This Southern RV Park Is Considered One Of The Top Ranked Camping Spots In America

Thirty miles east of Jackson, there's a family-friendly destination that's far more than just an ordinary campground. Jellystone Park Pelahatchie in Mississippi is a great place for a weekend away, a special event, or a day pass if you're just driving through. The grounds are packed with recreational activities to delight family members of all ages. You might even spot a bear or two — Yogi Bear, that is.

At this cartoon-inspired park, camping is really just the beginning. There's a recreation center, tennis court, giant inflatable jumping pillow, a playground, a GAGA ball pit, gem mining, human foosball, and mini golf. For water activities, there's a mini water park with a shallow pool, a water slide, and a swimming pool. There's also a lake with a sandy beach and boat launch for fishing. Depending on when you go, the campground offers special events throughout the year, like "Camps-Giving" and "Beary Christmas in the Park." You can see why USA Today named it one of the top RV parks in the nation.

There are plenty of ways to stay on site and enjoy all the activities on offer. Tent sites start at $34 a per night, including electricity and water. You can even bring Fido to this pet-friendly campground (as long as he's on a leash). A standard RV site costs $48 per night, or $71 if you'd prefer to be right next to the lake. If you're planning to stay at least two nights, consider renting a cozy cabin for the whole family from $97 to $245. For larger parties of up to 12 people, you can reserve two adjacent bedrooms at Lakeside Lodge, a quaint dwelling nestled beside your own private lake.

The park also has several ways to upgrade your experience that you won't find anywhere else. For example, Yogi Bear will personally deliver bubbles ($12), ice cream ($15), donuts ($20), or s'more ingredients ($25) right to your campsite. You can even have a bear and a park ranger come to your site and read you a story ($23) before bed. Not only are these fun activities, but they're great photo opportunities to document some precious family memories.

Beyond accommodation and activities, there are plenty of amenities to help you get the most out of your vacation. The site offers free WiFi, golf cart rentals from $79 to $119, and snack bars around the park. The Cartoon Cafe serves lunch and dinner every day, along with breakfast on the weekends, says the park website. From cheeseburgers to quesadillas, floats to funnel cake sundaes, there's something on the menu to please everyone.

For special events, you can rent out covered pavilions for $109 to $228, depending on what time of year you book. For example, the Yogi Bear Pavilion has a beautiful view of the lake with easy access to water activities. There's room for 50 guests and a wood-burning grill, so you can cook all of your campground favorites. If you need a larger space, the Club House Activity Center is available for $411 per day. It can seat 100 to 125 guests — plus, it's right next to the water zone.

If you're just passing through the area, but you still want to enjoy the campground's activities, there are day passes available. Fishing passes range from $8 to $11, a laser tag pass is $11, and full-day passes for all of the activities cost $25. For those who are 65 and up, a senior pass only costs $13. No matter how long you plan to stay at Jellystone Park Pelahatchie, you're sure to have a very — make that beary — good time.