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Best Tent Camping near Guntown, MS

303 Reviews

National forests and public lands surrounding Guntown, Mississippi offer several primitive tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. 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.

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Best Tent Sites Near Guntown, Mississippi (7)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Guntown, MS

4 Photos of 7 Guntown Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Guntown, MS

303 Reviews of 7 Guntown Campgrounds

  • Napunani
    Jun. 23, 2022

    J.P. Coleman State Park Campground

    Nice Lake View...but

    PROS 

    We were able to reserve 368 days prior to arrival 

    Very friendly and helpful check-in clerk 

    Fantastic view of the lake from site 45 

    Mostly quiet except for campground party animals until 3am! 

    Concrete parking pad 

    BBQ grill 

    Fire ring constructed of concrete pavers 

    Coin-operated washers/dryers in shower/toilet facility 

    Small playground, pool and mini-golf course 

    Good jumping off point for Shiloh Battlefield 

    CONS 

    Campsite 45 was full of litter…cigarettes butts, bones, bottle caps, pieces of chalk, straws, melted soda bottles…just nasty 

    Fire ring made of concrete pavers full of ash and trash upon arrival…again nasty Pedestal BBQ grill full of trash and ash upon arrival…more nastiness 

    Campers ignored basic rules/courtesy/respect such as keeping dogs on leash and walking through occupied campsites at anytime. One camper walking through our site complained to us our chairs on our site were in THEIR way. 

    No senior discount 

    Narrow site 

    Site 45 not level 

    Site 45 mostly fun sun 

    Basically we didn't experience any of the campground rules being enforced so obviously there is no management oversight at this State Park 

    Never saw a park ranger drive through the campground (Saturday-Monday) 

    Never saw a camp host or a campsite for a camp host

    Campground quiet hours not enforced 

    Posted "No Swimming” from campsites along lake, but that didn’t stop a sole and no one enforced it 

    Concrete picnic table at end of parking pad, so at the bumper of the camper 

    Sites very close to each other with no vegetation between sites, so no privacy what so ever 

    Street lights throughout campground, so not dark sky friendly 

    Small playground, pool and mini-golf course not walkable from campground 

    Trash dumpsters outside of campground…not walkable 

    Twisty, steep and narrow roadway into campsite...not for novice rig drivers

    Due to short campsites, tow vehicles had to be creative with parking, sometimes blocking most of the campground road, again no enforcement efforts

    No WiFi 

    1 bar Verizon

  • Daniel K.
    Oct. 29, 2021

    Tishomingo State Park Campground

    Quaint and quiet

    This is our first visit here. First impressions are that it is a small, quiet park. It turned out to be less than we expected but not total a let down. The drive in and area in and around the park are beautiful scenic areas. We have encountered several trails, a lake, basketball area, pool, and other typical campground facilities. The sites themselves are mostly spacious with rather small camper pads. The green areas around the pads are spacious but mostly in even. We had a hard time finding an area flat enough to put up out tent on level ground. There is a grill, fire ring, and picnic table on each site.

  • Napunani
    Dec. 13, 2022

    Trace State Park Campground

    Great Lake Views in Deer Run Campground

    PROS 

    No transaction fee assessed for making my own online reservation 

    Site 8 excellent view of lake 

    Asphalt parking pad 

    Pedestal BBQ, moveable wooden picnic table and rock campfire pit. 

    Eagle Ridge campground has 3 washers and 3 dryers $1.50 

    Heated toilet/shower blding. No AC tho - just a box fan.


    1 bar T-MOBILE but we’re able to live stream TV via T-MOBILE hot spot

    CONS 

    No senior discount 

    Site number is painted in the roadway and due to leaves on road difficult to find Numerous large road potholes from entrance gate to campground.  Guess this eliminates any need for speed bumps!

    Not dark sky friendly due to 2 street lights, at site 2 and 13, that light up most of the small campground loop 

    Deer Run campsites very close to each other 

    Site 8 unlevel side-to-side 

    Dirt and sand surrounded asphalt parking pad so during rains (for 2 days) it was a big mess 

    No privacy from any other campsite 

    Due to campsite water spigot being low to ground, insufficient space to add water filter 

    Deer Run campground toilet/shower building is not handicap accessible 

    Trash roll offs outside of camping loop. 15 minute walk one way. 

    No park WIFI

  • A
    Aug. 22, 2022

    Pickwick Landing State Park Campground

    Rich with wildlife, quiet human activity

    Shaded, private showers, water and electric hookups, tent friendly, and wildlife-fanatic friendly. Though it is his and gets sweaty at night so bring a fan and appropriate sleeping gear if you'll be tent camping. The grounds are well shaded and comfortable so you don't cook during the day. At night you can indulge in the rich atmosphere of southern cicadas and crickets backdropping owls and coyotes (don't worry! Coyotes are scared of people, they just sound a little jarring when you first hear them yipping). Really nice playground next to the bathrooms.

  • Justin L.
    Dec. 27, 2020

    Brush Creek Park

    Decent spot on the lake

    Camped here on Christmas Day 2020. It was very quiet and a little windy. I was the only camper but it’s on a disc golf course so I saw a couple of those guys. I went down to the parking lot so I could sleep in my car and have a fire by the water. It was great and quiet except there are parking lot lights which I didn’t see until they turned on. There are picnic tables, trash cans, and portable toilets. All in all a nice spot. I had Verizon and I think I had two bars of service. There’s also a spot a little east off an unmarked dirt road which was ok and had a fire pit. I checked it out but there was just too much litter and a half eaten deer carcass which I wasn’t vibing with.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 13, 2024

    Whitten Park Campground

    One of Our Favs

    Our RV GPS and Waze brought us south from Tishomingo via MS-25 to MS-4 to John Rankin Hwy. It’s a more scenic and narrower road than just taking MS-25 south, but there were no issues. We had made online reservations earlier that day for this Army Corps of Engineers Campground (CG) where we get a 50% discount per night using the National Parks Access Pass. We arrived earlier than 2:00 PM when the check-in gate opens, but there was a sign to go ahead and set up and come back at 2:00 to check-in. As we had our site number, we headed directly to pull through site 9 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP). This was our third time camping at Whitten and we were delighted to find that they had combined site 8 and 9 into one long site. This site still had the old site amenities, which meant that we had double electric pedestals, water spigots, patio areas with picnic table, standup bbq, and fire pit. We were able to adjust our 5th wheel to avoid the several unlevel areas in this very long pull through. As with most COEs, water pressure was good and the electric worked fine. Whitten CG has a lot of mature trees, so satellite is iffy. We had no north shot for our Starlink. However, we got 2 to 3 bars on Verizon and the Mifi worked well for our needs to include streaming. There’s no WiFi in the CG. Site 9 has water view and does not bump up to other sites, which we found highly desireable. During our first stay in 2019, each loop had a shower house with a washer and dryer that we had used. Our last stay was an overnighter and we didn’t need to do laundry, so we hadn't checked those facilities out. This time we were here for three nights and had planned on doing laundry only to find the doors locked. We asked the camp host about the washers and dryers. He stated that the washers and dryers had been closed during COVID and now they were no long functional and weren't going to be replaced. We again enjoyed the trail system through out the CG and recreation area to walk our dogs. The James L. Whitten Historical Center is interesting to go through. There are several fishing piers as well. We came on a Wednesday and were pretty much by ourselves. Both Thursday and Friday campers started coming in around 11:30 AM filling up the CG. The camp hosts didn’t seem to mind the early arrivals and even opened up the office around noon for a few minutes to accommodate check-ins.

  • Ryan S.
    May. 18, 2020

    Tombigbee State Park Campground

    Pleasantly surprised!!

    We have camped at several MS state parks near Memphis (Tishomingo, Wall Doxey) and have left feeling like MS didn’t have a lot to offer, but Tombigbee State Park is great. There is a video included in the post which includes the entire campground area. I hope you find it helpful. Additionally, here is a basic overview of pros and cons:

    Pros:

    1. All sites close to the bathhouse
    2. Most sites with full hook up including sewer and 30/50 amp plugs. (see pics)
    3. Multiple updated playgrounds
    4. Very affordable. $24 a night for a full hook up site.
    5. Very walkable. Small campground with access to amenities by foot.
    6. Disc golf course is very fun. It is has an interesting layout in the woods so it is much like a hike.
    7. The park is near Tupelo, MS and there is a Dollar General right at the entrance to the park.
    8. If you are primitive camping, the tent camping area is outstanding. (see pic) There are picnic tables, elevated tent platforms, places for hammocks, a porch swing and bench around a raised fire pit. If you are primitive camping, it is a great place.
    9. There are several docks for fishing and there were signs for the option of boating with a trolling motor, but no one was boating while we were there.
    10. The park office was not open while we were here, but it did look updated
    11. Great for young kids because the campground is small with a flat loop that is easy for bike riding, skating, or scooters. It is easy to see the kids from your campsite and not worry about them getting lost
    12. frequent monitoring by the park rangers. Appears that this park is very well taken care of.

    Cons:

    1. Absolutely no shade on the playground.
    2. Inside loop spots are mostly close together. very little privacy.
    3. We were not able to view the inside of the bathhouse.
    4. only 20 sites and only 4 tent camping areas and were without water or electric.
    5. No SP swag so no stickers, patches, shirts, etc.

    This is an A+ for the price, amenities and location to our home base of Memphis. We will definitely be back.

  • J
    May. 29, 2021

    Tombigbee State Park Campground

    Great for families! Trash location is an issue though

    The campsites were nice. They clouded full hookups, a picnic table and fire ring. The area was clean and surroundings wooded. Neighboring camping spots were adequately spaced. There were lots of areas for kids to play, including a large playground, a baseball/kickball field and hiking/biking trails.

    One big problem, however, was the location of trash dumpsters and cans. There were NO TRASH CANS in the camping area, and the few that were somewhat nearby had signs saying to take your trash to the end of the park road, which was a mile away. This was a problem because we had already hooked up our RV and couldn’t jump in and run the trash that far. Needless to say, whoever maintains the park is being a little lazy and doesn’t want to bother handling trash. Other than that, it was a fairly well maintained park.

  • Jeremy H.
    Jul. 17, 2019

    Pickwick Landing State Park Campground

    Great Place To Call Home For The Night

    My son Conner and I stayed at Pickwick Landing State Park on Monday night, July 15. We arrived after dark, but thanks to a park staff member I called earlier, we had an amazing campsite(#18) waiting for us when we arrived. Campsite#18 is located near the bathrooms and shower areas. The restroom and shower building had 8 individual shower rooms with fold down benches. Each of them were big enough to allow someone in a wheelchair to use them. Both the bathrooms and the shower rooms were clean and well stocked. The park staff cleaned them thoroughly the next morning as we prepared to leave. Each campsite has a picnic table, asphalt drive, a fire ring, grill, and lantern post. These sites also have power and water, but they do not have trash cans at the campsite. Trash must be taken from the campsite to the dump station by the campers. If you’re camping here make sure to bring your own trash bags. The sites seemed well spaced and all of them probably have full shade most of the day due to the mixture of pine and hardwood trees that fill the camp. A gas station/bait shop/oyster bar is about a mile away from the camp grounds. Grocery stores and other restaurants are within 5 miles. Though this was a quick camping trip for us(we went to see the Shiloh Battlefield and Shiloh Indian Mounds), the trip was made a little easier by having an efficient, comfortable, and peaceful campsite to call home for a few hours. Be on the lookout for our nighttime visitor Lester the curious racoon. He checked out our campsite after we went to bed looking for an easy meal. Luckily, we had put all of our food securely in the car before calling it a night. This is another 5 star Tennessee State Park campground. Sidenote: We enjoyed a good lunch at a place called the Rib Cage just a few miles from camp. Conner recommends the ribs but not the hot sauce.

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

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.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Guntown, MS?

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