Camping in Mississippi: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Mississippi's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from February to May and from October to December, with average highs of 60 to 84 F and lows of 40 to 63 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from November to March, most often in January, when they average 11.9 a month. State park sites are booked through Mississippi State Parks reservation system, up to twelve months ahead.
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The best months for camping in Mississippi
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Mississippi is mild February to May and October to December. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan57° / 38°Freezing nights
- Feb62° / 41°Freezing nights
- Mar68° / 47°Freezing nights
- Apr76° / 54°Mild
- May84° / 63°Mild
- Jun90° / 70°Hot
- Jul91° / 73°Hot
- Aug92° / 73°Hot
- Sep88° / 67°Hot
- Oct78° / 55°Mild
- Nov67° / 45°Freezing nights
- Dec60° / 40°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Gulfportelevation 42 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January (mild) | 61 F | 42 F | 7 |
| February (mild) | 65 F | 46 F | 3.2 |
| March (mild) | 70 F | 52 F | 0.7 |
| April (mild) | 77 F | 58 F | 0 |
| May (mild) | 84 F | 66 F | 0 |
| June | 89 F | 73 F | 0 |
| July | 90 F | 75 F | 0 |
| August | 91 F | 75 F | 0 |
| September | 88 F | 71 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 80 F | 60 F | 0 |
| November (mild) | 70 F | 49 F | 1 |
| December (mild) | 64 F | 45 F | 4 |
Jacksonelevation 296 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57 F | 37 F | 12.4 |
| February (mild) | 62 F | 40 F | 8.1 |
| March (mild) | 69 F | 46 F | 3 |
| April (mild) | 77 F | 53 F | 0.1 |
| May (mild) | 84 F | 62 F | 0 |
| June | 90 F | 69 F | 0 |
| July | 92 F | 72 F | 0 |
| August | 92 F | 72 F | 0 |
| September | 88 F | 66 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 78 F | 54 F | 0.2 |
| November (mild) | 67 F | 44 F | 4.8 |
| December | 60 F | 39 F | 11.1 |
Tupeloelevation 361 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53 F | 34 F | 16.2 |
| February | 58 F | 37 F | 11.2 |
| March (mild) | 66 F | 44 F | 5.1 |
| April (mild) | 75 F | 52 F | 0.5 |
| May (mild) | 83 F | 61 F | 0 |
| June | 90 F | 69 F | 0 |
| July | 92 F | 72 F | 0 |
| August | 92 F | 71 F | 0 |
| September | 87 F | 64 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 77 F | 52 F | 0.5 |
| November (mild) | 64 F | 42 F | 6.6 |
| December | 56 F | 36 F | 13.8 |
How to book a state park campsite in Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks takes reservations through Mississippi State Parks reservation system. The longest advance booking its page states is twelve months.
How far ahead you can book
Reservations may be made no more than 12 months in advance of the current date. Full payment is required at the time reservation is made.MDWFP, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
First come, first served sites
Facilities not reserved in advance are available to visitors who come directly to the park. Walk-in and drive-up users are welcome without a reservation.MDWFP, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Cancellations
Cancellation of more than 7 days from reservation arrival, minus a $8.00 non-refundable reservation fee.MDWFP, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in Mississippi
Dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated fee required campground or recreation area. The National Forests in Mississippi welcomes dispersed camping in all forests.USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in Mississippi
Campfires in state parks and forests
No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use a fire other than in the places provided or designated for such purposes. In seasons of unusual dryness or excessive fire danger, fires may be prohibited anywhere within the park property by the park manager. Burn bans will be enforced.MDWFP, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires on national forest and BLM land
Please use existing sites and fire rings. Wood permits are not needed for usage on the forest.USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
The County Board of Supervisors normally requests burn bans, and the Mississippi Forestry Commission approves the requests.Mississippi Forestry Commission, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: Mississippi Forestry Commission.
Mississippi camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Mississippi. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.