Best Tent Camping near Raymond, MS

0937 0940  

Dates: Year round 

Fee: $7.00 per night  If you want both sites double the fee  3.00 day use 

Reservations only 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov

Picnic table, fire ring, lantern site with pit toilet and trash, and potable water is available from the Delta Work F.C.

Off of Highway 16 out of Rolling Fork, MS, we turned onto Fire Tower Road, you can take this road at two different places. We went to the second turn for a shorter trip and the gravel road in is not as pot holed than the first turn. Once you pass thru the open gate travel follow the GPS coordinates for directions. If you love primitive campsites you will love this and you will love this National Forest. We are very partial to primitive sites that are amazing. This is a very small campsite equipped with picnic table, fire ring and lantern pole. You will find some beautiful cypress trees and bayou's scattered through out the forest. Alcohol is NOT allowed in DNF. Food storage needs to be taken serious because of bear and wildlife in the forest. These are right off the gravel road and across from each other. I would guess that during the season you can make a meal out of the mosquitoes or I would guess they will make a meal of you. This site is so beautiful and I can't wait to go back. I know this is primitive but remember you MUST HAVE RESERVATIONS AND HAVE PAID FOR SITE. If it has rained you need to be aware that the site could be muddy. It had been bush hogged and was in great shape.

Pack it in Pack it out.

LNT

Rocky springs campground is a great place to get back to nature while traveling the South end of the historical Natchez Trace. There is almost NO cell service regardless of carrier. No electric, drinking water, or showers however the first set of bathrooms are very clean and work well. The bathroom sink water is not potable...it had a yellow tinge... literally. Nice paved pull through and back in pads, fire rings (way too tall but hey?!?), grills and picnic tables are plentiful. The large shade trees made solar power minimal but it was worth the boon docking, old time camping experience. Very peaceful get away from it all area. We camped next to the bathroom in a 21' RV.

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 little campground is nestled along the Natchez Trace Parkway at mile marker 54.8 (https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/upload/NATRmap_1_113_web.pdf).

This is a FREE first come, first serve campground that offers 22 sites. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and flat real estate for setting up your tent. The campground is well shaded and can accommodate RVs but there are no hook ups available. There are a few bathrooms that have flush toilets and sinks but there are not showers available.

It's a small facility that gets moderate use but appears to be well maintained. While black bears aren't prolific in the area they have been spotted. Be sure to store all food and scented items in your vehicle if possible.

Dates:  year round

Fee:  $7.00  Must have reservations site 18

          $3.00 day use 

Accessible:  No

You must make reservation with 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov

Picnic table, fire ring, lantern pole.  This is dispersed camping but only in the numbered campsites.  Potable water is available from the Delta Work Force Center.  This is off Highway 16 out of Rolling Fork, MS.  We turned on the second exit for Fire Tower Road because it is shorter to the campsite and the dirt road is in better shape.  Look for the turn and follow it all the way to the dead end.  There is a beautiful, peace cypress water area with cypress stumps and wonderful trees.  The area was bush hogged so grass was very low.  If you love to boondock this is the spot.  No sun so solar will not work.  If you need power bring your generator and I would bring all the supplies needed so you don't have to drive out.

LNT

BTYFI

Travel safe

PROS 

No fee to make my own on-line reservation

Site 88 excellent view of lake 

Pedestal BBQ grill 

Wooden Picnic table top with concrete frame on a concrete slab 

Nice space between MOST sites 

Park easily accessible from I-20 

3 bars T-MOBILE


CONS 

No senior discount 

Site 88 concrete parking pad all cracked and heaved made for difficult leveling 

5ft wide campsite fire ring…biggest we’ve ever seen! 

Numerous HOMESTEADERS throughout CCC campground. Made campground very “junky” looking with all their “stuff ” piled around in their campsite 

Park roadway in very poor condition, potholes connected to potholes!  Potholes keep speed at 10 mph or less

Able to hear Interstate 20 road noise 

Train noise about every 3 hours 

Toilet/shower facility heavily used. Finish peeling off of toilet seats. Women’s stall doors coming apart. No soap. Insufficient TP once the weekend crowds hit.  Toilets were not cleaned Saturday

Handicap assessable toilet only in one of the CCC campground loops 

Trash dumpsters are in next campground loop so 30 minute walk 

No campfire wood for sale in park, but sold at EXXON right outside park entrance

No park WiFi