168 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Sylvania, Alabama spans full-hookup RV parks, primitive tent sites, and cabin rentals along the ridges and valleys of northeastern Alabama. DeSoto State Park Campground, located a few miles from Fort Payne, offers tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. The region's campgrounds typically feature full hookups for RVs, primitive tent sites, and cabin rentals within a landscape of forested hillsides and nearby waterways. Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground, just across the Georgia border, expands camping opportunities with additional glamping and yurt options.
Access to camping areas varies seasonally with most facilities remaining open year-round, though water access points may be affected by rainfall patterns. "Great place to base camp! Safe even pull through sites. Nice people to greet you!" noted one visitor about Wills Creek RV Park. Roads leading to some campgrounds can present challenges for larger vehicles, particularly along county roads with steep grades and sharp turns. Travelers should verify road conditions before attempting to navigate to more remote sites with large RVs. DeSoto State Park's primitive camping area features a keyed gate that requires campers to arrive during business hours to register and receive access. Most campgrounds in the area provide water and electrical hookups, though primitive sites typically offer only basic amenities like fire rings and pit toilets.
The campgrounds in this region benefit from proximity to Little River Canyon National Preserve and multiple waterfalls. Campers report excellent hiking opportunities directly from campgrounds. According to one review, "Lots of hiking in the area and a pool in season. There are many swimming holes if you look along the water." The elevation of nearly 1,700 feet provides cooler temperatures compared to other parts of Alabama, making summer camping more comfortable. Sites at DeSoto State Park tend to be well-spaced with ample tree cover providing shade. The primitive camping areas offer more seclusion, with several reviews noting the peaceful environment and scenic surroundings. Fall brings spectacular foliage displays, making it a particularly popular time for camping in the region.
"If you have a large group you want to take camping in Alabama I highly recommend this site. There is great hiking nearby and the sites are large enough for a lot of people."
"This part of Alabama is absolutely stunning, at close to 1700 feet in elevation, this area provides some of the most elevation in the state with absolutely stunning natural beauty."
from $36 / night
Check Availability"Campground Review:East Rim Campground Pro’s: 1-Handicap Accessible, there is a cabin which is also HDA. 2- If your visiting for a get together your right next to the day use area and there is a picnic"
"But we didn’t let that stop us hiking the West Rim Loop Trail and camping at the Walk In Campsite. We loved the views, waterfalls, and walk ability of this park."
from $10 - $270 / night
Check Availability"This is my go to campground in fort Payne Alabama. The owners are super nice!! There is a pond with cute ducks!! You can buy a bundle of fire wood for $5."
"This campground is in a great location with amazing trails, history stops, waterfalls, and more located very close by. The owner stopped by our RV to welcome us and is very friendly and helpful."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability"Quiet RV park close to Ft Payne and surrounding parks such as Desoto state Park. Close to Little River Canyon waterfall among others. (A must see)."
"Gravel roads and pads (thankfully, as everything around was standing in water from the recent downpour) The facility is dated, but clean and an easy on and off on the way through."
"This is a nice state park in a small town in north Alabama. The lake is really pretty and the campground has a nice view of it."
"Although the furthest away from a bathhouse, we truly enjoyed this site. It’s “pick your own” and we picked the site next to Seals hiking trail along the water."
"I had seen postings for the Little River Adventure Company over the last few moths and while looking at the map, I realized it was close to the TAT as it dips into AL (Sam's route), which I would be riding"
"I tent camped on a drive-in deluxe site in September with my dog. The host, Giorgio, was pleasant and helpful. He had firewood for sale on the property at a reasonable price."
from $25 - $30 / night
Check Availability"This review is for Tranquility RV and Campgrounds in Mentone Alabama. I really enjoyed camping here."
"A beautiful and peaceful space for tent or RV camping very close to downtown Mentone as well as Desoto State Park."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Plenty of hiking trails and the primitive camp sites were very rustic and scenic! This area has a lot to do with other Alabama State Parks close by."
"There are clean and well stocked bathrooms located at the park office and also includes a laundry facility. The office also sells firewood and ice if needed."
"The location makes it easy to too access the TN River for boating, which is great. However the water next to the campground is relatively stagnant so the mosquitoes here are horrendous!"
"Right on the water at lake Guntersville, golf course, restaurant, walking trails, boat ramps & docks, play ground, basketball court & much more!"
"We attended North Alabama trails and recreation’s Rock and Rig event here. The park is beautiful with amazing views."
"the locals) since 2011, starting back when it was still largely undeveloped and free…totally worth paying for these days - they’ve made it such a great place: showers, bathrooms, dumpsters, plenty of walk-in"
from $19 - $30 / night
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TravelerWe stayed just one night but really liked the clean bathrooms and showers, sites are level and clean, it wasn't crowded when we were there so we had ample privacy. Will stay here again.
GuideThis campground has a lot to offer but we were just passing through and stayed only one night. There are nearly 100 campsites divided into two loops with a comfort station for each loop. Roads are paved with gravel campsites. The campground is nestled in the woods. The camp facilities include a country store, coin operated laundry, seasonal swimming pool, restaurant - motel complex, cabins, and nature hiking trails.
GuideAbout 5 dispersed spots scattered along an accessible road. Only about 3 spots available that hasn’t been ruined from trash and belongings from people that was staying there long term and left everything. Okay for an overnight stay. All the trash really ruined any vibe to be had. I stayed at the spot on top of the steep hill
ScoutWe really liked this park. We stayed in the West Rim Campground. We stayed two nights and this was about the right number of nights for us.
Pros:
* The staff was super helpful and intentionally went above and beyond. When I checked in, they saw that I had a free night on my account and offered to refund part of my stay and use the free night instead. I was going to ask them to do this, but I didn't even need to.
* Bathrooms were nice, and were clean
* Wifi worked pretty well
* West Rim has good shade which made it feel cooler than it have otherwise. This did impact Starlink connectivity. I was able to get about a 90% ping success rate by moving the camper around a little to get the best connection.
* The views from the overlook were very nice
Cons:
* The visitor center was under construction
* Some of bathrooms near the interpretive center were out-of-order
* Site 43 was not level. It wasn't a major issue but we were able to get our camper van completely level despite the use of leveling blocks.
ScoutI grew up in this area, but I'm back for the first time in maybe 8 years. They have done tremendous renovations on their amenities, some still ongoing. The scenery and cool mountain air is as great as I remember. Tons of hiking, backcountry camping, cabins, RV spots, and more. I've been camping in 8 states and Cloudland Canyon is still one of my favorites. Be aware, the drive up the mountain can be very difficult on a tow vehicle, make sure you're prepared for it. Same with some of the hiking trails.
GuideWe had a hard time finding our campsite in the West Rim Campground due to the construction at the entrance, but we made it to the temporary visitors center and they got us checked in and how to get to our campsite. It backs up to woods, nice space between sites. Ours is gravel and has water and electric, but there are full hookup sites available as well. We did the waterfall hike one day and the west rim loop the next. The waterfalls were beautiful, but a LOT of steps (600+ metal steps) !! I would definitely stay here again
TravelerCampground is completely surrounded by nature. The crickets and what not at night were almost deafening but in a good way. The facilities are well taken care of and the staff is friendly. The best water pressure at a campground shower I have ever experienced. Sites are spread out just enough to give you privacy but still a little camp neighborhood. Perfect base camp for activities around the area such as the Space and Rocket Center
TravelerLevel sites in the woods.good separation between rv sites. Washer/dryer in bath houses. Lots of hiking trails but it has been raining every day so trails r too wet. For July the temp has been very comfortable. Well maintained park. Easy to get to if u follow the directions given by park - don’t follow ur gps.
ScoutPeople are nice and it's a great place to put a rv and chill with nature
Camping near Sylvania, Alabama offers sites situated at elevations nearing 1,700 feet along the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. The region's sandstone geology creates unique camping environments with numerous streams and seasonal water features. Fall temperatures typically range from 45-70°F, making September through early November particularly comfortable for tent camping.
Waterfall hikes: 0.85 miles to DeSoto Falls. Several campgrounds near Sylvania provide quick access to local waterfalls, with Tranquility Campground located less than a mile from DeSoto Falls. "You can easily get to Desoto falls by foot (.85 mile) with spectacular views. Also this park is just minutes from downtown Mentone and super close to Desoto State Park," notes one camper.
Rock climbing: Multiple routes for all levels. Cherokee Rock Village offers extensive climbing opportunities with both top rope and bouldering routes. "There's so many climbing routes that I love. There's near by water falls and cliff jumping called High Falls. I love going to the drive-in movie theatre near by only $15 per vehicle to watch 2 movies," shares a regular visitor.
Water activities: Swimming holes and kayaking. The Little River Canyon area features seasonal swimming spots. "This is a very cute little campground and the owners are very great people! Some of the sites are a little close together but we have honestly been to worse places. The campground is very close to Little River Canyon and Desoto Falls," explains a reviewer of Little River RV Park.
Hammock-friendly sites: The wooded sites at many campgrounds make hammock camping particularly appealing. A visitor to DeSoto State Park Campground notes, "I have stayed in the primitive camping area of this park twice now. The area is kept clean, has potable water from a centrally positioned faucet, and pit toilet. The campsites are along a gated gravel service road for security. A key to the gate is provided at checkin. Well wooded area with lots of options for hammock camping."
Cooler summer temperatures: The elevation provides relief from Alabama summer heat. One camper at Buck's Pocket State Park Campground shared, "We did the 2.4 mile out and back to the viewpoint and it is really an incredible sight. Definitely worth the visit just to check out the view. We then set up our picnic lunch at the campsite area and enjoyed some time under the covered tables."
Privacy at select sites: Some campgrounds offer secluded options away from main camping areas. A visitor to Little River Adventure Company states, "Giorgio has an amazing set up here. He was super helpful and accommodating. We were in a mini van and were still able to navigate the grounds and dirt road pretty easily. Our kids were amazed by the water access and walking trails. Our dog was also able to free roam in the spot we picked."
Seasonal water flow affects waterfalls: The water volume at local falls varies significantly by season and recent rainfall. "This area of Alabama has numerous outdoor activities. We explored DeSoto falls and went to Little River canyon. There is a canyon rim drive if you can't hike. You must spend some time in this area to explore it all. Some of the waterfalls are seasonal dependent upon rainfall," reports a camper from DeSoto State Park.
Limited cell service in valleys: Many campgrounds have spotty or no cell reception due to terrain. A visitor to Cloudland Canyon State Park Campground mentioned, "The West Rim camping loop has a total of 48 tent/RV sites with 30 or 50A hookups, water, gravel tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings. This loop is far more wooded and offers a greater variety of site size and privacy, and has an extremely quiet and peaceful vibe to it."
Gate access timing: Some primitive areas require arrival during specific hours. At DeSoto State Park, "The area is kept clean, has potable water from a centrally positioned faucet, and pit toilet. The campsites are along a gated gravel service road for security. A key to the gate is provided at checkin."
Playground access: Several campgrounds have dedicated play areas for children. A camper at DeSoto State Park shared, "If you're looking for a spot to carry your kids on one of their first trips, this would be the perfect place. They have scout activities, a Junior Ranger program, playgrounds, swimming pools, and plenty of trails to hike."
Educational opportunities: Ranger programs available seasonally. "The park also has a near little nature center with cool interpretive programs. The improved campsites have hook ups (water, sewer and electric), picnic tables, fire rings and large gravel pads with plenty of room," noted a visitor to DeSoto State Park.
Four-season camping options: Each season offers different family activities. "I've lived here most of my life and each season offers something different. Summertime you can swim, Spring has full waterfalls and beautiful flowers, Fall has colorful leaves, and the winter gives just enough bare trees and icsicles for great pictures," shares a local camper.
Road gradient concerns: Some access roads have steep sections requiring caution. A visitor to Wills Creek RV Park reported, "This was an overnight stay on our way to the Smokies. Easy to get to from I-59 in Fort Payne. They have some sites that are shaded, but the pull through sites are in an open area. Gravel roads and pads (thankfully, as everything around was standing in water from the recent downpour)."
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds have uneven terrain. "The last mile of road before reaching the campground is rather steep and a little sporty, with 2 hairpin curves leading down into the valley. The turn into the campground is a little tight too, but the rest is quite navigable. We were in site C23(one of 4 pull-throughs) for a few days," notes a Buck's Pocket State Park visitor.
Internet access workarounds: Many RVers use campground WiFi where available. "The park is operated by the state and is very clean and staffed by friendly people to help. There is absolutely no cell service or tv stations available due to the geographic makeup of the park. They make up for this by excellent Wi-Fi throughout the park. Most phones will work fine while connected and tv streaming is great."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Sylvania, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Sylvania, AL offers a wide range of camping options, with 168 campgrounds and RV parks near Sylvania, AL and 8 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Sylvania, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Sylvania, AL is DeSoto State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 77 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Sylvania, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Sylvania, AL.
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