Best Camping in Mississippi

By Alex Murphy

Mississippi is a staple of the South with a mix of history and historic towns and easy access to the beach and Gulf of Mexico. The state is named after the Mississippi River, which is part of many destinations in the state.

Here's a look at all the great camping spots the Magnolia State has to offer.

See a map of all camping in Mississippi.

Mississippi State Parks

There are 24 Mississippi State Parks, most of which are focused on boating, fishing, and camping in Mississippi.

Buccaneer State Park is located right on the state's coast and provides camping steps away from the beach. The popular destination sees visitors year-round. In addition to camping, it also has a water park.

In the Appalachian foothills, Tishomingo State Park is a heavily wooded park with easy access to hiking and rock climbing located in the northeast corner of the state.

For those looking to boat and fish, Percy Quin State Park is set on Lake Tangipahoa.

RV Parks in Mississippi

Many RV Parks in Mississippi enable visitors to get close to the Mississippi River and stay near popular city destinations with historic downtowns like Jackson and Oxford.

Ameristar RV Park in Vicksburg is steps away from the Mississippi River and close to nearby amenities.

For anyone looking to visit Jackson or is passing through the state, Wendy Oaks RV Resort is just outside city limits.

Ole Miss fans or anyone looking to stay in Oxford will have to travel a little outside the city to a Sunrise RV Resort spot.

National Parks in Mississippi

While the state only has 44 miles of coastline, visitors can find some of the best camping in Mississippi along the coast in places like Gulf Islands National Seashore. The park has several fun spots to check out on its barrier islands. There's also camping within the park, including Davis Bayou Campground.

A popular road trip destination for anyone stopping in Mississippi is the Natchez Trace Parkway. The scenic highway runs from Nashville, Tennessee, through Alabama and ends in the southwest corner of the Mississippi along the Mississippi River.

Free Camping in Mississippi

A lot of free camping in Mississippi can be found in casino parking lots, enticing visitors to try their hand at gambling. Some will even get you close to the Gulf, like Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort.

Other options include numerous National Forest spots in the state like Bethel Bicycle Trailhead in De Soto National Forest, or the Jeff Busby Campground, which is the perfect stop for anyone driving the Natchez Trace Parkway.

National Forests in Mississippi

Mississippi has a long list of National Forests, and each is unique to its region.

• Bienville National Forest is located centrally in the state and is known for its thick pine forests.
• Delta National Forest is in the floodplain of the Mississippi River near Vicksburg and is known for its marshland.
• De Soto National Forest is in the southeast corner of the state, not far from the gulf, and is mostly made up of rolling hills of pine trees.
• Holly Springs National Forest is also a thick pine forest located outside Oxford, MS, and just south of the Tennessee border.
• Homochitto National Forest is in the southeast corner of the state. The area is named for the Homochitto River that runs through the forest, and allows for fishing and boating.
• Tombigbee National Forest is home to thick pine forests in northeastern Mississippi, not far from Alabama.