Is Desoto State Park first-come first-served or reservation?

Desoto State Park accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Desoto State Park before I book?

Yes! Desoto State Park has 14 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

Are there showers at Desoto State Park?

Yes, Desoto State Park has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Is there cell service at Desoto State Park?

Cell phone service at Desoto State Park is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

How many campsites does Desoto State Park have?

Desoto State Park has 94 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Desoto State Park?

Pets are not allowed at Desoto State Park. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Desoto State Park?

Desoto State Park offers: Restrooms, Showers, Electrical Hookups, Water Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Desoto State Park?

Popular activities at Desoto State Park include Hiking, Swimming. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Desoto State Park

4.74

160 reviews

Desoto State Park

Top 7% in ALFall

Family FriendlyScenic ViewsGreat Hiking

Featured in:RV Camping Alabama

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

1,453 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

94 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

Partial HookupsShowersWiFi

Book on Alabama State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

1,453 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

94 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

Partial HookupsShowersWiFi

Book on Alabama State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Desoto State Park

No fees available

Campsite Fees

RATES VARY DEPENDING ON SEASON AND HOLIDAYS. CALL 256-845-5075 One-time Reservation Fee for all overnight accommodations - $5.25. 4.25% Resort Fee...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Campground Map

Desoto State Park

34.4943, -85.6138

Nearby places

Fort Payne

Chattanooga (commonly visited as a day trip)

Weather at Desoto State Park

Best Time to Camp at Desoto State Park

The campground stays open year-round, and the trails and waterfalls are accessible in every season. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable hiking temperatures and the heaviest visitor traffic. Summer heats up but offers swimming holes as compensation. Winter thins the crowds considerably, though the same scenery remains. No seasonal closures limit access, so timing depends more on tolerance for heat, cold, and company than on park restrictions.

Best

Spring(Mar-May)

5.0 / 5

Top 3% in AL

Spring brings comfortable hiking temps and strong waterfall flows; heavy visitor traffic noted.

Planning Tips

About Desoto State Park

DeSoto State Park sits atop Alabama's Appalachian Plateau at 1,453 feet, spreading 3,502 acres of waterfalls, rock formations, and wooded trails across the landscape. The campground offers 94 full-hookup sites, most of them large and level, with easy access to DeSoto Falls and a network of hiking paths. Bathhouses are exceptionally clean, and the park includes cabins, a lodge, pool, and camp store for families wanting more than tent stakes and a fire ring.

Includes a developed campground with full‑hookup sites (94 full‑hookup sites cited with electric and water), plus cabins and a lodge onsite.

Weather and SeasonsThe campground stays open year-round, and the trails and waterfalls are accessible in every season. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable hiking temperatures and the heaviest visitor traffic. Summer heats up but offers swimming holes as compensation. Winter thins the crowds considerably, though the same scenery remains. No seasonal closures limit access, so timing depends more on tolerance for heat, cold, and company than on park restrictions.

Natural Features and SceneryThe park's defining feature is its collection of waterfalls, with DeSoto Falls leading the lineup alongside smaller cascades and swimming holes tucked into the forest. Rock formations rise through the woods, sandstone outcrops shaped by millions of years of erosion. The terrain here is classic Appalachian Plateau: wooded ridges, moss-covered boulders, and clear streams cutting through ancient geology. Trails wind through all 3,502 acres, most of them accessible directly from the campground. Views range from intimate creekside scenes to broader overlooks where the plateau's edge becomes visible.

Geological RegionAppalachian Plateau

Scenic ViewsScenic views from campsites and hiking trails, including vistas of DeSoto Falls, nearby swimming holes, and surrounding rock formations.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsAlabama State Parks reservation via reserve.alapark.com (UseDirect-based platform)

Total Campsites94 campsites

Best CampsitesSite 44 gets frequent mentions for being spacious, pull-through, and equipped with a particularly nice fireplace. Most sites across the campground are large, level, and well-spaced, though some areas feel more open and less private than others. If seclusion matters, ask about specific site locations when booking.

Need help booking Desoto State Park?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Park offers full-hookup RV sites (electric and water mentioned), clean restrooms and shower facilities, laundry, a camp store, picnic tables and grills, a lodge and cabins, pool, tennis courts, and a playground. Cell service is spotty and Wi‑Fi is available at some locations.

Showers

Electricity hookups

Water hookups

WiFi

Flush toilets

Fire rings

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Extensive hiking trails leading to DeSoto Falls and scenic rock formations, opportunities for swimming at the DeSoto Falls swimming hole and an on‑site pool, picnicking, and other family recreation such as tennis and a playground.

Hiking

Swimming

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsSpotty cell and data service reported in parts of the park; some campground areas have limited privacy.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

Rate Desoto State Park

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From Booking Sources

4.7

160 reviews

Top-Rated

Desoto State Park is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors consistently praise the park's natural scenery, waterfalls, well-maintained facilities and bathhouses, spacious sites, and excellent hiking. Common notes mention spotty cell service and occasional sites with less privacy.

Review Summaries

Based on 160 reviews

What Campers Love

Clean, immaculate bathhouses; large, level and well‑spaced sites; stunning waterfalls and hiking trails; friendly staff; family‑friendly facilities including cabins and a lodge.

Based on 160 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring sturdy hiking shoes for trails, bring camp chairs for the fire, expect variable cell coverage, and consider reserving recommended sites (site 44 noted by visitors for being spacious and...

Based on 160 reviews

Camper Quotes

“The campground is wonderful. The bathhouse was immaculate.” — “Beautiful waterfall, the whole area so pretty.”

Based on 160 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

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Go if

RV campers who want real trails from the doorstep, not just a paved pad. Site 44 gets called out repeatedly as spacious and pull-through, and DeSoto Falls is a short walk away. Fall color here is legitimately exceptional.

Skip if

Tent campers who prioritize privacy will find some areas of the campground feel exposed and open. Cell service drops out in spots, so anyone depending on reliable data for work or navigation should plan accordingly.

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James H. (Sloppy) Floyd State Park

2800 Sloppy Floyd Lake Road, SUMMERVILLE, Georgia, 30747, United States

James H. (Sloppy) Floyd State Park sits in the foothills of northwest Georgia near Summerville, offering 25 campsites plus cabins across 725 feet of elevation. Fees run $5–$70 per night depending on site type. Reviewers call it a lesser-known spot for relaxation, with well-maintained facilities, spacious sites, and friendly staff earning a 4.5/5 rating.