Best Campgrounds in Mississippi
Mississippi state parks and campgrounds offer a mix of camping options spanning from established sites with full hookups to dispersed camping areas. Tishomingo State Park Campground near the Alabama border provides tent, RV, glamping, and yurt accommodations amid forested terrain. Davis Bayou Campground at Gulf Islands National Seashore offers tent and RV sites near coastal waters. Most campgrounds in the state maintain year-round operations with drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets, while facilities like Buccaneer State Park Campground include additional amenities such as sanitary dump stations and utility hookups.
The state's camping scene features varying levels of accessibility and amenities. Most developed campgrounds provide electric hookups with many offering 50-amp service for larger RVs. Several sites in state parks require reservations, particularly during peak seasons. "Percy Quin State Park covers a large area. The park includes an 18-hole golf course, a motel, cabins for rent, both camper and primitive camping," noted one visitor. Campgrounds like Rocky Springs along the Natchez Trace Parkway offer free camping but with fewer amenities and limited space. Cell service can be unreliable in remote locations, particularly in the northern hill country. Summer temperatures and humidity levels typically run high, with occasional afternoon thunderstorms, especially in coastal areas.
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw throughout Mississippi's campground system. Lake-adjacent sites at Paul B. Johnson State Park Campground near Hattiesburg receive positive feedback for their water access and scenic qualities. Several campers mention appreciating the quieter atmosphere at smaller water management district campgrounds like Big Creek Water Park. A visitor to Lake Jeff Davis noted it has "a beautiful lake. It has a nice boat ramp and a few nice piers for fishing." State parks with water features tend to include additional recreational amenities such as boat rentals, swimming areas, and fishing piers. Urban-adjacent options like LeFleur's Bluff State Park in Jackson provide nature access with proximity to city amenities, though noise levels can be higher than at more remote locations.
