Marathon Lake
National Forests in Mississippi — lakeside
Location: Raleigh, MS, MS
Price: From $5 per night
Price range: $5–$20 per night
Rating: 5 out of 5 (7 reviews)
Season: May through October
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/marathon-lake to be notified when sites open up.
Marathon Lake is a highly-rated federal campground (4.3/5 stars) praised by campers for being quiet, private, and well-kept. Amenities include a boat launch, lake trail, flush toilets, showers, and fire rings at an affordable $5/night.
Wildlife alert: Timber Rattlesnake present in area. Also common: raccoons, gray foxes, wild turkeys, red-bellied woodpeckers, and white-throated sparrows.
Insider tips for Marathon Lake: First-come, first-served basis only—arrive in person to claim sites Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to pay via QR code Scan and Pay feature No cell service within 20 miles—plan accordingly Lake trail circumnavigates the entire lake for hiking
Skip Marathon Lake if: You need RV hookups—most sites have no hookups available. You require cell service—none available within 20 miles. You prefer advance reservations—first-come, first-served only.
Best time to visit Marathon Lake: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Shockaloe Trail Bc 1 (Forest, MS), West Bank Shelter (Okatibbee) (Collinsville , MS), Twiltley Branch (COLLINSVILLE, MS), East Bank Shelter (Okatibbee) (COLLINSVILLE, MS).
Cell Phone Coverage at Marathon Lake
Cell signal at Marathon Lake (Raleigh, MS): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryFirst-come, first-served basis only
arrive in person to claim sites
Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to pay via QR code Scan and Pay feature
No cell service within 20 miles
plan accordingly
Lake trail circumnavigates the entire lake for hiking
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Forest, go south on Hwy 35 for 8.5 miles to Homewood. Turn east on Morton-Marathon Road and go 9 miles. Turn south on Forest Service Road 520 and go ½ mile to entrance. Another route would be to go south on Hwy 501. Turn east on Morton-Marathon Rd. and go 3 ½ miles. Turn onto FS Rd 520 and go ½ mile to entrance. From Raleigh, go north on Hwy 35 for 15 miles to Homewood and follow same directions above from Homewood. An alternate route is to take Hwy 18 east to Hwy 501; go north 15 miles: tu
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — National Forests in Mississippi fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at National Forests in Mississippi before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Marathon Lake cost per night?+
What season is Marathon Lake open?+
Does Marathon Lake have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Marathon Lake?+
How do I make reservations at Marathon Lake?+
What is the cell service like at Marathon Lake?+
What season is Marathon Lake open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
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