Alabama camping scouting

[johnnyv]

Supposed to leave for Orange Beach Al this week for a condo rental. Would like to check out reasonable camping close to gulf for April delivery of our 21ne.

[fudge_brownie]

You will be next door to Gulf Shores State Park. Probably the most sought after campground in Alabama. I have only biked through it, never camped, but probably the best in the area.

[johnnyv]

Yes we've been to Orange Beach/ Gulf Shores and bicycled thru the park. Highly recommend the ride. Campsites at a premium. Maybe camp an hour or so from beaches. Boondocking would be ok also

[Greg A]

Rainbow Plantation (Escapees Park) is about 15 min N from Orange Beach/Gulf Shores.
https://rainbowplantation.escapeesrvparks.com/

[C&G in FL]

Any camping location along the Gulf Coast is likely to be fully booked during the winter months. By April, most of the snowbirds have flown home so finding places to camp could be a bit easier. However, the remaining question is what effect will all the COVID inspired newly-minted RVers have on the availability of campsites at any time of the year.
Are you planning to head home after taking delivery? If so, being close to Gulf Shores may not be critical. Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville is 4 hours up the road. Beautiful State Park with NASA museum nearby. I do not think you will have too much trouble finding places on your way home, but if you are planning to stay in southern Alabama for some time after taking delivery, your choices may be limited.

[johnnyv]

thx ! We wont have trailer with us. Just want to scout out the area. Maybe Mississippi too.

[Ian and Sue]

Originally Posted by johnnyv

Supposed to leave for Orange Beach Al this week for a condo rental. Would like to check out reasonable camping close to gulf for April delivery of our 21ne.

A number of years ago we enjoyed staying at Dauphin Island. Also a state CG S of Biloxi MS was nice.

[gyuill]

Fort Pickens near Pensacola is really nice. There are a few miles of undeveloped beaches.

Graham
Opelika Al

[Ian and Sue]

Originally Posted by gyuill

Fort Pickens near Pensacola is really nice. There are a few miles of undeveloped beaches.

Graham
Opelika Al

The state CG on Cape San Blas was very nice but this was before the hurricane tore through there....

[gyuill]

Gulf Shores State Park is about a mile from the ocean, it is located on inland water. It is also large with over 500 camping spots. Grayton Beach state Park is much smaller and a short walk from nice ocean beaches. The town of Grayton is nice to visit and looks frozen in time ( 1960). There are not many waterfront camping spots as the condos and multi million dollar homes have swallowed up the gulf. Fort Pickens is the largest undeveloped beach with camping but the sites don’t have a view of the water. But the miles of undeveloped beaches and inland hiking trails are great. East of Fort Pickens is the small town of Pensacola Beach and east of there is over 5 miles of undeveloped ocean front and bay front that is open for day use but no camping.

[gyuill]

Originally Posted by Ian and Sue

The state CG on Cape San Blas was very nice but this was before the hurricane tore through there....

Cape San Blas is/was our favorite. Miles of undeveloped beach with 100 foot high dunes. Not sure when that will reopen. That damage occurred in 2018 and cut the peninsula in half or maybe thirds.

[HABBERDABBER]

If you venture East, I've got a soft spot for Apalachicola Florida. State Forest campgrounds in the vicinity, "old Florida" Panhandle town. It was even used as a backdrop in a movie, "Ulees Gold", a pretty good flick.


https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/c...lachicola.html




https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120402/

[Mike Lewis]

A couple of things about the Ft. Pickens area:

- Currently the Pensacola Bay Bridge from Pensacola to Gulf Breeze is out. It was damaged by runaway barges during Hurricane Sally last fall. But the bridge is scheduled to be open soon, next month I think, so it may not be a problem for you. Until then you have to go further east on I-10 and take the road to Garcon Point bridge in order to get to Ft. Pickens.

- The road from Pensacola Beach to Navarre Beach on Santa Rosa Island is also out due to the storm, and much of the beach along the way is closed. It is not clear when this road will reopen.

[gyuill]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

If you venture East, I've got a soft spot for Apalachicola Florida. State Forest campgrounds in the vicinity, "old Florida" Panhandle town. It was even used as a backdrop in a movie, "Ulees Gold", a pretty good flick.

I also like the Apalachicola area and have been to Dog Island a number of times, but not since the inn was destroyed and of course not with a camper.
Indian Pass campground is not far from there and is a rustic fishing campground.

[johnnyv]

Thx gyuill appreciate any info from you. Would like to visit your state 5-6 weeks during the upcoming winters.

[johnnyv]

Thx gyuill ! Keep the info coming !

[GregandTeresa]

Here are our favorite Alabama camping spots. Gulf State Park (literally across the road from the beach), Honeycomb near Lake Guntersville, and Desoto State Park, near Ft Payne

[bristol5.0]

We have spent at least part of the last five winters exploring the gulf coast from MS to FL in our Casita. We are now awaiting our Escape 5.0 completion in March and plan to continuing our exploration next winter. We especially like (from west to east) Davis Bayou (Gulf Islands Nat’l Seashore) near Ocean Springs, MS; Fort Pickens (Gulf Islands Nat’l Seashore) near Pensacola Beach, FL; Topsail Hill SP, FL; Grayton Beach SP, FL; and our favorite Dr. Julian Bruce SP in St. George Island, FL. There are more state parks in the area some of which were severely impacted by hurricane Michael and have some restrictions due to reconstruction. St. Joseph Peninsula SP is still closed due a breach which isolated the campground from the mainland.

[johnnyv]

Thx George !

[gyuill]

And if you are near Ocean Springs Ms be sure to go in to town and visit the Walter Anderson Museum and Shearwater pottery.

Graham