Best Tent Camping near Hernando, MS
Primitive tent camping options dot the countryside surrounding Hernando, Mississippi, offering a mix of lakeside and forested sites for overnight stays. Kellys Crossing Campground, located on Arkabutla Lake, provides a small number of tent-only sites with access to the water. Pleasant Hill Campground is another option near Hernando, though recent reviews indicate its sites have become overgrown and less maintained in recent years.
Most tent sites in this region feature basic amenities with limited services. Picnic tables and fire rings are common at established sites like Kellys Crossing, but campers should bring their own drinking water as this utility is not consistently available. Vault toilets serve as the standard restroom option, though some facilities may be poorly maintained. Access to many sites is primarily through boat-in or walk-in routes, with Kellys Crossing offering a boat ramp for water access. The campgrounds generally allow pets and fires, but firewood collection may be restricted or unavailable on site.
Tent campsites in the Hernando area tend to be quiet and less crowded than larger developed campgrounds. One visitor remarked, "This is an off the beaten path area for standard recreation. It's technically a boat ramp that accesses Arkabutla Lake with picnic and camping areas nearby." Sites offer varying degrees of seclusion, with some providing lake views and water access that appeal to anglers. Several reviewers note that the primitive nature of these campgrounds makes them suitable for solitude seekers rather than those wanting amenities. The terrain at most sites is natural and may include uneven ground. For campers willing to travel slightly farther from Hernando, other tent camping options include Beach Point at Sardis Lake and Puskus Lake in Holly Springs National Forest, both offering more established tent camping areas with similar primitive conditions.
