LeFleur's Bluff State Park Mayes Lake
4.5(1.7K)google
3.9(18)yelp
Nature
Overview
LeFleur's Bluff State Park is a public recreation area located on the banks of the Pearl River off Interstate 55 within the city limits of Jackson, Mississippi. The state park is home to a 50-acre (20 ha) lake, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, and the Mississippi Children's Museum.
Practical Info
Mon8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration0.5-1 day
Best TimeIdeal in late autumn (October to November) for peak cypress color transitions or spring for bass fishing. Hit the shoreline of Mayes Lake early between 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM to capture heavy morning fog rising off the water as the sunrise hits the ancient bald cypress knees, creating highly cinematic photography.
Getting ThereA secluded urban oasis strictly accessible by car. From I-55 take Exit 98B, but head east along Lakeland Drive following the standalone brown signs labeled 'Mayes Lake Campground Entrance.' The entrance road winds into dense woods through a self-pay iron gate leading directly to the lakeside gravel lots.
Travel Tips
- The main park entrance gates lock structurally on the minute at sunset; delayed vehicles get trapped overnight and face citations. Exit the Mayes Lake core loop 30 minutes early.
- Mayes Lake contains feral alligators and cottonmouths; the primitive shoreline track becomes a bog after rains. Open-water swimming is an absolute, non-negotiable municipal ban.
- The 9-hole disc golf course requires independent cash registration; RV sites have strict low-hanging oak canopy clearances, requiring a spotter for rigs exceeding 30 feet.
Reviews
Positive
- A hidden urban oasis in Jackson; Mayes Lake offers beautiful water-sky vistas and lush trees, looking pristine and peaceful.
- Perfect for fishing, camping, and kayaking; it features a great golf course, heavily enriching outdoor fun and experience.
- Admission is charged per car and very cheap, with excellent value; driving access is easy near main highways yet stays quiet inside.
- Campsites feature basic seating and grills; weekdays bring very low visitor density, and staff are gentle and polite.
Heads up
- Being near rivers and lakes, mosquitoes, deer flies, and gnats swarm crazily in summer, lacking adequate shaded shelters.
- Public restrooms and showers look very dated and damaged with unstable water pressure; trash clearing needs weekend upgrades.
- During rainy seasons, low-lying trails near the lake flood heavily with thick mud, occasionally closing due to high water.
- Trail signs are weather-worn and broken; multilingual safety and depth tips are absent, and cell service drops in forest pockets.