Best Tent Camping near Bienville National Forest
Bienville National Forest in Mississippi features several tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts seeking primitive sites and natural surroundings. Shockaloe Base Camp I Camping provides tent-only sites within the forest boundaries, operating seasonally from April to October. Nearby, Okatoma Water Park offers another tent camping alternative with more amenities, including boat-in access options for those seeking a more unique camping experience.
Tent sites at Shockaloe Base Camp I feature picnic tables and allow campfires, but lack drinking water and toilets. Campers need to pack in all necessary supplies and pack out all trash. The access road to Shockaloe can be rough, requiring careful driving. At Okatoma Water Park, the grounds provide more amenities including drinking water, showers, toilets, and trash disposal. A recent review noted, "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."
Backcountry tent camping in this region offers privacy and seclusion not found at more developed sites. One camper shared that Shockaloe Base Camp provided "a wonderful time here with absolutely no one else," highlighting the solitude available in the national forest setting. For those seeking walk-in tent sites, some areas of Okatoma Water Park offer riverside primitive grounds with enough spacing between sites to maintain privacy. Both locations serve as good bases for exploring the surrounding forest trails and waterways. Okatoma also offers kayaking opportunities on the adjacent river, making it particularly appealing for tent campers looking to combine water activities with their forest camping experience.

