Best Glamping near Owens Cross Roads, AL

So many things are fantastic about this place. It’s close to the interstate (easy to get to), is mostly surrounded with water (and there are big swings to sit and enjoy the water views), has 3 clean pools (one an infinity pool) and an amazing splash pad, has a laundry, hosts are super friendly and upbeat, it’s clean, showers and restrooms are air conditioned, well lit and clean, well behaved pets are allowed. It would be especially fantastic for folks that are traveling with small children (up to young teens) or with no children. The only thing that we wished for were bigger sites. The sites around the water are very large and beautiful, so I’m referring to the interior ones. Ours would have been narrow for a pop up (all other RVs there were conventional hard sided self contained ones), except that the host put us in one with another empty one next to it (see how thoughtful and accommodating they are!) The gate is locked after 8pm, but you can get a key for a deposit of $10, which you get back when you leave. This means it is pretty secure at night. Lots of folks come and stay for several days, and return year after year, but ours was just an overnight, on our way home from the beach. We have a very good impression of this place.

Although we have been to Monte Sano many times to hike and attend events, this was our first time camping here. Monte State Park Campground is a large campground with 15 full hookup sites, 59 water& electric sites, and 21 primitive tent sites. All the sites are gravel, most sites are wooded with lots of shade, and most site are mainly level. All style sites include a picnic table and fire ring. 

Check-in is at the camp store if you arrive during store hours or with camp host if you arrive after hours. We stayed on site 24, which had complete shade throughout the day. This site backs up to a draw and each evening just before dust we could watch the deer walk up through. 

The bathhouse is centrally located, newer, and cleaned daily. There are also laundry machines available between the men’s and women’s area. 

Firewood, ice, limited grocery items, and souvenirs were available at the camp store. There is a full grocery store about 15 minutes away. 

We found ok to limited cell phone service with Verizon throughout the property. The state park did have wi-fi near the camp store. 

The park has many trails for hiking and mountain biking, as well as host the North Alabama Japanese Garden. The North Alabama Land Trust also connects to the state park and adds many more miles of trails. We hiked about 15 miles this weekend and there are many more miles to explore on another visit. 

The state park is located 5 minutes from Huntsville where you can find many restaurants, breweries, and the Space& Rocket Center. Check the Huntsville visitor’s center website for all that is offered in the area. In addition, the Burritt on the Mountain located just minutes from the park entrance and has an open air museum and an amazing overlook of Huntsville. 

We are very excited that this gem is located so close to use and are proud to call this our home camp!

When I called Saturday morning to check on availability for that evening, I was told only primitive sites were available which would have been ok for a one night stay but upon arrival, we were told you had to pitch a tent for the primitive sites (we don’t have a tent and sleep in our van). However, a number of improved sites had opened up so we were in luck. All sites are gravel and appear to be fairly level and ours was likely the most level we’ve been in for awhile. Picnic table and fire ring at each site. Many families with young children (fun to watch them ride their bikes around the loop). Bathhouse was clean and I appreciated the HOT water! Coin laundry. The North Alabama Japanese garden is a nice short walk and there are a variety of hiking trails (I would recommend the Stone Cut Trail for a moderately challenging hike).

We visited Honeycomb a few days before Thanksgiving and had a good time.

PROs: • Beautiful views from lakefront sites • not crowded, very quiet in mid-November • hard packed gravel pad was level left-to-right, no leveling blocks under tires needed • easy driving distance to lots of local activities/attractions

CONs: • only one working bathroom/shower house…could be an issue when the campground is crowded considering their are no sewage hookups on site • sites are pretty close together, not much room for outdoor family activities • WIFI (extra charge) was very inconsistent

Lake Guntersville State Park, Guntersville, Al

We visited Lake Guntersville State Park for, you guessed it, a Trail Run event! This is an old school state park with a lodge and campground. They have incorporated new school though by adding a zip line area next to the lodge. 

  Then you have the lake, the Tennessee River runs through Lake Guntersville , (from the Ohio River, through Decatur, Al to Chattanooga , Tn) so a float trip through the area would be feasible with at least one over night stop at the Lake Guntersville Campground which is right on the lake. 

The campground is spread across a wide area, not much shade though. Not a lot of privacy, you are gonna see a lot of your next site neighbor. The sites are not huge, however they are large enough to set up base camp for your outdoor activities. Open year round. The showerhouse was heated and maintained, not horror movie scary at all.

Directly across from the campground entrance is a trailhead that goes UP the “hill” to the lodge and a pretty sweet view of the surrounding area. 

 The main attraction is the water sports, but the trails are challenging and worth exploring. You can spend a week and do something different every day including just sitting on the lodge deck and taking in the scenery.