Best Glamping near Semmes, AL

PROS 

Quiet 

Minimal streetlights 

Site 435 level 

Asphalt parking pad is extended as an area for the picnic table 

Pedestal BBQ in good condition and free of ash upon arrival 

Moveable metal and wooden picnic table 

Super clean climate controlled bathhouses 

Very nice, large, park laundromat with coin changing machine. Detergent sold at camp store. 

Recycling available at dump station 

Super bike trails 

Good park WiFi 

TMobile 3 bars 

CONS 

No senior or vet discount 

15.25% resort fee charged 

15% sales tax charged

$5 reservation fee charged 

Site 425 no shade - we were HOT in January! 

No info provided that state park does not provide campfire rings. Campfires are permitted but you must bring your own campfire ring/pit 

Picnic table top rotted leaving large holes and unuseable

Two roll-off compactors for the campground located at the dump station near the entrance/exit. If you are not camping in that area you are in for a hike.

We stayed 4 nights at Gulf State Park, over the 4th of July, 2019. We made the reservations online, and would have done better to have made them a few months earlier, so that we could have insured more shade for our site. But, we could see the lake across the road, and we were really close to the air conditioned bath house/restrooms, and within a short walk from the swimming pool, nature center, lily pond, camp store, air conditioned laundry, tennis courts,swings, etc. It was a pretty good site, if lacking good shade. There was a camp dog show, a poster contest, a bicycle decorating parade/contest, and an ongoing day camp for the kids (seemed to be Christian based, and we didn’t have time to check it out). The beach is not close enough to walk, but you drive to a parking lot and walk out on the boardwalk next to a pavilion which has restrooms, and an outdoor shower to help you get rid of sand. Waves are pretty calm, so older kids a can enjoy it without having to have an adult holding them. Nice afternoon breezes. When we needed medical care for a problem, the staff were very helpful in telling us which place would be best for our needs. Friendly staff all round. We all felt very safe in this campground.

The retreat offers several amenities including showers, laundromat, and gas grills. There are even bouncy houses and playgrounds for the kids.

It's located on the river and they have a pet beach separate so even your dogs can enjoy the water.

The camp manager is nice and very helpful. They are definitely a great asset.

Full service hookups are currently limited as they work on an expansion, but they do have plenty of water/power hookups both off and on the river. There's also a cabin, glamping tents, and a tiny house. There are plenty of shaded spots.

There are a few long term residents who are friendly and welcoming.

I definitely recommend this campground for a fun, relaxing stay.

Gulf Shores Alabama Gulf State Park Current camping spot on the canal. Ours is a nice pull thru with electric and water. Almost 500 sites here from tent to big rig friendly. Spacious sites, some with foliage, some with Lake or canal views. Grills but no fire pits. Right now there's a shortage of usable bath houses because of hurricane damage repairs in progress. Good wifi, local TV, and cell service. Close to stores and dining. Free access to adjacent pier. Great coastal access. Free use of bikes. Lots of great paved and boardwalk trails. Gators, snakes, armadillos and birds reside here.

We reserved 4 months ago, only to get there and find out there may be an issue with our dogs (2 max and we have 3...well behaved dachshunds. When we reserved, they "penciled us in". No deposit and no information, other than our name and dates. Got there for our reservation and told that we cant have three dogs there and either have to board one or leave. When i said we had nowhere to go, they were willing to let us stay one night so we could find other accomodations for the next few days, but after that warm welcome, even one night was not an option. Never were we told pets would be an issue, we never got a confirmation email that mentioned pets, and then to arrive and find out we had to find somewhere else to stay was disappointing to say the least. We were able to stay the night at Shield, so we went over there to work on our plans for the next few days. So glad we did, as the sites were much larger, much more private and the office staff was very accomadating with our last minute reservation. Apparently Keesler is adding sites, so it may be better next year, but currently the sites are close together with a fire pit in the center. For the hour we did sit in our site, we had to keep the windows closed because of the smoke. Another issue...the drive in was sketchy for a high profile 5th wheel, with low hanging trees and narrow streets. Lastly, for those lookong for the security and conveniences of staying at a famcamp, this fam camp is off base.

Gulf Shores Alabama Gulf State Park Current camping spot on the canal. Ours is a nice pull thru with electric and water. Almost 500 sites here from tent to big rig friendly. Spacious sites, some with foliage, some with Lake or canal views. Grills but no fire pits. There are a few community pits. Right now there's a shortage of usable bath houses because of hurricane damage repairs still in progress. Good local TV, and cell service. Close to stores and dining. Free access to adjacent pier. Great coastal access. Free use of bikes. Lots of great paved and boardwalk trails. Gators, snakes, armadillos and birds reside here.

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.

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.