Best Tent Camping near St. Joseph, LA

This is one of three free campgrounds that can be found along the Natchez Trace. Located near Port Gibson, MS it is the first campground after leaving Natchez, MS. The lower section of this park is very wet. If possible, try to get one of the campsites on higher ground if you’ll be tent camping. When I was there the bathroom in the campground was open, but I couldn’t get the lights or water to turn on. It was like the restrooms were still winterized, but I don’t know why they would have been unlocked. I heard lots of wildlife while here, coyotes, owls, frogs, and many other little critters. Be sure to check out the old town site and church of Rocky Springs.

This is a US Forest Service campground in the Homochitto Forest. The campground host doesn’t want the secret getting out. S/he jokingly told me “now don’t you go posting on social media” how much you love this place. But I do love this place. It’s definitely off the beaten track but worth the drive. It’s a great campground nestled in the woods. Some of the campsites border part of the lake and more are wooded. We stayed in the wooded area. Our campsite had a pretty picnic area with a wooden rail all around it and wooden steps down from the campsite to the picnic/grill area. There is a loop hiking trail around the lake and a longer mountain bike/hiking trail. The nearest town is Natchez, Mississippi so make sure stock up before you go to the campground. The campsites are mixed use RV/tent sites with water and electricity. They also have a dump station for RVs. There are two bathhouses with hot showers and flush toilets. I have AT&T and had trouble getting a cell signal to make phone calls except when I was up by the bathhouse. They accept the America the Beautiful pass discounts.

Went for a primitive campsite with some guys. Great sites with plenty of room between them. You can easily set two or three tents without having to worry about disturbing other campers.

Me and my family came here with our tent and had a blast. We explored the old church and what’s left of the city. There is a lot to do for such a small campground. First come first serve and no electricity or water. It had bathrooms but no bathhouse.

This is a secluded campground, has tent/RV camping with water and electric. It has bathrooms with showers and swimming area in the lake, one side shallow and sandy for smaller swimmers, one side deeper. It has pavilions and tables, and great hiking trails around the lake and longer trails through the woods.

This was a great location if wanting to camp near the Vicksburg National military park. We walked to the park. Very few tent spots and most were in disrepair. The bathrooms were ok, they tried to keep them clean. The staff was friendly. Lots of highway noise, lots of noise from the permanent residents and their dogs. No wifi, no water.

This is a great campsite nestled in the Homochitto National Forest right outside Bude, Mississippi. The campsite has two loops with hookups for RVs and some tent campers mixed in. We stayed in primitive campsites right outside of the main entrance for no fee and used the park to fill our water. There are excellent hiking/biking trails in 20+ miles winding through the area. The spring itself was very chilly and refreshing after a long day of adventuring.

Clear Springs Recreation Area,located in the Homochitto National Forest near Roxie, Ms, is probably one of my favorite campgrounds within 3 hours from New Orleans. It's located in a beautiful section of the forest, complete with rolling hills and a lake.

The primitive tent only sites are located about half a mile up the road from the main campground, providing a substantial distance between you and the RVs. The dirt road to the tent only sites is lined with individual camp sites until you reach the back area. The back has a few small hilltops that have about 4 sites per hill. Each hill is about 50 yards from each other, again, providing needed space between you and other campers. All of the sites have fire pits with fold down cast iron grills. The ground was level enough for tents, and there's a good amount of trees for hammock camping.

The RV spots are located near the lake(pond), and have picnic tables and the fire pit. Some of the RV sites are more open air and without much privacy, yet some are nestled amongst the trees on the outer perimeter.

Adjacent to the RV sites are the restrooms, equipped with showers. On a very cold and frozen winter morning, I had decided to visit the facilities. To my great surprise, when I opened the door, I was hit with blast of warm air! So you can rest easy knowing that the restrooms are heated. There is a large pavilion that is open to air on three sides. the open sides have a railing with bench seats. There are also picnic tables located within. Most interesting was the oversized stone fireplace. It looks most welcoming, although I had no chance to use it.next to the pavilion is an open picnic area with charcoal grills and more tables. All of these picnic areas overlook the pond.

I understand that there is 17 miles of hiking trails surrounding the area. It looks like a large circuit with shorter trails interconnecting by the map.

I haven't experienced this campground outside of dead winter. I enjoyed the subfreezing temps next to a hot fire. I have been four times in the last couple of years, twice solo and twice with guests. I very much love this campground.

This little campground is nestled along the Natchez Trace Parkway at mile marker 54.8 (https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/upload/NATRmap_1_113_web.pdf).

This is a FREE first come, first serve campground that offers 22 sites. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and flat real estate for setting up your tent. The campground is well shaded and can accommodate RVs but there are no hook ups available. There are a few bathrooms that have flush toilets and sinks but there are not showers available.

It's a small facility that gets moderate use but appears to be well maintained. While black bears aren't prolific in the area they have been spotted. Be sure to store all food and scented items in your vehicle if possible.

Select your campsite then pay your fee. We arrived Sunday morning in February and only two other campers were here. The sights are flat, well groomed, with access to the pond and trail around the pond. This place is such a hidden gem. New electric service at every site. There is also an extended 10 mile hike around the forest. If you are in an RV or trailer go for sites 13-22. If you are with kids and/or in a tent then sites 1-12 are perfect. Also… not every site can handle a large rig. First come/first serve. All sights have water and electric and there is a dump station. Bathrooms with showers at each loop.

Sites on the lake are a little closer then we like but the water view was very nice. Off lake sites are spread out more. The site map on the website is labeled wrong so when we showed up we wound up with a non water location. The office fixed it promptly. Be aware water will be hard to come by in peak season.

Start out by saying that #15 spot is literally on top of the one right behind it. The bath houses were super clean, All weekend. The park was full. Splash pad for a hit for the kids and so was the swim area. We enjoyed kayaking and the pier right out front. Loved the water in the lake. Grounds were also clean.

If you want to swim and you love cypress trees, this is your spot. It’s a small park with very clean bath houses. The spots along the water are all amazing but 4 & 5 are extra great because they have shade all day and decks. There is a beach/swimming hole but we also swam from out site #5. Maybe the best campsite I’ve ever had. Worth renting a pontoon for a day!

The older lady at the front desk knows nothing about this park, I asked her how number six spit was she said I don’t camp here I could t tell you!

Beautiful quiet park. Many waterfront sites. Highly recommend

Very nice and clean park with energetic and very helpful staff.

The park is staffed with friendly staff and was very clean. Great access to the lake from most of the camp sites.

This park is quiet and very clean. It has 2 playgrounds for children and a small swimming area that is roped off. Fishing can be excellent. Sites 3,4,5 are oriented where you see the water when you open your door. We were in site 4. Sites 4 and 5 have a 25x10 foot deck extending from rv site-very nice. The sites by the water have excellent places to dock your boat by your camper.

Friendly park staff!!! Super clean facilities. Well maintained camp ground.

Great site on the water. Clean camp, well maintained. Park staff friendly. If you are planning on fishing, have your fishing prior to arriving - no place near to get one.

PRO

Senior discount- saved $10 for 2 nights

No prepayment required when phone reservations made 154 days prior to arriving 

7 miles off of US61 

Good jumping off spot for Natchez Trace and Vicksburg Battlefield 

Friendly and helpful staff 

Firewood delivered to campsite by staff for $5 

Very quiet 

Moveable metal frame wooden picnic table 

Metal fire ring (only in upper loop) without cooking grate 

Some shade 

Level site #12 

Entrance gate locked overnight 

Upper loop 3/4 occupied; lower loop no occupants Thursday or Friday night 

CONS 

Street lights in campground 

Campsite is selected from whatever is available upon your arrival, so you have to drive around and look for your site

Gate locked earlier than 5pm as we were told it would be locked at 5pm, but upon arriving at 445pm and it was locked! 

No campfires permitted in lower loop and that’s where the sites have the most shade Site#12 got covered with about 2 inches of mud upon a rain storm 

Tiny grocery store in Port Gibson; otherwise it’s a trip to Vicksburg for the closest Walmart 

Port Gibson had a McDonalds, Sonic and Pizza Hut(take out only) 

1 bar Verizon 

No WiFi