Dewayne Hayes Campground offers spacious waterfront sites along the Tombigbee Waterway, just 8 miles from Columbus, Mississippi. The area features rolling terrain with elevation changes between 200-400 feet above sea level across the region. Campers can enjoy easy access to water recreation with many sites positioned directly on the shoreline, making it convenient for both tent and RV camping.
What to do
Barge watching: At Town Creek Campground, visitors can observe commercial barges navigating the waterway. "The barges, more frequent during the day, have the occasional after dark run. They are fascinating to watch and quite pretty at night," notes camper Cyndi H.
Disc golf course: Lake Lowndes State Park provides an 18-hole disc golf course for recreational players. "They have a nice playground for the younger kids and disc golf for the older kids. And the lake is great for fishing and kayaking," reports Linda O.
Walking trails: Dewayne Hayes Campground features a 3-mile round-trip walking path. "There is a trail in the campground that leads to a cypress slough and it is beautiful," shares Mary, who appreciated the natural features along the route.
What campers like
Waterfront camping: Many campsites at Davis Lake Campground sit directly beside the water. "Davis Lake Recreation Area is situated just 4 miles from the Natchez Trace Parkway. The campground is adjacent to the Eastern shore of the 200 acre Davis Lake. 14 sites are right on the lake front offering spectacular sun rises and evening sun sets," explains Stephen & Theresa B.
Spacious sites: Camping areas provide adequate room between neighbors at Dewayne Hayes Campground. "Nice spacing between sites and a nice dispersion of FHU sites with electric & water sites. Gave people the option of choosing either and allowed us to still group camp," notes Rick G.
Clean facilities: Campground hosts maintain proper sanitation. "Bathrooms and showers were exceptionally clean. Grounds were clean. Very quiet place," reports Xander H. about Starkville KOA, noting that "the staff at the KOA went out of their way to assist us."
What you should know
Variable cell service: Connectivity differs between campgrounds. At Starkville KOA, "WiFi was not great except for AT&T which means there must be an AT&T tower nearby," according to Chuck S.
Wildlife encounters: Local fauna includes various creatures. At Dewayne Hayes, campers might spot "armadillos" as mentioned by Shawn, while Davis Lake offers bird watching opportunities: "we had a Great Blue Heron 'friend' during our entire stay."
Lake conditions: Some lakes have experienced changes. At Starkville KOA, "the lake that was an attraction including water slides and fishing docks is dry and has been for a couple of years," reports Chris B., which affects recreational options.
Tips for camping with families
Scout-friendly location: Dewayne Hayes accommodates youth groups well. "We went in April with our scouting troop. Very busy even then. Lots of small hiking trails. Nothing too fancy. Dollar General 10 minutes down the road if you need anything," says Marissa G.
Playground access: Choctaw Lake offers family amenities. "There is a playground for kids, a boat dock if you have one, or you can just fish right off your site," explains Tiffany C.
Holiday activities: Seasonal events occur at various campgrounds. "Many sites decorated for Halloween. Even little trick or treaters," notes Shawn about Dewayne Hayes, making it a fun option for families during holiday periods.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose carefully at Davis Lake Campground. "Do your research on the campsites. Some are pretty short and will not accommodate long rigs," advises Roscoe's R.
Level sites: Dewayne Hayes provides stable parking. "Level sites, clean restrooms. Boat ramp inside campground," says Ben P., making it easier to set up and maintain RVs.
Full hookup options: Services vary between campgrounds. Town Creek offers "RV spots suitable for car camping, although a bit close together with bright street lights," according to Lindsey M., while other locations provide more separation between sites.
