Lake Tom Bailey Campground

The Great Outdoors

RV rentals in Lauderdale County are your opportunity to experience Mississippi in a way that no hotel could ever match. Start your road trip by heading to De Soto National Forest near Hattiesburg. De Soto is open to the public year-round and is characterized by rolling hills of southern pine tree stands, tea-colored streams dividing the landscape, dry, sandy longleaf pine/scrub oak ridges, and by flooded tupelo/bald cypress swamps, just to name a few of the ecosystems. The park has trails for hiking and ATV riders and primitive camping along the Black Creek National Scenic River, which divides De Soto; there are outlets where you can rent canoes and kayaks to ride the river. De Soto National Forest is a little far from Lake Tom Bailey and might best be experienced as a day or overnight RV camping trip.Okatibbee State Wildlife Area is centered around Okatibbee Lake in the hilly regions of east-central Mississippi and is primarily used for hunting deer, squirrel, and waterfowl. The lake was originally created by Army engineers in 1968 to control water quality and supply and to prevent or control flooding. The area around the park has bottomland and upland tree stands and open marshland along the lake's northern shoreline; the marsh is a habitat for beaver while the lake is home to the American alligator. Bird watchers can see bald eagles which spend winter within the park's confines; park your RV rental nearby, and you can use it as a nature or photography blind with all the creature comforts of home.Bienville National Forest has several distinct regions that are worth visiting; one of them, the Marathon Recreation Area, is built on the site of a former logging camp and has been renovated into a modern campground with electric and water hookups. The area includes Marathon Lake, which has been stocked and improved to offer quality fishing experiences. The other areas include an old-growth forest with hiking trails, and a premium hiking and equestrian trail that is elevated and offers spectacular views of the surrounding area. Bienville is open year-round and is the perfect destination for active or passive activities; you can hike or fish, enjoy a relaxing picnic, observe the nature and wildlife, or take in a sunset from the park's camping sites.

Exploring The Area

You won't want to pass up an opportunity to experience the history and culture of the area while you're here, and the small town of Quitman is a good place to start. The town served as a hospital facility during the Civil War, caring for soldiers from both sides of the conflict. Today the city has a boutique where you can do some shopping (there are more boutiques in nearby Meridian) and a number of churches and small buildings that provide a scenic blend of architecture and nature. There is a good selection of restaurants to choose from when it's time to refuel.Lauderdale is another small town where you can relax and bask in your adventures. Most of the restaurants here are of the commercial fast-food variety and offer good food at reasonable prices (as well as the chance to let someone else do the cooking for an afternoon or evening). One of the locally owned and operated venues is a diner specializing in barbecue.Experience the scenery, culture, and tranquil atmosphere of east-central Mississippi when you rent an RV near Meridian, MS, and set up camp at Lake Tom Bailey Campground.