Pretty Penny Adventures

Chewalla Lake, Mississippi – A Hidden Gem in Need of a Little Polish

Chewalla Lake, nestled in the heart of a Mississippi national forest, was our planned overnight stop on the way to Hot Springs, Arkansas. The campground, though small, sat in a truly beautiful setting—quiet, shaded, and surrounded by towering trees.

Aside from two lone tent campers, we had the place to ourselves. The camp host, a kind-hearted 70-year-old man and his wife, were volunteers who had been living there for two years. They shared that the campground had recently reopened in 2023 after being closed for a period of time.

While the location itself was serene, it bore the signs of neglect. Many campsites were overgrown or simply unusable, and the access road was rough and rutted from past washouts. The park, while clearly once well-designed, seemed to have been forgotten by funding and maintenance crews somewhere along the way.

Still, there were highlights. We enjoyed complete privacy and the peaceful hush of the woods. The forest provided much-needed shade, and the lake—especially at sunrise—was a real treat (according to Julie, not Tara, who firmly does not do sunrises).

Chewalla Lake is a gem, no doubt, but one tucked away in a dusty drawer, waiting for someone to rediscover its worth.