hey all, we just bought our class c in January and we're finding it a bit frustrating and expensive to find a "good" campsite. this week we went to Trace State Park which is close to Tupelo MS and thought it was going to be a good place but ended up leaving 2 days early. signs are posted for "no swimming or wading" and i have no problem with rules but we watched people stay in the water from satuday till thurday, i have 4 granddaughters ages 4 to 6 that joined us wednesday and we were letting them get in the water (temp in the 90's) at the edge where we had our small boat pulled up on shore and were promply told to get them out, that you couldn't do anything in the water. later that day others were letting their kids in the water while ours had to watch, so we left next morning. if you like to water ski and boatride around in circles Trace State Park is ok i guess but if you like to fish and relax in the quiet stay away. we saw many close accidents with the jet ski's and pull tubes that had small children in them. they let too many boats on the lake and it's really dangerous. plus if you try to fish they have no respect what so ever, i had several large waves roll over in the boat while there. also saw others trying to fish and the ski boats would run between the fisherman and the shore.i will never be back there for anything or any state run parks, they all have a different set of rules that are made by the lake manager. momma always said "a bought lesson is the best lesson". i guess this has turned into my rant about Trace State Park but i really need some suggestions on where to go before "burn out" sets in and i start thinking of selling out.
We had bad experiences at two Miss St Parks several years ago. We have not, nor will we ever camp in Miss again. Now, to answer your question. Here in Alabama we have many really nice places. All of our COE parks are wonderful. You can go to their website to see which ones have full-hookup. In my opinion, our very best state parks are: Joe Wheeler, Guntersville, and Gulf State. We also have Tannehill which is an historical state park. Many folks from Miss come here. It is located between Tuscaloosa and B'ham. It is at exit 100, 3 miles off the highway. As for Tenn, we always camp in Townsend. This is a great location for visiting the Smokies. There are several campgrounds there: KOA, Tremont Hills, Big Meadow and others. Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tenn is a really nice place also. Good luck and happy camping...................
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I take it you want a place that has some entertainment for grandkids, rather than just an overnight place?
We recently did an overnight at the Frog Hollow in Mississippi - off of I-55 around MM 211. We liked it quite well.
We stayed at the Crosseyed Cricket twice last year (in TN, fairly close to Knoxville) - we left early last time because of some teenagers being on a vandalism spree and park management was no where to be found. Also, there were a lot of stray dogs hanging around the various campsites trying to mooch food. And the CG itself is kind of hard to get to (narrow roads). We won't be staying there again.....
We've stayed at only one CG in AL - the Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores. Very well maintained and full hookups, but it kids might find it lacking. There's plenty to do in Gulf Shores, however, including the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo ("The Little Zoo That Could").
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edited 07/05/08 10:24am by davemittan *
Guntersville state park, camp here alot. Little mountain Marina is nice haven't stayed here yet but planning. It was a timeshare thing and now they let you camp over night too. Piney campground is nice at Land between the lakes on Kentucky lake.
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Try the Corp of Engineers parks, you can check out and reserve sites at www.recreation.gov. I like our state parks here in Alabama, but it is hard to beat the COE parks in Mississippi and Alabama. Also, you may want to try Lake Lowndes in Columbus, Mississippi - it is a Missisippi state park but we enjoyed our stay there, spray the site for ants though.
I agree with all those who recommend the COE parks. I've never really been to a bad one.
Never stayed in any of the ones in Mississippi, but one near Pickensville, AL is just inside the Alabama line. In fact you have to enter from a roadway out of Mississippi. Right on the Tenn-Tom Waterway. Very nice.
I should kick myself for telling, but you would like the McFarland (city owned) Campground in Florence. It is right on the river and 5 minutes from downtown Florence. Full hookups.
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edited 07/05/08 11:24am by mikestock *
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There are several COE campgrounds on the Tom-Bigbee within 50 to 100 miles from you. They are all well run and patroled. Try Piney Grove Campground at Bay Springs Lake near Booneville. It is a large lake that has two beach areas and a great campground. The only problem we have ever had was when we camped next to the playground area and it got a little loud one night until about 10 pm. But it was not so loud that I wanted to leave. Just a bunch of kids having a ball. It was kind of entertaining watching them. It is a fairly large campground so you can get a site away from that area. You just have to plan well in advance as the best sites are reserved well in advance.
Keith & Patty / TN.
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mikestock wrote: I agree with all those who recommend the COE parks. I've never really been to a bad one.
Never stayed in any of the ones in Mississippi, but one near Pickensville, AL is just inside the Alabama line. In fact you have to enter from a roadway out of Mississippi. Right on the Tenn-Tom Waterway. Very nice.
I should kick myself for telling, but you would like the McFarland (city owned) Campground in Florence. It is right on the river and 5 minutes from downtown Florence. Full hookups.
my next trip will be there, a friend told me about that place awhile back and i had forgotten about it. i've been to Florence and it's a nice town.
we've tried Piney Grove on Bay Springs lake and we liked it but like tncruiser said the good spots are reserved well in advance but they have a few "firt come first serve" sites too.
looks like Alabama will be getting alot of my business, i've been to Guntersville and let me tell ya, it's a beautiful place but haven't looked into camping there.
i really appreciate the replies and i am taking these suggestions seriously. the people here make this a great site and i visit here daily.
dd10 thanks for the info about the ants, lol. at Trace State Park we were over run by green flies. my camper filled everytime you opened the door so if you go there be prepared for them.
I haven't seen anybody recommending Point Mallard in Decatur AL? Our family really likes it. Something for everyone, and the campground has some very nice sites and some pretty normal sites. They recently electrified the backins so you can have a very nice, large secluded spot. Great activities nearby for the whole family.
I highly recommend Fall Creek Falls state park in Tn
There is so much to do.
You can swim at the Cascades.This is a swimming hole with a water fall.
Huge Pool,baby pool
Activities planned for the kids each day.
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