Best Tent Camping near Natchez, MS

This is a US Forest Service campground in the Homochitto Forest. The campground host doesn’t want the secret getting out. S/he jokingly told me “now don’t you go posting on social media” how much you love this place. But I do love this place. It’s definitely off the beaten track but worth the drive. It’s a great campground nestled in the woods. Some of the campsites border part of the lake and more are wooded. We stayed in the wooded area. Our campsite had a pretty picnic area with a wooden rail all around it and wooden steps down from the campsite to the picnic/grill area. There is a loop hiking trail around the lake and a longer mountain bike/hiking trail. The nearest town is Natchez, Mississippi so make sure stock up before you go to the campground. The campsites are mixed use RV/tent sites with water and electricity. They also have a dump station for RVs. There are two bathhouses with hot showers and flush toilets. I have AT&T and had trouble getting a cell signal to make phone calls except when I was up by the bathhouse. They accept the America the Beautiful pass discounts.

We spent a few days at River View RV Park in January, visiting Natchez and enjoying the view of the Mississippi River. The sites were pretty spacious and many have an unobstructed view of the river. There is even a nice paved trail on top of the levee.

The staff was super helpful with advice for what to see and where to eat. We will definitely return when the weather is warmer.

All is true the park describes. Friendly staff, good and clean facilties, much todo around. And more, Natchez downton has a large and free parking, so you can easily do the short drive for the visit.

PROS 

Veteran discount 

Easy access to Natchez Trace Parkway 

Quick checkin with friendly staff S

Site 38 level 

Concrete parking pad surrounded by grass 

Pristine clean private 3 piece bathrooms 

Entire park well maintained 

Site picnic table 

Quiet 

Good WIFI signal 

Trash pick up at each site 

Small laundry on-site

Great concrete riverfront walkway 

CONS

$3 reservation fee 

Gravel roads 

No shade site 38 

No campfires permitted at campsite. Must use“community“ fire-pit

This is a great campsite nestled in the Homochitto National Forest right outside Bude, Mississippi. The campsite has two loops with hookups for RVs and some tent campers mixed in. We stayed in primitive campsites right outside of the main entrance for no fee and used the park to fill our water. There are excellent hiking/biking trails in 20+ miles winding through the area. The spring itself was very chilly and refreshing after a long day of adventuring.

PRO

Senior discount- saved $10 for 2 nights

No prepayment required when phone reservations made 154 days prior to arriving 

7 miles off of US61 

Good jumping off spot for Natchez Trace and Vicksburg Battlefield 

Friendly and helpful staff 

Firewood delivered to campsite by staff for $5 

Very quiet 

Moveable metal frame wooden picnic table 

Metal fire ring (only in upper loop) without cooking grate 

Some shade 

Level site #12 

Entrance gate locked overnight 

Upper loop 3/4 occupied; lower loop no occupants Thursday or Friday night 

CONS 

Street lights in campground 

Campsite is selected from whatever is available upon your arrival, so you have to drive around and look for your site

Gate locked earlier than 5pm as we were told it would be locked at 5pm, but upon arriving at 445pm and it was locked! 

No campfires permitted in lower loop and that’s where the sites have the most shade Site#12 got covered with about 2 inches of mud upon a rain storm 

Tiny grocery store in Port Gibson; otherwise it’s a trip to Vicksburg for the closest Walmart 

Port Gibson had a McDonalds, Sonic and Pizza Hut(take out only) 

1 bar Verizon 

No WiFi

This is a secluded campground, has tent/RV camping with water and electric. It has bathrooms with showers and swimming area in the lake, one side shallow and sandy for smaller swimmers, one side deeper. It has pavilions and tables, and great hiking trails around the lake and longer trails through the woods.

We slept great here in our tent. Some things to consider: lots of trash left around the area, there was a fire still burning unattended when we arrived, car/truck/tractor/boat traffic is noisy at all hours of the day and night, no water for drinking unless you can dip and filter from the creek nearby, the mosquitoes here were insane!

We were here with a group and were assigned in sites together. Each site was spacious with FHU on concrete pads. There is one central Store, Laundry, Bathroom/Showers and swimming pool. Bath/Showers were a little worn but still waiting for a fresh seasonal coat of paint. Super walking path between sites and Mississippi River. You can watch barges making their way on the river.

Clear Springs Recreation Area,located in the Homochitto National Forest near Roxie, Ms, is probably one of my favorite campgrounds within 3 hours from New Orleans. It's located in a beautiful section of the forest, complete with rolling hills and a lake.

The primitive tent only sites are located about half a mile up the road from the main campground, providing a substantial distance between you and the RVs. The dirt road to the tent only sites is lined with individual camp sites until you reach the back area. The back has a few small hilltops that have about 4 sites per hill. Each hill is about 50 yards from each other, again, providing needed space between you and other campers. All of the sites have fire pits with fold down cast iron grills. The ground was level enough for tents, and there's a good amount of trees for hammock camping.

The RV spots are located near the lake(pond), and have picnic tables and the fire pit. Some of the RV sites are more open air and without much privacy, yet some are nestled amongst the trees on the outer perimeter.

Adjacent to the RV sites are the restrooms, equipped with showers. On a very cold and frozen winter morning, I had decided to visit the facilities. To my great surprise, when I opened the door, I was hit with blast of warm air! So you can rest easy knowing that the restrooms are heated. There is a large pavilion that is open to air on three sides. the open sides have a railing with bench seats. There are also picnic tables located within. Most interesting was the oversized stone fireplace. It looks most welcoming, although I had no chance to use it.next to the pavilion is an open picnic area with charcoal grills and more tables. All of these picnic areas overlook the pond.

I understand that there is 17 miles of hiking trails surrounding the area. It looks like a large circuit with shorter trails interconnecting by the map.

I haven't experienced this campground outside of dead winter. I enjoyed the subfreezing temps next to a hot fire. I have been four times in the last couple of years, twice solo and twice with guests. I very much love this campground.

Select your campsite then pay your fee. We arrived Sunday morning in February and only two other campers were here. The sights are flat, well groomed, with access to the pond and trail around the pond. This place is such a hidden gem. New electric service at every site. There is also an extended 10 mile hike around the forest. If you are in an RV or trailer go for sites 13-22. If you are with kids and/or in a tent then sites 1-12 are perfect. Also… not every site can handle a large rig. First come/first serve. All sights have water and electric and there is a dump station. Bathrooms with showers at each loop.

This is a lovely national forest (Homochitto), very peaceful and classical Mississippi beauty. The developed part of the park is simple with picnic tables and a basic campground. There’s a short little trail around the lake (where you can go swimming, boating, fishing) and a much longer one out through the forest. Simple and absolutely beautiful camping here.

Yay: The park is historic in that it has classic CCC style buildings, but the restrooms have been updated. We stayed at the camping loop up above the lake. Both loops have some sites close to the water, both are very wooded. They also have a site for groups that is far enough away from the normal sites to keep noise down.

Nay: dirt roads can be hard for some vehicles, but if you have a 4x4 or horses they would be great for exploring.

Surprise: love the trail around the lake, especially the boardwalks. Would be amazing in fall but we haven’t been back then yet!