Turkey Fork Recreation Area
National Forests in Mississippi — lakeside
Location: Richton, MS, MS
Price: From $20 per night
Price range: $20–$40 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (45 reviews)
Season: May through October
Turkey Fork Recreation Area is the most popular recreation area on the DeSoto National Forest and one of the most visited outdoor recreation areas in south Mississippi, offering three bathhouses, a picnic area, two swim areas, a boat ramp, a floating pier, 20 RV campsites, and 8 primitive camping sites, which surround a 240-acre lake The lake is stocked with catfish, bass, and bluegill. Recreational opportunities at Turkey Fork include fishing, water sports, camping, picnicking and hiking. With
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Showers, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/turkey-fork-recreation-area to be notified when sites open up.
Turkey Fork Recreation Area is the most popular recreation area on the DeSoto National Forest with a 240-acre lake stocked with catfish, bass, and bluegill. Campers praise it as a well-maintained national forest campground with nice RV sites and beautiful lake views.
Wildlife alert: Bald Eagle, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, and Gopher Tortoise documented in the area
Insider tips for Turkey Fork Recreation Area: Book early—this is a federal campground and highly popular Only about 10 of 21 sites can be booked online; call ahead for availability Dump station available on-site despite no sewer hookups at most sites Richton is only 15 miles away for groceries, fuel, and fast food
Skip Turkey Fork Recreation Area if: You need sewer hookups—only electric hookups available on select sites. You prefer year-round camping—seasonal operations May through October only. You want full hookups—water and electric available on some sites only.
Best time to visit Turkey Fork Recreation Area: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Nearby campgrounds: Cypress Creek Landing (Brooklyn, MS), Lock 1 (Demopolis, AL), Service (Silas, AL), Big Biloxi Recreation Area (Saucier, MS).
Cell Phone Coverage at Turkey Fork Recreation Area
Cell signal at Turkey Fork Recreation Area (Richton, MS): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
Turkey Fork Recreation Area is the most popular recreation area on the DeSoto National Forest and one of the most visited outdoor recreation areas in south Mississippi, offering three bathhouses, a picnic area, two swim areas, a boat ramp, a floating pier, 20 RV campsites, and 8 primitive camping sites, which surround a 240-acre lake The lake is stocked with catfish, bass, and bluegill. Recreational opportunities at Turkey Fork include fishing, water sports, camping, picnicking and hiking. With all these opportunites, a visit to Turkey Fork Recreation Area will provide its visitors with an enjoyable outdoor experience and memories to take home.
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 entryBook early
this is a federal campground and highly popular
Only about 10 of 21 sites can be booked online; call ahead for availability
Dump station available on-site despite no sewer hookups at most sites
Richton is only 15 miles away for groceries, fuel, and fast food
Campground operates seasonally during these months only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Hattiesburg Travel East on U.S. Hwy. 42 approximately 21 miles to Richton. From Richton continue east on Hwy. 42 approximately 12 miles to Sandhill. From Laurel Travel South on Hwy. 15 approximately 27 miles to Richton. Turn left onto U.S. Hwy. 42 and travel 12 miles to Sandhill. From Mobile, Alabama Drive approximately 55 miles on U.S. Hwy. 45 North to the MS-AL state lines and travel west on Hwy. 42 for 19 miles to Mississippi County Road 232. Turn left (south) and travel two miles to Tur
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 Turkey Fork Recreation Area cost per night?+
What season is Turkey Fork Recreation Area open?+
Does Turkey Fork Recreation Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Turkey Fork Recreation Area?+
How do I make reservations at Turkey Fork Recreation Area?+
What is the cell service like at Turkey Fork Recreation Area?+
What season is Turkey Fork Recreation Area open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.