Areas near Holly Springs, Mississippi provide camping options spanning both the Bogue Chitto River area and smaller lakes throughout the region. Camps vary from state-maintained facilities to privately owned resorts with distinctive amenities. A particular challenge for campers in this area involves seasonal flooding, with many campgrounds situated in lowland areas prone to standing water after heavy rains.
What to do
Tubing opportunities: Paradise Ranch RV Resort offers river tubing experiences for campers seeking water recreation. "They do offer drop off and pick up services for tubing and kayaking," notes one reviewer, while another mentions, "We drove ourselves about 10-15 minutes up the road" to access tubing locations.
Wildlife viewing: The region's campgrounds feature various wildlife viewing opportunities, especially at Paradise Ranch where deer and pig encounters are common. A camper reports, "Upon first arriving in our RV, we checked in and rented a golf cart. This ranch is huge so you need some form of wheels, even if you just bring a bike... Driving in, the kids could not stay seated as there were likely HUNDREDS of deer and a few pigs roaming."
Fishing access: Lake Jeff Davis offers excellent fishing access directly from campsites. "Lake Jeff Davis is a beautiful lake. It has a nice boat ramp and a few nice piers for fishing," notes one visitor. Sites often include direct lake access for bank fishing or boat launching.
Hiking trails: Several parks feature hiking trails of varying difficulty. As one camper at Bogue Chitto State Park Campground states, "Huge park with plenty of places to explore. We saw plenty of wildlife such as turkey, deer, rabbits, turtles, alligators and birds. Plenty of trails for hiking and biking."
What campers like
Shaded sites: Pine forest settings provide natural shade at most campgrounds in the region. A visitor to Mimosa Landing Campground notes, "Situated in a pine forest on the edge of the Pearl River with river access. Has swimming pool, basketball, volleyball, billiards room and showers with laundry."
Kid-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds focus heavily on family experiences with dedicated play areas. "This is a campground that is very family oriented," notes a Paradise Ranch visitor. Another camper mentions, "Campground is set up for kids and families. Nice pool area and playground for the kids."
Natural swimming areas: Beyond pools, several campgrounds feature natural swimming locations. One review of Hidden Springs RV Resort mentions, "Two pools both fed by on site natural springs. Bogue Chitto river runs right alongside. Fishing, tubing, swimming. All easily accessible."
Quiet atmosphere: Campers frequently comment on the peaceful setting at smaller campgrounds. Lake Columbia receives praise as "a peaceful and family friendly place" according to one reviewer. Another visitor notes it has "good amenities like hot showers" despite being "a very simple little campground."
What you should know
Wildlife precautions: Alligator sightings are common at southern Mississippi campgrounds, requiring vigilance. A camper at Bogue Chitto warns, "Literally, don't feed the gators. There were signs everywhere. Apparently many people don't heed the signs. When my hubby rustled a bag, several alligators swam right up to our site!"
Campground flooding: Low-lying areas throughout the region experience standing water after rain. "We were in the lower area campsites, which were prone to flash flooding. We actually left a day early due to prediction of rain," reports one Bogue Chitto visitor.
Bathhouse conditions: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. A Lake Mary Crawford visitor notes, "The bath house in the camping area is old but clean. There is a newer bathroom in the main building at the entrance of the park."
Reservation requirements: Most popular sites require advance booking, especially lakefront locations. "Book early!" advises one Paradise Ranch visitor, noting that expansion construction was underway to add capacity.
Tips for camping with families
Animal encounters: Children especially enjoy the domesticated animals at Paradise Ranch. "My kids fed the deer some corn and they will eat it right from your hands," shares one visitor. Another adds, "The deer are amazing to see when riding around the camp ground."
Multiple generations: Several campgrounds receive multi-generational visitors who return year after year. "Stayed here as a kid, and now I take my son to enjoy it! They have definitely improved over the years, and the kids LOVE it as much as I used to," reports a Mimosa Landing camper.
Activity options: Families benefit from campgrounds with diverse recreation choices. "Hiking, biking, and kayaking" are available at Lake Lincoln according to one visitor, while another mentions, "The campground is very scenic with lake views."
Playground considerations: For families with younger children, playground proximity matters. "Has a playground, swimming area was closed though," notes one Lake Lincoln visitor, suggesting seasonal variations in amenity availability.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: RV campers recommend researching specific site attributes. At Lake Lincoln, one camper advises, "My one and only complaint is we had a street light right above our camper so we couldn't see the stars well at night while sitting around our campfire."
Accessibility factors: RVers should consider road conditions to remote campgrounds. A Lake Mary Crawford visitor warns, "The road into the lake area is a little rough but it's only about a mile and a half from the highway to the lake so it's not bad."
Hookup variations: Available connections differ between campgrounds and sometimes between sections within the same park. "We were at site 64, which is directly on the lake. Concrete pad, that was pretty level," notes one Lake Lincoln visitor, adding that they had "Electric and water. Dump station available."
Weather monitoring: Due to the prevalence of flooding in lowland campgrounds, RVers should track weather forecasts. "A very hard rain storm came through... Afterwards, I noticed a number of the campsites and roads were flooded with a few inches of water," shares one Paradise Ranch visitor, highlighting the importance of site selection during rainy seasons.
