10 Fall Camping Locations in the South
Beartown State Park – Hillsboro, West Virginia
Located near the eastern summit of Droop Mountain, Beartown State Park contains 107 acres of nature. Development of the park has been pretty minimal to preserve the park to it’s natural home. Recent restoration of approximately 350 feet of board walk has been completed to retain structural integrity and safety for guests of the park. Park is open April through October, however during the winter season, the boardwalk to open to guests. Many guests claim the park gives you a very enchanted or mystical vibe while exploring. The best part is, it’s FREE! Check out the Official Website for more information!
Ha Ha Tonka State Park – Camdenton, Missouri
One of Missouri’s most treasured spots, Ha Ha Tonka State Park is located beside the Lake of the Ozarks. One of the most prominent features are stone ruins of a turn-of-the-20th-century castle (a must visit spot)! Over 15 miles of trails lead guests to natural bridges, caves and so much more! Hiking, camping, fishing, etc. So much to do here and definitely one of our favorite local camping locations here at Gearographer! Ha Ha Tonka is actually very well liked by hikers in the south and has “fan favorite” trails that are definitely worth checking out. Head on over to the Official Website to find out more!
Stony Fork Campground – Wytheville, Virginia
Do you love being in a forest? Walking underneath tall trees that just never seem to end? This dense forest campground is part of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest at the foot of Big Walker Mountain. Sitting in a valley of the Appalachians, scenery is never lacking. Scenic overlooks of Mount Rogers and hiking trails such as the Seven Sisters Trail leads you along a scenic route to the top of Little Walker Mountain. The popular Appalachian Trail, which extends more than 2,175 miles throughout 14 states and the first trail designated as a National Scenic Trail! Check out the Official Website for more information and check out even more cool activities going on year round!
Mount Magazine State Park – Paris, Arkansas
Since we are located in Arkansas, we obviously had to include a hometown favorite! Mount Magazine is the state’s tallest mountain (a whole 2,753 feet). River valleys, canyons and mountains make it the perfect spot for outdoor sport adventurers that enjoy rock climbing, rappelling, hand gliding, mountain biking, backpacking and even ATV adventures! Hiking trails and picnic areas make it a perfect weekend destination for families and not to mention, autumn in Arkansas is literally jaw-dropping (not biased at all!) Check out their Official Website to learn more about what’s available and what’s going on year round as well!
DeSoto State Park – Fort Payne, Alabama
Nestled on top of Lookout Mountain in Northeast Alabama, this state park is filled with waterfalls and natural forests that offers a family-friendly environment for all ages! Spanning a total of 3,502 acres, the park provides chalets, cabins, motel rooms and multiple campsites for both tents as well as RV sites. Where DeSoto State Park is a little more developed with “man-made” amenities, it’s still a great place to camp with the family and has kayaking, fishing, hiking, biking, bouldering and so much more available to it’s guests! Historic Fort Payne, Little River Canyon Nature Preserve and the 104-foot DeSoto Falls are located in the area for extra entertainment for the family! Check out the Alabama State Parks Official Website for more information and events going on!
Gorges State Park – Sapphire, North Carolina
Set in the middle of plunging waterfalls, river gorges, rock walls and tons of wildlife, including a high concentration of rare species, Gorges State Park is one of Gearographer’s all time favorite camping spots for not only the fall season, but year-round as well! Distance hiking, backpack camping, fishing, mountain biking and much more make this one of the best places for outdoor enthusiasts looking to get down and dirty in the backcountry. Spacing out across 7,500 acres across North Carolina that includes Foothill trails and lake access and they are still growing to this day! Check out the North Carolina Parks Official Website to check out the park and learn more!
Percy Quin State Park – McComb, Mississippi
Full of state specific trees such as the magnolia tree and loblolly pines, Percy Quin State Park is one of the original state parks cleared and constructed by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the 1930s. Located a couple hours outside of New Orleans, this 1700 acre park includes a 490 acre lake and championship golf course. Percy Quin is perfect for both the novice and the experienced outdoorsy folk. Cabins, biking, beach access, trails and so much more make up this beautiful land that should definitely not be passed up if heading through Mississippi. Head on over to the Official Mississippi State Park Website for more details!
Great Smokey Mountains National Park – North Carolina & Tennessee
Providing rich cultural background and history of the Southern Appalachian background, these mountains contain human history dating back thousands of years. During the winter, openings in the trees reveal stone walls, chimneys, foundations and other reminders of past residents, spring is full of wildflowers and trees blooming again, summer forests provide cool shade and waterfalls for cooling off and autumn is full of fall colors in every combination that, trust me, you definitely don’t want to miss! Kid and family-friendly hikes are available as well as longer expert trails for the more experienced. Cades Cove, one of our favorite locations (and one of the most popular destinations) provides scenery and historic structures for everyone to marvel at any time of year! Check out National Park Service Official Website to learn more about upcoming events and when to plan your next trip! (Cough Cough….now!)
Cloudland Canyon State Park – Rising Fawn, Georgia
Located on the western side of Lookout Mountain, Cloudland is easily one of the most scenic state parks in Georgia. Choose between yurts, cottages, walk-in tents or head out in the backcountry and pop up a tent in a hemlock grove on the 2-mile Backcountry Loop. Explore the rim trail or head on down to the canyon floor by stairs for a one-of-a-kind experience. Head over to the waterfalls cascading over layers of sandstone and pour into pools below or take the Waterfalls trail which is the popular Canyon Climbers Club in the area. Go on a family-friendly cave tour or caving trip while your there. Different events happen year-round so check out the Official Website to book a tour and plan your next trip!
Fall Creek Falls State Park – Spencer, Tennessee
Encompassing more than 26,000 acres across the eastern top of the Cumberland Plateau, Fall Creek Falls is Tennessee’s largest and most visited state park to date. The actual Fall Creek Falls towers at 256 feet and is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Featuring 30 cabins and 222 campsites, there are activities and locations for everyone of all ages and abilities. Head out on one of two overnight trails or a simple day-use trail provides recreational and educational activities for all guests. New to the area is an aerial adventure zip line course that includes wobbly bridges, rope swings, cargo nets, zip lines and much more. Head on over to Fall Creek Falls Official Website for more details and book your next outdoor vacation today! Don’t miss you!
Did we miss any? We would love to hear your favorite camping locations for the fall (or any season really) located in the south!! Shoot us an email at [email protected] or comment below!
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