Oak Mountain State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Welcome to Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama’s biggest state park. Here you’ll find almost 10,000 acres of beautiful landscapes filled with never-ending fun activities for the whole family. When this park first started out in 1927, it was only 940 acres, but it’s come a long way since then. There’s so much to do here, and many of the activities are unlike any you can find at other parks. If you’re a bit of a thrill-seeker or just looking for some new excitement, you can join in on some water sports, BMX, and even archery. If your goal here is to relax, you can play a round of golf, rent a kayak, or just hang out on the beach.
There is no better place to spend a family summer RV vacation that at this park, as there are so many activities to keep you cool and entertained. In the wintertime, you’ll still be able to find lots of fun things to do, without as many crowds. Just be sure to bundle up, dress in layers, and be aware that temperatures can drop as low as the 30s during the coldest parts of the year. The possibilities are truly endless, and you won’t find another place that compares to here.
RVers can choose from RV and tent sites with full hookups or just water and electrical hookups, cabins, tent-only camping, and primitive camping when they stay at the park. If you are not staying, and need to use a dump station, you can use the park's dump station for a nominal fee. This park has even been ranked with a “Certificate of Excellence” by Tripadvisor, so get packing and bring your motorhome to stay at Oak Mountain State Park.
RV Rentals in Oak Mountain State Park
Transportation
Driving
Oak Mountain State Park is located in Pelham, Alabama and is easy to reach. The city of Birmingham is roughly 20 miles from the park, and if you need any supplies that you can't find at the park's store or a bite to eat, you'll probably find it there. RVers traveling from Birmingham won't experience any height restrictions once they get out of the city and will be traveling along the highway most of the way, so there will be ample space for even the biggest of rigs.
You shouldn’t have any trouble navigating your rig through the park, as there are no narrow or steep roads or low bridges that you’ll have to worry about. Go ahead and park it at your site if you are staying for a couple of days, and then continue exploring the park by foot or bicycle or in another vehicle.
Parking
The parking lots are pretty big in the park, but if you have any trouble finding a parking spot for your RV, there is also bus parking at the main office. Many find it more convenient to venture out into the park with their smaller car, so if you need a place to keep your RV, the park offers RV storage options for your convenience.
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Oak Mountain State Park
Campsites in Oak Mountain State Park
Reservations camping
Oak Mountain State Park Campground
The campground that you’ll find at Oak Mountain State Park has plenty of sites to choose from for you to park your RV. There are 27 RV sites that have water and 30-amp electric hookups, but no sewer connections. If you can’t live without having the sewer included though, there are 57 more RV sites that do have the full hookups that you’re looking for.
You’ll also find that each campsite has a picnic table and a fire ring. Seven bathhouses are conveniently located throughout the campsite, and you will find one a short distance from your site. Sites can accommodate vehicles from 25 to 60 feet long and most are big enough for slide outs. You're welcome to bring your pet with you when you stay here as long as you clean up after them, keep them on a leash, and make sure they're quite between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
You'll love relaxing at your campsite near Beaver Lake under the shade of the serene Longleaf pines. You'll also be within walking distance to the scenic beach and thrilling playground. There is also a country store located at the park so you can stock up on groceries and supplies. A coin-operated laundry facility on the east side of the campground is available for campers to use.
Sixty-six tent-only sites are scattered throughout the campground and are available to tent campers only. Six of these sites have water and electrical hookups, while the other 60 have no hookups.
While these campsites do not require that you make reservations in order to stay here, it is highly recommended that you do so on weekends and holidays. After all, these are pretty high-quality RV camping spots and they go fast when the weekend or a holiday rolls around. If you want to be guaranteed a spot, making reservations is the smart way to go. This campground is open year-round.
First-come first-served
Backcountry Camping
If you want to try something a little wilder than RV camping, you can leave your vehicle at one of the designated trailhead parking lots and head out on an overnight adventure through the woods. You will need to register and pay your parking and backpacking fees an hour before sunset to be allowed to start on the trail to your site. Be sure to purchase a map before heading out as this will make finding your site and exploring the rest of the park easier.
There are specific sites for backcountry campers, and they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure that you come fully prepared for the time that you’ll be spending out on your own, and remember that fires are not allowed in the backcountry. Once you have all of that settled, this kind of primitive camping can be a lot of fun and a great way to experience this Alabama state park. You should bring your own water, food, and supplies with you, and remember that fires are not permitted. Pets are welcome to come with you as long as they are kept on a six-foot leash.
Backcountry campers are unfortunately not permitted to use the campground amenities. The renting of sites is based on the weather, and no sites will be available to rent when there is unpleasantly cold and wet weather.
Equestrian Campground
If you’ve brought your big furry horse friend with you, this campground is the perfect choice to stay at. There are 12 sites to choose from, all with full hookups, and each site allows for two vehicles, a trailer, and can sleep up to eight at a time. Amenities also include picnic tables, fire rings, and a dump station for horse waste.
If you’re not sure if you want to bring your horse with you when you visit Oak Mountain State Park, you can rest assured that they’re very welcoming to equestrians here. Horses will need to have up-to-date Negative Coggins to be allowed entry into the park. Your horse will be just fine staying in the stalls here, and they even have roofs over them now for ultimate comfort. Water hydrants are also situated at the horse stalls in the case of an emergency.
There are also over 25 miles of trails to go horseback riding on throughout the park. Due to the fact that equestrian camping is a little less common than those that don’t bring horses, this campground has earned the spot under “first-come, first-served” camping. You most likely won’t have any problems finding an available spot to stay here.
Alternate camping
Cabins
If you want to stay in accommodation that is a bit more modern and cozy you can choose from one of the ten fully-equipped cabins that are available year-round. One of the cabins is ADA-accessible and cabins one and ten are dog-friendly, so you can bring your furry friend along for an additional fee. Each cabin is equipped with a king bed and two double beds, enabling it to sleep up to six people at a time.
The amenities offered at the cabins are outstanding including light housekeeping, provided linens, a kitchenette, central heating and air, and a flat-screen TV. The cabins are located in a private area at the foot of Double Oak Mountain with scenic views of Tranquility Lake, and you will find some boats available specifically for those staying at the cabins. You'll also find paddles and life jackets in each cabin for the guest to use. Smoking is not allowed inside the cabins. You can make a reservation up to one year in advance.
Seasonal activities in Oak Mountain State Park
Off-Season
Geocaching
Geocaching can be a great way to get everyone in the family enthusiastic about getting out and exploring the park. Get the GPS coordinates you need and set out into Alabama’s largest state park to find all the caches you can before you have to leave. In this day and age, you no longer have to put the phone down to still enjoy the nature trails. You will need to bring along some treasures of your own to replace those that you find in the caches. Remember to leave the caches the same way you found them so that others after you can enjoy finding them. It is a smart idea to bring along some snacks and water to keep you going on your treasure hunt.
Visiting the Demonstration Farm
The demonstration farm is where you’ll find all kinds of unique animals such as miniature horses, donkeys, goats, pigs, ducks, and even the beautiful peacock. Here, you’ll get the chance to get up close to these animals and even feed them when you purchase a small bucket of feed, which all of the animals at the farm can eat. It can be a great hands-on learning experience, especially for younger children. If you are a large group you can also book a hayride through the horse pastures for a fee, which can accommodate 25 to 30 people. Make sure to book these at least 72 hours before your arrival.
Golfing
“The Oaks” golf course here at the park features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Earl Stone and is open year-round. While it may be open to the public too, it’s still part of the park and makes for an interesting evening when you stay here. It is highly recommended that you book a tee time before you plan on playing, but you can always just walk-on and begin playing. If you don't have your own clubs you can always rent some from the park's fully-equipped pro shop, which is also a Wi-Fi hot spot.
Horseback Riding
Most of the trails that you’ll find within Oak Mountain State Park are also open to horseback riding and can be fun for horseback riders of all levels. If you want to bring your horse with you on your trailer when you come camping here, they also offer boarding stables where they’ll keep your horse safe and happy. It's a good idea to take a look at a map of the horseback riding trails before you set off.
Practicing Archery
Archery can be a lot of fun and this park has this option as well. The archery park is open to the public and to those staying at the state park too. Just be sure that you have the right license. You may also be happy to hear that it’s free for anyone under 16 or over 65, making it a great place for family fun and friendly competition. The range has an adult range with eight targets ranging from 15 to 50 yards and a youth range with 12 targets ranging from five to 40 yards available. You can also try shooting from elevated positions when you use the shooting platform that is 12 feet high.
In-Season
Hiking
With just about 25 miles of trails at this park, there are so many different hiking options to choose from. One of the most popular reasons that people visit here is to hike to Peavine Falls. This spring-fed waterfall just happens to be an impressive 65 feet tall and makes for lots of splashing fun at the bottom of the fall. The trails range in distance from 0.3 miles to eight miles and vary in difficulty, so make sure to build up some stamina before you set out on one of the longer trails.
Boating
Maybe you’ve been kayaking or canoeing before, but have you ever tried using a pedal boat or stand-up paddleboard? Here at this state park, you have the option to rent a wide array of different kinds of boats at the marina. You may even want to try them all during your visit here. Boat rentals are only available during the summer months when the marina is open. Rentals will need to made by someone who is 16 years of age or older.
Biking
There are lots of different kinds of biking opportunities here. For the brave ones, they have a BMX track that has been open for decades and can be loads of fun. If you prefer to bike on trails, there is plenty to choose from here, offering various difficulty levels and lengths. For the athletic bikers, if you come in the spring, you can participate in the 22-mile long “Bump and Grind” Cross Country Mountain Bike Race that they hold each year here.
Visiting Beaches
There are two beaches that you can visit during your RV trip to Oak Mountain. The beach on Terrace Drive is open to the public and has bathrooms available and a concession stand open seasonally. You can also access a beach at the campground here in the state park, so when you bring your RV, you can get a slightly different experience than those visiting only for the day. No lifeguards are on duty at either of the beaches, so make sure to be careful when you swim and keep an eye on your children.
Enjoying Flip Side Watersports
Participating in the Flip Side watersports at the park is guaranteed to be a fun and exciting experience. This is the first and only cable water sports park in Alabama, and they even have the longest cable in all of North America. Flip Slide cable skiing is a new version of water skiing where you'll have a thrill gliding across the water. You can even try to jump over obstacles like a skate park on the water. If you’re new, they have staff willing to help and coach you in it. This is definitely something worth trying out during your RV trip to the state.
