NEWS

USA Today’s 10Best picks for Alabama glamping and camping near the coast: See the winners

Portrait of Jennifer Lindahl Jennifer Lindahl
Montgomery Advertiser
  • USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards selected The Destination at Lake Martin, Alabama, as one of the best glamping spots in the U.S.
  • Gulf State Park Campground in Orange Beach, Alabama, was chosen as one of the 10 best RV campgrounds in the U.S. by USA Today readers.
  • The 10Best awards highlight top travel destinations based on nominations from industry experts and public voting.

With summer approaching, hitting the open road means finding the perfect spots to soak in the scenery, unwind and rest after a day of exploring.

USA Today readers have spoken, and two standout stops in Alabama made the list in the 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards for top road trip destinations. These spots check all the boxes for travelers looking for the best glamping spot, RV campground and scenic views.

What is USA Today 10BEST?

The USA Today 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards highlight the very best in travel, food + drink, and lifestyle.

Every week, USA Today 10BEST invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories.

10BEST editors then vet these nominations and select a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for a period of four weeks.

Alabama's Best Glamping Destination

The DestinationLocation: Dadeville, Alabama

According to USA Today readers, this standout Alabama destination has earned national recognition as one of the Best Glamping Spots in the U.S. This spot has been on the 10BEST list multiple years in a row.

Tucked away on more than 75 acres along Sandy Creek, just off Lake Martin, The Destination Glamping Resort blends comfort with nature for a one-of-a-kind getaway. Guests can stay in safari-style tents, each outfitted with climate control, private decks and hot tubs. The site features two 2-bedroom glamps that sleep up to six, and two 1-bedroom glamps that sleep up to four, ideal for couples or families.

Skip and Rhonda Courtney own and operate the resort, which also hosts private events at the Sandy Creek Lodge and live music at its newest addition, the Southwind Stage.

USA Today's 10BEST glamping spots in the U.S.

  1. Safari West (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
  2. Beaver Island Retreat (Beaver Island, Mich.)
  3. Little Arrow Outdoor Resort (Townsend, Tenn.)
  4. The Destination (Dadeville, Ala.)
  5. Sky Ridge Yurts (Bryson City, N.C.)
  6. Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa (Jackson, N.J.)
  7. Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo (River Ranch, Fla.)
  8. Naturluxe & Stars (Watkins Glen, N.Y.)
  9. Paws Up Montana (Greenough, Mont.)
  10. Glamp Michigan (Benzonia, Mich.)

Alabama's Best RV Campground

Gulf State Park Campground Location: Orange Beach, Alabama

Just a mile and a half from Gulf Shore's white, sandy beaches, Gulf State Park Campground offers 496 full-hookup sites for RVs and tents, plus eight primitive tent-only spots. Each site includes paved pads, picnic tables and grilled pedestals. Guests can bring their own above-ground fire rings.

Guests have access to 11 air-conditioned bath houses, laundry facilities, a camp store and a Nature Center with weekly programs. Trails connect directly to the park's 28-mile network, and on-site amenities include a pool with a splash pad and courts for tennis, pickleball, volleyball and horseshoes.

USA Today's 10BEST RV campgrounds

  1. Normandy Farms (Foxboro, Mass.)
  2. Jellystone Park Pelahatchie- Yogi on the Lake (Pelahatchie, Miss.)
  3. Inn Town Campground (Nevada City, Calif.)
  4. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Mill Run (Mill Runn, Penn.)
  5. Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country (New Braunfels, Texas)
  6. Little Arrow Outdoor Resort (Townsend, Tenn.)
  7. Dark Sky RV Campground (Kanab, Utah)
  8. Spacious Skies Campgrounds- Minute Man (Littleton, Mass.)
  9. Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground (Buellton, Calif.)
  10. Gulf State Park Campground (Orange Beach, Ala.)

For a full list of winners, see the USA Today 10BEST website.

Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@gannett.com.