Best Tent Camping near Oxford, MS

Lakes and forests surrounding Oxford, Mississippi provide several tent camping options within a short drive. Puskus Lake in Holly Springs National Forest, located about 20 miles east of Oxford, offers secluded tent campsites in a forested setting. Beach Point at Sardis Lake, approximately 15 miles west of Oxford, provides tent-only camping with water views. Elmers Hill, also at Sardis Lake, features eight dedicated tent sites with drinking water available. These primitive tent camping areas typically operate year-round, though some facilities may close seasonally.

Most tent campgrounds near Oxford feature basic amenities with varying levels of maintenance. Tent sites at Puskus Lake include metal fire rings, lantern poles, and picnic tables, with sites positioned 50-100 feet from the water. Beach Point requires campers to park in a designated lot and walk to their sites, making it exclusively suitable for tent camping. Toilet facilities range from vault toilets to basic flush toilets without showers. Campers should bring their own toilet paper and drinking water, as water spigots may be unreliable. Self-check-in is common at these locations, with fees ranging from free to $8 per night, depending on the season and location.

In early spring and fall, tent campers often find these sites nearly empty, providing exceptional solitude. According to reviews, Eagle Point Primitive Campground offers "level gravel pad tent areas with picnic tables and grills" with water views from all sites. One camper at Puskus Lake noted that "the camping spaces have a good amount of room so you do not feel like you are on top of each other." Walk-in tent sites at Beach Point are described as "quiet and peaceful" with "large lots." While backcountry tent camping options are limited, these established primitive campgrounds provide adequate space for tents and access to fishing, kayaking, and limited hiking opportunities. Visitors should note that some sites like Puskus Lake prohibit swimming, though fishing is permitted.

Best Tent Sites Near Oxford, Mississippi (16)

    1. Puskus Lake

    9 Reviews
    University, MS
    12 miles
    Website

    "One bathroom away from the sites in the "day use" area. Mostly fisherman. The lake has motor oil/ fuel running on the surface. The docks nice, wide with bench seating."

    "We’ve frequented this small space since childhood. It’s very well remote off of HWY 30 in the Holly Springs National Forest."

    2. Beach Point - Sardis Lake

    4 Reviews
    Sardis, MS
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (662) 563-4531

    $8 / night

    "We reserved campsites 13 and 14, at the far end, behind the restrooms. You have to park in the parking lot and carry your stuff to the site."

    "Cars stay in the parking lot, and you walk up to your site. Pretty basic. Running water, flushable toilets, no showers. Quiet area.

    Early march, it was raining and I was the only one there"

    3. Graham Lake

    1 Review
    Waterford, MS
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (662) 563-4531

    "No hookups. Nothing. But, it is a free campground so what can you say. It’s rather nice there. This is a very small campground with about 5 spots."

    4. Elmers Hill

    1 Review
    Sardis, MS
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (662) 563-4531

    "Nice little spot with about 8 tent sites. No hookups of any kind for campers. Bathrooms are currently closed, but we’re nice when we stayed there, but old. Drinking water is available."

    5. Hays Crossing

    1 Review
    Sardis, MS
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (662) 563-4531

    6. Cox Lake

    2 Reviews
    Potts Camp, MS
    27 miles
    Website

    7. Eagle Point Primitive Campground

    5 Reviews
    Grenada, MS
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (662) 226-1649

    $10 / night

    "The campground is located in a beautiful spot on a peninsula with great views of Grenada lake at both sunrise and sunset."

    "There are eight campsites, each with a level gravel pad tent area, picnic table and grill. There is group fire pit area, with a picnic table."

    8. Kellys Crossing Campground

    2 Reviews
    O.C. Fisher Lake, TX
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (662) 562-6261

    "This is an off the beaten path area for standard recreation. It’s technically a boat ramp that accesses Arkabutla Lake with picnic and camping areas nearby."

    9. Hugh White State Park - Outlet Channel

    1 Review
    Grenada, MS
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (662) 226-4934

    "Many of the sites are shaded and face the river. This water flow is after the dam, so has a very strong current. Definitely not for swimming, but an okay view. Playgrounds available for the kids."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Oxford, MS

8 Photos of 16 Oxford Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Oxford, MS

259 Reviews of 16 Oxford Campgrounds


  • Napunani
    Dec. 13, 2022

    Trace State Park Campground

    Great Lake Views in Deer Run Campground

    PROS 

    No transaction fee assessed for making my own online reservation 

    Site 8 excellent view of lake 

    Asphalt parking pad 

    Pedestal BBQ, moveable wooden picnic table and rock campfire pit. 

    Eagle Ridge campground has 3 washers and 3 dryers $1.50 

    Heated toilet/shower blding. No AC tho - just a box fan.


    1 bar T-MOBILE but we’re able to live stream TV via T-MOBILE hot spot

    CONS 

    No senior discount 

    Site number is painted in the roadway and due to leaves on road difficult to find Numerous large road potholes from entrance gate to campground.  Guess this eliminates any need for speed bumps!

    Not dark sky friendly due to 2 street lights, at site 2 and 13, that light up most of the small campground loop 

    Deer Run campsites very close to each other 

    Site 8 unlevel side-to-side 

    Dirt and sand surrounded asphalt parking pad so during rains (for 2 days) it was a big mess 

    No privacy from any other campsite 

    Due to campsite water spigot being low to ground, insufficient space to add water filter 

    Deer Run campground toilet/shower building is not handicap accessible 

    Trash roll offs outside of camping loop. 15 minute walk one way. 

    No park WIFI

  • Richard
    Dec. 25, 2020

    Persimmon Hill(enid Lake)

    Christmas camp 2020

    Very nice campground. With family gatherings discouraged due to covid we decided to camp. We used site 58. Site has 30 50 15 amp, water and sewer. Concrete pad with extra concrete vehicle parking. Bathroom is directly in front with toilets and showers. Very clean and warm (low Christmas eve and Christmas 23). Concete picnic table, grill and grill table. Fire ring. This site will be waterfront in summer but with the winter let down no water right now. All together a great, well maintained facility. Also the north mississippi fish hatchery is here but closed for the holidays.

  • Tiffani H.
    Jun. 1, 2021

    Chickasaw Hill

    Nice, Clean Campground

    The campground was well maintained. The bathrooms were well kept, including showers. There is a day use area with a boat ramp, pavilion, beach, and playground. The only downside is the sites are very close together! We stayed in a tent and I booked based on the map. The tent sites are not shown correctly. There are 7 walk in sites grouped together. Each site had their own electric box and shared a water faucet. Not much privacy, but my daughter loved running around with the other kids.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 7, 2022

    South Abutment Recreation Area

    Gorgeous sunrises (and the sunsets aren't bad either)!

    We arrived just before sunset in late November (dang Daylight Savings time) so quickly got to our site and set up. Did not see anyone to check in but had reservations as now are required at all CoE campgrounds (a ranger drove through the next morning). The water level looked to be very low, but we still had a nice view at the end of the loop.

    Sites are FHU and other amenities include a large concrete picnic table, lantern hook, fire pit, BBQ grill, and food prep table. Sites are paved, generous in size, and spaced a very decent distance apart from each other; even though all the leaves had fallen and there were other campers in our loop, I did not feel a lack of privacy.

    The restrooms were clean and although there were paper towels, the soap dispensers were empty (my only beef with this campground)! The showers looked to be reasonable, but it was below freezing the next morning, so I didn’t try them out. There was also what appeared to be a utility sink in the bathroom but no shelves or other place to stage dishes. 

    I can only assume that water sports are in-season and not sure about other recreational activities. Because the ground was frozen the next morning, I was able to walk down to the water and get some great photos of the sunrise and birds. 

    This was just an overnight stay for us but for $12 (with the Golden Access Pass), it is a real bargain and the reason we often seek out Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds.

  • Clayton S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 23, 2020

    Bynum Creek

    Stayed the night

    I stayed the night in November.  It appears to be an old reservoir that has been drained.  The site has about 5 campsites with picnic tables and fire rings.  Nothing spectacular.  The locals do come through to party on the old reservoir.

    The reservoir was empty at this location.  It seems its part of Lake Enid and there is an old boat ramp, but there was no water in the reservoir.

  • Suzi T.
    Apr. 15, 2018

    Hernando Point

    Great experience

    Very clean restrooms and shower areas. Site had grill, fire ring, and picnic table. Water and electric hookup

  • H
    Sep. 22, 2021

    Eagle Point Primitive Campground

    A Scenic Stay

    The campground is located in a beautiful spot on a peninsula with great views of Grenada lake at both sunrise and sunset. The tent pads are nice and each camp has a grill and a nice marble picnic table. Several camps have fire pits, trash cans, and water faucets. There is a nice public restroom just a short walk from any camp. The sounds of the water crashing on the shores around you and the birds singing at sunrise are utterly calming. The only problem is the occasional truck that passes through to sit listening to music or use the campground road as a turn around. This could be fixed if the gate at the entrance were kept closed and only opened for actual campers.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2021

    Puskus Lake

    Nice campground, but might soon be gone

    Puskus Lake campground is a nice campground and could be better but parts are starting to hurt from low use.  The forest service is looking at removing the campground due to low use.  On my visit I was the only one their with the exception of two others fishing out on the lake.  Only one of the three outhouses where open and that was the one by the boat launch.  All the campsites have picnic tables, metal fire rings and metal poles for hanging your lantern.  The campground sit in a nicely forested area just above the lake.  While this might be considered somewhat isolated in the area, if this campground was in Montana it would be packed.  This is a very nice campground in need of a little TLC and more visitors.  Get away from the crowds at those corp of engineer sites and come here for some solitude while you can.

  • CJ W.
    Sep. 17, 2018

    Eagle Point Primitive Campground

    Good views, launch and 2 swimming areas

    Part of the day use area has been converted into a campground in 2018. There are eight campsites, each with a level gravel pad tent area, picnic table and grill. There is group fire pit area, with a picnic table. Unfortunately, the only place to have a fire at your campsite is in the grill. None of the sites have electricity. There is a central water spigot. The restroom has flush toilets, but no showers. You can go to one of the other many Corps of Engineers campgrounds nearby to shower. Both times we have stayed here, we were the only ones there. It's so new, almost no one knows of its existence. To either side of it, there is a swimming area in the day use area and at the boat launch / swimming beach. All sites have a water view.


Guide to Oxford

Tent camping near Oxford, Mississippi offers primitive sites within Holly Springs National Forest and around Corps of Engineers lakes like Sardis, Arkabutla, and Grenada. The region sits within the North Central Hills physiographic region, with elevation ranges between 300-600 feet and a humid subtropical climate featuring hot summers and mild winters. Winter camping is often available year-round with low crowds, though many primitive sites lack reliable facilities during colder months.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Puskus Lake in Holly Springs National Forest features docks with bench seating for anglers. According to Hunter H., this location offers "beautiful lake and not crowded" conditions with "views and relaxing environment," making it an ideal spot for fishing enthusiasts.

Hiking options: Cox Lake provides limited trail access within Holly Springs National Forest. Kelly C. notes it's "a good pick" if "looking for a place to pitch your tent for a night," though visitors should be prepared for "lots of litter and shot gun shells" in some areas.

Water activities: Eagle Point Primitive Campground at Grenada Lake features multiple swimming areas. CJ W. describes: "To either side of it, there is a swimming area in the day use area and at the boat launch/swimming beach," providing good options for cooling off during hot Mississippi summers.

Wildlife viewing: Skuna/Turkey Creek Primitive Campground near Coffeeville offers wetland habitat viewing. The area provides opportunities for bird watching in less developed settings with minimal facilities, requiring visitors to be self-sufficient.

What campers like

Solitude and quiet: Beach Point - Sardis Lake offers walk-in tent sites that provide privacy. Elizabeth S. reports: "We reserved campsites 13 and 14, at the far end, behind the restrooms. You have to park in the parking lot and carry your stuff to the site. But it's a tent-only campground and there were only a couple other tents there so it was quiet and peaceful."

Water views: Kellys Crossing Campground provides direct lake access. Heath T. reports it's "an off the beaten path area" where "there are hardly any other persons around besides the fishermen out on the water," particularly during winter months.

Budget-friendly options: Graham Lake at Sardis Lake offers free camping with basic amenities. Steve G. explains: "No hookups. Nothing. But, it is a free campground so what can you say. It's rather nice there. This is a very small campground with about 5 spots."

Scenic settings: Many campers appreciate the sunrises and sunsets at lakeside sites. Harrison T. describes Eagle Point as "located in a beautiful spot on a peninsula with great views of Grenada lake at both sunrise and sunset" with "the sounds of the water crashing on the shores around you and the birds singing at sunrise are utterly calming."

What you should know

Facility conditions: Many primitive campgrounds have inconsistent maintenance. At Puskus Lake, Alex B. notes: "One bathroom away from the sites in the 'day use' area... Time has been alright to the paths and roads... One site has a short cylinder fire ring with a height adjustable griddle."

Self-registration requirements: Most sites require self check-in with cash payment. Justin Y. mentions that at Puskus Lake, "Self check in is handled at the permit box upon turning off the highway."

Seasonal considerations: Water access points may be affected by lake levels. Fees often change seasonally, with some sites becoming free during winter. McKinley L. reports at Beach Point: "We went in the off season so it was free!"

Security awareness: Some remote sites lack regular patrols. Natalee F. recounts at Puskus Lake: "I camped here just one night in May 2021 on a Saturday, I got there at about 3pm and was the first there but by nightfall every site was full. People stayed quiet with the exception of a 12:30am arrival man who walked onto my site right up to my tent."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Hugh White State Park - Outlet Channel offers family amenities not found at more primitive sites. CJ W. notes: "Many of the sites are shaded and face the river... Playgrounds available for the kids," making it more suitable for families seeking developed facilities.

Swimming safety: Be aware of water conditions at different locations. CJ W. points out that at Hugh White, the "water flow is after the dam, so has a very strong current. Definitely not for swimming."

Site spacing considerations: When seeking the best tent camping near Oxford, Mississippi with children, choose sites with adequate separation. At Puskus Lake, Kim N. notes "the camping spaces have a good amount of room to them so you do not feel like you are on top of each other."

Weekend planning: Expect more crowds Friday through Sunday. Puskus Lake reviewer Skyler B. mentions that sites are "busy on the weekend/end of week," so families should arrive early to secure preferred spots during peak times.

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Elmers Hill at Sardis Lake works for smaller rigs only. Steve G. notes: "This place is a gem if you're a tent camper. We have camped here once, but most of the time it is closed... No hookups of any kind for campers."

Access challenges: Many primitive sites have poor road conditions. At Hays Crossing, Steve G. warns: "The roads in are horrible" and suggests "The websites states you can bring a small camper here, but in wouldn't try it."

Parking arrangements: Beach Point requires separate parking from campsites. According to Caitlyn E., "Cars stay in the parking lot, and you walk up to your site," making it less suitable for RVers wanting direct access to their vehicles.

Site selection: JP A. reports fitting "pretty good in my 24' motorhome" at Eagle Point but would be "leery of something too much bigger" and warns to "not try to come at night. It is pitch black and steep drop offs."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Oxford, MS?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Oxford, MS is Puskus Lake with a 4-star rating from 9 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Oxford, MS?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Oxford, MS, with real photos and reviews from campers.