Best Tent Camping near Hattiesburg, MS

Tent Camping Reviews near Hattiesburg, MS

129 Reviews of 6 Hattiesburg Campgrounds

• 

  Layla D.

  Ranger

  Apr. 23, 2020

  Paul B. Johnson State Park Campground

  Beauty to Behold at Paul B

  We have heard great things about Paul B. Johnson for years, even before we began our own camping adventures. It was definitely a campground we were excited to check out, so we booked a long weekend getaway with the promise of beautiful spring weather. Unfortunately, our trip here was cut short due to a family emergency, but we were able to scope things out for future adventures.

  It was a bit of a trek from our home on a work night, so we arrived after dark at site 67. This campground does not lock up at night, so this was not a major issue. We entered the campground through what we later learned was a back entrance off of Geiger Lake Road, so we didn’t check in until the next morning at the visitor center. The sites were not well marked with numbers, so we had to drive around a time or two to locate our site (with me occasionally getting out of the truck to read the site numbers painted in yellow on the road). The main entrance to the park has a much “fancier” building than the back entrance and leads you to drive over a spillway (which is TOTALLY safe, so no worries). The roads in the campground are narrow, two-lane roads but are not conducive to two RVs passing one another. We had to get off of the road for others to pass.

  Our site was lakeside on a hill leading down to a pier that jutted into the lake. It also had a grill and wooden picnic table that was movable. Having full hook up was nice! However, the connections were quite spread out with the water pretty far back from the other connections at this site (we needed two water hoses). There was no dedicated fire ring but there was evidence of camp fires, so we just cleared a space and set up our chairs. However, some sites had a metal fire ring and concrete picnic tables. Lower numbered sites are older with newer sites being those in the 100s. The newer sites are more level and have concrete pads instead of asphalt pavement. However, the views aren’t nearly as nice. Site 16 is next to a pier that leads to an island (super cool but everyone can access that, so you’d lose privacy). Many sites have decks, but that really sacrifices “yard space” if that’s an important factor for you. Some sites we were interested in for our next visit included 71 and 84, but we really loved site 67 and would give it another go for a future visit.

  Camp Shelby is nearby, so you’ll hear various noises from that (not overly distracting but I wish I would have known before arriving). There is a splash pad, lake swimming, and several picnic areas near the visitor center that would be awesome for kids and families when the weather is warmer. There are so many species of birds if you enjoy bird watching like we do. We enjoyed watching geese and ducks on Geiger Lake in the morning. There’s also a nature trail that we didn’t get to check out. The views from our camper were beautiful at Paul B, and we would love to visit this campground again soon!

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• 

  Lynn G.

  Ranger

  Sep. 30, 2017

  Turkey Fork Rec Area

  De Soto National Forest

  This is a nice little fishing-focused area within the northern part of large national forest. The large lake has swimming, fishing, and boating so plan to be on the water all day. There is a nice shady area along the lake with picnic tables and grills. The hiking trail is very short. We spent half a day here relaxing while on a road trip and the mellow atmosphere was just perfect. Convenient to and from Hattiesburg/rt 59 as well as from Mobile.

  Yay: Campground is nice and shady and all the sites are close to the water. Clean with basic facilities. Simple but nice nature setting. Close to trails in the national forest.

  Nay: No complaints, but if you don’t have a boat there’s not much to do on site.

  Surprise: They stock the lake with fish. Loved walking out onto the pier.

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• M

  Melissa G.

  Guide

  Jun. 26, 2023

  Paul B. Johnson State Park Campground

  Nice lake soso park

  Ok so I just tent camped here this past weekend in June. When I got to my campsite there was still trash everywhere. Mainly charcoal coals dumped next to the picnic table loaded with cigarettes. There was no fire ring so you could basically start a fire anywhere which I thought was strange. My neighbors were fine but there are no rules on what people can do. Trucks with boat trails were all over the place and most halfway on the road. I was fine driving around but I couldn’t imagine pulling a trailer through it. No camp store so that was a bummer. The registration office was so old and smelly I didn’t want to be in there. Not that there was much to it. The bathrooms were ok. Not dirty but old and hot. What I did like was the night sky. I saw lots of stars. Riding my bike around. Lots of roads for cruising. If you have a boat air Jets skis you would like this better. It just wasn’t for me.

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• 

  Ron L.

  Scout

  Jun. 12, 2022

  Paul B. Johnson State Park Campground

  Clean and beautiful camp ground

  I did my first overnight camp to test out my gear and setup on my own. Hwy 49, the main road leading to the State Park is under construction, but I was still able to enter the park without issues. On the day I went you had to use the honor system and paid $17.00 for primitive tent camping. As I rode through the park, I took note of how clean it was and had restrooms sprinkled about along with dumpsters. I explored the primitive area before deciding on a spot. I picked a spot that had a clear view of the lake to take advantage of the wind coming off the lake. I cooked up dinner and collected some wood laying on the ground and made a campfire, in the fire ring that was made by the Boy Scouts, it was marked with their troop number. After the fire died down, I went inside the tent to dose off. I was awoken to some banging noise and men talking. I assumed that they were setting up their camp a few spots from me. They finally calmed down and I went back to sleep. In the morning I tore down camp and packed it up on my bike but before riding off I went to see what the deal was with the banging last night, to find that the men were actually striping wire and left a huge mess. On the way out I spotted a grounds worker and told them about the incident. It must have been a big deal, because I saw 3 Law enforcement vehicles headed that way on the way out of the park.

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• 

  Alicia L.

  Traveler

  Sep. 9, 2020

  Turkey Fork Rec Area

  Quiet, Clean and Spacious

  We ventured to this campground not knowing what to expect. It did not disappoint! The sites were spaced further apart than many of the other campgrounds we've been. It was quite and peaceful. There were only a few other folks camping at the same time as us but we spoke to a Park Ranger who mentioned it does fill up sometimes on peak weekends. We camp in a pop-up so we rely on the bath houses - these were clean and the showers were hot! Each site had a picnic table and fire ring which also seconds as a grill. I didn't scout out every site but ours was in excellent condition.  They don't "over-manicure" the space between the lake and campsites so it feels more natural and tucked into nature than other places we've been (which we prefer). Better for the environment.  Each RV site had a decent sized parking pad, water hook up, electric hook up; no greywater drain so make sure you take a basin. The sewer dump/trash are located just as you exit the campground like most places. There's also a primitive section where you park in a lot and walk to your site (those were $7/night). We were there during the 2020 Covid debacle so payment was made to the honor box. I assume it's always like that but that may not be true when there isn't a pandemic.  There are two different swimming areas and a boat dock just across the lake from the camp. Highly recommend!

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• K

  Katherine H.

  Traveler

  Sep. 22, 2018

  Airey Lake Recreation Area

  I love Airey Lake!

  I have been here many times. This campground is a stop halfway through the Tuxachanie trail. It is a quaint park with 4 designated campsites with tables and fire rings. However, it is very common to see tents all around the lake and other spots including secluded spots that are permissible. The campground is free of charge with no showers and a water pump by the one stall bathroom.

• K

  Keeley F.

  Scout

  Aug. 28, 2018

  Okatoma Water Park

  Great flat ground for tent camping

  Great flat ground for tent camping. We were in campsite 3 and it was huge. Perfect for a scout troop or other large group. Also had ample trees with perfect spacing for hammock camping.

  Close bathroom is a bit of a dump, full of spiderwebs, and unclean, but if you walk to the new trading post across the street, there are nice bathrooms.

  picnic tables and trash cans at each campsite. Close location to canoe and kayak rentals.

• P

  Paul P.

  Guide

  Oct. 20, 2020

  Dry Creek Water Park Pat Harrison Waterway District

  Peacefully Amazing

  This is a hidden Gem. Kid friendly, quiet, all hook ups, picnic tables, grills, fire ring, lake etc.

• 

  Roger W.

  Legend

  Feb. 24, 2024

  Lake Perry Campground

  Fishing, Fishing, and Fishing

  Lake Perry, Beaumont, MS: We stopped for an overnight stay. Worked fine. Most sites have an unhindered view of the lake. Currently, the fallen brown leaves and leafless deciduous trees do not make this campground inviting. I imagine the scenery is much more attractive in spring and into fall. However ,must be gorgeous those two times of year. This is a very old campground. Facilities are old. To Do: Fish and fish. The host, Joey, will go out of his way for you. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

  (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 3.5 Price 2023: $ 15 for seniors. Security: No gate Usage during visit: 10% Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: A few sites are closer than desirable. Most are okay. Site surface: Concrete Reservations: First-come, first-serve Campground Noise: Quiet, but one site did not try to control their dachshund’s barking. I hope this isn’t indicative of usual behavior. Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: At site Bathroom: Flush. Very old, but Showers: Very ugly Pull Throughs: No Cell Service (AT&T): Okay Setting: View of lake. Host: Yes Rig Size: A large 5 th wheel had to leave as there was not a site large enough. Our site, #1, was the only site the trailer would have fit.

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