Campgrounds and RV parks near Waveland, MS

The Gulf shoreline is the main draw. Waveland and Bay St. Louis share a paved beach path along the water, linking piers, restaurants, and small breweries. Buccaneer State Park sits in a lush natural setting of moss-draped oaks, marshlands, and the Gulf, featuring Buccaneer Bay, a 4.5-acre waterpark, plus a nature trail, disc golf course, and scenic campsites. The 1.8-mile, self-guided trail encompasses many species of oaks, magnolia, pines, and a variety of indigenous plants, where visitors may spot brown and white pelicans, egrets, osprey, or feeding blue crabs. Anglers can surf-fish from the beach or launch kayaks into nearby bayous. The Par 3, 18-hole disc golf course is set on the natural backdrop of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, is designed to challenge avid players while remaining accessible to beginners, and requires only the normal park entrance fee. For rainy afternoons or evenings, Hollywood Casino and Silver Slipper Casino provide indoor entertainment, dining, and live events within a few minutes of most campgrounds.

Spring and fall are the sweet spots for RV travel on this stretch of coast. March through May brings warm days and manageable humidity. The least amount of rainfall occurs in November, when rain falls for about 6.7 days and typically collects less than an inch of precipitation. Summer is peak family season because school is out and the Buccaneer Bay waterpark is running, but heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms are constant companions. August is the month with the most rainfall in Waveland, with rain falling roughly 22 days and accumulating around 4.45 inches of precipitation. Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November and peaks in August and September, so travelers should monitor National Hurricane Center advisories and be prepared to reposition. Over 17,000 trees and varied vegetation were destroyed by the high winds and tidal surge of Hurricane Katrina, and the landscape at Buccaneer has since regrown. Winter is mild by North American standards and popular with snowbirds. Pools and the waterpark are closed, but campgrounds stay open and reservations are easier to secure outside of holiday weekends.

Most developed sites at Buccaneer feature concrete or paved pads with water, sewer, and 30/50 amp electricity, and the park's 44 Gulf View sites include large awnings, patios, and lighted pedestals. Full-hookup loops are grouped into named sections, with beachfront rows closest to the Gulf and interior loops set back among the oaks. Park roads accommodate larger Class A coaches, though some interior turns are tight and portions are one-way. Shade is variable. Oaks cover many interior sites, while beachfront rows are more open and exposed to sun and wind. Mosquitoes and no-see-ums can be aggressive at dusk from spring through fall, so screens and repellent are essential. Cell coverage is generally solid across the major carriers. Wi-Fi at parks is inconsistent, and freight-train noise carries into some loops near the rail corridor behind the beachfront campgrounds.