Vincent S.
Ranger
RangerPaynatha Trail Head Camp
Free. Water. Bathroom. Open space. Hunting. Picnic tables. easiest gravel ever not bumpy. Pretty level
Tent Camping near Guntown, MS
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National forests and public lands surrounding Guntown, Mississippi offer several primitive tent camping options. Tent campsites near Guntown range from lake-view sites with fire rings and picnic tables to more primitive spots with little to no facilities, with nightly fees from free to $7. Puskus Lake in Holly Springs National Forest provides tent-only campsites in a forested setting approximately 30 miles northwest of Guntown. Additional tent camping can be found at Cox Lake, also within Holly Springs National Forest, and at specialized bicycle-only tent sites along the Natchez Trace Parkway, including Tupelo Bicycle Only Camp near Saltillo and Witch Dance Bicycle Only Camp near Houston.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of maintenance. Puskus Lake campsites include metal fire rings, lantern poles, and picnic tables, though only one of three outhouses may be operational at any given time. Campers should bring their own toilet paper and drinking water, as water spouts may not function reliably. Sites at Cox Lake and Graham Lake are more primitive with limited facilities. Self-check-in is typically handled at permit boxes near campground entrances. Fees range from free at some locations to $7 per night at Puskus Lake ($3.50 with an interagency pass), with separate day-use fees of $1 at some sites.
Tent campers frequently note the solitude available at these campgrounds. According to reviews, Puskus Lake sites offer good spacing between campsites, with visitors rarely seeing more than 5-6 sites occupied simultaneously. One camper observed that "the campground sits in a nicely forested area just above the lake," providing a peaceful setting for overnight stays. Weekend visitation increases, particularly during fishing season, with sites sometimes filling by nightfall. The area features approximately 5 miles of hiking trails, though some sections may be poorly maintained. Trees suitable for hammocking can be found at several campgrounds, particularly at Second Creek Recreation Area across the state line in Alabama.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Guntown (8)
1. Tupelo Bicycle Only Camp - Natchez Trace Parkway
2. Puskus Lake
"One bathroom away from the sites in the "day use" area. Mostly fisherman. The lake has motor oil/ fuel running on the surface. The docks nice, wide with bench seating."
"I spoke to a ranger this morning who said the road is full of widow makers. People are moving his barricades and going in anyway."
3. Big Hill Pond State Park Campground
"Primitive camping, no water or electric. Not big enough for RVs. Nice bathrooms, excellent showers. Very pretty with lots of hiking trails and a lake for fishing."
"We brought our small Aliner camper here to primitive camp for the first time and we couldn’t have picked a better place! The campsites have been redone in the last couple of years."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when available4. Cox Lake
5. Second Creek Rec Area
"Multiple spots to set up camp with concrete tables at each."
"Good location and easy to get to. We have been camping here for years good spot for fishing kayaking and just good family time. They have on site porta potties and picnic tables."
6. Chickasawhay
7. Graham Lake
"No hookups. Nothing. But, it is a free campground so what can you say. It’s rather nice there. This is a very small campground with about 5 spots."
8. Witch Dance Bicycle Only Camp — Natchez Trace Parkway
Drive Time
- 1 hr 29 min from Florence, AL
- 1 hr 33 min from Jackson, TN
- 1 hr 35 min from Memphis, TN
- 1 hr 49 min from Decatur, AL
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Guntown, MS
4 Photos of 8 Guntown Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Guntown, MS
334 Reviews of 8 Guntown Campgrounds
Kelly W.
TravelerTishomingo State Park Campground
Nice quiet campground. We stayed at site 59. Level concrete pad, full hookup. We walked a couple trails. It’s been very dry no waterfalls and small creeks were dry.
MickandKarla W.
LegendWhitten Park Campground
Still One of Our Favs
GPS took us right to Whitten Park Campground (CG). The check-in gate opens early most days and was already open when we arrived at 2:15 PM. Check-in was friendly and quick, even though the official check-in time was 4:00 PM. We had pull-through site 9 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP). Sites 8 and 9 had been combined to create a very long pull-through with two sets of utilities. We were able to position our rig on the pad to compensate for the slight slope, using one leveling block under each wheel on the door side. With temperatures reaching 100 degrees, we were glad the 50 AMP service supported all three of our air conditioners. As with most COE CGs, water pressure was very good, so we used our pressure regulator. Our site had a nice step-down patio with a large picnic table, stand-up BBQ grill, and fire pit. We stayed in the same site a couple of years ago, but the picnic table and other amenities from the former site 8 had since been removed. We also enjoyed a partial water view through the trees. We had 3 bars on Verizon and 2 bars on T-Mobile, with the T-Mobile signal strong enough to run our T-Mobile Home Internet and stream. With the amount of large trees in this CG, satellite could be iffy depending on the site. There was no CG WiFi. We stayed in Loop 1, which had trails leading to the boating and fishing docks, along with connecting trails to the other CG loops. Loops 1 and 3 are the most popular and tend to attract more campers. If you prefer fewer crowds and a quieter camping experience, consider Loop 2, which generally has fewer occupied sites, especially during the week. Whitten Park remains one of our favorite campgrounds.
Brett D.LegendTurkey Hill RV Park
Cute and quiet campground minutes from the interstate
Cute, quiet campground tucked away in the woods, yet only 5 minutes from the interstate! The sites are spacious, shaded, and very level. The showers and bathrooms are clean, and the laundry facilities are great. Highly recommend, especially for the price. Excellent value!
Tula J.
ScoutBrush Creek Park
Beautiful quiet place to relax
My daughter door dashes in Florence. Since we live in the Bankhead Forest, sometimes we stay closer to Florence. We love this park for peace and quiet. Easy to find. Only real problem is the showers. They are not heated and there is no door. So you need to bring your own shower curtain. It's wide open to the world.
Kim K.
GuideTishomingo State Park Campground
tishomingo State Park
Very nice campground has concrete pads for RVs water and electric no sewer but does have a dump station has lots of beautiful hiking trails. Dog friendly and historic sites
Amanda F.LegendDavis Lake Campground
Nice campground
Great campground with a friendly and knowledgeable campground host.
Erin L.GuideTombigbee State Park Campground
FHU- Not big rig friendly
Small park, 20 sites of various sizes, 18 full hook ups(even sewer). Tent& group camping available. Cabins also available. A/C Bathhouse centralized with a vending machine for canned soda, men's side, women's side, and coin laundry(2 washer/2 dryer)$2.50 per use for light wash load- price increases with load size and function.$2.50 per dryer in commercial dryer. Sides each consisted of 3 flush toilets and 2 shower stalls. Lots of playground equipment for kids, along with a small baseball diamond, volleyball nets, BBQ grills, picnic tables and pavilions. Lots of trails around, but seems that they link to the disc golf course. Trolling motor or kayak lake only, NO SWIMMING. You can rent kayaks from the office. Fishing available with permit available at office& limits. Not far from Tupelo, MS, 15 minute drive to explore and shop. Our site#6 was just big enough for our camper(35 ft). We parked our truck(25ft) sideways-ish in front of the camper. We tried to stay out of the road for passing vehicles. There were parking spaces just up from our site, but our truck would have stuck out into traffic. Glad that we didn't because a storm came through and the wind caused a tree to come down over the road in front of our camper where those parking spots were. When I made the reservation via the phone number, I spoke with a representative who was in Maryland, so she had no idea, but said that on her screen the pad size should be long enough and it was not. There is no one at the gatehouse, you have to check in at the office across from the campground or envelopes are provided with a fee list for the honor system. It was quiet at night. There was only 1 other RV hooked up there the whole 7 days that we were. There were people that came through the week for 1 night only, but most people coming into the campground loop were stopping to use the shower facilities, the laundry facilities, or just driving through. We camped at Tombigbee State Park in a Travel Trailer.
- MMaggie C.Legend
Whitten Park Campground
Nice and quiet
Stayed here for 4 nights in sites 27 and 28. Right across from the bathrooms which were more than adequate. Was able to put our paddle board in from site 27 - just had to walk thru a little brush to access the river. Very quiet campground. No other campers in our loop at all. Sites are shady and perfectly level.
Guide to Guntown
Primitive campsites near Guntown, Mississippi provide budget-friendly overnight options for campers seeking solitude in natural settings. Located within the Holly Springs National Forest and surrounding public lands, these rustic sites typically lack developed amenities. Most campers report significantly higher usage during fishing season weekends, with many sites filling by evening on Fridays and Saturdays.
What to do
Kayaking and paddling: Cox Lake in Holly Springs National Forest offers accessible paddling opportunities for beginners. "Great little fishing lake," notes visitor B.C., who found the small size ideal for exploring by kayak.
Fishing from shore: Second Creek Rec Area provides bank fishing access with concrete picnic tables at waterside spots. "Good spot for fishing kayaking and just good family time. They have on site porta potties and picnic tables," writes Jake W., who camps there regularly on weekends.
Day hiking: Trails around camping areas provide limited hiking opportunities, though maintenance varies seasonally. Hunter H. at Puskus Lake reports: "Campsite was great. Beautiful lake and not crowded. Night time was quiet. Really enjoyed the views and relaxing environment."
What campers like
Budget-friendly pricing: Most primitive sites in the area require minimal fees. "It is a Fee area. It's 1$ for day use and 7$ for camp use. Bring cash," notes Skyler B. about Puskus Lake, which also offers reduced rates for interagency pass holders.
Hammock camping opportunities: Trees at several sites accommodate hammock setups. Summer A. confirms this at Second Creek Rec Area: "Trees for hammocking. Portopotty for your bathroom needs."
Lakeside spots: Select sites offer direct water access, which local campers particularly value. David H. found Puskus Lake ideal for "a fun little quick trip to paddle around in kayak, fish & enjoy great meal over grill."
What you should know
Limited facilities: Expect minimal maintenance at most sites. Ben H. reports about Puskus Lake: "Hardly any other people around. Very run down and lots of bugs. Stopped over here for a quick camp spot on a road trip, and it was fine for this."
Self-check in required: Most sites use permit boxes or honor systems for payment. Justin Y. notes about Puskus Lake: "Self check in is handled at the permit box upon turning off the highway. Be mindful of snakes and you're usual pests."
Bathroom conditions vary: When available, toilets receive inconsistent maintenance. "One bathroom away from the sites in the 'day use' area. Mostly fisherman," reports Alex B. about Puskus facilities.
Water sources unreliable: Bring sufficient water supplies as pumps may not function. Natalee F. confirms: "The water spout did not work on my visit" at Puskus Lake.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection matters: Choose established areas with basic amenities when camping with children. Timothy F. recommends Second Creek Rec Area: "Multiple spots to set up camp with concrete tables at each."
Prepare for insects: Mosquitoes can be problematic, especially near water. Summer A. warns: "Lots of mosquitoes at night. Quiet pretty spot to camp."
Arrive early on weekends: Secure preferred spots by arriving mid-afternoon. "I camped here just one night in May 2021 on a Saturday, I got there at about 3pm and was the first there but by nightfall every site was full," notes Natalee F. about weekend occupancy at Puskus Lake.
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions apply: Smaller trailers and RVs work best at these primitive sites. Steve G. advises about Graham Lake: "No hookups. Nothing. But, it is a free campground so what can you say. It's rather nice there. This is a very small campground with about 5 spots. Large rigs are a no go I would think, as access can be tight."
Consider boondocking: Self-contained setups fare best at sites without services. "If you're in a small to medium travel trailer or a tent, this could work out," continues Steve G. about Graham Lake.
Check road conditions: Access roads to primitive sites may deteriorate after rain. Kelly C. found Cox Lake "a good pick" for overnight stays but noted issues with litter in some areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Guntown, MS?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Guntown, MS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Guntown, MS is Tupelo Bicycle Only Camp - Natchez Trace Parkway with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.
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