Ross Barnett/Timberlake Campground

Book an RV in Rankin County, and you can begin your journey by heading for Bienville National Forest, a year-round outdoor recreation area where you can go hiking or horseback riding, camping, or fishing. One of the forest's premier trails for hikers and equestrians takes you to a higher elevation where you have unobstructed views of the surrounding area; other trails will lead you through an old-growth forest. A modern campground renovated from a former logging camp has water and electrical hookups, as well as sunrises and sunsets that are to die for. Bienville's Marathon Lake offers quality fishing, or you can enjoy a relaxing picnic while taking in the scenery of the lake and forest. Park your RV rental nearby, and you can take your catch straight from the lake to the fridge.

Delta National Forest is a multi-use area that provides habitat for migrating bird species, timber resources, and public recreation opportunities. It's located near Vicksburg and has hardwood bottomland forests, wetlands, and small sloughs draining into the Big and Little Sunflower rivers. Bird watchers will be enthralled by the numerous species of birds that either reside here, migrate through, or spend the winter. The park has miles upon miles of trails you can use for hiking or riding an ATV, and there are campsites if you should decide to stay overnight with the Brandon motorhome rental.

Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge is a nature lover's haven, with a wide variety of mammal, reptile, and bird species on hand. Hunting is allowed in the park for white-tailed deer, squirrels, and raccoons, but other non-game species are residing here too, such as the Louisiana black bear. The wetland areas are home to alligators and frogs, while snakes and some lizard species prefer the dry upland areas. Fishing is allowed in the lakes, sloughs, and bayous that accompany the Tensas River; the refuge also has cropland areas that produce food for the resident wildlife. You can come here to go paddling (canoeing or kayaking), although you will need to bring your own equipment or make rental arrangements in advance. The refuge has several established paddling trails that take you through as many different ecosystems as possible. Tensas also has interpretation and educational programs that are open to the public.

Once you've had your fill of the outdoors, it's time to explore some of the history and culture of the area. Flowood is a small city with several parks and a public golf course, an antique flea market you can browse through, and several amusement-style parks, one of which focuses on remote-controlled dirt racing. There's a shooting range for adults that allows you to rent rifles, and a wellness center for those seeking quieter relaxation. Flowood has an impressive dining scene with venues ranging from inexpensive and moderately priced to fine dining; it even has a drive-in restaurant that offers quick & cheap lunches during the day and finer dining choices in the evening but still with the drive-in vibe.

Richland is another small city with a friendly atmosphere and some history. If you stop here, check out the little red schoolhouse, which was also the birthplace of the Order of the Eastern Star. Richland's restaurant scene is impressive for a small locale, with moderately priced to more expensive establishments and lots of locally owned and operated venues. You'll have your choice of seafood, Japanese, Mexican, barbecue, a few delis, and more.

Whether it's small-town ambiance or big-city flash, cultivated parks, or rugged outdoors that you want, it's nice to know that you can return to the comforts of your campsite at Timberlake Campground when the day is done.