Best Tent Camping near Pontotoc, MS

We have camped at several MS state parks near Memphis (Tishomingo, Wall Doxey) and have left feeling like MS didn’t have a lot to offer, but Tombigbee State Park is great. There is a video included in the post which includes the entire campground area. I hope you find it helpful. Additionally, here is a basic overview of pros and cons:

Pros:

1. All sites close to the bathhouse
2. Most sites with full hook up including sewer and 30/50 amp plugs. (see pics)
3. Multiple updated playgrounds
4. Very affordable. $24 a night for a full hook up site.
5. Very walkable. Small campground with access to amenities by foot.
6. Disc golf course is very fun. It is has an interesting layout in the woods so it is much like a hike.
7. The park is near Tupelo, MS and there is a Dollar General right at the entrance to the park.
8. If you are primitive camping, the tent camping area is outstanding. (see pic) There are picnic tables, elevated tent platforms, places for hammocks, a porch swing and bench around a raised fire pit. If you are primitive camping, it is a great place.
9. There are several docks for fishing and there were signs for the option of boating with a trolling motor, but no one was boating while we were there.
10. The park office was not open while we were here, but it did look updated
11. 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
12. frequent monitoring by the park rangers. Appears that this park is very well taken care of.

Cons:

1. Absolutely no shade on the playground.
2. Inside loop spots are mostly close together. very little privacy.
3. We were not able to view the inside of the bathhouse.
4. only 20 sites and only 4 tent camping areas and were without water or electric.
5. No SP swag so no stickers, patches, shirts, etc.

This is an A+ for the price, amenities and location to our home base of Memphis. We will definitely be back.

Right in Pontotoc, MS. Small park right on the lake. Can get busy during the weekends. Full hookups and concrete pad.

This is the first campground we have stopped at this week that had more than one other camper. I’d guess they were 70% full.

Most of the folks we met were local, here for a weekend away and outdoors. Lots of families with kids. Everyone was super friendly and welcoming.

The camp host came by just to say hi and see if we had questions.

We had decent phone service, but slow at times.

Some spots had good shade, some didn’t. Many backed up to the water and none were a far walk from water access either bank or dock.

Only 4 miles from the Natchez Trace. Not sure what amenities are available in nearby Houston, but Pontotoc had plenty of provisions. Not super close, but doable.

The lake itself - muddy brown water and not too much to look at it. But in fairness, it still is winter.

Looked like primarily a fishing lake, but I don’t hold a MS fishing license, so I didn’t try any.

It’s really hard for me to give 1 star for anything, but this place is a dump. This is the 3rd MS State Park (North MS) we have been to and it is clear that MS does not take care of its state parks. Only half of the park is open, the grass was overgrown, trash/garbage is littered every where (especially near the open dumpsters that are randomly placed throughout camp), the ranger only came around to collect fees and then disappeared. The bathroom does not have AC or a fan, so it was a total sweat box. The toilet paper was not replenished, there is no hand soap, there was broken glass on the ground in one of the stalls. The shower portion wasn’t that bad, but again, no AC. The water hook ups are at least 100 foot away from most camp sites, so bring lots of extra hose if you do end up staying here. The site #’s are not clearly marked and they do not post if a site is reserved. No designated fire pits, so people have been just burning where ever they want. The fee is $22 a night, but they will charge you another $16 if you put up a tent. Overall, I paid $39 to stay in the worst campground we have ever gone to. Get it together Mississippi!

This is a pretty basic campsite, but I enjoyed it.

• I'm a tent camper and had to move sites since the one I originally picked didn't have an area for my tent. Make sure you get there by 3ish to check that your site can accommodate a tent and stakes
• Site had a grill, table and firepit
• Sites were very close together
• They were out of firewood to purchase, but you are allowed to bring your own
• There were a lot of Ole Miss students at the park playing disc golf
• Bathrooms are pretty old
• I could hear highway traffic at night, but it wasn't too distracting
• I would camp here again

We stayed one night (4/25/21) at site 78. Our site was on the water and we were able to catch quite a few bream directly in front of us. It seems like the sites which aren’t waterfront are a little more tent friendly, but our tent fit just fine in the gravel area by the picnic table. We used the grill on site and it was well maintained. Bath houses are very clean and in close proximity to most of the sites. There’s also a nice playground. We have Verizon and had at least 3 bars the entire time

Mississippi needs to put some funding behind the park, could be a real gem. Overall we had a great stay and I would recommend the campground.

Teckville was a good place to stay. And it could still be. Nice Boat ramps Bathroom. But a person can not get no one to answer the phones in Mississippi

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. Large rigs are a no go I would think, as access can be tight. If you’re in a small to medium travel trailer or a tent, this could work out.

Bathrooms are there but bring your own paper.

We've camped here twice in the last several months.  Both times we camped in tents and had a great time.  The grounds are well kept, and the park ranger is especially helpful.  There are hiking trails and plenty of places to fish off the bank.  The lake is beautiful.  We used the restrooms and showers and had no problems.  They were clean and well stocked with toilet tissue and paper towels.  The park is close to Tupelo and easy to get to.

Camped 4days/3nights. Really nice wooded sites. Water and Electric on site. Wifi-Tmobile worked fine whole trip. Not a lot of campers while I was here. Quiet and Peaceful. I did not use bathroom facilities. No one available at check-in however I had reserved and paid ahead. Staff drove around regularly. Felt safe here as a solo female tent camper with a dog. Would visit again

My stay won't likely be like yours. First, I drove in while Mississippi was under a blanket of snow. All the roads in Holly Springs and the rest of the state were treacherous with packed snow and ice following a week of unseasonably frigid weather across the southern midwest.

That said, the 2 rangers working at Wall Doxey went out of their way to set me up with a parking place in the practically empty campground, putting me in the youth camp, finding me an extension cord to hook up to power and allowing me access to the group camp for a bathroom and shower.

This was necessary because many areas were either in the middle of renovation, inaccessible or out of service due to frozen pipes. To say these ladies went out of their way to get me situated is an understatement. They were heroines!

The camp has loads of retro charm. A big mid-century lodge, picnic area, swimming lake, frisbee golf and a 2 mile hiking trail around the lake. I enjoyed a walk thru the snow and the comfort of having a safe and caring place to stay during my trip through Mississippi.

I suspect it will be the same for you even if your visit is under far different circumstances.

Wall Doxey is a well maintained campground. The sites are far enough apart to not feel on top of your neighbor. The playground could use an update, but it does the job keeping the kids entertained. The highlight for us is the disc golf course the winds through the pine forest. That also leads me to the one negative...the pine trees... If you are camping here anytime during the warmer months, be ready to pick ticks off of everyone! other than that, this is a great campground for tents or RV’s with water and electric sites.

Mississippi does a great job of maintaining their COE campgrounds. Nice, spacious spots underneath large Pine trees. Water views and access to the Lower Lake. There is a popular swim beach, boat launch and boat dock. The spillway is also close by for fishing. Do not get this park confused with the John Kyle State Park Campground that is directly next to this one. This park is much nicer!

Camped for two weeks in mid fall, October 2020. Full hookups, clean bath house. Family friendly. It is dated though. Play area available, small and quant. Roads are drivable of course but need to be funded, come on Mississippi and step up.. 15-20 minutes from a supercenter on West Main Street in Tupelo. Tupelo is lovely and where we actually live. This is the nearest campground my children 13, 10, and 4 stay at. The 4yo loves is, hiking and bike riding is what the older kids do. Nice lake for fishing, no swimming or wake.

Site we stayed at was level, and fully shaded.