Pet friendly camping near Southaven, Mississippi centers on several well-maintained locations within a 30-mile radius of the Tennessee-Mississippi border. Situated in the flat Mississippi Delta region at approximately 300 feet elevation, this area experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F and mild winters rarely dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds in this region have concrete pads to protect campers during occasional heavy rainfall periods.
What to Do
Mississippi River watching: At Tom Sawyer's RV Park, campers enjoy prime views of river traffic. "Watching the tug boats moving up and down the river all day and night was relaxing," notes Stacey, while Pat&Amanda D. add, "Loved waking up every morning to the sunrise over the Mississippi River, watching the barges and running around in the big grassy areas!"
Swimming opportunities: Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park offers a swimming pool during summer months. Es T. reports, "Rec'd reduced swim passes and the kids enjoyed the pool area," while Ryan S. explains, "A lot of people do love to come here to enjoy the pool during the summer though!"
Wildlife observation: Several campgrounds feature fishing ponds and nature trails. Wild Sage F. says of Dub Patton Campground, "It was right on the lake, but shade was limited. The place is fairly clean, and there are clean bathrooms and showers." Another camper mentions, "Storm damage trees made firewood plentiful."
What Campers Like
Free laundry facilities: Some campgrounds offer unexpected amenities. TK n E. noted at Tom Sawyer's RV Park, "Beautiful park right by the river. Friendly, helpful staff, free laundry, and even some small walking trails!" Christine U. confirmed, "Clean restroom, free laundry and free WiFi."
Convenient Memphis access: T.O. Fuller State Park Campground provides proximity to urban attractions. David P. shared, "Had a fantastic time staying here... 10 minutes to Graceland. 20 minutes to Beale Street, 30 minutes to The Lorraine Motel." Ryan S. noted, "T.O. Fuller SP Is a decent campground situated 5 miles from Graceland and about 15 minutes (by car) from downtown Memphis."
Dog-specific facilities: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated pet areas. At Sun Retreats Horn Lake, Andrew shares, "The Dog Run is a huge area," complementing the pet-friendly policies many campers appreciate.
What You Should Know
Security considerations: Memphis-adjacent campgrounds often have security measures. Karen from EZ Daze RV Park explains, "Code to the bathrooms, which is appreciated especially as the park is located in a business area and backs up to a residential neighborhood."
Seasonal considerations: Mosquitoes are problematic during warm months. Ryan S. warns about Meeman-Shelby, "MOSQUITOS. If you go after the weather warms up, be forewarned that the mosquitos will eat you alive. We mostly camp at Meeman-Shelby in the fall/winter."
Road access variables: Some campgrounds have challenging approaches. Greg S. describes reaching Tom Sawyer's RV Park: "Holy heck the drive getting to this place is crazy- left off the interstate, through a shady part of Memphis, past all kinds of industry, across tracks and over a dike, down a curvy bumpy gravel road."
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds have playground equipment. Ryan S. notes at Meeman-Shelby, "There is also an updated playground in the campground area that looks very nice." Angela C. mentions Sun Retreats Horn Lake has "a store and propane, playground, dog run, pool, showers and laundry, gold mining station, and sports courts."
Educational opportunities: Hernando Point and other campgrounds offer hiking trails with nature programs. Jason G. says, "The sites were easy to get into and the campground was quiet and the setting is really beautiful," while another camper mentions there are "plenty of trails available" for exploration.
Entertainment options: Some campgrounds arrange special activities. Jeremy H. recalls at Graceland RV Park, "The highlight of our stay here, however, was the opportunity to take a free pink Cadillac limo ride to Marlowe's for superb BBQ. Our children loved this opportunity."
Tips from RVers
Site selection guidance: Concrete pads dominate at most locations but vary in quality. Thomas R. cautions about Southaven RV Park: "Incoming flights to Memphis start flying overhead at 4:15 am. They take a direct path over top of this park," suggesting selecting sites away from flight paths.
Leveling challenges: Topography varies across campgrounds. Nancy W. notes at T.O. Fuller State Park, "About half of the sites are on a slight incline that we would consider unlevel. Sites have electric (30 and 50 amp) and water that are easy to reach."
Power considerations: Electrical reliability differs between locations. Andrew at Sun Retreats Horn Lake described specific power issues: "We experienced a problem with our Powerdog 50 EPO Surge protector getting an E1 and E2 code error from the pedastals... checked my Powerdog app and it showed 142.5 volts on line 2."
