Best Glamping near Union Grove, AL

We followed our RV GPS right to the campground (CG) that is located right off I-24. Check in was quick and easy. We were then escorted to one of their“long” pull through sites with FHUs, site 27. What we first noticed was the large cement patio with table, chairs, bench, stand up barbecue, and fire pit. The utilities are located smartly in the middle of the pad to include an extra sewer connection near the pad’s front. Water pressure was okay at around 45 psi. They have cable but we did not use it. Their Wifi was about average for a CG this size. We got 3 bars on Verizon and used our MiFi on this overnighter. Satellite could be iffy due to the amount of mature trees. We did see Starlink antennas at some of the sites. The sites are decently spaced and site 27 was the easiest pull through we’ve ever had as its angled straight in from the street, no turns or maneuvering to center the rig. They have glamping cabins, teepees, and a covered wagon with nice patio decor. There’s also a swimming pool, pickleball court, catch& release pond plus other amenities. There’s also laundry and propane. The staff was very nice and helpful. We were impressed with this CG with the only caveat that there’s quite a bit of highway noise from the interstate. However, the noise did not overweigh our satisfaction and we will definitely mark this CG for another overnighter or longer stay in the future.

Pros: The staff are all incredibly friendly. We loved interacting with them (especially Eric!) during our stay. The laundry and bathrooms are very clean and spacious. The staff will come around and collect your trash for you (which isn’t necessary but a nice plus!) The location is directly off the highway and close to stores if you need a late night run for anything. The dog park was cute and offered a lot of extras. The heated pool was nicely taken care of and would be fantastic for the summer season. The camp store had lots of necessities and cute decor plus a dvd rental library and a pizza place onsite!

Cons: There was a massive cell phone tower within walking distance from our RV. Literally on the property of the RV park behind their utility shed and next to the playground. The highway traffic is quite loud. The campsites are very close together! The playground and fun type amenities in the back of the park weren’t kept up very well it seemed. A lot of the stuff was missing or broken.

For more detailed reviews and photos, follow us on TikTok and Instagram @HomegrownRV!

My son Conner and I stayed at the Old Stone Fort Campground in Manchester, Tennessee on the night of Monday, July 8, 2019. We arrived at the park and were checked in at the museum entrance by the helpful and courteous staff. They really made us feel welcome. The campground setting is dense, lowland hardwood. The sites are very close together, so you will need to love your neighbor as yourself on holidays, or if you need solitude, you may need to go during the week or on non-holiday days. Each site had a water spigot, electrical hookups, an asphalt pad, a fire ring with grill, and a standalone grill. Some sites had a raised, gravel tent pad which would come in very handy on nights when rain’s in the forecast. The bathrooms were old, but they were clean, well stocked, and functioning. Recycling bins were also located near the well lit bathrooms. Trash was picked up in the morning from the campsite, and throughout the day and night rangers and park staff made their scheduled rounds for security. The campground is near the Old Stone Fort which is a stone wall constructed nearly 2,000 by the native people of the Tennessee Valley. Its sacredness is felt as you tour the many waterfalls that surround the campground and archaeological site. There are numerous swimming holes for kids and adults and a non-motorized boat launch near the campgrounds. There is a small museum on site and is free to the public. After the museum tour, you can walk the trails free of charge and see the ancient ruins. If you are going to the campground during the summer, you will need a good DEET based bug spray. For those traveling in RVs, you will need to call ahead and make sure your RV can make it across the one lane bridge that serves as the only entrance to the campground. In addition, it’s worth noting that the campground is near the small town of Manchester. You will hear an occasional siren, but other than that you will feel like you are a thousand miles away from town. I’d suggest driving through the campground and selecting a couple of possible campsites before registering. The three loops are well used, but we enjoyed staying on the main drive. Overall, this is a wonderful campground near a very fascinating archaeological site. The trails and waterfalls make this a great place to visit if only for a day.

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!

The primitive camping sites are directly across from three group sites, each of which accommodate up to FIFTY people. The problem with this is that most folks, like me,  book primitive campsites because they are looking to get away from the noise in the RV campground. There was no peace and quiet to be had, unfortunately, because there were several gigantic groups of kids camping in the group sites across from us.  The noise was truly constant up until quiet hours.  We were camping with another couple who was unable to get their young child to sleep until very late because of all the noise.  Speaking of kids, one of the parents in the jamboree across the street thought it was acceptable to bring her kids over to play in our campsite.

If you're looking for a Bonnaroo type camping experience with lots of cars, activity, and noise, you will enjoy the primitive sites here.  If not, I would actually suggest booking in the main RV campground or camping elsewhere.

On the plus side, the sites were well-maintained and site 15 was scenic and spacious.

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).