With 24 state parks spread out all across the state, Mississippi offers plenty of opportunities to plan an exciting outdoor adventure. With the state’s temperate weather and opportunity to view an abundance of stunning flora and fauna year-round, any time is a good time to get outdoors. Clarcko State Park, not far from Meridian, makes for the perfect spot to start an adventure. Here are the best things to do in and around the park!
Clarkco State Park is located south of Meridian and north of Quitman off of Highway 145. The park is 815 acres of beautiful woodlands and gently-sloped hills, with a 65 acre lake, disc golf course, picnic pavilions, splash pad, and more.
Clarkco State Park features a five-mile nature trail that circles the park. Stroll the trail at your own leisure—it's sectioned into half-mile segments, so you don't have to commit to the whole five miles at once if you don't want to. With wooden bridges and well-marked paths, this is an ideal hike for the whole family.
View this post on Instagram
As you're strolling along the nature trail, make your way to the north end of the lake. Here, you'll find an observation tower that allows you a bird's-eye view of the entire park. You'll absolutely love the stunning perspective of Ivy Lake from atop the tower.
One of the best features of Clarkco State Park is the wide variety of camping options available. Whether you enjoy primitive tent camping, RV camping, or you'd prefer to relax in a a furnished, air-conditioned cabin or cottage, Clarkco State Park has exactly what you're looking for.
If you're looking for something to do outside of the park, consider heading to the Causeyville General Store in Meridian. The site began as a Native American trading post in 1869 and opened in 1895 as a general store and gristmill. Many of the original fixtures are still in place, and the gristmill is still used to produce corn meal that is sold on site.
Trail mix and hot dogs over the campfire are fun for awhile, but if you're going to camp for a couple of days, you might want to venture into town for a meal or two. Mimmo's Ristorante Pizzeria is known for having authentic, delicious Italian food. Their extensive menu covers pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and more.
Dunn's Falls Water Park is about 20 minutes away from Clarkco State Park. This stunning park lies on the Chunky River and features a 65-foot waterfall that was created by John Dunn. The park is named in his honor and is a popular spot for swimming, fishing, hiking, and more.
Fans of country music and history buffs alike will love visiting the Jimmie Rodgers Museum in Meridian. Jimmie Rodgers is often called "The Father of Country Music" and he was one of the first people to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Take a trip back in time as you view special artifacts from this influential musician's life.
