Roland Cooper State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Located on the eastern shore of the Dannelly Reservoir and surrounded by abundant forests, Rowland Cooper State Park is a fantastic RV camping destination for those looking for a spacious state park in Alabama. The 236-acre state park was originally known as Bridgeport State Park. The land was leased from the Army Corps of Engineers in 1969 following the construction of Miller's Ferry Lock and Dam. During the 1970s the park was renamed to Rowland Cooper State Park after Alabama state senator William Roland Cooper. The park is owned by the state of Alabama but was closed in 2015 due to budget cuts. The park is still owned by the state but was reopened by private contracting company Recreational Resource Management in 2016.
The park offers many recreational activities for visitors all year round. The fishing in Dannelly Reservoir, also known as Millers Ferry, is known to be fantastic and will be some of the best you can find in southwest Alabama. Along with fishing, birding is another popular activity. The park is a featured stop on Alabama’s Black Belt Birding Trail and provides homes for various raptors, songbirds and waterfowl.
There are a few special events that happen in the park throughout the year, including the Annual Gator Hunt and the Alabama Bass Trail. Make sure to check the park website to see when these events are held throughout the year.
Rowland Cooper State Park has some great RV camping facilities. You will love the 47 fully paved, RV friendly sites that come equipped with full hookup services. Camping is available all year round and peak season in the park is during the summer months.
RV Rentals in Roland Cooper State Park
Transportation
Driving
Roland Cooper State Park is located in southwest Alabama around six miles north of Camden, Alabama. Accessing the park is super easy as it is close to many of the major towns and cities in Alabama. Selma is around 40 miles away and the next closest major city is Montgomery, which is around 77 miles away. There are also a few smaller towns located near the park, including Camden, Boykin, Catherine and Gatsonburn. The terrain surrounding the park is very flat and easy to navigate. There are lots of trees around, however they are set back far from the road so you won't have to worry about damaging the top of your RV.
There is one main access road (AL-41) that will take you to the park. You can also access the park from Co Road 37 but this road is more remote. Another great thing about the park is that you can access it all year round as there is little to no snow in the area. Driving into the campground will be a nice experience as all of the camp sites are paved and the sites are all level.
Parking
There is plenty of parking available at Roland Cooper State Park.
Public Transportation
Unfortunately there are no public transport options that will take you to Roland Cooper State Park.
Campgrounds and parking in Roland Cooper State Park
Campsites in Roland Cooper State Park
Reservations camping
Roland Cooper State Park Campgrounds
Since the renovation the camping facilities at Roland Cooper State Park have become first class. The park now has level, paved campsites that include some great amenities such as picnic tables, grills and water connection. There are 47 RV friendly sites in the park that com equipped with 30 amp electrical, sewer and water hookups. Along with these great features you can also find a dump station, trash bins, bathrooms and showers all nearby in the campground.
If you are looking to escape the crowds, try camping at Roland Cooper State Park during the end of spring/early winter time. Reservations for the campground are available online, including the option to camp at the park for a month. Pets are also permitted within the campground. No ATV's, golf carts or scooters are allowed in the campgrounds. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm until 6:00 am. For more information about camping in Roland Cooper State Park contact the park office.
Seasonal activities in Roland Cooper State Park
In-Season
Fishing
Roland Cooper State Park offers excellent fishing all year round for those who are looking to try their luck at catching a big one. There are numerous species that are common in the reservoir, including crappie, bass, channel and blue catfish. Bass fishing in particular is fantastic, with bass over three pounds being regularly caught due to the high fertility and a relatively stable threadfin shad population. Crappie fishing will be best in late spring/early winter.
Boating
Roland Cooper State Park is located on the Alabama River so there are plenty of boating options available. Boating recreational activities are very popular throughout the main channel of the river. Some of the most popular activities include skiing, tubing and swimming. If you are staying at the park the boat ramp will be free for you to use. Bonus! Need to rent a boat? Flat bottom aluminum Jon boats are available for rent without motors. Lifejackets are included with the boat and all children under the age of eight must wear the jacket at all times.
West Central Alabama Gator Hunt
Held during August over two weeks, the annual West Central Alabama Gator Hunt calls Roland Cooper State Park home. The hunt is located within Wilcox and Dallas Counties and 50 lucky people draw tags to be eligible to hunt alligators during this time. Numerous huge gators have been taken from the waters in and around the park. The most impressive statistic is that the State and World Record gators have been taken in the area, weighing 1011.5 lbs.
Off-Season
Geocaching
Alabama State Parks encourage Geocaching as it is a great opportunity for additional outdoor activities for individuals & families alike. Roland Cooper State Park is a popular geocaching location where you can potentially find interesting items left by other geocache fans. Before you hide any geocaches, make sure that you inform the park manager on duty to make sure that it is all good. Once the placement and item is approved you will be contacted for disposition.
Birding
Roland Cooper State Park is a very well known birding location. It because famous for birding because it was one of the state’s first Bald Eagle nesting sites in the Coastal Plain as the species began to slowly comeback from being close to extinction. Bald Eagles and Osprey are present for the majority of the year and the park is also home to wild turkeys, wood ducks, wood peckers and warblers. Throughout the woodlands you can also find ruby-throated hummingbirds and barred owls.
Day Use Area
After renovation in 2016 Roland Cooper State Park was reopened with a great new day use area. Within the day use area there is something for everyone. Feel like shooting some hoops? There is a basketball court waiting for you to show off your skills like Michael Jordan. Want to practise your volleyball skills? The day use area has a court for that as well. Want to picnic? The day use area has you covered with tables and grills. The day use area is free for campers all year round.
