Where to sleep on a Alabama paddling trip, from state parks to river camps.
Where to sleep on a Alabama paddling trip: state parks, Forest Service camps, Army Corps lake campgrounds and the platforms, shelters and sandbar camps on the state's canoe trails. Every fee, reservation line and rule on these pages came from the people who run the place, and each card says who. Where they do not publish something, the card says so instead of guessing.
The first 6 pages open right here. One email opens the whole guide, and the same email opens every other Blackwater guide too.
The Camper's Guide covers 64 places to sleep on a Alabama trip, from state parks to river camps. Each entry below is taken from the book: what kind of camp it is, the sites, the reservation details, pets and fire rules, and whether you can paddle from it. Fees and rules were checked Sept 2026 and change, so confirm with the operator before you go.
Lakes and canyons. Joe Wheeler, Lake Guntersville, DeSoto and Monte Sano state parks, the Forest Service camps and the Tennessee Valley lake campgrounds.
The Forest Service lists Brushy Lake as an overnight campground or horse camp with 13 sites. It is on the fee schedule, and most Alabama national forest campgrounds are first come, first served.
Buck's Pocket State Park has 11 primitive sites and 23 modern sites. Nothing else about the campground is published in the state parks table, so confirm the details before you pack.
Burchfield Branch is a Corps campground on Holt Lake with 36 electric and water sites, hot showers and a dump station. Reserve through Recreation.gov.
Paddling: Sits on Holt Lake. The Corps publishes no camp-specific paddle access.
Cathedral Caverns State Park lists 5 primitive sites and 36 modern sites. The state parks camping table gives no fees, amenities or rules for the campground, so check the reservations page before you drive out.
The Forest Service lists Clear Creek as an overnight campground or horse camp. No site count, amenities or rules are published, and most Alabama national forest campgrounds are first come, first served.
Corinth is on the Forest Service list of overnight campgrounds and horse camps. No site count, amenities or rules are published, so check the Forest Service page before you go.
A county RV campground at Cowford Landing on the Tennessee River, with full hookups, a climate-controlled bathhouse and gated entry. Tents are not allowed, so this one is for RVs.
Paddling: Riverfront campground on the Tennessee River. Launch details are not published.
Deerlick Creek Park is a Corps campground on Warrior Lake with 46 sites, six of them tent only, plus showers and a swimming beach. Reserve through Recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777.
Paddling: Sits on Warrior Lake. The Corps publishes no camp-specific paddle access.
The state parks table shows 18 primitive sites and 94 modern sites at DeSoto State Park. Fees, amenities, pets and fire rules are not published there, so look them up before you go.
The state parks table shows primitive sites with no count and 116 modern sites at Joe Wheeler State Park. Fees, amenities, pets and fire rules are not published there, so look them up before you go.
Lake Guntersville State Park has primitive sites with no count and 295 modern sites. Nothing else about the campground is published in the state parks table, so confirm the details before you pack.
Monte Sano State Park lists 23 primitive sites and 90 modern sites. The state parks camping table gives no fees, amenities or rules for the campground, so check the reservations page before you drive out.
Owl Creek Horse Camp is a primitive Forest Service camp, open all year at $5 a night. It has campsites, drinking water and toilets.
Rickwood Caverns State Park lists 5 primitive sites and 13 modern sites. The state parks camping table gives no fees, amenities or rules for the campground, so check the reservations page before you drive out.
Mountains to the lakes of the Tallapoosa and Coosa. Cheaha, Oak Mountain, Lakepoint and Wind Creek state parks and the campgrounds on the river lakes.
The state parks table shows 54 primitive sites and 77 modern sites at Cheaha State Park. Fees, amenities, pets and fire rules are not published there, so look them up before you go.
Chewacla State Park has 9 primitive sites and 36 modern sites. Nothing else about the campground is published in the state parks table, so confirm the details before you pack.
Coleman Lake is listed by the Forest Service as an overnight campground or horse camp. It publishes no site count, amenities or rules, and most campgrounds in the forest are first come, first served.
Gunter Hill Campground is on the Corps campground roster. The Corps says its campgrounds commonly have grills, tables, water, trash service, showers or dump stations, but it does not say which ones are here. Site count and fees are not published.
The state parks table shows primitive sites with no count and 192 modern sites at Lakepoint State Park. Fees, amenities, pets and fire rules are not published there, so look them up before you go.
The state parks table shows 60 primitive sites and 84 modern sites at Oak Mountain State Park. Fees, amenities, pets and fire rules are not published there, so look them up before you go.
The Forest Service lists Payne Lake as an overnight campground or horse camp. Site count, amenities and rules are not published, so check the Forest Service page first.
Pine Glen is on the Forest Service list of overnight campgrounds and horse camps. No site count, amenities or rules are published, so check the Forest Service page before you go.
Prairie Creek Park is on the Corps campground roster. The Corps says its campgrounds commonly have grills, tables, water, trash service, showers or dump stations, but it does not say which ones are here. Site count and fees are not published.
Turnipseed is a primitive Forest Service camp, open March 1 through December 1. It has sanitary facilities but no drinking water, so bring your own.
Warden Station is a Forest Service horse camp. It is on the fee schedule, but no site count, amenities or rules are published, so check the Forest Service page before you go.
Wind Creek State Park has primitive sites with no count and 586 modern sites. Nothing else about the campground is published in the state parks table, so confirm the details before you pack.
The Tombigbee and Black Warrior country. Lake Lurleen and Chickasaw state parks and Army Corps campgrounds around Demopolis and Pickensville.
Chickasaw State Park lists primitive sites with no count and 3 modern sites. The state parks camping table gives no fees, amenities or rules for the campground, so check the reservations page before you drive out.
Cochrane is on the Corps roster as a campground on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Site count, fees and amenities are not published, so verify them before you drive out.
Paddling: Sits on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. No camp-specific paddle access is published.
Demopolis Lake has campground areas on the Corps roster. The Corps says its campgrounds commonly have grills, tables, water, trash service, showers or dump stations, but it does not say which ones are here. Site count and fees are not published.
Forkland Park is a Corps campground on Demopolis Lake with 42 campsites, all with water hookups.
Paddling: Sits on Demopolis Lake. The Corps publishes no camp-specific paddle access.
Foscue Creek Park is a Corps campground with 54 sites. Each has a picnic table, lantern holder and a campfire ring with a grill.
Jennings Ferry Park is a Corps campground with 52 sites, all with 50-amp electric and water hookups.
Lake Lurleen State Park lists 4 primitive sites and 91 modern sites. The state parks camping table gives no fees, amenities or rules for the campground, so check the reservations page before you drive out.
Pickensville is a big Corps campground on Aliceville Lake with 176 sites, restrooms, a boat ramp, a fishing dock and a swim beach. Reserve through Recreation.gov.
Paddling: Boat ramp and waterfront access on Aliceville Lake.
Service Park is a Corps campground with 32 sites, two of them tent only. All have 50-amp electric and water hookups.
River delta to the Gulf. State parks from Blue Springs to Gulf State Park, Corps campgrounds on the Alabama River, and the platforms, shelters and sandbar camps on the state's canoe trails.
Bladon Springs State Park lists primitive sites with no count and 10 modern sites. The state parks camping table gives no fees, amenities or rules for the campground, so check the reservations page before you drive out.
The state parks table shows primitive sites with no count and 47 modern sites at Blue Springs State Park. Fees, amenities, pets and fire rules are not published there, so look them up before you go.
Canal Island Platform is a paddle-in platform on the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. State Lands publishes overnight rules for the trail, but no site count or fees for this platform.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from the Bartram Canoe Trail.
Chilatchee Creek is one of six Corps overnight campgrounds on the Alabama River lakes, on Dannelly Reservoir. Registered campers can use the campground facilities. Summer reservations go through Recreation.gov.
Paddling: Sits on Dannelly Reservoir. No camp-specific paddle access is published.
Dead Lake Platform is a paddle-in platform on the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. State Lands publishes overnight rules for the trail, but no site count or fees for this platform.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from the Bartram Canoe Trail.
Frank Jackson State Park has 8 primitive sites and 32 modern sites. Nothing else about the campground is published in the state parks table, so confirm the details before you pack.
Gulf State Park lists 8 primitive sites and 599 modern sites. The state parks camping table gives no fees, amenities or rules for the campground, so check the reservations page before you drive out.
Hardridge Creek is a Corps campground on Walter F. George Lake with 74 sites, 55 of them electric and water. It has flush toilets, showers and a dump station.
Paddling: Sits on Walter F. George Lake. No camp-specific paddle access is published.
Indian Mound Island overnight trail is a paddle-in land camp on the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. State Lands publishes overnight rules for the trail, but no site count or fees for this camp.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from the Bartram Canoe Trail.
Isaac Creek Campground is on the Corps campground roster. The Corps says its campgrounds commonly have grills, tables, water, trash service, showers or dump stations, but it does not say which ones are here. Site count and fees are not published.
Jug Lake Platform is a paddle-in platform on the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. State Lands publishes overnight rules for the trail, but no site count or fees for this platform.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from the Bartram Canoe Trail.
Justins Bay Sunset and Sunrise Shelter is a paddle-in shelter on the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. State Lands publishes overnight rules for the trail, but no site count or fees for this shelter.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from the Bartram Canoe Trail.
The City of Florala runs this RV park with 28 sites, a bathhouse, coin laundry and a boat launch in the campground. Water sites run $34.80 a night. Call 334-858-6425 to reserve.
Paddling: Boat launch in the campground area.
Loggerhead Creek is one of six reservable overnight shelter locations on the Perdido River Canoe Trail. There are two shelters, each sized for up to eight people and gear. Fees and rules are not published.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from Staple Fork Landing.
Meaher State Park has 10 primitive sites and 61 modern sites. Nothing else about the campground is published in the state parks table, so confirm the details before you pack.
Millers Ferry Campground is a Corps campground with 42 family sites and electric hookups. It has flush toilets, showers, laundry and a dump station.
Mudhole Creek Shelter is a paddle-in shelter on the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. State Lands publishes overnight rules for the trail, but no site count or fees for this shelter.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from the Bartram Canoe Trail.
Nelson Ditch is one of six reservable overnight shelter locations on the Perdido River Canoe Trail, with two shelters that each hold up to eight people. Fees and rules are not published.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from Gravel Landing.
Open Pond is on the Forest Service list of overnight campgrounds and horse camps. No site count, amenities or rules are published, so check the Forest Service page before you drive out.
Paul Grist State Park has primitive sites with no count and 11 modern sites. Nothing else about the campground is published in the state parks table, so confirm the details before you pack.
Peaden Lake is one of six reservable overnight shelter locations on the Perdido River Canoe Trail. The one shelter sleeps up to eight with gear. Fees and rules are not published.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from Gravel Landing or Staple Fork Landing.
Richardson Island overnight trail is a paddle-in land camp on the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. State Lands publishes overnight rules for the trail, but no site count or fees for this camp.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from the Bartram Canoe Trail.
The state parks table shows 13 primitive sites and 47 modern sites at Roland Cooper State Park. Fees, amenities, pets and fire rules are not published there, so look them up before you go.
Six Mile Creek is one of six Corps overnight campgrounds on the Alabama River lakes, on Dannelly Reservoir. No site count, fees or amenities are published. Summer reservations go through Recreation.gov.
Paddling: Sits on Dannelly Reservoir. No camp-specific paddle access is published.
Spoonbill Sandbar Campsite is a paddle-in land camp on the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. State Lands publishes overnight rules for the trail, but no site count or fees for this camp.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from the Bartram Canoe Trail.
Swamp Field is one of six reservable overnight shelter locations on the Perdido River Canoe Trail. The one shelter holds up to eight people and gear. Fees and rules are not published.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from Staple Fork Landing or Blue Lake Landing.
Two Rivers Point Campsite is a paddle-in land camp on the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. State Lands publishes overnight rules for the trail, but no site count or fees for this camp.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from the Bartram Canoe Trail.
White Oak Creek is a Corps campground on Walter F. George Lake with 129 electric and water sites, flush toilets, showers and three dump stations. It does not take reservations through Recreation.gov.
Paddling: Sits on Walter F. George Lake. No camp-specific paddle access is published.
Yancey Branch Shelter is a paddle-in shelter on the Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. State Lands publishes overnight rules for the trail, but no site count or fees for this shelter.
Paddling: Paddle-in access from the Bartram Canoe Trail.
Every fee in this book carries its check date, September 2026. Alabama State Parks, the Forest Service and the Army Corps set their own rates and change them, so where a page did not publish a fee, the entry says so and points you to the agency.
Small places fill first. Backcountry, paddle-in and river camps often need a permit or a reservation. The Reserve line in each entry says what the agency published.
Pack out everything you pack in, food scraps too. Camp on sand, rock or an established site, well above the waterline. Use the toilet provided, or dig a cathole well away from water and camp. Leave what you find, and let the wildlife be.
Fire rules change with the weather. Fires only in provided rings where allowed; check the managing agency's alerts page before every trip. Carry a stove on every trip so a burn ban never costs you supper.
Storms, low water, construction, hunts and wildfire close campgrounds without warning. Check the agency page the week you go.