If you’re planning a trip and looking for the best state parks in Mississippi to visit, you’re in the right place! We have carefully selected some of the most beautiful places in the state that we highly recommend you check out.
Whether you are looking for the best places to camp, planning an action-packed day trip, a family getaway or even a romantic escape in a cabin, we’ve listed all the most fun and spectacular places for you to visit!
Did you know? Mississippi is named after the Ojibwe words for ‘great river’! The Mississippi River is truly a great river, a grand spectacle that flows along the state’s western border and through many of the state parks. Mississippi state parks are among the best cared for in the country, with parks offering spectacular hiking trails, picnic sites, and fishing spots. Many of the parks are also steeped in rich cultural and archaeological history. There really is something for everyone in Mississippi’s gorgeous state parks!
With glorious weather for much of the year and so much to offer, if you love nature, you will have a hard time narrowing down which of these beautiful state parks in Mississippi to add to your itinerary!
14 Best State Parks In Mississippi You Must Visit
Tishomingo State Park
Tishomingo State Park is located in the northeast corner of Mississippi in the foothills of the stunning Appalachian Mountains. Giant, moss-covered boulders strewn through the hillside, spectacular caverns of ancient ferns and an array of stunning wildflowers make Tishomingo one of the best state parks in MS! We love Tishomingo State Park so much it’s even made our list of the best things to do in Mississippi – the ultimate bucket list!
You will also have plenty to do, with fishing, hiking, camping, and boat launch ramps available (bring your own boat!), making a day at Tishomingo an exciting adventure! If you’re looking for a longer stay, cabins and basic camping sites are also available in the park (bookings recommended), as well as nearby vacation rentals. All cabins are heated and have furnished kitchens, with bed linen and bath towels provided.
By the way, archaeological excavations have proven human activity at Tishomingo State Park as far back as 9000 years ago! A trip to Tishomingo State Park is a trip through remarkable beauty and rich history in one of the best state parks in Mississippi. Don’t miss it!
Buccaneer State Park
Buccaneer State Park has some of the best recreational options of any state parks of Mississippi, including nearly 300 camping sites!
One of the coolest things about Buccaneer State Park is that this area was teeming with pirates in the 1700s! Get around it! These days, it’s home to Buccaneer Bay Water Park with a wave pool, as well as a nature trail, playground, disc golf, and more! Buccaneer Bay Water Park has seasonal opening days and hours so if you’re keen to spend some time here, definitely check before you go! Fees to enter the park depend on the time of year, time of day, and your height, but there is also plenty to do for free outside the water park, including fishing, swimming, or searching for long-lost buried treasure!
Buccaneer State Park has a couple of different camping options, including 206 premium campsites plus 70 campsites overlooking the Gulf of Mexico! Being only 50 miles from New Orleans means Buccaneer State Park is a great place to visit at any time of the year.
Clarkco State Park
Clarkco State Park is a pristine wilderness set across over 800 acres of sprawling woodlands. It is the perfect place for a weekend getaway, with a range of camping options for every budget!
Just south of Meridian and near the Alabama border, Clarkco State Park offers a range of fantastic outdoor activities including disc golf, picnic pavilions, tennis courts and a splash pad! It’s a great spot for fishing, especially if you have a boat, with a boat launch available! Of course, it wouldn’t be one of the best state parks in Mississippi without a fantastic nature trail too!
If you’re looking to stay the night, Clarkco State Park offers 43 developed camping sites, seven basic camping sites, 20 cabins and even an adorable vacation cottage! The cottage is fully self-contained and sleeps four. Best of all? It’s set in a quiet spot in the park! Bring your besties for a weekend of fun! Clarkco State Park has been a local favorite for over 80 years, and with so much unspoiled beauty on offer it is easy to see why!
Roosevelt State Park
Roosevelt State Park is the perfect place for a weekend picnic with a lake view to die for, a dedicated visitor’s center, and a range of recreational activities available all year! The best time of year to visit is definitely in the fall when the forest is illuminated with the glory of autumnal colors! However, Roosevelt State Park is great at any time of year, with swimming, water skiing, and boating available. Non-watery activities include disc golf, nature trails, and even a softball field!
Conveniently located between Meridian and Jackson, Roosevelt State Park is also home to a performing arts and media center! If you’re looking for an overnight or weekend stay, with a range of camping options available. Be warned, if you are taking your caravan – some of the camping spots can be really tight to get into! But this will not be a problem for confident RV drivers!
Whatever you are looking to do, you won’t regret stopping in at this timeless Mississippi State Park!
LeFleur’s Bluff State Park
LeFleur’s Bluff is truly one of the great Mississippi state parks, with an abundance of recreational activities and stunning wilderness, right in the heart of Jackson!
One of the best things about LeFleur’s Bluff State Park is the amazing fishing available in Mayes Lake! There are 28 sites available for tents and RV campers, as well as more basic camping options, but all are fully shaded and all camping sites are conveniently located close to the picnic and playground amenities! Also, all the hiking trails here are short, making them suitable for families or beginners. Bird watchers will also love it here at LeFleur’s Bluff State Park!
Did you know the city of Jackson was originally called LeFleur’s Bluff! Louis LeFleur was a French-Canadian explorer who set up a trading post along the Pearl River in the 1700s. There’s so much about LeFleur’s Bluff that will entice, it is one of our very favorite Mississippi state parks!
Paul B Johnson State Park
Paul B Johnson State Park is only a 20 minute drive from the University of Southern Mississippi, making it the perfect place to spend a football weekend!
The spectacular forest at Paul B Johnson State Park is brimming with oaks trees and dogwoods as well as loblolly and long-leaf pines. If you are looking to stay overnight – and why wouldn’t you! – there are heaps of options, including 125 RV campsites, 25 camping sites, cabins, cottages, and even a group camping facility! Grab your mates and immerse yourselves in a weekend of hiking, fishing, disc golf, and swimming! All the accommodation options have views of Geiger Lake and are situated in idyllic forest surroundings. The 1.5 mile Trail of Southern Pines Nature Trail is a beautiful introduction to Mississippi flora and fauna, with two lookout towers providing a fantastic elevated view of the landscape!
Paul B Johnson State Park is without a doubt one of the most beautiful state parks in Mississippi! We know you’ll love it!!
Great River Road State Park
Great River Road State Park is actually located on the shores of the Mississippi River! The Great River Road State Park was actually closed in 2011 and while it has since reopened, the majority of the park has now become a Wildlife Management Area! For the state park, work continues to ensure the park is fully appreciated and optimally utilized.
This means the Great River Road State Park is an undiscovered gem, with fewer visitors than other MS state parks. While the park is now a day-use-only park, meaning it has fewer recreational amenities than other parks and you cannot camp there, the park is spectacular year-round and definitely worth a visit! Fishing enthusiasts will delight in the bass, white perch, and catfish to be caught in Perry Martin Lake, with a jetty and a boat launch available! Visitors will be captivated by the panoramic views of the Mississippi River available from the observation tower!
This delightful state park needs support to ensure it stays open for future generations, and it deserve it! It’s one of our favorites and we know you’ll love it too!
Tombigbee State Park
Tombigbee State Park is a jaw-dropping wilderness beauty. While has lots to offer at any time of the year, visitors in the fall will be blown away by the wonder of this picturesque MS state park. Look at those colours!
For anyone looking to stay overnight (we know you will want to!!) accommodation options include six cabins and a cottage. Camping options are available for both RVs and tents. There’s even a group camp facility! Early risers will love it here, with spectacular views worth getting up early to see! But if you can tear yourself away from sitting and just staring at the exquisite lake views, other things to do in Tombigbee State Park include checking out the 11-mile mountain bike trail, fishing on Lake Lee, volleyball, and disc golf. Hikers will love the nature trails here! Also, every April this beautiful state park hosts the Spring Fling Disc Golf Tournament!
And did you know! Tombigbee State Park is only six miles from Tupelo – home of Elvis Presley’s birthplace! If you’re staying in Tupelo be sure to check out our list of the best restaurants in Tupelo MS you shouldn’t miss!
Lake Lowndes State Park
Lake Lowndes is a must-see! The park is exceptionally well maintained and has a massive array of recreational activities on offer. Plus, it’s so close to two universities (Mississippi University for Women and Mississippi State University) that, just like Paul B Johnson State Park, it is perfect for a football weekend getaway!
Accommodation options at Lake Lowndes State Park are excellent! Over 50 campsites are available in a delightful wooded camping area, as well as two lovely cottages and two cosy cabins! Sporty people will love the softball, tennis and football facilities on offer and even a gym! But there’s also plenty on offer for more traditional park visitors, including disc golf, fishing, and boating facilities.
With so much to offer Lake Lowndes State Park is the perfect vacation spot for bigger groups, but solo travelers, couples, and small groups will also adore this outstanding MS state park!
Legion State Park
The unspoiled wilderness of Legion State Park makes it one of the best state parks to visit in Mississippi! Blissfully quiet and only a short drive from Louisville, Legion State Park is a terrific state park right in the heart of MS.
If you’re looking to stay overnight or for a few days, there are a bunch of different accommodation options to choose from, including five gorgeous cabins and one adorable cottage, all set in this pristine wilderness wonderland! But the best thing about Legion State Park is the amenities available for campers. All 15 sites available for RV campers include water and electricity, as well as barbecues and picnic tables. Did someone say HOT SHOWERS!?
While you’re visiting Legion State Park, you must stop by and see Legion Lodge, a log cabin which was hand-hewn nearly a century ago and is still standing, intact, in its original form! Incredible! Legion State Park is a great place to experience nature at its best, we know you will love it!
JP Coleman State Park
JP Coleman State Park is easily one of the best state parks in Mississippi! Water sports enthusiasts will adore the options available at JP Coleman State Park! From the traditional pursuits of fishing and swimming to even water skiing and sailing, you will not run out of things to do here! Outside of the water, there’s miniature golf, playgrounds and plenty of places to picnic. If you prefer not to swim in the lake, there’s also a swimming pool available!
In terms of accommodation options for those wanting to stay overnight (and you will want to!!), there’s something to fit every budget. JP Coleman State Park has 20 duplex style cabins and three cottages, but also 16 motel rooms and three townhouses! There’s plenty for campers as well, with 69 RV campsites and nine tent sites. Best of all is that all the accommodation sites have views of the breathtaking Pickwick Lake!
JP Coleman sits atop a rocky bluff, with the Tennessee River flowing beneath. What a stunner!
Leroy Percy State Park
No Mississippi itinerary is complete without a visit to Leroy Percy State Park – the oldest state park in MS! You’ll love the mossy oak trees and cypress trees in this ancient forest. Best of all is the artesian springs – did you know that Leroy Percy State Park has Mississippi’s only natural hot spring? Unfortunately, it’s not available to swim in because alligators moved in! But a viewing platform means you can check out the springs AND our scaly friends!
If you’re looking to stay longer than a day, your accommodation options include 16 camping sites in a delightfully wooded camping area, eight cabins and even a group camp that can sleep up to 44 people! That’s one big family reunion! Other recreational activities available at Leroy Percy State Park include disc golf, fishing, nature trails, and a playground.
Like the Great River Road State Park, Leroy Percy State Park also has a dedicated wildlife management area! But do note, seasonal hunting is also popular here in a separate area away from the main areas of the park.
Hugh White State Park
Hugh White State Park is one of the most beautiful state parks in MS, with so many recreational activities on offer! Relax and unwind in this fabulously bright and sunny MS state park!
Situated on Grenada Lake, Hugh White State Park is located in the middle between Jackson and Memphis, a perfect stop for your road trip itinerary! Hugh White State Park is a fishing paradise! Drop a line in here and catch a crappie, bream, bass or even a catfish! If fishing isn’t your jam there’s also golf and disc golf, as well as plenty of picnic areas and a playground to keep you busy!
Accommodation options at Hugh White State Park include 12 duplex cabins overlooking the stunning Grenada Lake, plus a whopping 163 camping sites below the Grenada Lake dam. Hugh White is truly one of the best state parks in Mississippi! We love it and so will you!
Clark Creek State Park
While we love all the State Parks in Mississippi, it is possible we saved the best until last! Clark Creek State Park, located in the south-west, has more than 50 waterfalls across 700 glorious acres! The biggest of these waterfalls is over 30 feet tall! Incredible!
You’ll want to bring your walking shoes and plenty of water for this one, with many nature trails to check out! Access to the park is on foot only, which means there is no accommodation offered and camping is not allowed. While the amenities may be more limited than other parks, the dazzling flora and fauna, as well as the natural beauty of Clark Creek State Park, makes it a nature lover’s paradise. We cannot wait to go back!
Please note!! This beautiful park is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays! Plan your visit carefully to avoid disappointment! And if waterfalls are your jam, be sure to check out our list of stunning waterfalls in Mississippi! Did someone say road trip?!
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