Really nice rest area in Mississippi

[pamerica]

This place is a gem.  Seems about halfway between Hattiesburg and Gulfport, MS, on Rt 49.    Rest area, 24 hour armed security (and they are dedicated and serious), with picnic tables, pavilions, trees, info center.  Bright enough at night to feel safe.  Very nice and green spot.  Lots of room for you and any pups to stretch your legs.  

 This place and people are Good.  You can access it from either direction, and it is just on one side.  What makes this extra special....their Southern Hospitality lets you stay here 72 hours.  They will be watching you. In a nice way, to be sure you are all right. And of course, to see any problems.  They balance niceness with alertness.  They also keep very frequent contact with the state police.

Just 2 miles away for WalMart, gas, restaurants, laundry, other shopping.  3 miles away is an all-year county park with a seasonal water park, large lake, camping.  Camping costs are on the high side, but you can pay a $3.50 entry fee and take a shower plus enjoy the park for the day.  There is also an RV dump there, $5.  Swim, boat, hike, enjoy the sandy beach.  It is really pretty and big.  I traveled 3 miles into the park for the outermost camping area to take my shower. That was recommended by the desk person when I checked in.  I was proud of myself for being all alone out there and taking a shower, yet! 

 There are other showers closer to the entrance.  3 camp grounds in this park...the one closest to the entrance and lake was well-occupied.  The park is rustic and country.  I had a good time in Mississippi.

I am feeling protective of this area.  PM me if you want to know exactly where.  I am only mentioning this here, because I learned of it from review at another site.  Pass it forward...sometimes I wonder if I should, like now.  :huh:  If you are reading this...I must say a shout out to Bob Wells....your site has been so valuable to me, I feel a need to contribute where I can.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Rest area, 24 hour armed security

A rest area with 24 hour armed security?

That's a first for me....

:huh:

 

[pamerica]

Hi.  And it does not feel at all weird.  They are at the front, greeting visitors, helping where they can.  Great place.  And I haven't been to any yet, but I hear there are many Florida rest areas with armed security.

 

[CautionToTheWind]

Raised the bar on rest area by the sounds of it.

 

[pamerica]

Okay, I am going to tell you the rest of it and the best of it.  Yes, CautionToTheWind,  you are correct, I believe it raises the bar on rest areas.

After you stay 72 hours, all you have to do is exit the parking lot, go down the road to Walmart for example, turn around and you can stay for another 72 hours.  

This is a little town, but it has very many businesses throughout the pretty, treed, southern town with so very nice people.  And resilient. They told me about Katrina, how nobody thinks about Mississippi. And that they also experienced much devastation, but they took care of each other and themselves.

I really didn't feel comfortable divulging this, but because a kind soul told me about it, I was able to get a very much needed break. A break mentally, physically, financially.  I stayed there five days.  And I never wanted to leave. This rest area is very beautiful and comfortable.  

May as well take this a little further.  A few miles down the road you will encounter the beautiful Gulf Shore.  Between there and Biloxi, there are a number of casinos, where you may park for free either on the beach or right across the street from it.  You probably could spend the rest of your life going back and forth among these beautiful places, free.  For those of you who have never seen the Gulf in this area, it is a Wow.