CampOut in Alabama is the perfect gay campground resort for when you want to get away into the woods.
Plan to come and unplug because you won’t be spending your time on any devices that need a signal.
Roam the shady trails or enjoy the clean pool and hot tub. Meet friendly faces at the Clubhouse or make new friends in the dark at the Toolshed.
Our RV at CampOut Alabama Spot 22, with no neighbors during the week.
Here is everything you need to know about visiting CampOut gay campground in Geneva, Alabama.
We had heard from friends at Sugar Creek in Tennessee that CampOut in Alabama is a must-go on our tour of gay campgrounds.
With 21 acres under an hour drive from the Florida border, barely out of our way driving from Florida to New Orleans, CampOut became a last-minute addition to our travels.
Tucked into the woods of Southern Alabama, CampOut did not disappoint. We loved our short stay at CampOut Alabama and look forward to visiting again.
We heard in advance from our friends David and Eddie, The Full-Time Gays, that there is no cell service and only minimal WiFi at the Clubhouse.
That meant we couldn’t plan to go to CampOut and work virtually for multiple weeks like we usually do when visiting gay campgrounds.
Fortunately, we had a week of vacation coming up, so we decided to take a slight detour on our drive from Panama City RV Resort to the French Quarter RV Resort for a couple of days off-the-grid at CampOut in Geneva, Alabama.
Feel like you’re camping. Not in a parking lot.
CampOut Alabama was relaxing, clean, shaded, and secluded. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. The pool, hot tub, Clubhouse, community, and staff are all reasons to come back.
About Us For Some Context
We are husbands from NYC, traveling and working from anywhere as digital nomads in a 32′ motorhome with our dog Brutus.
We count on full services everywhere we go because we do not have an additional vehicle and like to use the on-demand services available in a city.
We choose where to stay and review based on full-time RV life needs, the location, and the facilities. This means we are more likely to notice things that may not be relevant to you based on your intention for your visit.
Why do we share this with you at the top? First, we feel it is essential to introduce ourselves and our intentions, so you can contextualize if and how our comments below apply to you.
Also, we feel it is important to emphasize that we only want to boost gay camping and gay travel in general. Anything we say is in the spirit of constructive feedback and ensuring potential guests have an accurate idea of what to expect. If you have any thoughts, want to contribute info, or think we should reconsider anything we have written, please comment below or contact us.
Making A Reservation
The CampOut Alabama website clearly lays out the fees for membership and sites. Frustratingly, like many gay campground websites, you are not able to book directly on the site. Instead, you can contact via the webform, email, or call.
CampOut did not answer our first phone messages and form submissions. So we followed up almost a week later and spoke to someone directly.
We wanted to arrive on Saturday and stay through Wednesday, but being Halloween weekend they had no availability for us to roll in until Sunday.
Campgrounds of all types are booking months ahead, unlike when we started our RV adventure and had wide availability everywhere. It is remarkable that so many gay campgrounds are sold out, but also we do miss the days where we were sometimes the only people around.
A more formal reservation process and email would be preferred, but we decided to roll with it and show up without anything in writing. CampOut had our reservation ready to go when we arrived.
We did call when we were a few hours out to let them know we were on the way, and they were expecting us and let us know we could arrive late if needed.
Membership Required
Memberships at CampOut Alabama are $20 per person, valid from Jan 1 through Dec 31.
Like almost all gay campgrounds and resorts, a membership is required.
This is to protect the ability to operate as a private club and the safety of all guests. You must pay this full membership, even if you are coming for just a day. Your membership is in addition to any other camping or gate charges.
CampOut is not currently listed as a member of the GayCampingUsa.com Friends with Benefits membership discount program.
Getting There
The roads to CampOut were tight, but well maintained. It is all paved until the last mile and a half, which is dirt.
We had no pucker moments in our 32′ Class C Forest River Forester motorhome. We suggest just taking it slow, especially if it has been raining.
Follow your GPS directions, and you’ll see a small CampOut rainbow banner at the entrance.
There’s a bit of a hill at the actual entrance, which made us bottom out, but nothing out of the usual for us as our RV bottoms out often.
Checking In
You will see clear signs to stop and check-in at the first camper on the right.
We arrived late afternoon, signed some paperwork, and were quickly escorted by golf cart to our spot.
Steve and Brandon gave us a rundown of the campground, pointing out the facilities and amenities. They offered to walk us around, but we were eager to set up our space before dark, so we declined.
Arrive before dark if possible for you, as there is not much ambient lighting this deep in the woods. Just call and let CampOut know in advance that you will be checking in late.
Our Spot
We were assigned spot 22, which we liked. It was central but still felt like our own space.
It is in a row with the other spots dedicated to transient guests like us and has more than enough space to feel like your neighbors were separated.
You won’t feel like you have someone else right out your window, with space and trees between each spot.
A small sign for Spot 22 at CampOut Alabama.
Backing In
All of the transient spots are pull-through, so no need to back in with an easy path to enter and exit.
Material
Packed earth, with a few roots sticking out. It was nice and dry while we were at CampOut so we didn’t mind, but it would be frustratingly muddy in the rain.
Level
Our spot was level within 0.5% and we used our standard jack blocks. We noticed a few other spots that had steeper grades, but none seemed more than a degree or two. Make sure to ask when booking if this is an issue for you.
Water
Tasted good and looked clear at CampOut Alabama. Good pressure too, which is always appreciated.
Power
Strong 122 volts for our 30amp connection.
Sewer
Our inlet pipe was a bit high off the ground, which makes it one of those tricky slightly-uphill sewer hose situations. Fortunately, everything flowed just fine. There was an occasional sewage smell that swept through the entire campground.
Campfires
We used our propane fire pit and saw others with wood campfires.
Of course, always be safe with any fire. Never leave it unattended, make sure it is fully extinguished, and follow all local and campground policies. If you aren’t sure, always ask! Learn more about campfires, grills, and propane safety on our blog.
Picnic Table
None of the spots had picnic tables, which was a bummer for us. A table and somewhere to sit at our spot is an amenity that we appreciate. We asked the staff for a table, they came back in just minutes with a folding table which was perfect for our needs on this trip.
Other RV Spots
Every spot at CampOut is a shady spot.
According to Tim and Mike, there are only four sites for transient guests like us. The 36 other sites are perm sites.
Tent Spots
There are tent spots both with and without water/power. Tent camping at CampOut seems like it would be a lot of fun, with cleared and level sites spread throughout the park and on the water.
Perms
The perms (permanent residents) clearly take great pride in CampOut, both the facilities and being great hosts.
Everyone’s lot was clean and maintained. Perms often hung out outside, introduced themselves, and invited us into conversations. We were offered red beans and rice, and even got some gossip that we promised not to share. But oh boy it’s hot tea.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome, as long as they are on a leash at all times when outside. Like this…
Brendon was captured by the paparazzi walking Brutus at CampOut Alabama
There were plenty of other dogs for Brutus to bark at and then ignore. We felt comfortable with Brutus outside with us and at our own site, with no worry of aggressive dogs or other predators.
No dog bag and waste stations are provided, so plan to always have bags on you. When you’re done, carry the bag back to your site, and dispose of it properly with your other trash.
Internet
Don’t come here if you need internet.
Do come here if you want to get away from the internet.
We visited when we were on vacation and prepared to put our phones away for a few days.
WiFi
There is limited WiFi available at the Clubhouse. So check your email quickly and send a few messages, but don’t count on using it for streaming or video calls. In fact, don’t even attempt to stream or download large files, because it is rude and can knock everyone else offline.
We tried (for research purposes) to connect our Winegard ConnecT at our site to the Clubhouse WiFi. It did not show up as an option with the sensitive antenna.
So, you should visit CampOut when you can enjoy your time without your phone. You can find something else to do with your hands in the Toolshed, which has a DVD player and library so you don’t need WiFi for streaming.
AT&T
Our AT&T 5G iPad Pro usually had LTE service with 0 bars, occasionally tapping 1 bar. Notifications and texts would be delivered hours late. Email was unusably slow. Video would return various errors. Websites would not load.
T-Mobile
No service is indicated on both LTE and 5G. We tested both with and without the cell signal booster.
This is the very rare occasion where we haven’t had T-Mobile service at all. T-Mobile has been our most reliable, and still our recommendation.
Verizon
Our Winegard ConnecT whole-RV internet system, with a Verizon LTE SIM card, connected consistently with one bar and ran at slower-than 2G speeds.
DirecTV / HughesNet/ ViaSat / Starlink / Satellite
There is DirecTV and internet via ViaSat at the Clubhouse, but there will likely be no sky view unobstructed by the dense trees for you to place your own dish as a guest RV. Perms have some sort of arrangement to share a central satellite by the entrance.
Delivery:
Package day is one of our favorite days, but we did not receive any packages during our short stay.
None of our apps, including Shipt, Target, Instacart, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, showed grocery or restaurant delivery available.
The closest town is Enterprise, AL, with a Walmart and Magic Mushroom Pizza.
The Vibe:
We found this to be one of the most genuinely friendly gay campgrounds we have visited. People stopped by just to say hi as we were arriving. Our New York license plates are still a novelty in the gay camping scene and are always a great conversation starter at a new campground.
Clothing Optional
Like most LGBT campgrounds, CampOut is clothing optional.
Check out our article on what it means to go to a clothing-optional gay campground resort. Gay campgrounds are welcome to all bodies, and there is no pressure.
It was a bit chilly during our trip, but there were still very few clothes on most of the other guests. We also saw lots of that shirt-no-pants look which keeps the top warm.
Guest Gender Policy
All of the other guests at CampOut Alabama while we were there presented as male. The website does not have any specific gender policy and there are Facebook reviews from women who have stayed. The owner, in multiple comments on social media, has emphasized that everyone is welcome. All of the men we met at CampOut were friendly and welcoming to us, as we assume they would be for every guest.
The Owners
We spoke with one of the owners, Jason, on the phone when we made our reservation. From talking to other guests and from the CampOut About page, the owners are a couple who split their time between CampOut and Chicago. They handle all of the business and reservation needs from afar, and the on-site staff takes care of the grounds and guest hospitality.
The Staff
Steve and Brandon were fantastic hosts. They were always there when we needed them and also gave us privacy while still checking to make sure we were always doing ok.
This duo takes care of everything at CampOut, and their hard work shows.
Activities:
There are themes every weekend, with gatherings and parties all day. We arrived on the Sunday after Halloween, after all of the parties and activities had ended.
As you may guess by using the word gatherings in the previous paragraph, we are usually in bed before the more grand nighttime events.
Take a look through the CampOut Alabama Gay Campground Event Calendar. With weekend themes from Kinky Twinky to Trailer Trash Bears, there’s a little something for everyone and more.
Here are some of the weekends we think sound fun:
- Illuminations in April
- Summer Campy Camp in June
- CampOut Games in July
- Fall Festival weekend in September
Does all this themed partying sound like a bit much to you? That’s OK. You can go to a gay campground and have alone time, come on a non-party weekend, or hang out at the facilities without partying. You do you.
CampOut is open year-round, so holidays such as Thanksgiving are celebrated as a community and other low-key weekends.
Fire Pit
A communal fire pit sits out front of the Clubhouse, with firewood, fluid, and lighters available for anyone to use.
We didn’t see anyone use this during our stay, but it looked lovely.
Koi Pond
Scattered with green Lillies, the Koi Pond is a tranquil spot to sit on the wooden benches, with a view of all the men walking to and fro. You can come here to meditate or do yoga by the water.
When fellow gay camping adventurers Tim & Mike visited about four months before us, they spotted koi.
Sadly, due to fluctuating weather, the koi had all died just days before we arrived.
Food & Drink:
The Clubhouse serves a full menu and beverages. It was closed when we were there, so we did not get to try it out. If you do,
Cupcakes and sandwiches were available as the weekend guests were departing, which we enjoyed on arrival.
Facilities:
There is an artistic spirit and talent throughout the facilities. The communal spaces were highly designed and demonstrated a creative touch that shows true thought went into every detail.
Pool
Crystal clear and surrounded by a concrete deck, the swimming pool was the perfect temperature.
Both of us observed that the actual pool itself might be among the most impressive pools we have seen at any gay campground in our travels so far.
Deck chairs surround the pool, which is well maintained and complemented by clean lounge umbrellas and greenery.
Hot Tub
The hot tub at CampOut Alabama looked clean and felt well-maintained.
It was a standard size, probably comfortably sits 2-4 – or 6 on a fun night.
Walking trails
A network of paths is mapped to create a small system of trails. These trails were relatively flat and packed, so Benji could walk around a bit with his broken ankle.
These aren’t for serious hiking. And these trails aren’t like the trails at Sawmill.
Clubhouse
The Clubhouse is the central facility and the center of the social scene.
Connected to the pool and hot tub outdoors, with picnic tables and a fire pit, the Clubhouse is where you will find yourself eating, playing games, watching a movie, or singing karaoke.
Expertly decorated, the Clubhouse was all done up for Halloween during our visit. We can only assume CampOut is equally devoted to all other major decorating holidays, seasons, and occasions.
WiFi is available at no additional cost via ViaSat at the Clubhouse, but you won’t get more than a few messages in or out. So don’t try to stream anything, because you’ll make it even slower for anyone else.
Bathhouse
Four stalls, four urinals, and four showers. Smelled and looked clean. We didn’t use the bathhouse on our trip, but we would have without hesitation.
Cabins
We didn’t have time to tour the cabins on this visit.
Trash
Bag your own trash and walk it to the dumpster by the entrance whenever you need it.
Sadly, there is no recycling.
Play Area
The Toolshed is clean and well-maintained. There are stocks and swings and stalls and multi-level platforms in one of the most substantial dark facilities we have seen at a campground.
Brendon leads us on a tour of the Toolshed. Don’t slip and fall into any of the features!
Check out our NSFW tour of the Toolshed at CampOut Alabama.
Covid precautions
None visible, but also none really needed as we spent all of our time in open-air environments.
The Big Adventure
The Halloween maze! One couple of perms started putting up a few decorations years ago, and now CampOut Alabama features one of the most immersive, sexy, silly, and fun haunted house mazes we have ever seen.
Step through the rainbow arch that started it all, at CampOut Halloween
CampOut takes Halloween seriously, and this maze is an annual tradition that can’t be missed! Check our video of the CampOut Alabama Halloween Haunted Maze here.
The Catch
The catch with CampOut, other than the lack of cell service, is the occasional but regular smell of sewage passing through.
This smell was also noticed by others who had stayed at the campground months earlier and confirmed to us by perms, so we don’t think it was just bad timing for us.
Of course, identifying and fixing this can take time and it is clear that the owners intend to keep making improvements, so we hope this won’t be an issue for too long.
Brendon was bothered by the security cameras at the pool and Clubhouse, but Benji didn’t mind.
What are others saying?
4.7 stars
“Whether you’re look to get out of the city and back to nature. Or you’re looking to go glamping. Campout Alabama is the place to be. There’s something for everyone. From tent sites to cabins and campers. With permanent site available for those who can’t wait to come back. Campout club house has a bar, two flat screen, pool and hot tube. The on site management, Steve and Brandon are two of the most hard working and accommodating management teams I’ve seen in a long time. Everyone we met from permanent residents to day passer were very nice and a ball to hang out with. We can’t wait to go back and start making preparation for a permanent site of our own…”
– Andrew, September 2021
Gay Camping USA
“What won me over were the great amenities like an enclosed bath house with working showers and the jacuzzi (hot tub) and sauna but what will really be the reason why i return and why i recommend this place to you is the community and the natural beauty of this campgrounds. … They have residents of all ages from 24 to 65+ and all backgrounds as well, vanilla, leather, kink, there’s even a fellow pup for my fellow human pups who may be reading and wondering. To finally bring this review to a close i will say this i highly recommend this campgrounds if you just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of mainstream life … You won’t regret staying here.”
– Pup Ramsey, November 2020
“This weekend marked my first bear event I’ve ever attended, and it went better than I could have ever expected. I met some amazing people there whom I hope to meet again someday and I had such a blast. … Can’t wait for the next one!!!”
– Garrett, June 2020
“Amazing rustic camp!
CampOut Alabama is a beautiful relaxing retreat. Steve and Brandon host an amazing campground. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. This is a great place to go if you want to experience the beauty of South Alabama. The pool, hot tub, and clubhouse are very clean. We stayed for 4 days in our 44′ Montana camper. For RVs: the hook ups were great. The water is awesome and they had plenty of power. The camp is down a hard/sandy dirt road and some of the turns are kinda tight for big rigs.
Please give this place a try if you want to camp out in nature! Everyone there shows true southern hospitality! We will be back for some fun.”
– Kurt, May 2021
Full-Time Gays
David and Eddie had to postpone their trip to CampOut due to the lack of internet for working remotely.
Gay Camping Friends
CampOut is currently listed on GayCampingFriends but has no reviews.
RV ADVENTURES with TIM & MIKE
CampOut is a regular stop for Tim & Mike. Check out their video.
RainbowRV
CampOut is not currently listed on the RainbowRV Alabama page.
Yelp
Campground Reviews from RV Life
Campendium
In Conclusion
- Beautiful pool and lots of walking trails.
- Next-level Halloween maze and premium play area.
- The on-site staff was fantastic, helpful, and made us feel quite welcome, The reservation process and phone/email habits of the offsite office team could use some upleveling.
- It was quiet when we arrived on a Sunday late in the season, but it sounds like the weekends get full and busy with all the partying and overnight guests.
- Come here for an offline escape into the woods.
Would We Return?
Yes.
Reservations were made back in August of 2022 for the July 4th 2023 weekend (11 Months). On my day of arrival, June 29th, I pull into the campground to check in and come to find out, the owner, Matt Fox, had lost my reservation. Matt works from home outside of Chicago. My card had been fully charged for the full stay 11 months prior. I traveled with my truck and 33 foot bumper pull camper for approx. 450 miles to be told I have no camp site. This is a unique campground. I had no other options. Instead of them realizing their mistake and assigning me a site and then making calls to cancel a reservation that was made after mine, they simply turned me away. The onsite managers tried to figure something out by trying to fit a square into a round hole. LOL. Meaning force my 33-foot camper attached to my 4 door truck around a 90 degree turn to then hit the overhang of an adjacent camp site roof over and over an eroded trail. There was no way it would fit is my point. That made me question their knowledge of the camping world. The owners operate off site near Chicago. They micromanage the reservations and local managers have no control over it. This business model is a joke. And this is a clear example of how it does not work. And from what I heard, matt makes mistakes all the time on reservations. They don’t keep good records, or they would have never lost my paid in full reservation. This cost me the customer and they don’t care.
So here I sit, 450 miles from home with the cost to get there, pissed off and agitated knowing that I have an 8-hour drive back home because I have no other options. And a Holiday Weekend! They said they would give me a full refund and I had to ask for 100.00 for gas assistance. But they gave me no confirmation number of the refund. That had to come from Matt!
The total trip was around 18 hours and approximately 900 miles which cost me around $400.00 in gas plus a lost vacation day from work. The drive home was very frustrating. I could not believe the way I had been treated. I honestly was in disbelief. It was the owner’s fault and not the camp host/managers as the owners in Chicago run the show. And not a very good job at it from my experience. I sent the owners a text and picture of my odometer showing the average mpg and how many miles traveled and the time and ask for a $900 reimbursement. But they refused. How would you feel if you drove that many miles and for that length of time and spent that amount of money for nothing? They do not know what customer service all is about. They got their camp full for the July 4th weekend with over booking so I did not matter. I was nothing to them. They even required full payment up front. They are just looking out for themselves and are struggling apparently. Please, for those reading this, stay away. Its not worth what I went through to walk around naked and have man on man sex in the woods. This place disgusts me from a customer service standpoint.