Twiltley Branch

This is one of those awesome Corps of Engineer Parks that are scattered across the country. We settled in here for a couple of nights and really wished we had more time. Our site was a nice back-in with a great water view. Since we were there in the fall, the park was not even a quarter full so it was very quiet and peaceful. We were going to stay in the nearby town of Meridian but when we found this park is was a no-brainer. It was only three miles off HWY 19 but provided such an awesome place to camp. Campsites have crushed gravel pads and patios (some of which are double in size) and most have a nice amount of shade from the trees. Our site was very large with plenty of room. There are a few pull-thrus but they have a really weird curvature and trees that would make it hard for some large RVs to navigate. The roads in the campground are narrow but most are one-way so that doesn’t really matter and easy enough for us to navigable with our 45’ RV and tow car. All sites are level and have 20/30/50 amp electric that worked well and have a fire pit with bbq grate, separate bbq, lantern crook, and picnic table. Within the campground are pit toilets but about a half mile away at the entrance are showers and a laundry facility. At the end of each campsite are garbage cans so you don’t have to go far to dump your trash. Most all sites have great water views and access in case you want to launch a kayak or canoe.  We decided to pull forward into our site so the view of the lake was directly out our front windshield.  It was perfect!  Our Verizon wifi worked well and got a dozen over the air television channels. There are a couple of small covered picnic shelters with large grills, fire pits, and picnic tables if you want to have a gathering. 

A short drive away is Collinsville Park with has a boat launch providing access to Okatibbee Lake. Many people in the campground would launch their boats there and then tie them up on the bank of the campground. There is a small fishing dock in the campground and plenty of bank fishing. The closest town is Collinsville where there is a grocery and some restaurants and you are 25-30 minutes from the larger town of Meridian.

Twiltley Campground is the only full-service campground managed by the Corps of Engineers at Okatibbee Lake, a 11,000 acre multi-purpose recreation area in eastern Mississippi. Natural Features:Okatibbee Lake boasts 4,000 acres of water surface in the Pascagoula River Basin. Extensive beaver flowages, stump beds and old creek channels provide abundant cover where anglers battle largemouth and striped bass. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 70 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Recreation:With eagles and hawks in the area, families will enjoy keeping an eye out for these magnificent birds.

Water sports including fishing and water skiing are always popular on the lake; however, fishing from the banks also yields a good amount of crappie, bass and bream. Facilities:With four boat ramps and three designated swimming areas, theres plenty of ways to enjoy the lake shore. Many sites have electric hookups and theres a pay phone onsite. Nearby Attractions:Explore Chicasawhay and Okatibbee Creeks upstream of the lake. The creeks flow through the Okatibbee State Wildlife Area.