With four national forests, many Army Corps of Engineers properties, Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and state and county recreational facilities, Alabama offers lots of camping experiences. And the best part is that among all those options, there are lots of opportunities for free camping in Alabama.
Of course, locations for free camping in Alabama generally will have limited amenities. But if you’re looking for an authentic experience in the natural world, that’s more of an opportunity than a problem. Read on for a look at places that offer free camping in Alabama, and get ready to get back to nature in the Cotton State.
Free Camping in Alabama: Northern
1. Brush Creek Park
If you’re traveling north into Alabama, you don’t have to go too far before finding an opportunity to camp at no charge. Brush Creek Park, in the Lauderdale County town of Waterloo on the northwestern edge of Alabama, has ten free campsites. Four of those sites are located directly on the edge of the Tennessee River.
A major United States waterway for hydropower and irrigation, the Tennessee River is also a renowned spot for bass angling. As it moves through Lauderdale County on part of its 652-mile run across Alabama, the Tennessee River is also a picturesque spot to enjoy nature.
The maximum stay allowed at Brush Creek Park is 30 days, making it a great option for free camping in Alabama. You’ll have access to a public restroom, cold-water showers, and a waste disposal station for RVs. There are no electrical hookups at the park.
2. Sweetwater Lake
Located near Fruithurst in the Talladega National Forest in northeast Alabama, Sweetwater Lake offers free camping in Alabama for a maximum of 14 days. Campers can stay in and around a boat ramp on the 58-acre lake. There are no amenities, so be sure to bring proper supplies and gear.
Sweetwater Lake is particularly convenient for hikers, because it lies along the Pinhoti Trail. The trail stretches 335 miles in Alabama and Georgia. To get to Sweetwater Lake by vehicle, take U.S. Highway 78 west from Heflin, turn right onto Skyway Mountainway, and then right onto Road 503B.
3. Raccoon Creek Wildlife Management Area
In the northeastern corner of the state near Stevenson, the Raccoon Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) offers free camping in Alabama on the Tennessee River. To get to the camping area, take County Road 491 from Alabama Highway 117.
There are some potholes on the road into the camping area, so take care as you drive in. There are approximately 10 campsites in the Tennessee Valley Authority-managed campground. Particularly if you enjoy fishing, it’s well worth a stop at the Raccoon Creek WMA.
The maximum stay allowed at the Raccoon Creek WMA for free camping in Alabama is 14 days.
Free Camping in Alabama: Central
Among the free camping options in central Alabama are WMAs and the Tuskegee National Forest. While the WMAs are primarily designed to serve hunters, they are open to the general public. They may, however, be closed to the general public for safety reasons during hunting seasons.
Read on to learn about a few of the free primitive camping options in central Alabama.
4. Tuskegee Camp 3
Located near Interstate 85 between Auburn and Montgomery, Tuskegee Camp 3 offers a pleasant and convenient place for tent or RV camping. Like all U.S. Forest Service primitive campgrounds, stays for free camping in Alabama are limited to 14 days.
Located in the Tuskegee National Forest, Tuskegee Camp 3 offers five campsites. From I-85, take Exit 38 toward Alabama Highway 81. Head down Chappie James Avenue to Auburn Street and then onto County Road 53. From there, take Wire Road to National Forest Road 913.
Camping at Tuskegee Camp 3 requires a free permit. To get a permit, contact the Tuskegee Ranger District at 125 National Forest Road in Tuskegee or call (334) 727-2652.
Be aware that there are no facilities at Tuskegee Camp 3 and that it likely will be heavily used by hunters during hunting seasons.
5. Lowndes Wildlife Management Area
If your travels take you to Montgomery, the Lowndes Wildlife Management Area near the community of White Hall is a handy location for exploring the city.
Located off Holy Ground Road, the free Lowndes WMA campground is a simple open field surrounded by woodlands. To get there from Montgomery, take U.S. Highway 89 west to Alabama Highway 29, and turn left at Holy Ground Road.
There are no facilities at the Lowndes WMA campground, so it may be best suited to RV camping. In addition, the campground may become crowded during hunting season since the area is managed specifically for hunting.
Still, if you’re visiting Montgomery, perhaps to see the Civil Rights Memorial, the Lowndes WMA is a great way to experience free camping in Alabama.
6. Lock 5
If you’re a college football fan who also loves the outdoors, Lock 5 Park in Cedarville is the perfect place to indulge both of those avocations.
Less than an hour from Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama, Lock 5 Park offers campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern holders. Drinking water is also available at this site for free camping in Alabama.
Situated on the banks of the Black Warrior River, Lock 5 Park is easily accessible from the nearby town of Greensboro. To get to Tuscaloosa for a University of Alabama football game, head northwest from Greensboro to Interstate 20.
Free Camping in Alabama: Southern
As is the case elsewhere across the state, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is well-represented among the entities offering free camping in Alabama. Read on for a look at three COE-managed sites in southern Alabama.
Each of these places can serve as a place for a few days of respite from the world. Or, if you’re on your way to the Gulf Coast beaches of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi or Texas, use them as a quick stopover.
7. Damsite West Bank
Like other COE-managed campsites, Damsite West Bank in Franklin offers free camping in Alabama for up to two weeks. Located between Montgomery and Mobile, Damsite West Bank is open all year. For RV camping, sites are limited to vehicles no more than 20 feet long.
On the bank of the Alabama River, Damsite West Bank offers drinking water and restrooms as amenities for short-term campers using the free campsites.
8. Old Lock 1 Park
Located near Jackson, Alabama, Old Lock 1 Park, another COE-managed facility, offers free primitive camping, again for a maximum of 14 days. Situated on the Tombigbee River, Old Lock 1 Park has campsites located in an old pecan grove.
In terms of amenities, the park has bathrooms, but not showers. A water spigot behind the bathroom allows for campers to take water to their campsites. There also are tables and grills available at the free primitive campsites.
A boat launch and fishing pier are available, but they may not be accessible if water levels are low. Also, campers looking for quiet should know the park, which features a picnic pavilion in among its other amenities, is frequented by local residents.
9. Barbour Wildlife Management Area
Covering almost 19,000 acres in Alabama’s Barbour and Bullock counties northwest of Eufaula, Barbour Wildlife Management Area offers free RV camping in designated areas. As with other Wildlife Management Area campgrounds, camping in the Barbour WMA is primitive, with no facilities.
The Barbour WMA campsites are open only between October and April, so they would make a good place to see fall foliage and the arrival of spring. Be aware, though, that the campsites likely will be heavily used during hunting seasons.
Located between Alabama Highway 51 and U.S. Highway 82, Barbour WMA is about a half-hour away from fishing and other recreation at Lake Eufaula.
10. Lenoir Landing
Lenoir Landing near Womack Hill is a COE-managed campsite offering free camping in Alabama for up to 14 days. Amenities at Lenoir Landing campsites include picnic tables, lantern holders and fire rings. A boat ramp also is available. Sanitation facilities are limited to primitive toilets.
Free Camping in Alabama: Statewide
In recent years, growing numbers of businesses have opened their parking lots for overnight RV camping. Across Alabama, there are lots of opportunities for a convenient night’s stay on the way to your ultimate destination in the state or elsewhere.
Read on for a brief look at some of the overnight parking-lot opportunities for free camping in Alabama.
Interstate 20
Among the more interesting places to stay overnight in your RV on I-20 in Alabama is the parking lot of the Mercedes-Benz plant east of Tuscaloosa. No utility hook-ups are available, and your stay is limited to a single night. You will, though, have the advantage of plant security watching over the lot.
Elsewhere on I-20, free overnight camping is available at the Bass Pro in Leeds, a short distance east of Birmingham. Farther east, the !-20 Truck Stop in Lincoln has provisions for overnight RV stays as part of the options for free camping in Alabama.
Interstate 65
The Camping World store in Calera, south of Birmingham, allows RVers to use their parking lot for an overnight stay. Closer to Birmingham, in Mountain Brook off Lakeshore Parkway near I-65, the Wal-Mart offers free overnight camping for RVers.
Headed north on I-65 from Birmingham, the Wal-Mart in Cullman also offers free overnight camping for RVs. The Cullman Wal-Mart is located on Section Line Road, a short distance from I-65.
Wrapping up the Ultimate Guide to Free Camping in Alabama
Now that you’ve explored free camping in Alabama, it’s time to hit the road to a state that stretches from mountains to seashore. Whatever your preference in natural surroundings, you’re sure to find something to stir your appreciation for the outdoors in Alabama.
In the meantime, check out the many Beyond The Tent posts for free camping opportunities across the United States, from Arizona, to Wisconsin, to Florida. Now get out there and have some fun, y’all!
- About the Author
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Jim Thompson grew up tent camping with his family, and was introduced to backpacking with the Boy Scouts. He attended a military college, where he was introduced to rappelling, an outdoor activity which he has not pursued.
Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia, and spent 35 years as a newspaper writer and editor before become a writer for Apple Pie Media.
Jim can be reached at jimt3rd@yahoo.com
