Alabama Welcome Center | Informal Campsite

January 30th, 2024 by MV_Inthewild

The dump station is marked as close “road close”
Their is signage saying NO OVERNIGHT PARKING. We arrived late, the office inside was close so we took a chance. We weren’t bother but it’s very noisy because we parked with the trucks (we have a 37’ rig) and at the morning the parking was full of trucks

December 3rd, 2023 by Eden Schwartz

As described. Worth checking out the Mississippi rest area a few miles down the road. Went there in the morning and there was a free dump station, individual parking spots that each had a water fill, picnic table, and gazebo. Looked like a campground. Also, had and a nice nature walk.

March 25th, 2023 by ronandjac

As described. Beautiful huge space. We parked in the truck RV area even though we’re a Class B van. Should have parked with the cars. Lot wasn’t too full of trucks when we shut lights out but by midnight parked up pretty tight and reefer pulled in next to us and it was too much noise. Got up at midnight and ended up backtracking to Cracker Barrel where we had a quiet night rest. If you stay here plan to park with the cars if you can. No one was working to ask permission. We arrived on a Sunday after hours. Quite a beautiful building and clean restrooms!

March 6th, 2023 by dkruis27

Really great spot to spend a night while traveling through Alabama. The staff at the welcome center are very nice. They did tell me that staying for one night is totally fine & even told me I would be safe because of the security guard & highway patrol that comes through regularly. The signs are meant to deter people from setting up camp in their lot for an extended time. Pretty quiet for a rest area, huge parking area, water bottle filling station inside for handheld bottles.

February 24th, 2023 by inherelement

Parked at the edge of the lot with some other vans/cars. OP recommended the overflow area which might have been better, but I was fine. Felt great to have big clean washrooms, fast wifi, and even ate dinner inside to soak in the air conditioning.

January 23rd, 2023 by melody_cabral

Really nice welcome center! We didn’t stay overnight but filled up our water at the red faucet outside. Confirmed inside that it is potable!

January 11th, 2023 by haugen.gabriel

This is definitely a popular trucker spot. I parked in the back with about 60 other semis. Coming and going and idling engines make earplugs a must. Otherwise a good/safe spot.

January 2nd, 2023 by whyattn

Parked in the additional car parking area. Had no problems at all. Nice restrooms. Used the picnic tables in the morning. Great spot overall

April 10th, 2022 by bgebauer57

10/10 great and safe place to sleep with really clean bathrooms inside. It does say sleeping is prohibited but don’t worry your fine. There was 3 other vans sleeping here too. But the dozens of trucks in the back sleeping. Little road noise but not to bad.

January 13th, 2022 by drag.murphy

Top notch welcome center. Good architectural design. Plenty of parking, decent distance from Interstate, RV/Trucks separated from cars.

"No overnight parking" signs are not enforced unless you go out of your way to cause trouble.

Dump station on site.

Clean, spacious, nice bathrooms. Traditional visitors center if you are from the 1950s.
Cool sculptures and historical displays. Vending inside.
9.7/10.

April 5th, 2021 by It's not a slow car, it's a fast house

Easiest to access if going East. But not far to exits if you want to loop back and are going west.
We spent a night here among the idling truckers. It was white noise. The sign says “No Overnights”, however the truckers and a few RVs were clearly there for the night. We were around back with the trucks. Not sure about using the from picnic area (no pets allowed there). Be respectful and they probably won’t mind you resting here.
In the main building is a gift shop and very clean restrooms. Up front are picnic tables and water spigots, they will require a long hose if you wish to fill a tank. Dump station is not available. Dogs must be on leashes and only in certain areas. Geocaches within range.

December 2nd, 2020 by Nicole

Super clean bathrooms and well lit. I felt super safe and slept wonderfully.

February 22nd, 2020 by bcebula84

Nice and quiet comparing to other rest areas by the road. We stayed the night with no issues. Drinking water inside the building by the restrooms. Not sure if the one by picnic tables is potable. Be respectful so they let others stay.

November 7th, 2019 by valerie.enthaler

huuuuuge!
lots of parking/toilets/water.
a little from the road so not too loud- well for a rest stop :)

April 5th, 2019 by beaudetjb

Nice place with picnic table.
They don't want that we stay here. for
1 month, but they are very happy to invit us here for a couple of days.

March 4th, 2019 by adventuresfromthevan.com

There is a “no overnight parking” sign at the entrance but I just stayed with no problems.

January 26th, 2019 by johanroos1961

Big parking lots with picknick tables. Clean restrooms, water and fast WiFi. Overnight is allowed