U.S. Forest Service · National Forests in Alabama · Alabama

Payne Lake Recreation Area

Payne Lake Recreation Area offers the outdoor enthusiasts solitude, a scenic lake, and picturesque campsites. Payne Lake Recreation Area has one swimming beach and two bathhouses for users of the recreation area. Each bathhouse has restrooms and showers. Camping is permitted at 26 developed sites along the shoreline of the 110-acre Payne Lake. Each site has a picnic table, cooking or fire circle, and tent or trailer pad. Payne Lake Recreation Area is open year-round and offers boating, fishing, picnicking and swimming opportunities for Forest users. A trailer dump station is located in the campground. NEW! Scan & Go Activity Pass

Open nowBooking not published26 sitesTents only

More like this: first-come in Alabama · tent only in Alabama

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesRecreation Fee Schedule

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonAll year
ForestNational Forests in Alabama
FeesRecreation Fee Schedule

National Forests in Alabama recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Payne Lake Recreation Area40°50°60°70°80°January: 5.33 inches of precipitationFebruary: 5.85 inches of precipitationMarch: 5.56 inches of precipitationApril: 4.74 inches of precipitationMay: 3.69 inches of precipitationJune: 4.56 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.39 inches of precipitationAugust: 4.98 inches of precipitationSeptember: 4.50 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.26 inches of precipitationNovember: 4.78 inches of precipitationDecember: 5.37 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 43.5°F averageFebruary: 47.2°F averageMarch: 53.8°F averageApril: 60.9°F averageMay: 69.0°F averageJune: 76.2°F averageJuly: 79.3°F averageAugust: 78.8°F averageSeptember: 73.5°F averageOctober: 62.9°F averageNovember: 51.8°F averageDecember: 45.6°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Centreville 6 SW, 12 miles from the campground at 450 feet, station USW00003881 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 57 inches a year.

Getting there

Coordinates32.8872° N, 87.4431° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceAlabama Campers ↗19.5 mi
Outdoor gearBlack Warrior Outdoor ↗23.5 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Guidebooks for Alabama and the South

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Alabama
    Joe Cuhaj, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Exploring Wild Alabama
    Kenneth M. Wills and Dr. L. J. Davenport, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails Southeast
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2024
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to camp at Payne Lake Recreation Area?

Recreation Fee Schedule

Source: Forest Service

Is Payne Lake Recreation Area open right now?

Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season All year.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Payne Lake Recreation Area have?

26 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Payne Lake Recreation Area?

Payne Lake Recreation Area is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Payne Lake Recreation Area is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Jennings Ferry (22.1 mi), Deerlick Creek (25.7 mi), and Forkland (31.3 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby