Tuscaloosa is located in west-central Alabama on the Black Warrior River. The city is named after Chief Tuskaloosa, the chief of a Muskogean Native American tribe that inhabited much of Alabama and Tennessee. Tuscaloosa is the fifth-largest city in the state, and it is the hub of education, commerce, industry, and healthcare for the western part of Alabama.
Tuscaloosa and the surrounding areas played a large role both in the Civil War and in the Civil Rights movement. In 1952, after three years of legal battles by Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP, Autherine Lucy was admitted to the University of Alabama as a graduate student. She was the first African American admitted to a white public school or university in the state and was one of the most important figures in the push for equal rights. Museums, artifacts, houses, and other information about this important part of history are scattered around the city.
In 1993, Mercedes Benz announced that it would open its first American manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa, and in 1995 that plant became a reality. The plant still manufactures cars today, including the GLS and GLE Class Mercedes. Right next to the manufacturing plant is a Mercedes museum that features the history of the company along with some of the earliest models to look at, including a Formula One car that was driven by Michael Schumaker.
Tuscaloosa may be best known for being the home of the University of Alabama. With 18 national championships, Tuscaloosa and the university are almost synonymous. The university is also well-known as the home of Bear Bryant and Nick Saban, two of the greatest college football coaches ever. If you want to experience college football or see a slice of college football history, Tuscaloosa is a great place to visit.
Campgrounds Near Tuscaloosa, Alabama
If you want to be close to the University of Alabama in your RV, park at Manderson Landing, which is within walking distance of the school. This RV park is a great place to relax, hike some of the trails, exercise, or picnic, but the biggest draw is its proximity to the school and to local restaurants and shops. The Riverwalk is about 4.5 miles in length along the Black Warrior River, and it ends at a gazebo right in Manderson Landing. There are electric and water hookups available at this facility.
Lake Lurleen State Park is a 1,625-acre park with 91 campsites overlooking Lake Lurleen. There are 23 miles of trails throughout the park, and fishing, paddle boats, a beach, and swimming are all common activities if you camp in the park. Staying at Lake Lurleen State Park puts you close to the Paul Bryant Museum, the University of Alabama, and the Alabama Museum of Natural History.
Just outside of Tuscaloosa and situated between Black Warrior River and Clear Creek, you will find Jennings Ferry Park Campground. This area is known for its wildlife, fishing, and scenic nature trails. As it is situated between two bodies of water, fishing and water sports are the park's biggest draws. There are 52 campsites in the Jennings Ferry Park Campground with water and electrical hookups.
State Parks Near Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Oak Mountain State Park is about an hour's drive east of Tuscaloosa, just outside Birmingham, Alabama. Oak Mountain State Park consists of more than 10,000 acres, making it the largest state park in Alabama. Mountain biking and hiking along the scenic trails are two of the most popular activities, but there are plenty of camping opportunities inside the park as well. Being just outside of Birmingham, there are plenty of amenities like restaurants, shops, and lodging.
Tombigbee State Park is located a little over 100 miles northwest of Tuscaloosa in Tupelo, MS. The park offers 20 RV sites, seven cabins, a cottage, primitive camping opportunities, and a group camp facility. Some of the nearby attractions include the Tupelo Zoo, the birthplace of Elvis Presley, and the Natchez Trace Parkway. Recreational activities within the park include hiking, mountain biking, public picnic areas, a playground, and more.
Legion State Park is about a two-hour drive from Tuscaloosa in Mississippi. Legion State Park is the fourth of the original state parks developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and remains mostly undeveloped. There are 15 RV campsites, some cabins for rent, and other camping options as well. The Legion Lodge has been standing untouched since 1930 and is a big draw for visitors. Along with hiking and fishing, horseback riding is a popular activity at this state park.
National Sites Near Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument is less than an hour's drive from Tuscaloosa and is considered by many to be the epicenter of the 1960s civil rights movement in America. The monument honors the struggle that African Americans endured in their fight to end segregation and pursue equality. This site is spread over four city blocks and includes posters, pictures, plaques, and information about some of the era's greatest leaders and deepest struggles.
A little less than two hours from Tuscaloosa you will find the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. This is a 54-mile trail that allows you to explore and learn about the 1965 Voting Rights March through Alabama. The trail commemorates the leaders and events surrounding the important march and includes museums, guided tours, and much more. The trail was established in 1996 by Congress as a means of learning from the past and never repeating those mistakes again.
Dedicated in 2017, Freedom Riders National Monument in Anniston, Alabama honors the small group of people who traveled by bus across the interstate to challenge discriminatory laws requiring segregation by race in interstate travel. The bus was attacked and firebombed by white segregationists, and when pictures of the attack were released, Americans were shocked. After the bus was firebombed, the men inside were forced to flee into the crowd of angry segregationists where they were brutally attacked and beaten. This event was the impetus for change in those laws, and that is commemorated at the Freedom Riders National Monument.
National Forests Near Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Talladega National Forest covers almost 400,000 acres of land surrounding the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. There are four RV campgrounds scattered throughout the forest and multiple other camping opportunities throughout the park's 400,000 acres. Fishing, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, horse riding, and nature viewing are just some of the recreational activities that are popular at Talladega.
William B. Bankhead National Forest encompasses just over 180,000 acres starting north of Tuscaloosa. The forest is home to the Sipsey Fork, Alabama's only designated National Wild and Scenic River. The park is known by many as the "land of a thousand waterfalls" and is a great place for scenic hikes, fishing, sightseeing, hunting, horseback riding, and more. There are numerous species of wildlife throughout the park, making it a premier destination in the South to see animals you may not see anywhere else. There are multiple camping opportunities, including the popular Corinth and Clear Creek Campgrounds.
Located in Eastern Mississippi, just west of Tuscaloosa is Tombigbee National Forest. A smaller national forest at 67,000 acres, it is named for the nearby Tombigbee River. Before it became a national forest, the area was filled with abandoned farmland and uninhabited areas that have since turned into towering hardwood trees and lush forests. The most popular recreational activities amongst visitors to the park include fishing, hunting, hiking, swimming, and boating.
