Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Meridian, MS

Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA features pet-friendly campsites with water and electric hookups, accommodating camping styles from tent sites to cabins. Pets are welcome throughout the campground area with standard leash policies, though specific restrictions may apply in some accommodation types. The campground maintains clean facilities with full hookups and 50-amp service for RVers traveling with animals. Bonita Lakes RV Park offers concrete pads with full hookups that pet owners particularly appreciate when managing dogs during wet weather. Dogs must remain on leash in camping areas but have room to exercise throughout the property. Most sites at Twiltley Branch provide waterfront access where owners can enjoy recreation with their pets, though swimming with dogs is restricted due to wildlife concerns.

Okatibbee Lake's Twiltley Branch Campground provides waterfront sites where campers with pets can enjoy the outdoors while maintaining safety protocols due to alligator presence in the area. The camp hosts frequently patrol the grounds, creating a secure environment for pet owners. Collinsville Park's nearby boat launch gives pet owners additional recreation options, though dogs must remain leashed near water areas. Primitive camping areas at Gin Creek accommodate pets with basic amenities including drinking water stations and fire pits with attached cooking grills. Alligator sightings require extra vigilance when camping with dogs in these waterfront locations. The campground prohibits pets from entering designated swimming areas for safety reasons. Clarkco State Park Campground provides pet-friendly cabins with proper advance notification, offering alternatives to tent camping during extreme weather conditions.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Meridian, Mississippi (22)

    1. Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA

    16 Reviews
    Meridian, MS
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 562-4202

    $36 - $63 / night

    "It is very easy to drive your rig in this park. I have read some reviews where people talk about the drive into the part as being horrible. When you leave I 20, you drive down a county road."

    "There was access to a small general store, showers and laundry facility. There is a nice quiet area to hang hammocks and chill out. We cooked hot dogs and marshmallows in the campfire ring one night."

    2. Twiltley Branch

    8 Reviews
    Meridian, MS
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (601) 626-8068

    $14 - $60 / night

    "We were going to stay in the nearby town of Meridian but when we found this park is was a no-brainer. It was only three miles off HWY 19 but provided such an awesome place to camp."

    "The best thing about this site was the access to the lake and the little beach where you can wade and swim! This campsite is prone to flooding so it’s not always available."

    3. Bonita Lakes RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Meridian, MS
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (601) 483-4330

    "Full hookups, swimming pool, bath house, dog park, fishing lake, and oh yes! There is a train caboose on site. No real shade, but no matter. LEVEL CONCRETE PAD!"

    "There’s a swimming pool, dog park, and bath house. Not to mention the level concrete pads! Kids would love the fact that there’s a train caboose on site."

    4. Clarkco State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Quitman, MS
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (601) 776-6651

    $15 - $28 / night

    "Lake side, lots of tree coverage has helped the August 95degree MS temps. Friendly neighboring campers, lots of kids swimming and kayaking. We even took the time to walk a trail or two."

    "State park near Alabama/Mississippi border. Nice park. Chose to do primitive camping for $15 plus tax, but they offer other options too."

    5. COE Okatibbee Lake Twiltley Branch Campground

    5 Reviews
    Meridian, MS
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (601) 626-8068

    "The park felt very secluded, but Walmart was just a short drive away when we needed to pick up a few things we had forgotten."

    "No clear shot of Starlink (other loop closed, but sites on lake there would work). T-Mobile 5G & Verizon 4G fine in sites 4 thru 10. Not do good around #24 Facilities great."

    6. Gin Creek

    4 Reviews
    Meridian, MS
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (601) 626-8431

    "PET FRIENDLY. my girls and i enjoyed our time walking around. Only thing to becareful of was the ants and ticks. Price was $10 a night with seniors 1/2 off"

    "We inflated the SUP and caused around a little. Well worth the 6$ Stayed for 2 nights. Lots of swimming fishing and paddle boarding."

    7. Benchmark RV Park

    1 Review
    Meridian, MS
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (601) 483-7999

    8. Lake Tom Bailey

    1 Review
    Meridian, MS
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (601) 632-4679

    $15 - $22 / night

    9. Dunns Falls Water Park

    3 Reviews
    Enterprise, MS
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (601) 655-8550

    $15 / night

    "Camping area is about five tables and grills scattered on edge of property. No real sites (no tent pads, no fire rings)."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Meridian, MS

120 Reviews of 22 Meridian Campgrounds


  • Lisa M.
    May. 27, 2024

    Bonita Lakes RV Park

    Good place to stay

    We were looking for a place to overnight. We found this place on the dirt. Full hookups, swimming pool, bath house, dog park, fishing lake, and oh yes! There is a train caboose on site. No real shade, but no matter. LEVEL CONCRETE PAD!

  • Lisa M.
    May. 27, 2024

    Bonita Lakes RV Park

    Nice, clean place to stay

    No shade in this side of the park, but no worries. We needed a place to stay for the night and they had an opening with full hook ups. There’s a swimming pool, dog park, and bath house. Not to mention the level concrete pads!

    Kids would love the fact that there’s a train caboose on site. Convenient, super easy to find a spot, and the lady in the office is super sweet.

  • Caroline S.
    Apr. 18, 2024

    Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA

    The Best Campground Staff Ever!!!!

    It is very easy to drive your rig in this park. I have read some reviews where people talk about the drive into the part as being horrible. When you leave I 20, you drive down a county road. It is the typical width of a county road. So just slow down and it is no problem. We drive a 44’ fifth wheel with a dually truck. Some sites have concrete(not in the best shape) and some have gravel pads. There are many trees but the park keeps them trim away from the roads. It was great to have shade. There is full hookup pull thru sites along with some back in sites. There are plenty of areas to walk your dogs along with a nice enclosed dog park. There are many activities for children– a large sandbox, pool, a water slide, playground, tether ball and a game room. This park is about 2 miles off I 20. It is very quiet. There are a few long timers but primary people stopping for one night Each night it is full and then empty by noon the next day. We were there for several months and paid$525 for the month. This included electricity. When we originally arrived, our plan was to stay one month to visit family. But due to some health issues with ourselves and our family, we ended up staying for over 6 months. The best part of this park is the staff. Each staff is friendly, welcoming and will do anything possible to make our staff so wonderful. The staff take meticulous care of the park including picking up daily all the cigarette butts that people think they can just leave on the ground. Due to their service, they get a lot of repeat customer visits.

  • Michelle W.
    May. 29, 2019

    Gin Creek

    Nice quiet week here.

    6 sites. Shady all day.. no water, elec, and 1 pit toliet. PET FRIENDLY. my girls and i enjoyed our time walking around. Only thing to becareful of was the ants and ticks. Price was $10 a night with seniors 1/2 off

  • Kerri T.
    Sep. 2, 2018

    Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA

    cabin fever

    The people running this Koa were very friendly. The cabins are comfortable with an a/c unit. The kids love the elaborate slide built into the hill and the snack bar at the pool. This place is nothing fancy -but simple and just what we needed. There was access to a small general store, showers and laundry facility. There is a nice quiet area to hang hammocks and chill out. We cooked hot dogs and marshmallows in the campfire ring one night. Each cabin has a swing in front. There are several good restaurants nearby in Meridian. Great, restful weekend trip.

  • M
    May. 8, 2023

    Neshoba County Lake

    Questionable

    Can anyone tell me about the primitive camping? My husband and children are planning a camping trip for this weekend over Mother’s Day, we are new to the neshoba county area. I see that fishing has great reviews, but what other amenities are there? Are pets allowed (on leash of course), kids friendly?

  • Debra B.
    May. 25, 2018

    Neshoba County Lake

    Peaceful Escape

    Very nice sites and bath house. Grounds are kept in immaculent condition. Sites have electric, water and sewer. No cable TV but if you have HDTV antenna, you will get several Meridian stations. Reasonably priced. We are fortunate to have this quality campground nearby.

  • K
    Sep. 30, 2022

    Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA

    Stuck but not stuck

    We pulled into this place the end of August expecting to stay just two nights. Found out trailer tongue was bent and getting it repaired took over three weeks. This park has great owners, kind and understanding. The staff are all great and treat guests very well. They were very accommodating with our situation. The park is clean and well managed, mostly surrounded by large trees that offer great shade with long pull through sites/full hookups available but also a spacious backins. Restrooms and showers are great! Recently updated, always clean, with excellent water pressure. Pool is huge for a KOA and has a long water slide open seasonally. Laundry room is sufficient and as expected. This park has a few long term campers that make great neighbors. The park store offers both necessities and some cute finds. Close enough to see all Meridian has to offer. Okatibbee Lake was one out favorites on the hot days with a swimming beach. I highly recommend whether for a overnight stop or a longer stay.

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 9, 2020

    Twiltley Branch

    Very nice, peaceful park

    This is one of those awesome Corps of Engineer Parks that are scattered across the country. We settled in here for a couple of nights and really wished we had more time. Our site was a nice back-in with a great water view. Since we were there in the fall, the park was not even a quarter full so it was very quiet and peaceful. We were going to stay in the nearby town of Meridian but when we found this park is was a no-brainer. It was only three miles off HWY 19 but provided such an awesome place to camp. Campsites have crushed gravel pads and patios (some of which are double in size) and most have a nice amount of shade from the trees. Our site was very large with plenty of room. There are a few pull-thrus but they have a really weird curvature and trees that would make it hard for some large RVs to navigate. The roads in the campground are narrow but most are one-way so that doesn’t really matter and easy enough for us to navigable with our 45’ RV and tow car. All sites are level and have 20/30/50 amp electric that worked well and have a fire pit with bbq grate, separate bbq, lantern crook, and picnic table. Within the campground are pit toilets but about a half mile away at the entrance are showers and a laundry facility. At the end of each campsite are garbage cans so you don’t have to go far to dump your trash. Most all sites have great water views and access in case you want to launch a kayak or canoe.  We decided to pull forward into our site so the view of the lake was directly out our front windshield.  It was perfect!  Our Verizon wifi worked well and got a dozen over the air television channels. There are a couple of small covered picnic shelters with large grills, fire pits, and picnic tables if you want to have a gathering. 

    A short drive away is Collinsville Park with has a boat launch providing access to Okatibbee Lake. Many people in the campground would launch their boats there and then tie them up on the bank of the campground. There is a small fishing dock in the campground and plenty of bank fishing. The closest town is Collinsville where there is a grocery and some restaurants and you are 25-30 minutes from the larger town of Meridian.


Guide to Meridian

Camping options near Meridian, Mississippi include multiple waterfront locations situated around Okatibbee Lake and Bonita Lakes. The area maintains a humid subtropical climate with summer temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F and mild winters. Most campgrounds in the region sit at elevations between 300-400 feet above sea level, with relatively flat terrain making most sites accessible for various camping setups.

What to do

Fishing at multiple access points: At Twiltley Branch, the lake offers diverse fishing opportunities. "With extensive beaver flowages, stump beds and old creek channels provide abundant cover where anglers battle largemouth and striped bass," notes a camper familiar with the fishing conditions.

Water recreation beyond swimming: Dunns Falls Water Park provides unique water features. "If you're looking for a really cool waterfall to go checkout this is your spot," recommends a visitor, though they advise limiting stays to "one or two nights at the most."

Hiking around lake perimeters: The trails surrounding Okatibbee Lake offer exercise and wildlife viewing. "You can just walk around the whole campground which was about 4 miles," reports one camper at Twiltley Branch, noting the ease of access despite the lack of dedicated hiking paths.

Wildlife observation: Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts find diverse species throughout the area. "Lots of birds and alligators to see," mentions a visitor at Twiltley Branch, highlighting the natural habitat that supports varied wildlife viewing opportunities.

What campers like

Spacious waterfront sites: Clarkco State Park Campground offers premium lakeside locations. "Very nice campground with a small lake, lots of playground equipment, and hiking trails. Pads were level and shower houses were clean," reports one visitor who enjoyed sites #17 and #38.

Clean facilities: Many campers highlight the maintenance standards at local campgrounds. "The bathrooms are spotless!" exclaimed one camper at Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA, adding that "It has a large pool and the campsites are nestled in amongst the trees."

Family-friendly amenities: COE Okatibbee Lake Twiltley Branch Campground receives praise for its accessibility. "We were fortunate to stay here twice, and it is by far our favorite campground we have visited since we began our camping adventures last year," shares one repeat visitor who appreciated the peaceful environment.

Privacy options: Several campgrounds offer secluded sites for those seeking quieter experiences. "There are two campsites right by the lake that are secluded and shaded by trees. They give you almost private access to the lake!" notes a camper who discovered these spots at Twiltley Branch.

What you should know

Alligator safety protocols: Waterfront camping requires vigilance regarding wildlife. "No wading or swimming dt alligators. Many sites are on the water," warns a recent visitor to Twiltley Branch Campground, highlighting the importance of following safety guidelines.

Varying site layouts: Bonita Lakes RV Park offers different camping experiences within the same facility. "There are two areas to the park really (large gravel parking lot area to allow big rigs to pull through easily … and … smaller back in for more private stays," explains one visitor who appreciated having options.

Seasonal considerations: Some campgrounds close for renovations or have limited services during off-peak times. "They are about to close the park for the season to renovate. All the pads are about to be concrete," noted a visitor to Clarkco State Park, indicating upcoming improvements.

Reservation requirements: Some locations have specific booking procedures. "Be aware this site requires registration on the park service website. You have to make reservation and pay online due to covid 19 prevention measures. They can not accept payment at the gate!" shared one camper about their experience at Okatibbee Lake.

Tips for camping with families

Water activities for children: Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA offers specialized water features for kids. "The kids love the elaborate slide built into the hill and the snack bar at the pool," notes one family camper who found the amenities perfect for their children.

Playground access: Multiple dog friendly campgrounds near Meridian feature play areas. "Great place for kids, with the pool, slide, game room and very small playground," mentions a visitor to Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA, highlighting the variety of recreation options.

Cabin alternatives: For families seeking more comfort than tent camping provides, cabins offer convenient options. "We stayed in site 4 as a one night pull through for our class A. We typically don't unhook our Jeep tow for one night, but so glad we did here!" shared a visitor who discovered local attractions after setting up camp.

Swimming safety: Family-friendly pet accommodations near Meridian require awareness of designated swimming areas. "The campground prohibits pets from entering designated swimming areas for safety reasons," a consideration when planning water activities with both children and pets.

Tips from RVers

Site selection based on rig size: When choosing dog-friendly RV campgrounds around Meridian, consider specific site limitations. "It is an older campground. Not very well suited for big rigs," cautions a visitor to COE Okatibbee Lake Twiltley Branch Campground, noting electrical issues at some sites.

Concrete pad advantages: Gin Creek offers basic amenities while other nearby locations provide more developed infrastructure. "No water, elec, and 1 pit toliet. PET FRIENDLY. My girls and i enjoyed our time walking around. Only thing to becareful of was the ants and ticks," advises a visitor who appreciated the pet-friendly policy despite basic facilities.

Dump station availability: Some campgrounds offer convenient waste disposal. "We were just passing thru but used their dump station. Super convenient and clean. They only asked for a donation," notes a traveler who appreciated this service at Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA.

Navigation challenges: Some campgrounds have access roads that require careful driving. "Road to the campground was narrow and a little bumpy getting there but was reasonable for an overnight stay," mentions a visitor to Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA who found the journey manageable for a short visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Meridian, MS?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Meridian, MS is Meridian East-Toomsuba KOA with a 4.6-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Meridian, MS?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 dog-friendly camping locations near Meridian, MS, with real photos and reviews from campers.