Looking for the best Talladega National Forest tent camping? Find the best tent camping sites near Talladega National Forest. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Talladega National Forest, Alabama's most popular destinations.
Enjoy nature at its best especially during the fall when mother nature dazzles you with an array of vibrant colors. This__ primitive camp is located near the Cheaha Wilderness Area and offers camping and hiking. Turnipseed Camp has sanitary facilities.
Follow the Cave Creek Trail until you reach the Pinhoti connector, and hang a right to take the Pinhoti Trail northbound. Look for a sign that points to McDill overlook, and follow a side trail for the last quarter mile. Along this side trail you’ll pass the wreckage of a small plane that supposedly crashed back in 1972. Look for blue and white pieces of the plane off the trail to your right. Keep going and you’ll eventually come to a campsite that would comfortably fit 3 or 4 tents, only about 100 yards shy of the overlook. Camping in this area is a great option because you’re close to the cliffs, but protected from the wind. There are also a few spots right at the cliffs that are big enough for a small tent or hammocks and have better views, but are a bit breezier. The boulder cliffs are an awesome place to hang out at sunset or for stargazing, just remember to keep a headlamp on you!
Bohamia is a 268 acre private forest retreat surrounded by 400,000 acres of the Talladega National Forest. You'll feel like a world away even though you are about an hour's drive from Birmingham and Atlanta.
Booking options include temperature controlled Glamping cabins with queen size beds and private decks, RV sites, and camp sites around the property. Gorgeous bathhouse (seriously) with private restrooms and endless hot showers.
Bohamia is best explored on foot or bicycle (or kayak in the case of our five acre spring fed pond and nearby Talladega Lake). We have miles of marked trails and many unmarked trails for adventurous types. We also have marked trail access to off property gems like Talladega Creek and the Blue Hole waterfall and swimming area.
All sites allow at least one vehicle to park nearby unless otherwise noted. In many cases you can have two vehicles by your site, or can park in group areas nearby when not loading or unloading.
$25 - $99 / night
Start hiking at Cheaha Trailhead, located at the far end of a parking area just before you get to Cheaha State Park on Highway 281. Follow the Cave Creek Trail until you reach the Pinhoti connector, and hang a right to take the Pinhoti Trail northbound. Look for a sign that points to McDill overlook, and follow a side trail for the last quarter mile. Along this side trail you’ll pass the wreckage of a small plane that supposedly crashed back in 1972. Look for blue and white pieces of the plane off the trail to your right. Keep going and you’ll eventually come to a campsite that would comfortably fit 3 or 4 tents, only about 100 yards shy of the overlook. Camping in this area is a great option because you’re close to the cliffs, but protected from the wind. There are also a few spots right at the cliffs that are big enough for a small tent or hammocks and have better views, but are a bit breezier. The boulder cliffs are an awesome place to hang out at sunset or for stargazing, just remember to keep a headlamp on you! The next day, backtrack the quarter mile and continue on the Pinhoti back towards Cheaha State Park. Several rocky outcroppings provide some good views along the way.
Not far from Cheaha State park is Lake Chinnabee Recreation Area. This 17-acre lake is tucked into a pastoral valley of peacefulness. Lake Chinnabee Recreation Area offers sanitary facilities, hiking, picnicking, fishing and the Chinnabee Silent Trail connects the campground to Cheaha Wilderness. Lake Chinnabee is an ideal spot to enjoy nature for daytime recreation.
Dispersed backcountry sites
Traveler
I grew up near oak mountain and it’s always been a decent campground for the price. After we purchased our first camper this summer we decided to go give it a shot at Oak Mountain before we went further out. We were unaware that they had completely revamped the entire place. The bathhouses were awesome and clean as were the laundry rooms. They had plenty of supplies in the store if you forgot something. We will be returning during the fall. Sites are pretty spacious and well maintained.
Scout
Chief Ladiga Trail mountains
Guide
Great camping option for first come. Glad to get plenty of options for sites. Long drive in. Hosts were great and even deliver firewood to your site. Clean bathrooms, showers, and overall campground. Only had one guest with many kids playing late into night, past quite hours (if any are posted), but we found out it was Fall break and kids were out of school all week. Great hike around the lake and boatramp for trolling motors only.
Traveler
So so so worth going, I didn’t leave to go anywhere, the hikes was awesome to see. The camp site I stayed was beautiful woke got to see the sun set. I rode my motorcycle there so for anyone who ride there motorcycle just be aware there some uneven site for your motorcycle to park. Unless you’re tall and you don’t have problem handling your bike. I’m 5,0 so it was learning curve me to see if I could handle my motorcycle up hill and down hill for campsites
ScoutA gorgeous serene park with great staff, spacious spots, beautiful views and tons of hiking!
GuideHaving visited 3 times now, twice before the renovations and now once after, I can confidently say I love this park! I have previously primitive camped here and now camper at a full hookup RV site. Tent sites range from "water in vicinity," "water at site," and "water and 20 amp power at site." Rv sites are water and electric or full hook up. I think all RV sites are now 50/30/20 but I'm not certain. There is a dump station near the exit of the campground. Sites are mostly level/slight grade but found that not all drain very well when it rains, including our site a17.
The park has so many different activities including -Hiking -Bmx trails -Swimmimg -Archery range And more I can't even remember.
Flip side watersports operates at 2 locations and paid activities include -wake boarding -Aqua Park And rentals of -Kayaks -stand up paddle boards -paddle boats And -Canoes.
There are things to do year round and the weather was great for mid July.
Scout
Easy to find off of main hwy. Grassy area with lots of trees and shade. Campfires are permitted but, you meed to bring your own wood. Campground host are helpful with questions about the area. Close to boat launches, fuel and restaurants. Talladega Super Speedway close by. Enjoyable stay at this campground.
Traveler
This has a good road and decent open spots to set-up. Overlanders (w/rtt) will be the most happy. Open areas have tall grass a but, but some have enough pine trees the pine needles make for better ground camping. Small camper trailers could probably make it too. Just be mindful of turn around spots.
I arrived late so harder to find spots. Mid-week so no one else here.
-Lacked good signage on the last turn. -No facilities (as expected) -Open to sky (took awesome star pics here)
Guide
Came with a group of friends from town to relax and disconnect. Services are great some cabins and tents having ACs, but primitive camping allowed as well. Great showers and bathhouse with filtered drinking water option that I used daily. Several hiking trails, but also roads to allow those who prefer to ride. They do offer ice, drink and snack delivery service with QR codes in each area. Definitely a place that I plan to revisit, but would refer friends to come as well for a weekend getaway.
GuideThis state park has it all. A place to swim, numerous hiking trails, playgrounds, etc. The newly remodeled campground is spectacular. The pads are super level (at least in A16. Small tent spots sprinkled in. Saw security and police several times just passing through to check on folks. Love that. We will be back many more times for sure.
Legend
Stayed at site 13, level gravel sites with picnic table on concrete pad, fire ring, FHU. Extended stays at the back of park and closer to hwy 20. There is a nice dog park, playground, covered pavilion, laundry room, dated bathroom, but clean. Shirley reserved our spot, and helped us pull through,and hook up, with our new RV! There is a little path/bridge, so We walked over to Camping World to get our bigger RV. The next morning, we had a few questions, so the Camping World service employee, came over (on a golf cart)to answer them. We decided to stay another night, and it was easy enough for Shirley to extend our reservation. If we were in the area again we would go back. There is a lot to do in the area….Talladega National Forest, Talladega SuperSpeedway and Cheaha State Park.T-Mobile was good, and paid about $30 night with Good Sam Discount. This Campground is also known as CWGS Campground of Oxford.
Scout
This is a beautiful place. If you’re looking for more primitive and secluded places to camp this place is mainly for POEPLE with rvs.
GuideWe spent one night here on the way down to Florida. It is first come first serve and we had no issue finding a space on a Thursday. The lake and surrounding area are full of birds and wildlife. The sites are well maintained, level, with clean bathrooms. So happy we stumbled on this national forest campground!
No cell service. Poorly marked trail around the lake, still worth checking out! Just follow the lake!
Traveler
Pack some water and head out. Great hikes with water falls. Pit toilet, no water, critter proof trash cans. First come first serve. Cash box available to pay. We had cell service. Used 10' trailer/ camper. No hookups or running water.
TravelerThis is a great camping spot with a beautiful lake. The trail around the lake was perfect. Caught 3 bass in the lake. You can't beat the price.
Scout
This is a motocross, zip line and paint ball camp. The people that checked us in were great. Charge was $5 per person. So $11.00 for us. The sites are grassy. We are the only ones here so we pulled up to the bath house. They will be out to turn on the hot water in a bit. Quiet. Relaxing after a day of seeing the sites. I have 2 bars on my Verizon.
Traveler
We started our hike in from Chinnabee silent trail parking and headed up toward chinnabee lake. We found this spot nearby the big swimming hole "devils den" about 1/2 a mile from the chinnabee lake parking area. We stayed at campsite 9. For 2 nights in April and it was amazing. Little to no bugs, plenty of trees for shade and hammock camping. And a good fire ring built from large river rocks. Plenty of wood around for a fire though it was mostly pine that burnt extremely well but left resin on all our cookware. This site was comfortable for our group of 4 but we felt like we were almost at max capacity at this site. I give this spot 2 👍🏻👍🏻
TravelerGreat campground. Secluded with electrical and water hookups. Make sure you use Highway 78 to enter. Google Maps will send you on a 11.5 mile mountain trail ( Dugger Mountain Road) that is a dirt 2 track over the mountain...an interesting trip with a camper. The campground is very well maintained. The bath house is very clean and up to date. Sites are level and we'll spaced
Guide
 this is a great campsite. You might need four-wheel-drive to get up to the ruins, but maybe not. Mary the caretaker of the area could easily tell you and is a great communicator and very helpful. I highly recommend this area. 
Guide
We just needed a stop with hookups for the night. But this place exceeded expectations. We had a pull through spot so we didn't have to disconnect our tow dolly. Gravel site was fairly level despite being in a hilly area. There's quite a bit of space between most of the sites (particularly the back in sites). Our site was right up against another pull through on our patio side though. No big deal, if we were coming to stay for a while we would get a back in spot. We did not check out the bathrooms or laundry facilities, but there are several of them.
Scout
This spot is where the lookout tower office used to be. It burned years ago but the concrete pad is still here. Ultimately, Rangers may come by and ask you to move to prepared sites nearby. I think they are concerned about fires as always.
Ranger
But also poorly signed and the front desk is pretty unhelpful. She asked if I had been here before and I said no and yet she never explained there was a code to get in. Frustrating at best. It is a huge campground, can't imagine the number of people in the summer. Seems I drove past some wilderness areas and hikes on the way in. We won't get to explore them on this visit.
ScoutThis place is exquisite in every way. Beautiful scenery and perfectly clean grounds, water areas are fun and safe, lots of privacy and plenty of room to explore. Love the staff manners and information. This place is the BOMB!
Traveler
Friendliest campground I've stayed at. A+ for all services.
Traveler
I’ve been going here since I was a kid and it’s one of my favorite places in the world. 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. The campground is easily navigated with multiple bathhouses per campground so you’ll always have one nearby.
Legend
Perched along the ridge of the Pinhoti Trail, just south of Adam's Gap, this backcountry campsite promises a rewarding wilderness experience. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to make the most of your stay. First and foremost, be sure to bring an ample supply of water for this section of the trail, as there are no reliable water sources nearby for refilling. The effort is well worth it, though, as the views from this campsite are simply breathtaking, especially during certain times of the year. The most stunning vistas await you right after completing the climb up from Clairmont Gap. These panoramas make the somewhat challenging trek worthwhile, offering a sense of awe and tranquility.
The campsite itself, while relatively small, provides enough space for 1-2 tents and boasts an abundance of trees for those who prefer hammocks. An established fire pit is also available, providing warmth and comfort on colder nights. It's worth noting that this section of the trail is less frequented by hikers, which means fewer campsite options. To avoid getting caught hiking in the dark, it's essential to plan your stops in advance. During our recent visit, we encountered an overgrown trail filled with brambles, which slowed our progress. Keep this in mind as you prepare for your journey.
In summary, this backcountry campsite along the Pinhoti Trail offers a chance to immerse yourself in the wilderness and enjoy stunning ridge-top views. Remember to pack enough water, plan your stops in advance, and be prepared for some overgrown sections along the trail. Despite the challenges, the natural beauty and tranquility of this location make it a worthwhile destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
GuideGreat get away camping. Nothing nearby. Talledega is 45 minutes away. No Verizon signal at all couldn’t even make a call. There is a cell phone tower on top of the mountain but not sure of the carrier. We stayed on the top campground elevation 2474ft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Talladega National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Talladega National Forest is Turnipseed Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Talladega National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 tent camping locations near Talladega National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
