Enid Lake in north central Mississippi covers 28,000 acres and attracts visitors year-round for outdoor recreation. During winter drawdown, the water level drops 13-20 feet, creating different shoreline conditions than summer months. Several campgrounds surround the lake, with camping options that range from basic electric/water hookups to modern full-service rv sites near Enid Lake.
What to do
Fishing from shore: At Pats Bluff, you can fish directly from your campsite with lake access. "Pull your boat almost right up on a sand beach right next to the camp site but don't think you can leave there over night. Anywhere on Sardis Lake you can't i think. But a Boat Ramp 2 or 3 minutes away around the corner," notes one camper.
Swimming at designated beaches: Most recreation areas include swimming areas with varying amenities. At North Abutment, "The boys enjoyed swimming in the lake and riding their bikes around. The visitors center is worth a visit," according to one family.
Visit nearby attractions: The Enid Lake area sits between several notable destinations. "Stayed a few nights while exploring the Oxford, MS area," mentions a Pat's Bluff visitor. From Howard Stafford Park, "Tupelo is 30 minutes away with the Elvis Birthplace museum and other attractions. There's a gas station at the entrance to the park for snacks and ice."
What campers like
Spacious waterfront sites: Chickasaw Hill offers prime waterfront camping. "It is a favorite for many locals and more off the beaten track. Has showers bathrooms playground boat ramp and beach for the campers and picnickers that come to the lake," shares one reviewer who rated it 5 stars.
Clean bathroom facilities: Campground maintenance varies by season but many parks maintain good standards. At Chickasaw Hill, "The bathrooms were well kept, including showers. There is a day use area with a boat ramp, pavilion, beach, and playground."
Reasonable pricing: Most Enid Lake camping areas maintain affordable rates. At Howard Stafford Park Campground, one visitor noted, "Can't beat the price at $22/night. We stopped in for a night in our teardrop trailer on our way farther up north."
What you should know
Seasonal water levels: Lake levels impact beach and boat ramp access. "New to fulltime rv life we chose to spend a week at this quiet off the beaten path campground on our way west. Water level in Enid Lake was very low so the swimming beach was closed," reports a Chickasaw Hill visitor.
Booking early for weekends: George P. Cossar State Park Campground fills quickly during peak times. According to one camper, "We stay at Cossar pretty often, due to it being close to home. We have always stayed on the Yocona Ridge loop, and it has been a nice campground."
Varied campground conditions: Maintenance standards differ between loops and parks. At Cossar State Park, "We did drive through the other loop (it was empty and closed at the time, the ranger let us look at it) and it appears to be much older than Yocona Ridge. There were trees/limbs down everywhere and the sites were pretty close to each other."
Limited amenities at some sites: Campgrounds like Pats Bluff offer fewer services. "This is somewhat of a rustic hidden gem! It's off the beaten path, so it wasn't very busy. The sites at the end with the lake view are nice. There is only one bath house, so it's kind of a far walk from some of the sites."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreation: Family activities vary by location. At Persimmon Hill, "A playground and basketball court is centrally located and easily accessable to all families. Behind the playground is a nice nature trail that is lit at night for an evening stroll."
Swimming areas: Designated beaches provide safer swimming conditions. "Most of the campers you see here are RVs. We camped in tent, wish they had tent pads. Good view of the lake, nice clean bathroom," notes a Persimmon Hill tent camper.
Group camping setup: Consider proximity to bathrooms with children. At Chickasaw Hill, "The tent sites are not shown correctly. There are 7 walk in sites grouped together. Each site had their own electric box and shared a water faucet. Not much privacy, but my daughter loved running around with the other kids."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Concrete pad sizes vary across campgrounds. At Howard Stafford, "Small campground attached to a public use park. Gated after dark with older but usable bathrooms and showers," while another camper notes "the rv pads are very short.an uneven."
Full hookup availability: Full-service RV sites near Enid Lake differ in quality. A recent visitor to North Abutment shared, "Recently they installed sewer for full hookup in all sites. This year we ended up staying for 6 weeks in the area on ACE campgrounds and 14 days here and we liked this best."
Backup plans for dump stations: Maintenance issues can affect waste disposal. At Pats Bluff, a visitor noted, "The only real drawback is the fact that they have pretty much made the dump station unusable by dumping tons of rock there. It appears they are working on the shoreline, however, they blocked access to the station when they stored the rock."
