Higgins Ferry Park

Campground in Clanton, AL • 11 RV Sites

On the wooded shores of Lake Mitchell in the central Alabama piedmont, Higgins Ferry Park delivers a peaceful lakeside camping experience ten miles east of Clanton in Chilton County—a public park managed with the kind of natural-landscape integrity that distinguishes the best county campgrounds from the commercial RV resort formula. Twenty-eight full-hookup sites on a tree-shaded lakeshore, a boat launch into Lake Mitchell's productive bass and crappie water, a swimming area, and a covered pavilion create a complete campground experience at a price point and atmosphere that have made Higgins Ferry a beloved destination for the central Alabama outdoor recreation community. Ten minutes from I-65 at Exit 208, the park serves as a practical overnight for corridor travelers and a destination for the Birmingham and Montgomery outdoor communities within an hour's drive. Twenty-eight full-hookup RV sites include electric, water, and sewer connections alongside a full bathhouse with showers, and a playground area and day-use zone with outdoor cooking facilities extend the family-friendly infrastructure beyond the basic camping site. The public boat launch provides direct access to Lake Mitchell for fishing, boating, and water sports in the reservoir's broad main lake basin, and the swimming area—a managed lakeside space rather than a constructed pool—gives the campground the waterfront character that distinguishes a genuine lake campground from a park-and-plug facility. Tent camping is also accommodated for guests without RVs who want access to the lake without the expense of a resort facility. Lake Mitchell, formed by the Mitchell Dam on the Coosa River and spanning approximately 5,800 acres, represents one of the Alabama Power Company's chain of Coosa River hydroelectric reservoirs that stretch from Weiss Lake in the north to Jordan Lake in the south. The lake's bass, crappie, and catfish fishery makes it one of Alabama's important freshwater fishing destinations, and the annual bass fishing championship held on Lake Mitchell's docks brings tournament-level competition to Higgins Ferry's waterfront each year. The crappie population is particularly productive in the spring spawn period when the fish move into the shallow brush piles and dock structures that hold the largest concentrations. Chilton County carries the Peach Capital designation with agricultural pride—the US 31 corridor through Clanton is lined with roadside peach stands from June through August, and the Chilton County Peach Festival celebrates the harvest with the small-town fair tradition that draws visitors from across central Alabama. Birmingham, about 55 miles north via I-65, provides the full urban experience of Alabama's largest city—the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and 16th Street Baptist Church, the Barber Motorsports Park, and the Alabama Symphony among its most distinctive offerings. Montgomery, Alabama's capital and the cradle of the American civil rights movement, lies about 55 miles south along the same I-65 corridor. Central Alabama's humid subtropical climate delivers warm springs and falls that represent the most comfortable camping seasons at Higgins Ferry, with spring crappie fishing and fall bass activity on Lake Mitchell providing natural seasonal anchors for the outdoor recreation calendar. Summer is the warmest season but the lake's swimming area, shade trees, and afternoon breezes from the reservoir make outdoor activity manageable, and the summer thunderstorm season produces the dramatic afternoon lightning displays that the open Alabama piedmont sky delivers with theatrical force. Winter is mild enough for comfortable camping with occasional cold fronts, and the limited crowds make December through February the quietest and most private season at this beloved central Alabama lake.

Campground rules and policies

Check-In Procedure
- Check-In: 3pm - Flexible
- Check-Out: 12pm (noon)
- For early check-in, please contact the park director in advance.
- While each park attempts to accommodate your exact spot request, the on-site manager has the ultimate decision for spot placement.RV Campground Rules
- We reserve the right to refuse service to any RV based upon its appearance and/or condition.
- All outdoor items must be kept clean and orderly.
- Nothing may be hung between trees or RV’s, such as lights, clothes lines, decorations, hammocks, etc
- No lighting may be put outside except on or under a camper awning and inside canopy tent.
- Large boats are not allowed to stay in the campground; you may load and unload, then move the boat to the parking lot.
- This includes, but is not limited to Pontoon boats, Deck boats, and Cabin cruisers.
- Items that are not deemed reasonable for camping or outdoor recreation are not allowed in campground.
- Nothing will infringe onto a neighboring site (parked vehicles, trailers, satellite dishes, etc.).
- One canopy tent no larger than 12X12 may be erected.
- Canopy tents are allowed in order to enhance outdoor recreation; using canopy tents for a storage area of any kind is not permitted.
- Canopy tents may be enclosed only by canopy specific sidewalls; absolutely no tarps or other makeshift material on canopy tents.
- Please place all trash in dumpster located at Park Ranger's house.
- Only one camping unit and two vehicles allowed per site.
- Quiet hours are 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
- Pets must be on a leash at all times and cannot be disturbing to other guests.
- Owners are required to clean up pet waste.
- Do not wash clothing, cooking utensils, or dishes in the restrooms.
- Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
- No noisy, intoxicated or disorderly persons or loud parties allowed.
- Campfires are not permitted unless in self-contained unit.
- Do not burn trash.
- Children under 18 are the responsibility of their parents or guardians.
- Absolutely no use of firearms, explosives, or fireworks in the park.Campground Disclaimer
- Failure to follow rules and regulations will result in dismissal from the park without refund.
- Higgins Ferry Park reserves the right to amend these rules at any time without notice.
- Policies and terms are set and enforced directly by Higgins Ferry Park and are subject to change as their policies are adjusted.
- Please contact Higgins Ferry Park for more details.