Helena, Alabama is about 20 miles south of Birmingham. The community was first named Cove in about 1850 by veterans of the War of 1812 who had fought together in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend under Andrew Jackson. The town's name was later changed to Hillsboro in 1856. Soon, workers constructed a rolling mill that processed metals into resources to support Confederate troops during the Civil War. Union troops destroyed the mill and most of the town's homes on March 30, 1865. During reconstruction, engineer Pete Boyle renamed the community Helena after a prominent local judge's daughter named Helen Lee. Steel milling and coal mining were essential to this community's development for many years. A tornado killed 13 and destroyed 110 homes in 1933, but the community bounded back to become a community well-known for its livability. While exploring Helena, stop at the Kenneth R. Penhale City of Helena Museum to learn more about the history of the area. Old Town Helena is an excellent place for a boutique shopping adventure in a Helena, Alabama, RV rental. Nearby, Helena Amphitheater Park on Buck Creek's shores often hosts family weekend activities. From early spring through the fall, you will want to shop at the farmers market in this park. There are lovely restaurants in Old Town, including Depot Deli & Grill in an old train depot, Dondi & Shell's Food Oasis, where the bread pudding is superb and Refined ToGo, where the soul food is delicious.
Talladega National Forest is an awesome place to visit. In particular, you will want to drive along the Talladega Scenic Drive, especially in the fall. Take your Helena, Alabama RV rental to Pine Grove or Coleman Lake when you're looking for a place to camp. Go for a hike in a pastoral valley at the Lake Chinnabee Recreation Area or fish in the 17-acre lake. Highrock, Liberty Hill, Morgan, and Sweetwater lakes are also great places to go fishing. Reconnect with history by visiting the Shoal Creek Church and Cole Cemetery. Go for a horseback ride in the Warden Station Recreation Area. Spot deer and other wildlife in the Choccolocco Wildlife Management Area. There are more than 80 miles of hiking trails at William B. Bankhead National Forest. See waterfalls, hardwood trees, and wildflowers as you hike along sandstone cliffs and through deep gorges by following the 25-mile-long Owl Creek Trail. Sipsey Wilderness is a terrific place to go fishing. Corinth and Clear Creek campgrounds offer full hookup camping during the warmer months. Practice target shooting at the Hurricane Range Recreation Area. The Corinth Recreation Area has excellent swimming spots. You will want to see the blooming dogwood and magnolia trees along the Bartram National Recreation Trail at Tuskegee National Forest. Thloko Okhusee Pond is a terrific place to go fishing, but anglers can also fish in Chutkee Pond and the Uphapee and Choctafaula creeks. Prepare for hunting season by practicing your shooting skills at the Uchee Shooting Range.
Buck Creek Festival – This September festival features children's activities, food, and music at Helena's Amphitheater Park.
Magic City Art Connection – This three-day April juried festival at Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham features the work of over 200 artists from across the United States.
Homestead Hollow Arts & Crafts Festival – This festival in April and September at Homestead Hollow in Springville, Alabama features art plus the chance to see pioneer skills and the historic homestead.
Take the 270-mile drive northeast of Helena to explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The closest entrance to Helena is the Townsend, Tennessee entrance, which brings you into the park near Cades Cove, where you will want to stop and explore the historic buildings, including three churches, a working gristmill, barns, and log houses. If you love hiking, follow the Rocky Top option to the top of Thunderhead Mountain, which is especially beautiful in the late spring and early summer when the mountain laurel is blooming. Cades Cove Campground is open year-round and offers 159 camping spots. Then, head northeast to explore the Sugarlands area. Stop at the Sugarlands Visitors Center, and take the short hike to see Cataract Falls. Then, head out along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail to see more waterfalls. Watch as you drive as this can be a great place to see wildlife, including black bears. Continuing to the east brings you to Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the park. Take time to climb the observation tower, where you can often see over 100 miles on a clear day.
Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park. There are over 50 miles of hiking trails to explore. Mountain bikers love riding along the Red Trail, which has been listed as one of 52 must-ride trails worldwide. It runs by Beaver Lake, a fantastic place to take a break and play on the beach, before continuing through the forests along this course. You will also want to walk along the Tree Top Nature Trail to see the birds and mammals being rehabilitated by the Alabama Wildlife Center. Wind Creek State Park offers public access to Lake Martin. When workers finished constructing it in 1926, it was the largest man-made lake in the world. It is a great place to go swimming, boating, fishing, and waterskiing. This state park also contains one of the largest state-operated campgrounds in the U.S., with 566 campsites. Practice your bow-and-arrow skills at the archery range or challenge your camping companions to a game of golf on the putt-putt course. Guided horseback trail rides are available. Get a better view of the trees by playing on the zipline course. Cheaha State Park contains Island in the Sky, the highest point in Alabama. Consider starting your visit at the interpretative center to learn more about the local ecosystem. Spend the night in the campground so that you can play in the highest swimming pool in the state. Guests can swim, boat, and fish. The Cheaha Wilderness is an excellent place for a hike. You can follow a short connector trail in this park to hike along part of the Appalachian Trail. Follow the Rock Gardens and Pulpit Rock trails to reach excellent rock climbing and rappelling areas.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument consists of seven sites in Birmingham, Alabama, where the protests led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took place leading up to the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Take a tour of the Historic Baptist Church and the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. View the Children's March Sculpture at Kelly Ingram Park and see the A.G. Gaston Motel, where African Americans planned their strategy. Follow in the footsteps of the 1965 Voting Rights March in Alabama by traveling along the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. Start your visit by touring the George Washington Carver neighborhood, where march organizers stayed with local families. See the Brown Chapel AME Church, where the march started, and Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of Bloody Sunday. View the four campsites used on the way to the Alabama State Capital Building. Freedom Riders National Monument commemorates the Freedom Riders. Wander through the Downtown Anniston Historic District to see where different events occurred in May 1961.
Safe Harbor R.V. Park in Riverside features fishing and a boat launch onto the Coosa River, where fishing tournaments are often held. Furthermore, this campground is near Interstate 20, making it easy for campers to access. About half of the sites are pull-through sites, making it convenient for those with larger Class A motorhomes. Logan Landing Cabins and RV Resort, in a private gated community in Alpine, Alabama, features a fishing pond. You can rent paddleboats, and your children will love the playground. It has over 80 miles of trails open for hiking, biking, and golf cart riding. Grandstand RV Park is near the Talladega Motor Speedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The spacious sites at this campground each have full hookups. Join family-fun activities on holiday weekends.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Helena, AL, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Helena?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Helena from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Helena?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
