Campgrounds and RV parks near Forest, MS

Roosevelt State Park is the main draw. The park is centered on Shadow Lake, a 150-acre spring-fed lake offering fishing and water sports, with the lake stocked with bass, crappie, bream, and catfish. The park also offers a seasonal swimming pool, disc golf, tennis courts, playgrounds, and marked nature trails, plus a boat launch and kayak rentals. Inside Bienville National Forest, Marathon Lake surrounds a 50-acre lake in Smith County stocked with catfish, bass, crappie, and bream. Anglers, hikers, and horseback riders also use the 23-mile Shockaloe Trail, a nationally recognized loop trail listed in the National Register of Trails. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort locations, expect pools, playgrounds, and scheduled kids' activities, useful for parents planning a shorter RV trip.

Central Mississippi has a humid subtropical climate. The region experiences hot, humid summers and mild winters, making spring and fall the most comfortable seasons for camping. Summer highs regularly push into the 90s Fahrenheit, and afternoon thunderstorms are common from June through August. Peak family bookings run from Memorial Day through early August, so lakefront sites at Roosevelt State Park fill weeks in advance. Seasonal openings vary. At Roosevelt State Park, both the R.O. Hannah and CCC campgrounds phase in for the main season during early spring, with staggered opening dates for each loop. In the national forest, Marathon Lake Campground is open March through December and Shockaloe Base Camps are available from April to October. Winter camping is possible but limited. The area rarely sees snow, but ice on the roads is a possibility during the winter months, and wet leaves coating the road can also make for slippery driving. Hurricane remnants can push heavy rain inland in late summer and early fall.

Roosevelt State Park is the most polished option. The park has 110 renovated RV campsites with picnic tables and grills, and all sites have 50-amp, 30-amp, and 20-amp electricity, sewer, and water. Campground roads and RV pads are paved, and all pads are within easy access to a central sewage dumping station and a bathhouse with hot showers. Rig-size limits matter. All sites at both of Roosevelt's campgrounds are back-in, and with some spots, especially at the more tightly-packed CCC Campground, maneuvering in may require patience, though rigs under the 40-foot park limit should not have much of a problem. Bienville National Forest sites are more primitive. Most dispersed sites in the region offer few amenities, so come with full tanks and plan for humidity and insects.