David Farragut may not be the most recognizable name in the annals of American history, but school kids learn his battle cry in class. It was in the waters off Fort Morgan at the mouth of Mobile Bay in Alabama where the U.S. naval admiral bellowed, "Damn the torpedoes ..." in the heat of battle during the Civil War. Fort Morgan still stands surrounded by sugar-white sands. You can't camp at this state historic site but some private campgrounds are nearby on the bay side of the Fort Morgan peninsula and across the mouth of Mobile Bay on Dauphin Island.
As the crow flies and the ferry goes, Dauphin Island Campground is the closest camping area to Fort Morgan. This full-facility campground is operated by the Dauphin Island Park and Beach Board. It has 151 sites, 99 with full hookups, all with electric hookups. Primitive camping is also available. The ferry to Fort Morgan docks across the street from the campground. This campground is the only one in the area that makes it possible to explore Fort Morgan without getting in a car -- the ferry takes you directly to the site.
Farther west on Dauphin Island, the Pelican Nest RV Resort is directly across the street from the beach. All sites at this RV park have water, sewer and electric hookups, plus large concrete patios with picnic tables. Laundry facilities are available and a camp store sells limited grocery items and beach supplies. A small pool on site features a water slide for the kids. This campground is not within walking distance to the ferry dock, which is just over 2 miles away.
Despite its name, the Fort Morgan RV Park isn't at the fort site; it's 10 miles away. Still, it's the closest campground to the fort on the peninsula. Its bayside setting is off the main road, making it a nice, quiet spot to relax by the water or go fishing from the campground's private 200-foot pier. Only a handful of waterside sites are available, with the rest tucked away in the shady trees nearby. If you're traveling with a pet, the campground has its own dog run area. Laundry facilities and a bathhouse are also available.
Closer to Gulf Shores than the fort, Bay Breeze RV On the Bay is just what you would expect from its name: an RV park on Mobile Bay. Boaters and anglers like this park because it has a private boat ramp and pier. Every campsite has a concrete patio and view of the bay. A bathhouse and laundry facilities are on site. Dogs are welcome at Bay Breeze and even have a dedicated play area.
