The Purvis, Mississippi area offers RV campers access to several campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Located in Lamar County at approximately 300 feet elevation, the region experiences mild winters and hot, humid summers typical of the Gulf Coastal Plain. Most camping options provide year-round access with peak season running March through October.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Paul B. Johnson State Park Campground features fishing in Geiger Lake with no boating restrictions. "The lake is nice in the summer for fishing and swimming, but if you're looking for a large boating area this ain't it," notes one camper.
Walking trails: Campers can explore nature paths at multiple parks. "There are walking trails that look lovely," mentions a visitor to Hattiesburg / Okatoma River KOA, while another Paul B. Johnson visitor reports "We did a small amount of hiking on a very nice, easy trail."
Water recreation: Several parks offer water-based activities. "Start your day by checking in and doing one of the two kayaking trips this place has to offer and end your day by the fire right next to the river," recommends a Hattiesburg / Okatoma River KOA guest.
Disc golf: The Paul B. Johnson State Park features "two 18 hole disc golf courses" according to a recent visitor, making it a popular destination for disc golf enthusiasts staying in the area.
What campers like
Peaceful settings: Many RV parks offer quiet environments away from city noise. "Quiet and clean RV Park," notes a visitor to Mike's Place RV Park.
Well-maintained facilities: Cleanliness ranks high among camper priorities. A visitor to Wiggins Campground & RV Park appreciated "Security cameras throw out the park. Have handicap bathrooms and Laundry room. Very clean throw out the park. Place to walk your dogs."
Lake views: Waterfront campsites receive positive feedback. "Our site was lakeside on a hill leading down to a pier that jutted into the lake," shares a Paul B. Johnson camper, while another notes "We found an asphalt pad with full hookups overlooking Lake Geiger."
Pet amenities: Dog-friendly features get mentioned frequently. "We were able to bring all of our pups to the enclosed dog play area that had a great big shade tree to run and run and run. Poop bags and garbage cans were convenient there and throughout the park," reports a visitor to Sleepy Hollow RV Park.
What you should know
Site conditions vary: Levelness can be inconsistent at some parks. A visitor to Paul B. Johnson noted, "Our site was level but not all in the park are," while another mentioned "Pads were mostly small with biggish drop off from steps to camper usable site."
Peak season crowds: Weekend occupancy increases significantly during summer months. "The weekend we were there in November was jammed packed but it seems to clear out during the week when kids go back to school. There were lots of people aimlessly driving around in golf carts, kids running through our site, and plenty of loud music."
Nearby military activity: Camp Shelby proximity affects some parks. "Camp Shelby is nearby, so you'll hear various noises from that (not overly distracting but I wish I would have known before arriving)," shares a Paul B. Johnson camper.
Maintenance varies: Some parks maintain facilities better than others. "You can tell this was a good park in its hey day. Those days are gone... Doesn't look like the park had had proper maintenance in 15-20 years," notes one Paul B. Johnson visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Splash pad access: Four Seasons RV Park offers convenient amenities including a laundry room with reasonable rates. "They have a nice 'laundry' room and can't beat $1.50/washer & $1.00 for dryer. A short drive to Hattiesburg," notes one visitor.
Swimming options: Multiple parks feature water recreation for children. "They had a nice little pool. Nothing fancy, but just what the kids needed," reports a Sleepy Hollow RV Park visitor.
Playground facilities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. One Hattiesburg / Okatoma River KOA reviewer mentioned the park has "a playground for children" among its amenities, making it suitable for family stays.
Space for group camping: Paul B. Johnson works well for multi-family trips. "If you want to just get out and chill, then this is the spot. What we like about Paul B is that if you have a group of friends, you can probably get a bunch of spots in the same area and take over a section of the park and hang out all weekend nearby."
Tips from RVers
Big rig considerations: Site dimensions and access vary between parks. A Sleepy Hollow visitor advises, "Lots of turns so go slow and know your rig."
Hookup locations: Connection points may require extra equipment at some parks. "The connections were quite spread out with the water pretty far back from the other connections at this site (we needed two water hoses)," notes a Paul B. Johnson camper.
Proximity to supplies: Magnolia Sands RV Park offers easy access to necessities. "The nearby town of Wiggins has everything you'll need! Restaurants, grocery stores and fuel," mentions a visitor.
Site selection strategy: Experienced RVers recommend researching specific sites. "We were camping with some friends and we both have 45' RVs so we picked two side by side pull-thrus. However, all those pull-thru sites were super close together and right on top of the people on each side of us. We decided to go find other back-in sites and were glad we did because it gave us more room between sites and we had a great lake view."
