Grand Gulf Military Park

PRO

Senior discount- saved $10 for 2 nights

No prepayment required when phone reservations made 154 days prior to arriving 

7 miles off of US61 

Good jumping off spot for Natchez Trace and Vicksburg Battlefield 

Friendly and helpful staff 

Firewood delivered to campsite by staff for $5 

Very quiet 

Moveable metal frame wooden picnic table 

Metal fire ring (only in upper loop) without cooking grate 

Some shade 

Level site #12 

Entrance gate locked overnight 

Upper loop 3/4 occupied; lower loop no occupants Thursday or Friday night 

CONS 

Street lights in campground 

Campsite is selected from whatever is available upon your arrival, so you have to drive around and look for your site

Gate locked earlier than 5pm as we were told it would be locked at 5pm, but upon arriving at 445pm and it was locked! 

No campfires permitted in lower loop and that’s where the sites have the most shade Site#12 got covered with about 2 inches of mud upon a rain storm 

Tiny grocery store in Port Gibson; otherwise it’s a trip to Vicksburg for the closest Walmart 

Port Gibson had a McDonalds, Sonic and Pizza Hut(take out only) 

1 bar Verizon 

No WiFi

This park/campground is about 8 miles west of the town of Port Gibson, near a nuclear reactor (yes, you heard that right). This park is not on the way to anywhere (except the nuclear reactor) and we were apprehensive as we followed the GPS directions but upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised by a park filled with history. Unfortunately for us, the campground was full as the nearby reactor was being refueled and all the employees were either camped out along the road or in the park. Also, the Mississippi River had risen to the road, coming very close to flooding the park. For future reference, the camping fees are very reasonable ($25 or $23 for 62 and older) for a FHU site. There is also an area for tents, although I did not ask the fee for this. There are two camping areas – an upper and lower campground and one small bathhouse that is located in the Upper Campground (one toilet and sink and two shower stalls). I would think one night here would be enough, but if you are a history buff, this destination should be on your list. 

The town of Grand Gulf boasted nearly 1,000 residents by the mid-1800s but then yellow fever, a tornado, and massive floods reduced the population to 158 by the time the Civil War arrived in the area. Features include a church, mill, old cemetery, observation tower, gun emplacements, rifle pits.