Best Tent Camping near Starkville, MS

Tent camping options near Starkville, Mississippi are limited but offer distinct experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. The area features several established campgrounds including Reflect, Renew, Resolve, which provides dedicated tent sites, and the Tom Bevill Visitor Center across the state line in Alabama, which offers basic tent camping areas. Witch Dance Bicycle Only Camp along the Natchez Trace Parkway provides specialized tent camping for cyclists traveling this historic route.

Most tent sites around Starkville feature minimal amenities, with variations in facilities between campgrounds. Reflect, Renew, Resolve stands out with more services, including drinking water, picnic tables, showers, and toilets, making it suitable for campers seeking basic comforts. Other locations like Tom Bevill Visitor Center offer more primitive experiences with fewer amenities. Walk-in tent sites are available at Reflect, Renew, Resolve, allowing for a more secluded camping experience away from vehicles. Campers should verify seasonal availability and current regulations before arrival, as information may change.

The tent camping experience near Starkville varies significantly between locations. Reflect, Renew, Resolve provides a more developed camping environment with access to a pond suitable for kayaking and farm-fresh provisions. According to one visitor, "What luxury it is to have a running toilet and a hot shower while camping! Both structures are incredibly solid and private." The Tom Bevill Visitor Center offers a different experience, with proximity to a lake and historical attractions. One camper noted that "the camping area is small. The bathrooms were clean and there is running water." Most tent campgrounds in the region allow campfires where permitted, though firewood availability varies by location. Cell service can be intermittent throughout the area, particularly at more remote tent sites.

Best Tent Sites Near Starkville, Mississippi (4)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Starkville, MS

99 Reviews of 4 Starkville Campgrounds


  • S
    Nov. 12, 2021

    Jeff Busby Campground, Milepost 193.1 — Natchez Trace Parkway

    FREE but....

    This Natchez Trace Parkway free campground offers oddly placed paved parking areas, grills, tall fire rings, and picnic tables (most appeared in disrepair). Bathrooms were clean however older and not heated...and no hot water or soap. The parking is pull through but not clearly defined. Grills and tables were randomly placed. The park is rolling hills and drop offs at the curb side of some sites. No electric or water hook ups but there is a single outside faucet at the bathroom for potable water. Large shade trees made for minimal solar power. Honestly I had an eery unsure feeling during my 2 night stay. It appeared like mostly men were staying there and was just an odd placement of sites in general. I suppose it was the undefined site borders. I stayed in a pull through that was the nearest to the restroom. Had I not watched a YouTube video by 2tiredteachers when researching my trip, I would have been very confused on where the site were to even park at. But the highlight was Little Mountain!!

  • Jamie P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 7, 2021

    Jeff Busby Campground, Milepost 193.1 — Natchez Trace Parkway

    A well kept free dispersed campground

    This is a very nice clean in every way dispersed campground. Offers bathrooms that are clean with running water and flush toilets. Picnic tables, lantern hooks, fire rings, grills trash pick up and paved pads to park your rig on paved roads into and through the park. This is a 14 day stay and very quiet and private campsites.

  • Gregory H.
    Mar. 25, 2020

    Choctaw Lake

    Not for Tent Camping

    Pros: Very nice campground. Clean bath houses with showers, beautiful lake with a small beach. Access to mountain bike trails. Verizon cell reception for those going completely out of touch. 

    No's: Campsites are on top of each other with very little tree cover. Also, tents cannot be set up on grass; only on their "tent pads." (jagged rocks). I asked the camp host if any sites had actual tent pads instead of rocks and was told no.

  • J
    Aug. 10, 2022

    Town Creek

    RV? Great! Tent? Not so much…

    Quiet except for the sounds of nature. A river runs thru it. Well, next to it. Paved roads X throughout, with was huge for me on a motorcycle. But, the grassy area for my site was all red ants and bull ants. The "pad" was pea gravel, impossible to stake my tent. And, the super nice man running the place informed me I was to set up on the pad. @ The weather called for rain and I was worried about wind.

  • Lynn G.
    Sep. 30, 2017

    Jeff Busby Campground, Milepost 193.1 — Natchez Trace Parkway

    Free primitive camping

    This is as simple and as it gets, but it does have restrooms. This is primitive camping so there are no hookups and nothing extras, just a nice place to pitch a tent or park. You can not reserve this site but it’s free. There are a few other similar primitive campsites in the park nearby. Nice and wooded.

    Yay: simple camping! Very pretty wooded area. Lots of hiking trails nearby.

    Nay: no map or info of any sort once you’re there.

    Surprise: exceptional in fall!

  • Maddox H.
    Jun. 13, 2025

    Choctaw Lake

    Great spots by the water, although quite humid on hotter days, camp neighbors are welcoming and the camp host is a charm

    Stayed a night and the next day up until two o’clock, (you’re required to check out &pack up before 2pm on leave day) the stay was great, campsite occupants were nice and even gave me and my lady fire starters when we forgot fluid for our coals when we planned on grilling LOL.. we stayed on site 8, it was a nice spot by the back end lake and its quite nice during the day. Nighttime can be quite humid and bug ridden but if you’re equipped for it i’d say this spot is great for beginners or family trips. Fishing is quite slow/inactive unless you’re on a boat, rather over fished.

  • Allie T.
    Apr. 26, 2021

    Blue Bluff Campground (aberdeen Ms)

    Beautiful place

    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

  • LaRee S.
    Jun. 1, 2022

    Reflect, Renew, Resolve

    A sparkling gem in mississippi!

    What a gorgeous farm, and what a marvelous experience! When we first arrived, we thought we would have to hike down to camp. Nope! Brian met us at the gate, and led us down a perfectly manicured field so that we could park right next to our tent spot! 

    He showered us with provisions grown on his farm, including oodles of chanterelles and a couple bulbs of Creole Ajo Rojo from his passion project. We enjoyed a couple hours kayaking on the big pond/little lake with some ducks. We ended up getting caught in a surprise rain storm while floating, but no worries! We were able to make it back and throw up a tarp in no time. There are lots of primo spots to set up your tent, but ours fit perfectly between the two trees our tarp was strung between. 

    Brian really thought of everything when it comes to this camp! He provided us with covered firewood- including heat pine, which burned like a match and made building a fire after the rainstorm a breeze. We loved having enough chairs to set up both in front of the water and in front of the fire, so we didn't have to drag them back and forth. 

    Oh, what luxury it is to have a running toilet and a hot shower while camping! Both structures are incredibly solid and private, and made us feel human again after a couple weeks camping primitively. 

    As for phone service, mine was in and out. This is rural Mississippi, after all. But when I did have service, Brian was incredibly attentive when I needed to reach him!

  • Devan T.
    May. 9, 2021

    Lake Lowndes State Park Campground

    Lovely lake with a view!

    We tent camped in the RV park with 4 dogs. Our campsite (10) was perfect- right on the water, plenty of space, nice even pad for our tent & canopy. The neighbors were kind & the bathrooms well maintained. Definitely will stay again. Nice trails too!


Guide to Starkville

Tent camping near Starkville, Mississippi encompasses several rural sites within a 40-mile radius of the university town. Located in the eastern part of the state, this region features rolling hills, agricultural landscapes, and proximity to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway system. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions suitable for extended outdoor stays.

What to do

Explore historical sites: The Tom Bevill Visitor Center campground provides access to a 19th century plantation house reproduction and lake activities. "There is a reproduction of a 19th century plantation house. Its very beautiful. The camping area is walking distance to the house and the lake. The lake has a huge paddle wheel steam boat that you can pay to cruise around the lake," notes camper Daniel S.

Farm-to-tent dining: Campers at Reflect, Renew, Resolve can enjoy fresh provisions grown on-site. One visitor explains, "He showered us with provisions grown on his farm, including oodles of chanterelles and a couple bulbs of Creole Ajo Rojo from his passion project."

Water recreation: Several campgrounds offer pond or lake access for kayaking and fishing. "We enjoyed a couple hours kayaking on the big pond/little lake with some ducks," reports a camper about their experience at Reflect, Renew, Resolve.

What campers like

Privacy and natural settings: Campsites at Tom Bevill Visitor Center offer a small, intimate camping area with basic facilities. "The bathrooms were clean and there is running water. For a family i can imagine this being really great to explore," shares a visitor.

Well-maintained facilities: Several campgrounds provide clean restroom facilities, which campers frequently mention in reviews. "The bathrooms were clean and there is running water," notes one reviewer about Tom Bevill Visitor Center.

Ease of access: Some sites offer convenient vehicle access despite their rural settings. At Reflect, Renew, Resolve, campers appreciate the accessibility: "When we first arrived, we thought we would have to hike down to camp. Nope! Brian met us at the gate, and led us down a perfectly manicured field so that we could park right next to our tent spot!"

What you should know

Limited cell coverage: Mobile phone reception can be unreliable throughout the camping areas. As one Witch Dance Bicycle Only Camp visitor notes about the general region, "This is rural Mississippi, after all," referring to spotty cellular service.

Weather preparedness: Sudden rainstorms are common, especially during spring and summer months. Pack appropriate gear and be prepared to adjust plans quickly. One camper shared their experience: "We ended up getting caught in a surprise rain storm while floating, but no worries! We were able to make it back and throw up a tarp in no time."

Firewood availability: Some sites provide covered firewood for campers. "He provided us with covered firewood- including heat pine, which burned like a match and made building a fire after the rainstorm a breeze," reports a visitor about Reflect, Renew, Resolve.

Tips for camping with families

Educational opportunities: Chickasawhay and nearby campgrounds provide historical and natural learning experiences for children. The plantation house replica and steamboat at Tom Bevill are particularly engaging for younger visitors.

Pack additional activities: With limited developed recreation facilities, bringing games, identification guides, and exploration tools enhances the camping experience for children.

Site selection: Choose walk-in tent sites for more seclusion or drive-in sites for easier access with young children and gear. "We loved having enough chairs to set up both in front of the water and in front of the fire, so we didn't have to drag them back and forth," notes one family about their campsite setup.

Tips from RVers

Limited RV accommodations: Most tent camping areas near Starkville have minimal or no RV-specific amenities. Only select locations like Reflect, Renew, Resolve accommodate small recreational vehicles alongside tent campers.

Access considerations: Rural roads leading to some campgrounds may present challenges for larger RVs. Advance scouting or calling ahead is recommended to ensure appropriate access.

Utility planning: With minimal hookups available, RVers should prepare for self-contained camping. "What luxury it is to have a running toilet and a hot shower while camping!" mentions one camper, highlighting the relatively primitive nature of most facilities in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Starkville, MS?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Starkville, MS is Tom Bevill Visitor Center with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Starkville, MS?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Starkville, MS, with real photos and reviews from campers.