Tishomingo State Park, one of the best known treasures of Tishomingo County has been recognized as one of the ten best state parks for camping in the entire country, according to a story this week in USA Today.

According to the story, “the United States is home to more than 10,000 state parks, attracting more than 700 million annual visitors. As more and more travelers seek the open road and open spaces, those numbers have continued to grow.”

To find the 10 best state parks for camping, a panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the winners were determined by popular vote.

New RV campground improvements

By September, 25 of the Park’s RV campsites will be upgraded, when a $1.1 million project is completed.

Campsites number 38-62 are being refurbished to feature newly poured, larger concrete pads, upgraded power connections, and new picnic tables and grills at each site. The pads were 10 feet by 30 feet, and now are 10’ x 45’. Additionally, the sites are graded to be more level, and three are handicapped accessible. 

Before the project, if you stepped off the camper pad, you had to step down, often quite far, the surrounding ground had washed away so badly over the decades.

The renovated sites are the ones furthest down the campground road, to the west and north side of Haynes Lake, where campers fish, canoe, and watch local ducks and geese.

Pads 1-36 are still available to rent, ensured Barkse, throughout the construction period.

The campground renovations were designed by local engineering firm Dean McRae Engineering, and the contractor on the site is Cook and Sons.

The Park averages 73,000 visitors a year from all over North America and beyond.