When you think of college football, one team is often the frontrunner for the BCS National Championship: the Alabama Crimson Tide. Their home in Tuscaloosa welcomes tens of thousands of fans during every home game in the fall.
If you want to be one of those fans this year, you’re in luck. There are a few RV parks near Tuscaloosa that can help make your stay convenient and enjoyable. Let’s dive in!
About Tuscaloosa
Sitting in west-central Alabama, Tuscaloosa is home to about 99,600 residents. It’s the fifth most populous city in the state.
The city’s namesake was Tuskaloosa, the chief of a Muskogean-speaking people. It was Alabama’s capital from 1826 to 1846. In 1834, like many indigenous tribes in the eastern part of the United States, the government forced the Muskogean-speaking people out of Alabama along the Trail of Tears and into Oklahoma.
Tuscaloosa was also a hotspot during the Civil Rights Movement. It was the location of the Stand in the Schoolhouse Door, where governor Geroge Wallace attempted to block the entrance of the University of Alabama to stop desegregation. It also saw Bloody Tuesday, where police beat, arrested, and tear-gassed a group of peaceful civil rights marchers.
In 2011, Tuscaloosa made the national news again when a 1.5-mile-wide EF4 tornado touched down, killing 64 people and causing massive destruction. Forty-four of the deaths were in Tuscaloosa. The University of Alabama postponed graduation due to the tragedy and later awarded posthumous degrees to six students who died in the tornado.
What Is Tuscaloosa, Alabama Famous for?
Tuscaloosa is synonymous with Alabama football. Roll Tide signs are everywhere during the college football season.
The University of Alabama is the city’s dominant economic and cultural engine, making Tuscaloosa one of the most-visited cities during the fall. Tourists come in from across the country to catch a game.
Many consider them one of the best programs over the last 15 years. The team won the BCS National Championship in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020 seasons and appeared in the championship game even more often.
HOT TIP
If a football game in Tuscalossa sounds up your alley, you’ll want to know these RV tailgating tips!
5 Best RV Parks Near Tuscaloosa
If you’re a fan heading to Tuscaloosa this fall, here are five of the best RV parks in the area. You’ll be conveniently close to the stadium and other attractions in the college town. Eat at a local diner, shop for fan wear, and enjoy strolling through the tree-lined streets of Tuscaloosa.
1. Coaches Corner RV Park
Address: 103 Hargrove Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
About: Coaches Corner RV Park is less than two miles from the University of Alabama campus and Bryant Denny Stadium. A creek borders it on two sides for a pleasant natural atmosphere. Campers can purchase season passes to have an RV camping spot all football season.
Amenities: When you stay at Coaches Corner RV Park, you enjoy the convenience of being near the stadium. There aren’t many other amenities. You’ll have full hook-ups and a short drive to the Alabama football games.
2. Sunset RV East Lot
Address: 5001 JVC Road, Cottondale, AL 35453
About: Less than half a mile from Interstate 20/59 at exit 76, Sunset RV East Lot is easily accessible by rigs of all sizes. Daily rates are $29-32, while weekly rates are $160-180. Monthly rates are also available.
Amenities: WiFi and cable are complimentary for all guests. Full hookup sites with concrete patios are available, plus laundry facilities and bathhouses. You’ll be about 15 minutes from Bryant Denny Stadium.
3. BAMA RV Station
Address: 5461 Skyland E Blvd, Cottondale, AL 35453
About: A little farther off exit 76 is BAMA RV Station. Here guests are approximately 15 minutes from Bryant Denny Stadium. This 19-acre complex is the most expansive RV park on the list and offers full hookup sites for $35/night and electric/water-only sites for $30/night. The weekly rate is $175 for a 30-amp place and $200 for a 50-amp site.
Amenities: Guests enjoy spacious lots and excellent fenced-in areas for pets. There are two dump stations on-site. The park also provides covered RV storage for anyone who wants to return for the Alabama football games.
4. Deerlick Creek Campground
Address: 12421 Deerlick Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
About: Resting on Holt Lake on the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway, Deerlick Creek Campground is in a beautiful forest. Water sports, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and biking are all popular activities here. The University of Alabama is about 17 miles from the campground.
Amenities: There are 46 campsites, and six are tent-only sites. They all have water and electric hookups. Showers and a dump station are available. Guests can access the multi-use courts, picnic tables, and swimming beach. The campground might be farther away from the stadium than other RV parks on this list, but the serenity of the lake and forest is worth it.
5. Lake Lurleen State Park
Address: 13226 Lake Lurleen Rd, Coker, AL 35452
About: About 12 miles northwest of Bryant Denny Stadium is Lake Lurleen State Park, another excellent option for campers looking for a campsite outside of town. This 1,625-acre park includes an activity building, picnic areas, play areas, pavilions, a beach, a bathhouse, fishing piers, RV storage, boat rentals, and boat-launch regions. More than 23 miles of multi-use trails are open to hikers and mountain bikers.
Amenities: All sites in the A, B, C, and D sections of the campground have electric and water hookups. Some also have sewer hookups. Bathhouses are available. If you’re lucky, you can snag a lakeside campsite.
If you’re a family with younger ones, there are also campsites near the playground. Guests at the campground have access to all of the amenities of Lake Lurleen State Park.
Is Tuscaloosa Worth Visiting?
If you’re a college football fan, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has to be on your list of places to visit. Maybe you’re considering traveling the southeast and catching a few football games this fall. Tuscaloosa will be a great stop. Not only will you enjoy the play of an outstanding football team, but you can enjoy the beauty of this part of Alabama as well.
Deerlick Creek and Lake Lurleen offer peaceful locations to get away from the craziness of the game day. So spend a few days exploring the outskirts of Tuscaloosa as well. You’ll be glad you did.
Will you be chanting “Roll Tide” this fall?
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