Within the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway system, Pickensville Campground operates as a 176-site Corps of Engineers facility along Alabama's stretch of the waterway. The campground sits on forested terrain beside the Tenn-Tom channel, where campers watch barges navigate toward the lock and dam system. Sites accommodate RVs up to 140 feet with electric, water, and sewer hookups available at most locations.
The campground spreads across multiple loops, with riverside sites offering front-row seats for barge traffic. Neil T. notes "pretty sure we heard barge traffic foghorns, but they didn't bother our sleep." Some sites back up to swampy areas connected by wooden walking bridges, while others face the main waterway channel. Frogs provide evening chorus, and owls call throughout the night.
Campers fish from the shoreline and launch boats from the on-site ramp into calm water just off the main channel. The campground features what reviewers call "mirror lake" - a quieter backwater area with wooden docks for walking. Jaimee D. recommends to "be sure to check out the mirror lake within the campground" with its wooded walking docks. Bathhouses show their age but receive regular cleaning.
Access requires attention to directions since GPS often leads to the recreation area instead of the campground entrance. The correct turn appears on the left when approaching from Mississippi, marked by a side road near the Alabama welcome sign. Sites remain level with good water pressure, though initial brown water may require flushing after winter periods. Reservations through Recreation.gov are now required, as the facility no longer accepts cash or cards at the gate.
Pickensville works well for RV travelers seeking waterway access and those who appreciate barge-watching from shaded sites along Alabama's inland waterway system.
Description
Overview
Pickensville Campground is located just west of Pickensville, Alabama, on Aliceville Lake on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. This campground boasts both a campground and day use area with many activities and amenities for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors enjoy hunting, fishing, picnicking, water sports and watching the barges go by on the waterway.
Recreation
Families can swim at Pickensville's beach, play on the multi-use court, walk along the wooded waterfront and learn about the natural and cultural history of the area at the amphitheater. Anglers can try their luck on the accessible fishing dock or go off-shore in search of bass, walleye, crappie, catfish and sunfish. Additionally, hunters can seek out a diverse range of high quality habitats for upland game and waterfowl species along the lands surrounding the waterway.
Facilities
This facility offers 176 campsites that provide picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, electric and water hookups and plenty of shade. Some sites also provide sewer hookups for RV campers. There are accessible sites and restrooms. Anglers can take advantage of an accessible fishing dock, boat ramp and fish cleaning station at the day use area just across the waterway from the campground. The day use facility also provides a swim beach, playground and picnic shelters.
Natural Features
The Tenn-Tom, as the waterway is known, extends 234 miles from the Tennessee River to the junction of the Tombigbee River in Alabama. The man-made waterway connects the nation's midsection of commercial water transportation with the Gulf of Mexico.
Nearby Attractions
In Pickensville, Alabama, visitors can learn the history of the waterway at the Tom Bevill Visitor Center which depicts an 1830-1850 era antebellum-style home, as well as explore the U.S. Snagboat Montgomery, a National Historical Landmark.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundPickensville Campground is located in Alabama
Directions
From Tuscaloosa, Alabama, take Highway 82 west to the junction with Highway 86. Turn left on 86 west to Pickensville. The entrance road to the campground is 2.5 miles from the yellow caution light.
Address
61 CAMPING ROAD
Carrollton, AL 35447
Coordinates
33.2263889 N
88.2766667 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent Coverage
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 5 users- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 users
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent Coverage
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 5 users
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 users
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 50 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 10 min from Tuscaloosa, AL
- 1 hr 32 min from Birmingham, AL
- 2 hrs 34 min from Decatur, AL
- 2 hrs 35 min from Florence, AL
