Tims Ford State Park is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. We stayed at the main campground at Tims Ford State Park for a week in July.
This article covers how we got to the campground, check-in procedures, a description of the campground, where we ate, and where we explored.
Each section is titled so you can skip to the info you might be searching for.
How We Got There:
Google Maps brought us all the way from Fairhope, Alabama and into the gates of Tims Ford State Park without a hitch, but it didn't do so well inside the park. Just so you know, when you come to the the four-way stop inside the park, turn left onto Campground Rd. You'd think that would be obvious, but when you've been on the road, in the rain, for 6 plus hours, it's possible to miss some details. Especially when Google Maps is telling you to turn right instead of left.
Check-in:
Check-in at Tims Ford Campground was at 4:00 p.m. and we arrived shortly after. As we entered the campground, it became apparent that the office was closed. We idled at the office for a moment, but decided that it was probably okay to head to our spot. Our reserved spot had a post with our name clipped to it, so we made ourselves at home.
We assumed we'd see an attendant at some point, but we were there an entire week and never once saw or spoke with an attendant and the campground office never opened. I saw State Park rangers cruise by at least once a day and we saw maintenance staff in the bathrooms, but that was all.
That said, the people who work at the main building at the park entrance were very helpful and kind and acted as our attendant for any questions we had.
Late check-in / gate:
One more thing about check-in. There is a gate to the entire park that closes at night. You will receive a code that is good for the time of your stay when you make your reservation. It's so quiet at night that everyone in the campground will hear if you're a latecomer, but it's not impossible to get to your campsite if you have the gate code.
Campsite and Campground:
If you have a tiny camper like ours, this place is for you. The main campground at Tims Ford State Park seems to be originally designed for tent camping, but has evolved to accommodate rigs. Each campsite has two average-size parking spots and a pad by the woods for a tent. The parking spots are now serving as camper parking. We noticed that people with big trucks had to find places other than their campsite to park.
Anyhow, our little pop-up fit perfectly in the parking spot and we enjoyed using the second parking spot as a patio. We were able to Tetris our Pathfinder into the allotted space as well.
Our campsite was at the edge of the forest (as were most sites, even the lakeside ones). The view of the trees with fireflies at dusk was absolutely mesmerizing. We don't have fireflies where we live on the coast, so I get overly excited when I see them. It felt so lovely and peaceful being under a lush, green canopy all week long at the campground.
Here's an adventure tip!
Between campsites 35 and 36, there is a walkway down to a red bridge. We were delighted to discover this amazing spot one day. We visited the bridge several times and had it all to ourselves. You can watch the sunrise over the lake at this location. It's gorgeous!
Bathhouse:
The bathrooms were new, clean, and well-maintained. Overall, I felt safe when using the restroom, even in the middle of the night, and the staff kept the bathrooms clean. They changed the garbage and freshened everything up once, if not twice a day, which was nice.
The shower stalls were along the back of the building and each stall had its own deadbolt. One of my concerns about taking a shower in a camp bathhouse isn't people but bears. No bears popping in to say hi to you in the bare in this bathhouse!
Places to eat:
We were staying at Tims Ford Lake while visiting family in Sewannee, Tennessee for the 4th of July holiday. We usually bring a cooler full of food when we go camping, but didn't bring anything with us this time because we knew there'd be an excess of food with the fam. The first night at the campground, however, we were famished. We had our dog with us, so our options were limited for nearby restaurants. We called The Bluegill Grill and they said, "Come on down, just keep your pup on a leash." We were so grateful!
We sat at a low-top table so we could be closer to Ellie (the adventure dog) who was patiently waiting for snacks at our feet. We're not even sure if there was inside seating or not, we were so stoked to sit outside on their amazing floating deck. The service was excellent and the food came out quickly, even though the restaurant was packed. We had drinks from the bar, gumbo and tacos. The food was so good! Beautiful presentation and delicious. From our table we saw ducks floating on the lake and little fish waiting for handouts from people at the rail. The water was calm with beautiful views of lush scenery. We went back to our campsite that night feeling content and we slept peacefully.
If you go, be aware that it is a seasonal restaurant.
Next up: Bait, Beer, and Biscuits
At Bait, Beer, and Biscuits we found Southern hospitality, home cooked food, friendly conversation, and a pack of dachshunds.
Dolores, the owner, came to our rescue not once, but twice. Like I said, we didn't pack any food and Dolores' peach pies and biscuits were a godsend.
4th of July:
For the 4th of July, we headed up the mountain to Sewanee, Tennessee. We went long before the parade and attended the Mutt Show and shopped at the craft fair.
I actually took the above parade photo in 2015. I had to go find one on my Facebook page because I forgot to take any photos while we were up on the mountain this year. We have a long-standing 4th of July tradition with family and friends on the mountain. It's quaint and wonderful year after year.
If you make it up the mountain to Sewanee, be sure to stop at Stirling's for a cup of coffee and/or something yummy to eat. It is our favorite little coffee shop on the mountain!
Outdoor Adventures:
We made a quick side adventure with the family to Rutledge Falls in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The falls are gorgeous and the basin makes for the perfect swimming hole. It was packed with people when we went, but it was a hot day over a holiday, so I wouldn't expect anything less. We had fun and Ellie got so tuckered out, she slept until noon the next day.
We also visited the Lost Creek Overlook Trail, which you can read about here or click the image below.
Last, but not least, and actually my favorite thing to do at Tims Ford Lake, was swimming at the Fairview Campground beach.
It takes less than 15 minutes to drive from the main campground to the Fairview campground, which are both part of Tims Ford State Park. There was no entry fee. The beach was new and clear of debris. The water was the perfect temperature. It was like a dream. We loved it so much, we went twice and floated and swam for hours and hours.
Check out what each campground at Tim Ford State Park has to offer. Even though swimming is my favorite activity, I still think I'd prefer the main campground because it's more of a dense forest, which I love, and it's so peaceful and quiet. If you're a family with kids, you might enjoy the Fairview campground more. There are several other campgrounds I didn't mention in this article. Decisions, decisions! No matter which you choose, you're going to have a great time!
Wishing you safe travels and happy trails, my friend!
Carpe Diem,
Melissa Anne
Comments