Camping near Houston, Mississippi offers options for outdoors enthusiasts along the Tombigbee National Forest and surrounding recreation areas. The region sits at approximately 400 feet above sea level with moderate temperatures year-round, though summers can reach high humidity levels with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F from June through August. Winter camping typically experiences mild conditions with occasional freezing temperatures at night.
What to do
Disc golf course exploration: Tombigbee State Park Campground provides an excellent course winding through wooded terrain. One visitor noted, "The disc golf course is very fun. It has an interesting layout in the woods so it is much like a hike."
Water recreation: Trace State Park Campground offers swimming and fishing access with direct lakefront sites. A camper shared: "Our site backed up to the lake and was beautiful! Lots of activities and has a marina. Fishing was great."
Wildlife observation: Davis Lake Campground provides excellent bird watching opportunities. A visitor reported, "Many people boating and fishing. All types of birds to watch. Squirrels too. The walking path is about a quarter mile down to a spot where people fish."
Lock and dam viewing: Blue Bluff Campground offers unique industrial views. One visitor mentioned, "The walk from the campground to the picnic area offers a quiet (~ 2 mi round trip) and views of the lock and dam."
What campers like
Budget-friendly options: Howard Stafford Park Campground provides affordable full hookup sites. A visitor noted, "Can't beat the price at $22/night. We stopped in for a night in our teardrop trailer on our way farther up north."
Night sky viewing: Davis Lake Campground offers excellent stargazing due to minimal light pollution. A camper shared, "Being located in the Tombigbee National Forest there was no light pollution making the night sky a spectacular sight to see."
Peaceful atmosphere: Blue Bluff Campground provides tranquil waterfront camping. According to one visitor: "This place is absolutely beautiful. The birds migrating and stopping along the river make for such a relaxing and peaceful place to stop and relax."
Well-maintained facilities: Tombigbee State Park Campground features clean, accessible amenities. A reviewer wrote, "This is an A+ for the price, amenities and location to our home base of Memphis. We will definitely be back."
What you should know
Road conditions: Several campgrounds have challenging access roads. A Trace State Park Campground visitor noted, "Pros: Clean, relatively quiet even when full, lots of sites with direct, clean access to lakefront. Cons: not much level space between camper pads, access roads need replacing, sketchy cell service."
Seasonal considerations: Davis Lake Campground can fill quickly during peak periods. One camper observed, "Had been wanting to try this campground out for a year. We decided last minute to make the trip this weekend... Seems like this is a very popular place. I do see why!"
Connectivity limitations: Cell service varies significantly across the region. A Starkville KOA visitor mentioned, "WiFi was not great except for AT&T which means there must be an AT&T tower nearby."
Reservation timing: Many sites can be booked in advance. A Davis Lake Campground visitor recommended, "Some of the sites are reservable and others are first come. I don't think there is a bad site there. I suspect it fills up in season, so best to make reservations."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Howard Stafford Park Campground offers additional amenities beyond camping. A visitor noted, "Gated after dark with older but usable bathrooms and showers. Has a splash pad, a basketball court, and several piers on the lake for fishing."
Kid-friendly layout: Tombigbee State Park Campground features a compact, safe design. One family mentioned, "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."
Sports facilities: Multiple recreation options exist for active families. A Tombigbee visitor explained, "This has always been our go too campgrounds when in Tupelo for baseball tournaments. The littles immediately go to the baseball field and play. Lots of open grass space for them to play football too!"
Swimming access: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas, though some have restrictions. A Davis Lake Campground visitor reported, "There is a swimming beach, a pier, and plenty of place to tie up a boat."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: RV sites vary significantly in size. A Davis Lake Campground visitor cautioned, "The sites away from the water looked to be uneven and on a slope so beware if you take an rv."
Utility connections: Most developed campgrounds offer hookups with varying amperage. One Davis Lake visitor reported, "There is 30 and 50 amp electric and good water pressure."
Leveling requirements: Some campgrounds require additional setup for RVs. A visitor at Davis Lake Campground shared, "The sites were level, paved, and all had nice spacing, picnic tables, fire pits and well cared for electric service (50 amp) and water."
Pad surfaces: RV sites feature different materials depending on the campground. A Howard Stafford Park visitor noted, "The site is a level concrete pad with 50/30 amp, water and sewer."
