Mont Sano SP - Huntsville, AL

MONT SANO STATE PARK

RUN BY: State of Alabama

LOCATION: Huntsville, AL

UTILITIES: Water and Electricity (30-50A)

COST:

OUR RATING (1-5): I-4

NOTES: Not many cities have a rugged, scenic state park in the middle of the city. Not many cities have a mountain in the middle of town. But Huntsville has both, and Mont Sano State Park is on the top of that mountain. It is an awesome park with many miles of trails and breath-taking vistas. Until I went west I ran a 25K (15.5 mile) trail race at Mont Sano called the Mckay Hollow Madness. It was more of a survival race.  It wasn't who got back first ... it was who got back. Only about 70% of us made the entire course. Right at the top of this mountain, in this lovely park, and in the middle of the wild terrain that made Mckay Hollow a great race is a campground.  The Space Center is a few miles away and it isn't far from Interstates. If you're in northern Alabama, you really need to stop here. 

Environment:  Heavily wooded. 

Amenities: Bath-house.  Play grounds, trails and other activities abound.  There is a dump station. 

Proximity to Shopping:  You are in the middle of a city. A few miles in either direction from the campground brings you to shopping. 

Phone Service:  Verizon was disappointing considering you're right in the middle of a city. 

Location:   If you're coming from I-565 or downtown Huntsville (west side of the mountain) take US431 east. Watch for the turn at the top of the mountain and follow the signs. Instructions if you are coming from the east are just about the same. Head west on 431 and watch for the signs when you get to the top. It is a large intersection. 

Camping Population:  There is a stay limit and I would guess that the costs are a bit too high for transients. 

Sites: Nice size and well maintained. We had no problem with leveling.  All the sites have lovely tree cover. 

(I apologize. I evidently didn't take pictures while we were here. These are public domain stock pictures and don't do Mont Sano justice.)

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RATING KEY: category - score

Categories: I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

II - boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

one might choose to stay for more than a night.

III - over-night areas

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service   

Pickensville COE - Pickensville, AL

PICKENSVILLE RECREATION AREA

RUN BY: Corp of Engineers

LOCATION: Pickensvile, AL

UTILITIES: Water and Electricity. Some have sewage.

COST: $22-24

OUR RATING (1-5): I-5

NOTES:  Here is one of the COE's jewels. Located along the main channel of the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway, this 170+ site campground was a great find.  Except for the loop closest to the entrance, almost all of the sites have a nice view of the waterway.  The channel is very active with commercial barges and pleasure craft.  You are at least 10+ miles from shopping even though there are a couple of convenience stores within 5 miles. Pamela and I rode our bikes through the loops and down the road to the lock and dam and were able to get >1 hr of steady riding without repetition. (She was using biking as part of her PT.)  We really enjoy the barges. They were so close that we could practically touch them. Just watching them go by was a treat. They would also moor barges on the other side of the waterway from the campground and you can watch them tie them together. Fishing is evidently excellent and a lot of duck boats went by. 

Environment: A heavily treed campground.

Amenities:  The bath-houses are very nice and each has a laundry room. There is a play area for children and nice observation decks.  A boat ramp is close.  They provide a fish cleaning hut that actually has sinks and a garbage disposal. No catfish allowed. Evidently the catfish skin jams the disposal.  

Phone Service:  We had good Verizon service here. 

Location:  Right across the waterway from Pickensville, AL which is almost due west of Montgomery.  The campground is right on the State line with Mississippi and you actually travel a few yards into Mississippi when drive from the CG to the main highway.  It is a great place to stay but you must intend to go there. 

Camping Population:  In December there were no more than 1/2 dozen of us in the campground. In January there were nights when our friends and the host were the only other units.  There is a stay limit.  Rangers told us that they have the authority to extend the limit for good campers. 

Sites:  Beautiful - paved with utilities easily accessible. Most so level that you don't need anything. 

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RATING KEY: category - score

Categories: I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

II - boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

one might choose to stay for more than a night.

III - over-night areas

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service   

Honeycomb, TVA - Guntersville, AL

HONEYCOMB CAMPGROUND

RUN BY:  TVA 

LOCATION: Guntersville, AL

UTILITIES: Water and Electricity (30-50A)

COST: $33

OUR RATING (1-5): I-4

NOTES:  This is an all-time favorite for us.  We have been here four times and each time we've had this same campsite.  It is right on Guntersville Lake.

Environment: The campground is heavily wooded. 

Amenities: nice bath-houses.  Playground. Camp store. Boat dock. Swimming area. 

Phone Service: Verizon available.

Location:  Just north of Guntersville, AL and about 20 miles south of Huntsville, AL. There is shopping in Guntersville. 

Camping Population: There are a lot of long-term campers but sites available for long-term are kept together. 

Sites:  The site that we always get is worth the money.  Not sure I'd want to pay $33 to be back away from the lake. The sites are nice. Not too close to neighbors. Some aren't particularly level.

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RATING KEY: category - score

Categories: 

I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

II - boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

one might choose to stay for more than a night.

III - over-night areas

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service   

Frank Jackson SP - Opp, AL

FRANK JACKSON SP

RUN BY: State of Alabama

LOCATION: near Opp, AL

The view that greeted us in the morning

UTILITIES:  water, electric (30-50A), sewage 

COST: $35

OUR RATING (1-5): I-4.5

NOTES:  We were heading south with family and picked this Alabama State Park to stop for the night. Even in the dark we could tell that it was a class campground.  When we awakened we were greeted by a beautiful campground, with some trees. We were right on the lake. We wished that we had time to stay longer. We met some other campers who were all from Alabama and camped here routinely.  It was so clean and tidy that it looked more like a fancy campground from a movie set - rolling hills, wooded sites, immaculate bath-houses, playgrounds, etc. It is definitely on our list to visit again.   

Environment:  beautiful treed campground on a lovely lake.  

Amenities:  playground,  laundry and bath-houses 

Phone Service:  good Verizon 

Location:  Just a short distance north of Opp, AL 

Camping Population:  There were a number of locals who had left their units at the campground and use them on weekends. However, overall presentation was clean and safe. 

Sites:  Nice roomy sites not too near neighbors.  Some on the lake.   Paved

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RATING KEY: category - score

Categories:
I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

II - boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

one might choose to stay for more than a night.

III - over-night areas

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service