Best Cabin Camping in Alabama

This little gem is tucked away on the central-eastern side of Alabama, just a 20 or so minute drive from the AL-GA state line, just due south of Columbia, right off the Omusee Creek. Over in these parts you’ll find some solid nature to interact with, trails to hike and of course, all the fun and enjoyment you’d expect being this close to the water. 

Let me share a bit about Family Time Campground: there’s a sweet little solar-heated pool that’s perfect for a classic sundowner (and not so great for swimming laps!), plenty of shaded and grassy areas for RV and trailers (22 spots in all), spacious long level lots in a private gated community, filtered water and free rentals, newly finished covered pavilion with about a half dozen brand new picnic tables that has a brand new BBQ, children’s playground, community firepit for s’mores and a fully functioning laundry facility. This RV site has full electrical, water and sewage hook-ups, free WiFi and there’s even a fully-stocked kitchen you can access while on site. For those that aren’t hauling their living room behind them, this property also has (3) bunk houses, (3) cabins, (4) camp rentals and even stationary RV’s for rent.

Insider’s Tip? On Sunday’s this campground offers up "all-you-can eat" pancake breakfast for $4 – you can’t beat this! Of course, there is the famed Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge that apparently people come from all over to see. For a good spot to dine out at, I recommend Log Cabin Restaurant right across the AL-GA state line in nearby Blakely – they’ve got everything you could think of fried, as well as some things that shouldn’t be fried, but taste great regardless! Last tip – if you’re out to kayak or canoe, get out either early or late, as the current during the middle of the day can be quite strong. 

Happy Camping!

Desoto State Park is a beautiful park with great hiking and waterfalls. The primitive camping area has a keyed gate. Make sure you arrive during business hours so they can get you registered and give you a key. They will also give you a big card with your last name on it that you will put on the campsite ledger board once you have driven through the primitive area and picked from available sites. This ledger board is halfway along the gravel road once you have let yourself through the gate and is also where the common area is. In the common area there are pit toilets, a large covered pavilion, rentable cabins, picnic tables and stone fire rings. Campsites are well marked, each has a trash can (not bear proof since no bears), and a stone fire ring. At registration you will also receive the gate code for the improved RV park so that you can use the showers and do laundry. When you leave you can put your gate key in a Dropbox outside the office.

This park is located on the highest point in Alabama. It has a great camp store with most basic groceries, hotel, cabins/chalets, group lodge, restaurant with gorgeous views, pool, 6 acre lake ALONG with great hiking trails. There is also a dog park and in general this is a very pet friendly 🐶state park. (Bring the groceries you need- closest grocery store is a 20-30 min drive)and know that the restaurant is decent but it may have varying hours during off seasons.) . 🚍⛺️campground- there are two campgrounds with full hookups. The Upper campground at the top is the mountain near all the major trailheads, restaurant, camp store and pool. The Lower Campground at the bottom of the mountain is near the small lake with swimming area and walking trail around the lake. We stayed at the Upper and in February we had the whole campground to ourselves most of our 2 week stay. All the sites are updated and have water, 30/50 amp electric, sewer, picnic table and fire ring or grill. Bathrooms at upper level can be an uphill or downhill walk. *💲this state park has a $4.75 reservation fee and a 3.75% daily “resort fee” on your base campsite rate. Both of those are not deal breakers but good to know. (Especially since the pool is only open for a limited time)

🏡 there are chalets and cabins. I felt the cabins had the better views than the chalet and more private but these are smaller and more rustic. When you are making reservations for a cabin or chalet be sure to check the occupancy rate for the cabin you choose- some are limited to 2 people and look👀 at the amenities of each cabin/chalet- some are quite rustic but descriptions are given. Good news is that they do have pet friendly cabins.

🏕there are semi/primitive and backcountry style sites. ✏️Note that the semi primitive camp sites (the ones on Tower Road) don’t have a shower house for you to use- there is a bathroom available. If you plan to hike a lot and don’t want to drive your car- try to get sites on the upper part of park. (My personal pet peeve is driving daily to a trailhead when I am camping)

📌There is also a hotel with motel like rooms (near the pool and restaurant) and you can even rent an entire lodge for groups that was very attractive from the outside (this was located at top of mountain near the overlook trail-not really walking distance to pool and restaurant)

🥾hiking - 10.5 miles of hiking in the boundaries of the park with connectors to the Pinhoti. The hiking trails had spectacular views on both sides of the mountain. Hiking poles were helpful! While the .3 mile wooden boardwalk to Bald Rock is stroller and mobility challenged friendly, most of the other hikes were moderate to strenuous for the average person. For example- There is a one mile trail straight down the mountain to the lake and lower campground. That said, we loved the hiking here. Next time we plan to bring our larger back packs and do an overnight on a section of the Pinhoti. Did I mention how awesome the views were hiking?

🚵 mountain biking- there are 5 trails that are multi use... and hikers must yield to bikers on these. While we were here there was a mountain biking race. 🚴‍♀️road biking- the roads in the park had some incline...but I was glad to have my bike to roam the upper part park where we camped. (We don’t bring a tow vehicle) My husband biked outside of the park and you can decide for yourself if you would have fun road biking here after you drive UP the mountain roads to the Visitor Center. *It is 3 miles from the visitor center/park entrance to the lower campground/lake area via non park roads. 🛶- we didn’t paddle here, it was not near our campground and it is only a 6 acre lake/pond. There is a swimming/wading.

Happy Camping! Pamela and Keith

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.

This park has it all in terms of overnight amenities. You can stay in a motel style room, log cabins, chalets, backcountry sites, wall tents, improved campsites and primitive campsites. Whatever you're looking for, this place probably has it and all in a beautiful setting. We stayed here while visiting Little River Canyon and it was a good location for our needs.

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. There are a number of wonderful hiking options here as well. It's a little pricey, especially with the convenience fee and the 13% lodging tax but you get what you pay for and this place is NICE.

Want total privacy with the every kitchen supply, shampoos, comfy beds, wood for the fire pit, coffee and plenty of amusements provided? Almost 100 perfect reviews and very reasonable prices ensure you are lucky to book this cozy tiny barn.  Great movie selection, oldie classic records for the victrola, hammock, outdoor dining furniture , rockers on a covered porch plus several trails thru the lovely 10 acres of farmland gives plenty to do. The private setting in the woods is less than a mile from a highway only 40-40 minutes to Birmingham in an area of lovely rolling hills and horse farms. Perfect safety & rest from a trip on Highway 20 or 59 with a loaded car. Kids & adults love the precious moose and bear decor. Book this if you can!

We have stayed here many times when were on the road heading  out for the summer.  We had full hook up, a picnic table & there is a small clean restroom near the pool if needed along with a laundry room & place to sit inside if it's hot out.  They have DVD's and some books we trade them where were there. We only stay a night & stay hooked up to the truck. The owners Gigi & her husband work hard to keep the gardens beautiful, the campground maintained & the pool is so clean & refreshing.  You can get propane here. 

We've stayed 3 different time & had a nice site towards the back with a garden on the side. 

It's off the beaten path a little but well worth it.

Full Service Hookups 30/50 AMP Electrical Service Pull Through Sites Large Sites– plenty of room for slide outs City Water Propane Fill and Exchange Center– 7 days a week Trailer Rentals– Fully Equipped Ice Escort to Site, 24-Hour Laundry Room Clean Showers Free WIFI Hotspot Park-Like Setting– lots of shade trees Walking Trails Swimming Pool~ Seasonal, Picnic Areas Group Fire Ring Gazebo Group Picnic Area.

Monte Sano State Park is located near Huntsville in northeast Alabama. In Spanish, Monte Sano means “Mountain of Health.” In the late 1800s, visitors from across the United States came for “the season” to experience and enjoy Monte Sano’s fresh air, spectacular views and mineral springs. Fourteen rustic cabins, 11 of which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), are perched on the side of the mountain and are equipped with kitchens, fireplaces, separate showers and baths, cable television, outdoor grills, picnic tables, and porches for taking in the amazing sunrises.

The park also features 89 improved campsites, a primitive campground and a camp store.