Scenic byway · Talladega National Forest · est. 1936
Talladega Scenic Drive
Pine Glen and Coleman Lake hold 32-ft dry-camp rigs year-round along Alabama's only ridge scenic byway — shoulder-month operations make this a rare winter USFS basecamp east of the Mississippi.
Max RV length
32 ft
Hookups
None (dry)
Dump station
Yes
Dispersed camping
Allowed per MVUM
RV season
Year-round (developed loops shoulder-season operational)
Access road
Paved 2-lane scenic byway (AL 281), 23 mi ridge route
About this area
Cheaha Mountain is Alabama's high point at 2,407 feet — modest by national standards but enough to put the Talladega Scenic Drive a meaningful 1,500 ft above the surrounding piedmont. The byway tracks AL 281 along a 23-mile ridge through the Talladega NF, with Pine Glen and Coleman Lake as the two RV-grade developed loops. Pine Glen caps rigs at 32 feet, dry-camp, with the closest USFS dump station; Coleman Lake adds lakefront sites at similar limits. Dispersed camping is permitted on most Forest Service roads under the Talladega MVUM — popular pull-offs include FSR 600 toward Pinhoti Trail crossings. Winter operates here unlike the rest of the USFS system: shoulder months stay 50-65°F at the campground level and bookings actually clear November through February. Tornado-season weather windows in March and April matter more than snow.
How to plan this area
Reservations and the Motor Vehicle Use Map
Developed loops book through recreation.gov; dispersed camping is legal only where the ranger district's MVUM allows it. Both links go straight to the official source.
Looking for the rig? Browse Alabama RV rentals on PickRV
Official sources
Every fact on this page traces back to these primary sources.
Alabama rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- Rental tax
- 7.00%
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00
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