DeSoto State Park
13883 Co. Rd. 89
Fort Payne, AL 35967
(256) 845-5075
Reservations 1-800-760-4089
DeSoto.Campground@dcnr.alabama.gov
If
you were going to completely refurbish a state park and spend two million
dollars doing so, what kind of things would you do? Maybe large, level camp sites with a picnic
table and fire ring at each one. Why not
throw in 20, 30 and 50 Amp hookups at each site and while we are at it, cable
television? How about paved roads and
new shower/restroom facilities? At
DeSoto State Park they did all of that and more. There are 94 sites including an ample number
of pull- thru sites and additional primitive camping. I believe all of the sites are large enough
for forty footers.
There
are actually so many amenities that just listing them all would take too much
space. However, to give you an idea,
they have a picnic and play area, swimming pool, cabins, lodge motel and
restaurant as well as 15 miles of hiking and walking trails. Wi-Fi is available at the Country Store/information
center and the lodge. The two days we
spent at DeSoto State Park did not give us a chance to check out everything,
but it was a very positive experience.
DeSoto
State Park is located adjacent to Fort Payne, Alabama, which is approximately
half way between Chattanooga, TN, and Gadsden, AL. While there are a number of ways to get to
DeSoto State Park, if you have a large RV coming in off of I-59 at exits 222 or
218 should be your best bet. Specific
directions are available on the web site and the reservations operator will
also provide information.
All sites are $27.50 Monday through Thursday and $3 more on weekends. They also have buddy sites charged at the rate of two regular sites.
Senior discounts (62 and up) are 15%.
While I am not familiar with buddy sites, they seem to be pull thru
sites with double hookups. They are a great
idea for a group get together.
The
Mountain Inn Restaurant offers three meals a day and a buffet on Sunday. We were excited to learn there was a
restaurant at DeSoto State Park and we tried their breakfast fare our first
morning. The restaurant and lodge are
rustic and most pleasant. Unfortunately
the food did not meet our expectations.
I suggest that if you need to eat breakfast there you try the
continental breakfast which consists of coffee, juice and a muffin. The biscuits, bacon and sausage were less
than satisfactory. Of course I cannot
comment on lunch or dinner.
We
made reservations via telephone and it was an easy process. Check in at the Country Store was quick and
the staff answered all questions. Basic
supplies and some souvenirs are available at the store.
Seven
or eight miles east of DeSoto State Park is the small town of Mentone. There you will find several restaurants and a
some interesting shops. County Road 89
from the park to Mentone is not one you want to take with a large RV. In fact our 21 footer was about as big as I
would want to drive on that road east of the park. On the way to Mentone you will pass Cloudmont
Ski and Golf as well as DeSoto Falls.
Within
25 miles of the park you can check out the Alabama (music group) Fan Club (www.thealabamaband.com), and the Sequoyah Caverns along with a variety of
other attractions. Within 50 miles you
can visit “Unclaimed Baggage” (yes that’s where your lost luggage winds up) in
Scottsboro, AL. Russell Cave National
Monument and the Cathedral Caverns State Park are also within 50 miles. Huntsville, AL, and Chattanooga, TN, are
within 75 miles of DeSoto State Park.
