Between the sweltering temperatures and immense humidity, a great swimming spot is practically essential for surviving summer in Mississippi. Luckily, there’s no shortage of amazing places to cool off in the Magnolia State. From water parks to secluded beaches, here are 11 of the best swimming holes in Mississippi that’ll make your summer awesome (and tolerable).

1. Buccaneer Bay
mdwfp.com
This 4.5-acre water park overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and includes several slides, a wave pool, spacious sun deck, and restaurant. And since it’s part of Buccaneer State Park, you’ll find plenty of other amenities, including a campground, nature trails, disc golf and more. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: 1150 S Beach Boulevard, Waveland, MS, 39576
2. Old Bridge Beach
Doug Whaley/Facebook
Old Bridge Beach in Mississippi is a gorgeous white sand beach, which overlooks Bay Springs Lake and includes a playground area, fishing pier, picnic tables with grills, and a volleyball court. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: Highway 4 and County Road 3501, New Site, MS, 38859
3. The Blue Lagoon at Paradise Ranch and Resort
Paradise Ranch and Resort/Facebook
Paradise Ranch and Resort features a 105-acre campground, stocked lake, and the Blue Lagoon. The man-made lagoon is fed by an artesian well and surrounded by a white sand beach, creating one of the best swimming holes in Mississippi. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: 660 MS-48 W, Tylertown, MS, 39667
4. Merit Water Park
Kim Hunt Picture Mississippi Photography/Facebook
This secluded 25-acre water park is located on Rials Creek and features a small waterfall, sand and rock creek-side beach, and old-fashioned swimming hole. And since the creek is spring-fed, the crystal clear water is nice and cold all year long. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: 1043 MS-43, Mendenhall, MS, 39114
5. Ship Island
Ship Island Excursions/Facebook
Between the pristine white sand, beautiful water, and the possibility of a dolphin-sighting, Ship Island is without a doubt one of the best beaches in Mississippi. Luckily, Ship Island Excursions offers regular ferry service to the island. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: 1040 23rd Avenue, Gulfport, MS, 39501

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6. Sardis Lake Recreation Area
Tina H/Flickr
Explore this 98,000-acre recreation area, and you’ll find campgrounds, picnic areas with grills, pavilions, playgrounds, nature trails, the stunningly beautiful Sardis Lake, and four beaches. No matter which you visit, you’ll be treated to pristine white sand and inviting blue waters. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: Sardis, MS, 38666
7. Pickwick Lake
Larry Winters/Facebook
J.P. Coleman State Park sits atop a rocky bluff overlooking the Tennessee River. Venture further into the park and you’ll find the 47,500-acre Pickwick Lake. The gorgeous lake is perfect for all sorts of water activities, including swimming, and even features a 50’ waterfall. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: 613 County Road 321, Iuka, MS, 38852
8. Low Water Bridge
Low Water Bridge - Franklin County, Mississippi/Facebook
Perfect for soaking up some rays, Low Water Bridge in Mississippi features a sand-and-rock-bottom creek with a sandy beach. As the name implies, the water is a bit low, but it’s extremely clear, making it a great spot to go for a dip. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: Low Water Bridge Road, Quentin, MS, 39647
9. Deer Island
Southern Nature Shots
At just 1/4-mile from Biloxi’s coastline, this tropical paradise can be easily accessed by anyone with a small boat, canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. One of the best beaches in Mississippi, minus the crowds, the secluded spot features white sand, pristine water, and unrivaled views. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: Biloxi, MS, 39530
10. Dunn’s Falls Water Park
visitmeridian.com
Home to one of the best swimming holes in Enterprise, this secluded water park also includes picnic tables, grills, primitive campsites, and a 65’ waterfall. The crystal clear waters of the river are perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day, and since the area directly below the waterfall isn’t too deep, it’s a great spot for swimmers of all ages. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: 6890 Dunn's Falls Road # A, Enterprise, MS, 39330
11. Lake Tiak-O’khata
Lake Tiak-O'Khata/Facebook
Centered around one of the best lakes in Mississippi, this resort includes a white sand beach, water slides, a volleyball court, and supervised swimming area. There’s also an onsite restaurant and picnic areas, so you can easily spend all day at this waterfront spot. Turn your day trip into an overnight by booking a stay in the onsite cabins, lakeside motel, or RV Park. Click here for directions and more information.

Address: 1290 Smyth Lake Road, Louisville, MS, 39339

Ever been to any of these swimming spots? Have a favorite that’s not on the list? Tell us in the comments section.

Looking for more places to cool off this summer? Check out “10 Epic Waterparks in Mississippi To Take Your Summer To A Whole New Level.“

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Best Swimming Holes In Mississippi

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What is the cleanest lake in Mississippi?

Of all the lakes in Mississippi, Clear Springs Lake is one of the cleanest. A true hidden gem, it’s nestled in the pine covered hills of Homochitto National Forest in the small town of Roxie, MS. At 12 acres, it’s a bit on the smaller side, but since the lake is spring-fed, it’s a great place to swim. Though pretty secluded, it’s part of a recreation area, making it easy to access. It’s location within a recreation area also means several amenities, such as hiking trails, a campground, pavilion, picnic tables, and restrooms.

Does Mississippi have any natural inland lakes?

Inland lakes are defined as: naturally occurring bodies of standing water with a huge diversity in size, configuration, water chemistry, and biota. The term is actually more of a regional expression used by those who live near the Great Lakes to distinguish smaller lakes from the Great Lakes. So, Mississippi technically doesn’t have any inland lakes.

What is the only state with no natural lakes?

It may be hard to believe, but there’s one state that has no natural lakes – and it’s Maryland. Don’t go feeling too bad for the Old Line State, though, as it does have a beautiful bay, several reservoirs, and thousands of ponds.

What state has the least amount of lakes?

Dubbed the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” it’s pretty common knowledge that Minnesota’s got more lakes than just about any other state in the nation (aside from Alaska, which has millions). However, do you know which state has the least number of lakes? Well, wonder no more; it’s Maryland, again.

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