The Southern Craft Beer Camping Road Trip

If you like craft beer, camping and enjoy a good road trip, keep reading. There has been a surge of craft breweries opening up across the country and it’s our mission to see as many as we can. We also have a love of camping, so why not combine the two in to an epic craft beer camping road trip? We couldn’t think of a reason not to, so we’ve compiled a list of breweries and campgrounds along our southern craft beer camping road trip that we think are worth a visit.

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Southern Craft Beer Camping Road Trip

1. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Mustang Brewery / Lake Murray State Park

Mustang Brewing Company was created to make great, easy-drinking, craft beers that can be enjoyed year-round. And we’d say they have done just that. In July of 2009, the first pint of Mustang was served. 200 pints were sold in the first 15 minutes and all nine kegs floated in an hour and a half. Things have been crazy ever since for Mustang Brewing Company. It is a great place to take a tour or visit their taproom. Tours are offered the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month from 4-7 p.m. They are free and include a tasting of four, three ounce samples. Also open the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, the taproom is a great spot to try one of their brews that will never be at the retail store, just on tap in their tasting room.

 

Lake Murray State Park is nestled along the serene shoreline of beautiful Lake Murray. It offers over 25 miles and 12,500 acres of scenic countryside primed to fit every outdoor recreation need. Our favorite campground within the state park is Ski Jump Campground. It is located in Lake Murray’s former ski jump cove, and offers primitive tent camping with fire pits, picnic tables, grills and direct views of Tucker Tower. Pitch your tent in this area and enjoy great lake views and a peaceful beach protected from the wind. If you are camping in an RV we’d highly recommend the Rock Tower Campground. Lake Murray is about a 2 hour hike from OKC, but it puts you in a great position to head to your next stop on the road trip.

2. Dallas, Texas: Lakewood Brewing Co. / Oak Cove Marina

Falling in love with brewing’s perfect blend of art and science, Wim Bens, owner of Lakewood Brewing Co knew after those first few batches of home brew that this is what he was destined to do. Lakewood Brewing Co. strives to create the highest quality beers by developing new and exciting styles and handcrafting small batch beers that are full of unique, exciting flavors. They give a great tour every Saturday starting at around 1:30. It costs $10 but you receive a free pint glass and four 8 oz samples. There taproom is also open every Saturday from 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. in which they feature 6 rotating taps of their year-round, seasonal, and special releases. We would always recommend you trying their Hop Trapp, a Belgian-Style IPA.

 

Oak Cove Marina is a nice little campground to spend the night. Whether you are in an RV or tent they have a space for you. The full hook-up, RV spaces enable you to have a trouble-free stay at Oak Cove. The tent spaces are located in a tree covered, shady area of the campground. This certainly makes your stay in a tent a little more comfortable. There is a lake on site to play in. You can swim, fish along the shore line or just sit and relax near the waterfront. Oak Cove is in a perfect location to set you up for an easy drive the next day.

3. Houston, Texas: Saint Arnold Brewing Company / Little Lake Charles RV Resort

Saint Arnold Brewing Company, founded in 1994, is Texas’ oldest Craft Brewery. From the very beginning their goal has been to brew world class beers and deliver them to their customers as fresh as possible. Saint Arnold brews several different beers; from year round, to seasonal and a few are single batch brews. They love to pull back the curtain and give tours Monday-Saturday with varying times. It costs $8 and you receive the tour, samples and a souvenir glass. We suggest catching it on a weekday during lunch where the tour hall also offers a full menu for lunch and their beers are available. Whether it is their award-winning Saint Arnold Amber Ale or a beer from their Saint Arnold Icon Series, we think you will dig it.

 

Little Lake Charles RV Resort has activities for everyone to enjoy from a swimming pool with water slide to water activities and mini golf, it is a fantastic place to camp. The campground offers canoe and paddle boat rentals for people to enjoy the pond the resort surrounds. Challenge your buddies to a round of mini golf or relax at the pool. The RV sites are spacious, back-in or pull-thru sites with water, sewer hookups and 30/50 amp electric service. If you are tent camping, they have a great grassy primitive tent area or tent sites with water/electric. If you want to sleep in luxury check out their small, medium or large cabins that are fully furnished and waiting for you to relax in.

 

4-5. Abita Springs, Louisana & Kiln, Mississippi: Abita Brewing Company & Lazy Magnolia Brewery / Shepard State Park

Founded in 1986, the Abita Brewing Company, now the largest craft brewery in the southeast, is nestled in the piney woods 30 miles north of New Orleans. Their lagers and ales are brewed in small batches, hand-crafted with only the highest ideals of quality. This pride, along with their brewing process, is what creates Abita’s great brews. Abita gives hour long tours of their brewery Wednesday-Saturday at varying times. The Tasting Room is where all tours of the Abita Brewery begin and end. You can pass through these amazing ornamental iron gates into the courtyard garden or take a seat at the 24-foot, mahogany bar and enjoy samples of almost every Abita Beer including the Abita Jockamo IPA and specialty beers like their Spring IPA.

 

Lazy Magnolia is Mississippi’s oldest packaging brewery, founded in 2003 they offer a line of refreshing beverages, made in true Southern Style, complementing the traditions and remaining true to Southern tastes. A great way to get a sneak peek at the brewing process is to take a tour. Lazy Magnolia offers tours Thursday-Saturday at varying times. The cost is $10 and includes a one hour tour, souvenir pint glass and 6 samples of their beer. If you get a chance, give their Southern Pecan a try, it is the only beer made with whole roasted pecans. If you’re looking for a good porch sippin’ beer we suggest trying out Southern Hops’pitality.

 

 

Shepard State Park, nestled in the heart of Singing River, has 395 acres abounding with trees and wild flowers, bike and nature trails. It has 28 developed campsites, 1 bathhouse, tent camping and and 18-hole disc golf course. They have 8 miles of trails that run through majestic oaks to the unique wetlands, where you will encounter a variety of coastal plants and wildlife. Most of the campsites provide moderate shade and privacy. Most sites can fit a tent or RV with some sites designated just for tent campers. Close to the Pascagoula River, you can rent canoes or kayaks and spend an afternoon traveling the river. The campground is in a perfect location between the brewery and your next stop on the road trip.

6. Pensacola, Florida: Pensacola Bay Brewery / Montgomery Camp Ground

Elliott Eckland and Mark Robertson started Pensacola Bay Brewery in 2010, focusing on local Pensacola landmarks and lore, the Pensacola Bay Brewery mixes a little Florida history in each pint. Located in downtown Pensacola you’ll find a brick building housing the brewery and taproom. Open daily with varying times, patrons can come in and enjoy a tasty brew with 18 beers on tap ranging from their year round beers to seasonal specialties. If you make it there on a Saturday, take a tour of the facility which gives some great behind the scenes knowledge. If you get the chance to try their Lighthouse Porter or one of their many seasonal offerings such as Pensacola Bay’s ESB, do it!

 

 

Montgomery Camp Ground is in an ideal location, far enough off the interstate so you don’t hear any traffic but close enough to easily jump back on and continue to your next stop of the craft beer road trip. They have large sites and wide open spaces where you can play ball, toss a Fris­bee, ride bikes, or catch some sun at our pool. If fish­ing is your thing they have a 10 acre fish­ing lake that is stocked with Bass, Blue Gill, Crap­pie and no license is required. With 80 campsites and camping cabins you should be able to find a spot for the night. It is a bit of a drive from Pensacola but makes for a very easy drive the next day.

 

7. Montgomery, Alabama: Railyard Brewing Company / Peach Queen Campground

Founded in 2012, the Railyard Brewing Company had one goal in mind; to create a southern-centric place where everyone can enjoy fresh craft beer, great food and southern hospitality. Railyard is Montgomery’s lone craft brewery, located across from the Riverwalk Stadium, and has produced more than 200 barrels of beer onsite. They do give tours, but it is also worth the stop to grab a bite at their brewpub. With all of their beers on tap and great pub style food coming through, it is an enjoyable experience. They have everything from soup and salads, to a Mema burger and entrees such as shrimp and grits. Their beer is worth the visit, from their APA (Alabama Pale Ale) to their Red Clay Irish Ale.

 

Originally a farm, Peach Queen Campground has been a family business since 1974. It offers affordable rates and convenient amenities for guests. Being close to the highway and in between both Montgomery and Birmingham is a plus. Although it is not far off the interstate it stays quiet at the campground. The 54 site facility can accommodate tents, RV’s and motorcycles. Sites vary with some being more shade covered while others a little more open. There is a great little lake within the campground for fishing or just relaxing. If it is the right season you can even pick peaches from one of the many peach trees!

 

8. Birmingham, Alabama: Avondale Brewing Company / Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park

Avondale Brewing Company is a locally owned brewery in the heart of the Deep South. It has named all of their beers after the rich history and folklore stories of the Avondale community they live in. With a rooted respect for the craft of brewing, Avondale strives to create hand-made, one of a kind craft brews. To witness this hard work first hand, take a tour of the facility. Offered Wednesday and Saturdays at various times, you are able to tag along through the brewery. If you’re unable to catch a tour, swing by the brewery for beers in the taproom. They are open every day for sampling of their latest and greatest hand-crafted beverages such as their Spring Street Saison, or a specialty brew such as the No Joka Mocha.

 

Whether you are in an RV, enjoy the comfort of a cabin, or prefer tent camping, the Bremen Jellystone Park offers great accommodations, amenities and activities for everyone to enjoy. From swimming, mini golf, and fishing in the pond you can easily fill up a day in the campground. Although it is mostly an attraction for families, it is still a very good park with nice tent sites and a relaxing environment. If you are wanting to break away, the fishing pond is set away from the main part of the campground and could be a great spot to just sit and relax. Camping here also sets you up well for the next leg of our southern craft beer camping road trip.

 

9. Atlanta, Georgia: SweetWater Brewing Company / Mistletoe State Park

From their dorm room at the University of Colorado in Boulder, owners Freddy Bensch and Kevin McNerney knew they wanted to start a brewery. After finishing up brew school and brewing on the west coast for years, they found their way to Atlanta and opened up SweetWater Brewing Company in 1997. They’ve been make hand-made, sustainable, crafted brews every since. To catch a true glimpse in to the brewery, take a 20 minute tour of the facility. Tours are available Wednesday-Sunday, starting from the tasting room. The tasting room is open during all the brewery tours, and has a great selection of brews on tap including their most popular 420 Extra Pale Ale and specialty brews such as Motor Boat.

 

Located on 71,100-acre Clarks Hill Lake, Mistletoe State Park is known as one of the finest bass fishing spots in the nation. If fishing isn’t your thing, guests can cool off at the sandy beach or on miles of shaded nature trails. If you wan to ditch the tent for the evening, Mistletoe State Park has 10 fully equipped cottages on the lake, five of which are log cabins. The 92 site campground is situated on a peninsula, offering spectacular views of both sunset and sunrise over the open water and can accommodate tents and RV’s. Another unique option is the four-bed tent cabin with electricity and water that faces the lake. If you do want to hit the water guests may rent canoes to explore the large lake.

 

10.Columbia, South Carolina: ConQuest Brewing Company / Little Cedar Creek Campground

Conquest Brewing Company, is a unique brewery carrying on the proud tradition of crafting, and enjoying, the most complex and inviting, beverages the world has ever known. The owners of Conquest, strive to educate that taste is what truly makes a beer, not marketing. With a small, but inviting taproom Conquest Brewing serves up its freshly brewed batches. Open Tuesday-Sunday the taproom offers flights, pints and growlers to take home. If you would like a tour, just request one! There are no scheduled tours but the guys at Conquest would be happy to oblige if you would like to see the facility. They do brew up some tasty beers from their Artemis Blonde to a seasonal brew such as the Seven Seas Pale Ale.

 

Have a little fun in the sun at Little Cedar Creek Campground. Located near Ridgeway the tree covered campground is a great place to relax, spend some by their ponds and take hike through the forest. They have everything from tent sites to RV and cabins. If you’re looking at a night of luxury the cabins are a great choice with beds, a full kitchen, couches and great porch to sit and relax. The RV sites are a little closer together but are nicely wooded. In our opinion, the tent sites are where its at. Tucked away in the woods the sites are private, shaded and are well spaced. They They each come equipped with a picnic table and fire ring and are a perfect way to spend the night relaxing before heading out on the last leg of your camping road trip.

 

11. Charlotte, North Carolina: NoDa Brewing Company

NoDa Brewing Company is a homegrown Charlotte brew house with a desire to handcraft small-batch beers with a dedication to quality and variety. The smaller size of the company and attitude allow them to brew unique and artistic recipes as well as renditions of classic varieties such as Stouts, Witbiers, and Winter Warmers. A free tour, guides you through the brewing process from start to finish. A visit to the taproom is also a must, where the view through the glass of the brewery also gives you some insights. With a new “nodable” on tap every Tuesday (a small batch brew, only available in the taproom), there is always something to try. Open daily, the taproom is a place to try their award winning Hop Drop N Roll and many other beers.