If you’re looking for some great camping locations served up with a generous side of southern hospitality, consider a road trip that explores our southern offerings, starting in Kentucky and then driving south through Tennessee until you reach the Gulf Shores of Alabama. Camping stops would include Thousand Trails Diamond Caverns RV & Golf Resort in Kentucky, Thousand Trails Natchez Trace and Thousand Trails Cherokee Landing in Tennessee and Thousand Trails Hidden Cove and Gulf Shores RV Resort in Alabama.
Kentucky:
Thousand Trails Diamond Caverns, located in Park City, offers an 18-hole golf course, and walking, hiking and biking trails, plus sports courts for bocce ball, volleyball, basketball and horseshoes. Offsite and just down the road, campers can explore Mammoth Cave National Park, which is the home of the longest known cave system in the world. Aside from a variety of guided tours to explore the cave system here, visitors can hike over 80 miles of trails, as well as explore the Green River that runs through the park with canoeing and kayaking opportunities. When in Park City, don’t miss the historic ruins of Bell’s Tavern, a well-known stagecoach stop that was popular in the mid-1800s and sadly burned down in 1859. Plans to reconstruct it were thwarted by the Civil War and it was never rebuilt but visitors can visit the ruins at Bell’s Tavern Park.
Tennessee:
Both of our Tennessee campgrounds provide the luxury of proximity to the big city sights of Nashville and Memphis while providing a relaxing, wooded setting back at camp. Thousand Trails Natchez Trace, located in Hohenwald, less than 80 miles from Nashville is set on 830 acres with a 3-mile-wide lake perfect for fishing for crappie and bass. Other amenities include a pool, onsite hiking trail and mini golf. Offsite, consider a hike and taking in the waterfall at Fall Hollow Falls or a more strenuous hike on the Devil’s Backbone Trail through lush woodlands with wildflowers come spring. Plan a daytrip into Nashville to check out the music scene on Broadway Street, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the shopping in the 12 South neighborhood and all the great murals (go to visitmusiccity.com for a listing of the mural locations.)
Just over an hour from Memphis, Thousand Trails Cherokee Landing campground provides a wooded respite among rolling hills with hiking trails, horseshoes and fishing opportunities. Offsite, the unique Bird Dog Museum, dedicated to canine hunting helpers, can be found in nearby Grand Junction. Plan an excursion into Memphis to see Graceland, Elvis’ 13+ acre estate, the iconic Sun Studio, where Elvis, Johnny Cash and many other country stars recorded, and of course, Beale Street with its great BBQ restaurants and Blues music establishments. Don’t miss the Daily Duck March which can be found at the historic Peabody Hotel where English call ducks parade to the lobby fountain.
Alabama:
From the shores of crystal-clear Lewis Smith Lake to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, our Alabama campgrounds lend themselves to relaxing waterside getaways. First stop is Thousand Trails Hidden Cove in Arley and situated on the shores of Lewis Smith Lake, which provides opportunities for fishing and canoeing. Arley attractions include William Bankhead National Forest which has hiking trails, waterfalls and opportunities for fishing and swimming. A day trip to Huntsville (about an hour and a half drive) can include visiting such attractions as the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the Huntsville Botanical Garden and the Alabama Constitution Village.
From Arley, you will head south until you reach the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and the white sand beaches of the Gulf Coast. Book a stay at Gulf Shores RV Resort and plan to hit the beach with over 32 miles of shoreline here. Explore Gulf State Park, visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, or enjoy all the water sports available here from parasailing to paddleboarding. For something unique, visit Bamahenge, a full-scale fiberglass replica of England’s most-famous prehistoric stone monument.
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- Find more campgrounds at ThousandTrails.com.
