Okatibbee Lake serves as a central feature for glamping close to Carthage, Mississippi, with 4,000 acres of water surface in the Pascagoula River Basin. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures typically ranging from 70 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Several campgrounds in the area provide access to extensive beaver flowages, stump beds, and old creek channels that create excellent fishing habitat.
What to do
Fishing in hidden spots: At Choctaw Lake, campers can enjoy fishing directly from lakeside sites. "Large bass in the smaller lake. I haven't even had a bite in the larger lake," notes one regular visitor. The campground offers numerous sites with direct lake access for convenient bank fishing.
Disc golf access: Timberlake Campground provides an unexpected recreational option for visitors looking for land-based activities. According to one camper, "Played a game of disc golf in the morning which was great." The course offers a welcome diversion from water activities.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Twiltley Branch at Okatibbee Lake delivers exceptional wildlife encounters. "Lots of birds and alligators to see," reports one visitor. The campground's proximity to water creates ideal conditions for observing native wildlife, especially during early morning and evening hours.
What campers like
Waterfront site selection: Many campers appreciate the strategic positioning at Twiltley Branch. "We had site 39 that backed right up to the lake. Campground was very clean and easy to get around," shares one visitor. Another notes, "There are two campsites right by the lake that are secluded and shaded by trees. They give you almost private access to the lake!"
Proximity to conveniences: LeFleur's Bluff State Park Campground receives praise for its unexpected location. "This MS state park is smack dab in the middle of Jackson, MS. It is snuggled in the woods along a river," explains one camper. Another appreciates that it's "Easily accessible from highway but felt like we were not in the middle of the city."
Modern amenities: Campgrounds in the region often surprise visitors with their level of facilities. At Timberlake Campground, a guest noted, "I was very impressed with the amenities such as the laundry room, pool and bath house. The bath house was very clean and has private showers."
What you should know
Site conditions vary significantly: When selecting a campsite, inspect the ground conditions carefully. At Movietown RV Park, visitors find "Spacious lots so you arent right up on each other. Theres rental lots and cabins by the night, week and month." However, other campgrounds may have challenges - one camper at Choctaw Lake warned, "Campsites are on top of each other with very little tree cover. Also, tents cannot be set up on grass; only on their 'tent pads' (jagged rocks)."
Weather considerations: The high humidity affects camping comfort. One visitor to Twiltley Branch shared, "We went to bed with the frogs croaking and awakened with the birds chirping." Plan for hot, humid conditions during summer months, with cooler evenings creating condensation inside tents.
Accessibility issues: Some campgrounds have challenging navigation. At Twiltley Branch, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities for kids: Yogi on the Lake - Jellystone Pelahatchie provides exceptional family-friendly water options. "The slides were awesome and the tent camping were good," reports one family. Another visitor mentioned, "Water park is heated which I didn't know and wished we brought swim suits."
Wildlife education opportunities: LeFleur's Bluff State Park offers unexpected learning experiences. "One way the trail leads to a dam with old structures and great fishing opportunities, the other fork leads you to the museum of natural science! My children loved that!" shares an enthusiastic parent.
Family-focused activities: Structured programming keeps children engaged at Jellystone. As one visitor described, there's "Pool, slides, jumping pad, playground, mini golf, tennis, basketball, planned activities each day for family fun."
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Pay attention to utility placement at Okatibbee Lake Waterpark. One RVer warned, "No one told us of the possibility of two sewage hookups and which one should be used. We automatically hooked up to the one on the side by the water and electric... we should have hooked up to the one in the center of the pad underneath our travel trailer."
Site leveling challenges: Check site conditions before setting up. At Yogi on the Lake, "Our site was a very tight pull thru site. We definitely wouldn't of been able to pull out if the park was full. The site was very sloped so getting in the camper was difficult because the steps were so high off the ground."
Late arrival procedures: Many campgrounds accommodate after-hours check-in. At Movietown RV Park, "We got in late so we registered at the closed office door by putting our $27 payment in an envelope in the door slot. How convenient!"
