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Best Equestrian Camping near University, MS

26 Reviews

Fords Well Horse Camp accommodates equestrians with marked and well-maintained riding trails specifically designed for horse enthusiasts. The camp provides drinking water, electric hookups, picnic tables, toilets, and permits campfires with firewood available on site. Both tent and RV camping are supported at this Oakland, Mississippi location. The trails are consistently maintained according to rider reviews, making them suitable for groups of horse owners exploring the area together.

Located approximately 38 miles from University, Mississippi, Trace State Park Campground offers an alternative for riders seeking full hookup sites with additional amenities. The park features multiple camping areas including Deer Run, Eagle Ridge, and Warrior Trails, the latter being designated for equestrian use. Campsites include level concrete pads with picnic tables and fire rings. While the park roads require maintenance due to potholes, the campground provides clean restrooms, hot showers, and laundry facilities. The park includes a network of multi-use trails shared by horseback riders, mountain bikers, and ATV users. The surrounding lake enhances the scenery with many sites offering water views and access points for horses to drink.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near University, Mississippi (6)

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near University, MS

2 Photos of 6 University Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews near University, MS

26 Reviews of 6 University Campgrounds

  • JZ W.
    Dec. 28, 2021

    Trace State Park Campground

    Nice, quiet, HUGE LAKE!

    Camping between Christmas & New Years 2021, so not busy at all. The weather is in the upper 60’s a little chilly at times and still humid.

    We are in the Deer Run camp area. It and Eagle Ridge areas are more rustic and shady than the Warrior Trails area (the Equestrian area). There are less trees and all the sites are concrete including the picnic table area for each site.

    The roads need more paving, lots of pot holes but passable. There is no store close by but there are hiking and biking trails which are nice. I’ve put 15 miles on my bike (2 days). 

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2018

    Trace State Park Campground

    Needs some work

    Trace State Park near Tupelo, MS. Once you get into Tupelo the signage directing you to the park is easy to find and follow.

    The road in is in terrible shape, the lake is missing, the levy being worked on. They have horse, ATV and mountain bike trails which are in okay shape but could use some TLC. There are rental cabins and the store is limited to souvenir type merchandise and disc’s.

    The staff at the park were very helpful and the facilities, which included a showerhouse/multipurpose room and screened porch were very well taken care of. I definitely liked the large shower stalls!

    The sites are spacious, including a fire area, picnic table, electric hookup, water and sewer hook up. You have some privacy and depending on your site sparse to full shade.

    There is Disc golf, fishing, and currently limited water sports.We used the multipurpose room and a nearby site that had more then enough room for all of us to sit around the fire.

    Tupelo, Mississippi is nearby with Elvis’s birthplace. In addition there are several recreation areas to visit on the Natchez Trace with historical information and trails to explore.

  • Richard S.
    May. 4, 2019

    Trace State Park Campground

    Nice and quiet (if you're not staying on the Equine/ATV loop)

    The road leading to the park could be improved a bit but it wasn't too bad. The park was nice and clean and the loop we stayed on was kept up pretty well. Sites were nice and level and it's hard to beat full hookups for the price!

    The bathrooms were obviously older but still kept clean.

    The lake had been drained at some point for repairs and it's still very low. There's not a whole lot to do in the park unless you bring horses or an ATV. Great place for a nice quiet getaway.

    The neat thing is there's actually a special camping loop just for those that do have horses and ATVs, and it keeps the noise away from everyone else.

    There's not a ton to do in nearby Tupelo but we did have a nice dinner at Harvey's, The zoo seemed rather expensive for its size.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2018

    Trace State Park Campground

    Where’s the lake ?

    Ranger review: RoM Outdoors RoM Pack at Trace State Park, Tupelo, Mississippi 

    Campground Review: I took the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway from Tennessee down into Mississippi and exited near Tupelo to continue into Trace State Park for a camping event I was attending over the weekend. Once you get into Tupelo the signage directing you to the park is easy to find and follow. 

    The park itself needs some work. Recent cuts from the state have left the park in need of road work and the levy repair is taking a while to complete according to locals. Where we camped the lake was dry and full of weeds. You could tell by the shoreline that it would be possible to anchor your water craft very near your campsite in several locations once it is refilled with water. 

    That being said the staff at the park were very helpful and the facilities, which included a showerhouse/multipurpose room and screened porch were very well taken care of. I definitely liked the large shower stalls!

    The sites are spacious, including a fire area, picnic table, electric hookup, water and sewer hook up. The spacing between sites is good too, you have some privacy and depending on your site sparse to full shade.

    Disc golf, multi-use trails, fishing, currently limited water sports.

    After set up our group met in the multipurpose room and then congregated to a nearby site that had more then enough room for all of us to sit around the fire. 

    Tupelo, Mississippi is nearby and I visited Elvis’s birthplace , “Scarlet’s Donuts”(maple bacon donuts, and tamales) and an excellent BBQ place “Clays House of Pig”. So if you like to sneak to town while camping this is a nice area for it. There are thrift and antique stores close too.

    Product Review: As a Dyrt Ranger I recently received a **RoM Outdoors ** RoM Pack https://romoutdoors.com/ to use , abuse and review while camping. I explored one of the three main trails in Trace SP. The trails are multi-use (ie. ATV, Horse, Dirt bike, Hikers) so pay attention to the signs and be aware of the area. We hiked 4.5 miles. The first thing you will notice about the RoM****Pack is that it has some weight to it (4.6 lbs)even empty. This is due to the outer water resistant material and the inner, soft, insulated material. There are two detachable bags, and a smaller inner pack to carry them in when you remove them to transform your pack into......a hooded poncho or ground cover , cool idea!

    So obviously this is not an overnight type backpack or something a fast packer would use. It is however a versatile option for day hikes, visits to the park or sporting events and I used it to pack my Dachshund when he was done hiking ;)

    I haven’t attempted to attach a hydration bladder and decided to just place my entire hydration pack into the main area of the RoM Pack. This works in two ways. First if I don’t need the poncho/blanket I have my hydration in easy reach. Second if I do use the poncho/blanket my hydration pack fits fine under the inner pack on my back with poncho over that. 

    Definitely practice folding and unfolding the poncho/blanket . I had my usual dysfunction , just like with the hiking maps, I got it unfolded and user ready but then had issues putting it back into its original folded configuration. I eventually got it back together. There is a video on their site to make it easier. Just remember it will get faster with muscle memory over time.

    Once again this is not a pack I would use for extended deep woods adventures. It’s great for your day hikes with the kids, concert in the park or hike into a picnic spot, would work for hunting too.

    Pro’s: All in one (ie, carry pack, two secure bags, blanket/poncho, inner pack, Molle straps to add other accessories)

    Water resistant outer shell

    Soft warm inner lining

    _Durable material _

    Well made

    Con’s: Heavy

    Limited packing space( the large middle pocket is gone when you unfold it_)_

    _Not for overnight/deep woods(_technically not a con, not the concept of the bag)

    This will be my go to bag when adventuring with my grandkids. I would/will suggest this pack to friends with specific uses in mind. There are currently three color options and several other products to explore on the ROM Outdoors site

  • Robyn T.
    Jun. 25, 2021

    Trace State Park Campground

    Family friendly, single mom approved.

    Camped for two weeks in mid fall, October 2020. Full hookups, clean bath house. Family friendly. It is dated though. Play area available, small and quant. Roads are drivable of course but need to be funded, come on Mississippi and step up.. 15-20 minutes from a supercenter on West Main Street in Tupelo. Tupelo is lovely and where we actually live. This is the nearest campground my children 13, 10, and 4 stay at. The 4yo loves is, hiking and bike riding is what the older kids do. Nice lake for fishing, no swimming or wake.

    Site we stayed at was level, and fully shaded.

  • Napunani
    Dec. 13, 2022

    Trace State Park Campground

    Great Lake Views in Deer Run Campground

    PROS 

    No transaction fee assessed for making my own online reservation 

    Site 8 excellent view of lake 

    Asphalt parking pad 

    Pedestal BBQ, moveable wooden picnic table and rock campfire pit. 

    Eagle Ridge campground has 3 washers and 3 dryers $1.50 

    Heated toilet/shower blding. No AC tho - just a box fan.


    1 bar T-MOBILE but we’re able to live stream TV via T-MOBILE hot spot

    CONS 

    No senior discount 

    Site number is painted in the roadway and due to leaves on road difficult to find Numerous large road potholes from entrance gate to campground.  Guess this eliminates any need for speed bumps!

    Not dark sky friendly due to 2 street lights, at site 2 and 13, that light up most of the small campground loop 

    Deer Run campsites very close to each other 

    Site 8 unlevel side-to-side 

    Dirt and sand surrounded asphalt parking pad so during rains (for 2 days) it was a big mess 

    No privacy from any other campsite 

    Due to campsite water spigot being low to ground, insufficient space to add water filter 

    Deer Run campground toilet/shower building is not handicap accessible 

    Trash roll offs outside of camping loop. 15 minute walk one way. 

    No park WIFI

  • Will G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 23, 2025

    Trace State Park Campground

    Good campground, great lake access

    Pros: Clean, relatively quiet even when full, lots of sites with direct, clean access to lakefront.

    Cons: not much level space between camper pads, access roads need replacing, sketchy cell service

  • T
    May. 8, 2023

    Moon Lake Farm - Kitchen, Fishing, Showers

    Perfect off the road RV camping

    Beautiful property with great host they have a short trail that goes around the property and a beautiful lake to enjoy

Guide to University

Equestrian enthusiasts seeking camping near University, Mississippi can access several designated horse camps within a 40-mile radius. The region features a mix of forested terrain and lake environments with average summer temperatures reaching 90°F and mild winters rarely dropping below freezing. Seasonal considerations include spring thunderstorms and occasional flooding that can affect trail conditions.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Trace State Park Campground provides excellent lake access for anglers. "Good place to get away for a weekend," notes Steven H., while maureen L. mentions, "Our site backed up to the lake and was beautiful! Lots of activities and has a marina. Fishing was great."

Boating and kayaking: The lakes at Trace State Park Campground support multiple water activities. "Hard to give a complete review. Bath facilities were COVID closed. But, level sites. Water & electric hook-ups. No swimming in the lake, but folks were fishing and boating," shares Mary D. The park maintains boat launches and rentals seasonally.

Hiking local trails: Several campgrounds offer walking paths suitable for day hikes. William M. from Trace State Park notes, "Beautiful place to camp and relax. Clean campsites and bathrooms. Nice hiking trails." At Moon Lake Farm, Tim reports, "they have a short trail that goes around the property and a beautiful lake to enjoy."

What campers like

Lake views: Many campsites at Trace State Park offer direct water access. Will G. confirms, "Clean, relatively quiet even when full, lots of sites with direct, clean access to lakefront." Scott B. adds, "We were in site 4 on the lake. Beautiful view! Grounds could use some updating but we really enjoyed our stay here."

Clean facilities: Despite some maintenance issues, campgrounds maintain clean bathrooms and sites. "Nice park due for upgrades in my opinion," observes Amanda F. about Trace State Park Campground. Sue S. agrees: "We loved the park. Great for walking our dogs. The only issue was the poor road maintenance in getting to our campsite."

Peace and quiet: The rural setting provides a serene camping experience. Liz R. enthusiastically reports, "We're so happy that we drove 20 minutes off the interstate to get here! Such a wonderful place!" Mike B. from Moon Lake Farm concurs: "This is a very peaceful stop with 30 amp power and water available. Well kept and very nice host."

What you should know

Road conditions: Multiple reviews mention deteriorating park roads. Amanda F. warns, "Trace state park is very nice and relaxing. From fishing, kayaking to camping. The roads in the park are terrible! That's the one downside to the park." Will G. also notes, "access roads need replacing."

Cell service limitations: Remote locations may have connectivity issues. Will G. mentions "sketchy cell service" at Bryant Campground, where Caleb reports amenities are "Good but basic. All basic amenities including shower."

Seasonal closures: Some facilities close during winter months or for maintenance. During the COVID period, Mary D. noted, "Bath facilities were COVID closed. But, level sites." Call ahead to confirm which amenities are currently available, especially during off-peak seasons.

Tips for camping with families

Dog-friendly options: Many campgrounds welcome pets with specific restrictions. Sue S. shares, "We loved the park. Great for walking our dogs." Always keep pets leashed on trails and in campground areas.

Basic versus full-service sites: Plum Point Campground provides more rustic camping with limited hookups, described by Caleb as a "Goodspot surrounded by rednecks." For families needing more amenities, Trace offers full hookups.

Proximity to services: Most horse camps are relatively remote. When staying at Moon Lake Farm, Mike B. appreciated that "John communicated with us perfectly. The land and lake are beautiful." Bring necessary supplies as convenience stores may be 15+ miles away from some campgrounds.

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: For RVers seeking full hookups, options vary by campground. At Paynatha Trail Head Camp, no hookups are available as it's a free dispersed camping area, while Moon Lake Farm offers "30 amp power and water available" according to Mike B.

Site leveling: Concrete pads at some campgrounds provide level parking. Will G. notes about Trace State Park: "not much level space between camper pads." RVers should bring leveling blocks for sites with uneven terrain.

Size restrictions: Not all campgrounds accommodate large rigs. Moon Lake Farm has limited capacity with only 2 sites and is noted as "not big-rig-friendly" in their amenities list, while Bryant Campground is specifically listed as "big-rig-friendly" with full hookup options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near University, MS?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near University, MS is Fords Well Horse Camp with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near University, MS?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near University, MS, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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