Anniston, Alabama sits at the base of the Appalachian Mountains on the slope of Blue Mountain. Founded in 1872, Anniston was nicknamed the "Model City" by a newspaper in Atlanta for the careful infrastructure planning that went into the city's creation. Anniston is a part of the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area and has a population of just over 21,000.
Anniston is about halfway between Atlanta, GA, and Birmingham, Alabama on I-20 making it a popular place to stay if you are visiting either or both of those cities. Anniston has a small-town feel with all of the amenities of a larger city all within close proximity of the capitals of Georgia and Alabama. Anniston was the first Alabama city to have public electricity in 1882 and then a telephone system as early as 1884, both of which brought industry and population growth to Anniston.
In 1961, a mob firebombed a bus full of Freedom Riders that were protesting Alabama's Jim Crow laws. The bus stopped just outside of Anniston after being firebombed and the Freedom Riders had to flee the bus right into the angry mob. The Freedom Riders were attacked and beaten. This was one of the turning points in the civil rights movement and the Freedom Riders National monument remains at that site today. Based on that and other events and monuments, Anniston is a fantastic place to go to learn about the civil rights movement in America.
Anniston is also home to many museums, parks, recreational activities, shops, and restaurants. Anniston Museum and Gardens, home of the Anniston Museum of Natural History, the Berman Museum, and Longleaf Botanical Gardens, is also worth a visit during your time in the area.
Campgrounds Near Anniston, Alabama
Good Sam Campground of Oxford is located close by just off Highway 78. There are 59 RV sites at this RV campground with amenities including wifi, restrooms/showers, laundry facilities, a dog park, a playground, and more. Good Sam Campground of Oxford has plenty of amenities and is close to shopping, restaurants, attractions, and more.
Another RV site very close to Good Sam is Country Court RV Park. Country Court has 68 RV sites including pull-through sites with picnic tables. Monthly rates are available and your pets are welcome at this RV park.
Shady Oaks Campground is located about 20 miles west of Anniston down I-10 in Lincoln, Alabama. Some of the many amenities at Shady Oaks include a swimming pool, basketball court, sand volleyball, laundry room, an enclosed pavilion, picnic tables, full hookups, and more. It is close to Birmingham and includes 81 sites that can accommodate most RVs. It is a privately owned campground that is well-maintained and always clean, and it is only about a mile from the Talladega Speedway.
State Parks Near Anniston, Alabama
About 20 miles south of Anniston sits Cheaha State Park, one of the highest points in Alabama and the oldest park in the state. There are lodge rooms, cabins, chalets, primitive campgrounds, and 72 RV sites with full hookups. Cheaha State Park is located in close proximity to many small Alabama towns as well as Birmingham and Anniston so there are numerous restaurants and shops nearby. Cheaha State Park has beautiful scenery, an observation tower, and picnic tables and grills throughout. There's also a nature museum at the park that is worth a visit.
Wind Creek State Park is about 70 miles south of Anniston and sits on the banks of Lake Martin in Alexander City, Alabama. At almost 1,500 acres, Wind Creek State Park is the largest state park in Alabama. If you enjoy fishing, boating, canoeing, or any water sport, Wind Creek State Park is a great place to visit. Chimney Rock is one of the favorite places for locals, as people climb to the top and jump into the waters below. Lake Martin is one of the larger manmade lakes in America and a great place to visit.
DeSoto State Park is north of Anniston in Fort Payne, Alabama. Nestled atop Lookout Mountain, the park contains waterfalls, wildflowers, and scenery that make it one of the most beautiful places in the state. De Soto Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the park and is the park's highest waterfall.
National Sites Near Anniston, Alabama
Freedom Riders National Monument is in Anniston and commemorates the site of the horrific events that occurred as the Freedom Riders protested Jim Crow Laws in Alabama. Today the site is commemorated with photos, paintings, and artifacts that remind people of the Freedom Riders and what they did for the civil rights movement.
Little River Canyon National Preserve sits about 50 miles north of Anniston at the base of the Appalachian Mountains. The preserve consists of forests, waterfalls, boulders, cliffs, waterfalls, and canyons all of which provide both beauty and a variety of recreational activities. Consisting of a little over 15,000 acres, the Little River Canyon National Preserve is home to the Little River which runs across the entire length of Lookout Mountain. The unique Little River has three waterfalls and multiple swimming holes which make it a great place for adults and children to visit.
The Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument is located just west of Anniston down I-20 in the state's capital. The monument was established in 2017 to commemorate the work of the civil rights movement. The monument consists of four city blocks in Birmingham that includes museums, artifacts, plaques, historical sites, and sculptures of the people and events that made civil rights a reality in America. The Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument itself is worth a trip to Birmingham, but when accompanied by everything else in the area that has to do with the civil rights movement, this area of Alabama is a great place to visit and learn about this period in American history.
National Forests Near Anniston, Alabama
A little more than 100 miles south of Anniston you will find Tuskegee National Forest, the smallest national forest in the U.S. What it lacks in size, the Tuskegee National Forest makes up for in activities and opportunities including mountain biking, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting, and natural viewing. The Bartram National Recreation Trail runs for about 8.5 miles inside the park and takes you through various types of forest wildlife habitats. You may even see a turkey or a deer. There are plenty of primitive camping opportunities inside the park, and if you want to take your RV, you can find numerous RV parks in the surrounding area.
About 20 miles southeast of Anniston sits Talladega National Forest which encompasses almost 400,000 acres on the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. Prior to being purchased by the federal government, the area was one of the most eroded wastelands in the state and it stands now as a lush and diverse ecosystem. Pine forests have regrown and the three distinct wilderness areas that make up the park are home to wildlife, forests, and plant life that make it a desirable place to visit and camp. There are plenty of RV sites as well as campgrounds to visit.
William B. Bankhead National Forest is about a two-hour drive west of Anniston in Double Springs, Alabama. Home to Alabama's only National Wild and Scenic River, the Sipsey Fork, William B. Bankhead National Forest encompasses almost 200,000 acres of land in western Alabama. This national forest is known for its horseback riding, hiking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating, and more. William B. Bankhead National Forest has garnered the nickname "land of a thousand waterfalls" and those waterfalls are beautiful and easy to spot.
