Situated in northern Mississippi, about 30 miles southeast of Memphis, Tennessee, the Holly Springs area features gently rolling hills with elevations between 400-600 feet. The region experiences mild winters and hot, humid summers with average annual rainfall of 55 inches. Several state parks within a 90-minute drive offer yurt accommodations for campers seeking alternatives to traditional tent or RV sites.
What to do
Water activities at Lake Tangipahoa: Campers at Percy Quin State Park enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing in the 700-acre lake. "The kids also did some fishing. We had a lot of fun playing in the lake," reports Jason R.
Nature hiking: The nature trail at Paul B. Johnson State Park offers easy walking routes through pine forests. "We did a small amount of hiking on a very nice, easy trail. We were only sorry we didn't have time to paddle in the lake and explore more of the park," says Nancy W.
River tubing: When staying at Bogue Chitto State Park, many visitors take advantage of the river tubing opportunities. According to Connie M., "beautiful place, great bike riding, good family park, river tubing available."
Disc golf courses: Paul B. Johnson State Park features two 18-hole disc golf courses for visitors wanting to try this increasingly popular activity. JR R. notes, "Located on a massive lake and two 18 hole disc golf courses."
What campers like
Yurt accommodations: Yurt camping near Holly Springs, Mississippi provides unique shelter options. All You Need Institute offers yurt rentals on a 111-acre property. Ashley F. describes it as "a labor of LOVE! 111 Acres to be explored with unique and comfy accommodations."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region's lakes and forests support diverse wildlife. At Bogue Chitto State Park, Tiffany M. reports, "We saw plenty of wildlife such as turkey, deer, rabbits, turtles, alligators and birds."
Accessible fishing piers: Lake Lincoln provides easy fishing access from designated areas. According to Ronnie M. at Lake Lincoln State Park, "We camped very near the water. Sites are a little closer than I usually like but sites are nice and view of lake is great. We went in spring both times and bank fishing was exceptional."
Seasonal water features: Many parks offer water recreation during warmer months. At Bogue Chitto State Park, James L. mentions, "Hiking trails, equestrian trails, tubing, camping... they've got it all."
What you should know
Weather and seasonal considerations: Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures for outdoor activities. William H. notes about Lake Lincoln State Park, "Alligators, fishing looks to be best in spring and fall. Hot in summer."
Wildlife precautions: Several parks have resident alligator populations. Cat R. warns about Bogue Chitto State Park, "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!"
Cell service limitations: Mobile coverage varies significantly between providers. Tiffany M. reports at Lake Lincoln State Park, "I had good Verizon cell service. AT&T and TMobile had no service and the Starlink worked pretty well even with the trees obstructing."
Bathroom conditions: Facilities vary in quality and maintenance. Johan S. notes about Lake Lincoln State Park, "Bathhouses could use a remodle or painting. Had to explain to my youngest why there are pics of male genitalia etched into the restroom stall walls."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water features: Hattiesburg Okatoma River KOA offers swimming options for families. Therese A. mentions at Bogue Chitto State Park, "The grandkids loved the splash pad/water slide and easy access to the river."
Biking opportunities: Several parks feature roads suitable for children's cycling. Connie M. says Percy Quin "has some small hills that are fun to go down, but hard to come up for me."
Playgrounds and recreational areas: Most parks include dedicated children's play areas. At Hattiesburg Okatoma River KOA, Erin comments, "Beautiful property that is well cared for," while Jonathan B. adds, "Super beautiful place to stay!"
Security considerations: Family-friendly campgrounds typically have staff monitoring the grounds. Cat R. notes about Bogue Chitto State Park, "Camp hosts actually drove around and checked on guests."
Tips from RVers
Site selection advice: At Big Creek Water Park, campers recommend checking site dimensions. Audrey E. notes, "Great sites although some are a bit tight."
Hookup arrangements: Paul B. Johnson State Park sites vary in hookup placement. Layla D. reports, "The connections were quite spread out with the water pretty far back from the other connections at this site (we needed two water hoses)."
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging internal roads. David B. mentions about Percy Quin State Park, "Campground roads were narrow and there were no signs at intersections in the campground indicting which loop to take for which campsite numbers."
Camping pad features: Site surfaces and layouts differ across parks. At Big Creek Water Park, Charles K. reports, "Nice park with plenty of tent and motor home/trailer parking. Water and power at all spots," while Steve W. adds, "Sites are roomy. All the things you need-electricity water fire ring and concrete picnic table."
