerations: Bathroom facilities vary significantly between locations. While Bush Head Shoals offers vault toilets that Michael P. described as "lit at night which is nice," Hideaway Cove has no toilet facilities, requiring campers to follow proper backcountry bathroom protocols.
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly sites: Several campgrounds accommodate families with young children. Julia M. shared her experience at Bush Head Shoals with young children: "Family of 4: 3 and 5 year old" and mentioned they "had a great time."
Activity planning: Kings Pond at Fort Benning provides a serene environment despite occasional training noises, with fishing opportunities suitable for children. Most sites lack structured activities, requiring parents to plan entertainment.
Site selection strategy: Request sites farther from water access points when camping with small children. Sites at Bush Head Shoals vary in proximity to the river, with riverside sites less suitable for families with young children due to safety concerns.
Tips from RVers
Road condition alerts: Many access roads to tent-specific sites have challenging terrain. At Bush Head Shoals, Ron G. advised, "The roads are gravel but well maintained. We had no problems getting in," referring to his motorcycle camping experience.
Tent-only restrictions: While Alexander Campground allows drive-in access, the sites accommodate tents only with no facilities for RVs or trailers. Most primitive camping locations near Opelika restrict vehicle size and type due to narrow access roads and limited turnaround space.
Alternative parking strategies: For sites like JAM Mission with limited parking, campers with larger vehicles should inquire about designated overflow parking areas and be prepared to carry equipment to tent sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Opelika, AL?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Opelika, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Opelika, AL is Chewacla State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 36 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Opelika, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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