Best Campgrounds near Pope, MS

I had a horrible experience at this campsite. Rolled up to find one (miserable) couple there. They were blasting music out of their car which is whatever and I waved hello and they just stared. Multiple cars came thru the campsite at night, shining their headlights every which way. Even though it says don’t enter past a certain point unless you are camping, this is clearly a spot for locals to do what they cannot do at home. At 2am I hear barking and one of my dogs busts through my tent. I go out there and there is a pack of wild dogs scouring the campsite. They weren’t terrifying or coming at us, but it was still scary. No more than 10 mins later two cars surround my tent with headlights, which is really scary for anyone, but I am a young woman traveling alone. Apparently the couple called the cops saying my dogs had been barking all night. There was brief barking and it was the wild dogs who were actually eating the trash the evil couple left out. Even if my dogs were barking, why is surrounding my tent with only headlights at 2am appropriate? I couldn’t see anything. Never saw a ranger, immediately left in the morning. Sorry for the essay, just hope to spare someone a similar experience. It is beautiful tho.

The lake is currently drained because they are working on the dam. Made reservations online. Pretty much all the sites I thought would be easy to get into were reserved, so I chose this one. Website said it was good for 53' unit and 2 vehicles. We have a 36' 5th wheel and it was a little difficult to get in. Someone previously knocked down the site number post. I also had a problem with the post for site 31 being in the way. I finally just backed in by driving on the grass. It only fits the 2 vehicles if each one has 2 tires in the grass. It turns out that all of those reserved sites online were empty. There is hardly anyone here. It would have been nice to have one of those angled for better entry. Other than the empty lake and difficult backing in it is a nice park. Standard COE fare.

I have stayed at this campground twice.  The first time (2022) was a rainy day and I didn't feel like setting up a tent in my reserved space, so I upgraded to one of the very nice, and at the time quite new cabins for about $75 total.  I loved the winding drive down to Helena-West Helena. It was beautiful, the rain was not too bad.  The cabin was wonderful.  I had such a happy experience that time, I returned to car camp last year (2023) on my way west. I did not bother setting up a tent, but rented an RV space. It was fine. . . lots of mosquitos in the evening (mid-September) and a construction crew was renting out an RV spot across from me.  There were no other campers, but I felt safe.  The bathrooms (unisex) were not nearly as clean as the first visit, but were ok.  The guys across the way were quiet and respectful.  The whole thing was ok. . . but I did have the thought expressed in another comment that there is just too much concrete and asphalt in this place.  Maybe they are concerned about keeping the jungle at bay, so they paved it . . . but consequently it feels like a parking lot with a beautiful periphery. Is also was pretty expensive for what I needed ($42), since I sleep on a cot in my SUV and don't need electricity, water, dumping, etc.  But that is my fault for not asking for a tent site.

I decided to head there at the last minute, and called the office right before closing to rent via telephone (should have asked for a tent site, cheaper).  I did not have to make the 14 mile drive to Marianna to check in. 

The crew staying in the RV across the way, left vert early in the morning.  It was cool and shady in my spot, so I moved my vehicle to sunny spot (tent area!) and had a nice leisurely breakfast before heading out.  It was mid-week, and nobody else was there.  A ranger (?) drove through pretty early (before I moved my car) and said hi. She knew i had rented a spot.  Very friendly, just as the folks in Marianna had been when I went there in 2022. 

All in all it is a good spot. Quiet and safe.