11 natural swim spots within about 90 miles of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
This page lists 11 natural swimming holes near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, sorted by straight-line distance within about 90 miles — including 3 rivers, 5 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 2 lakes. It is a city day-trip list, not the national GPS finder. Open each listing for directions, fees, and access before you drive.
Near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, our directory maps 11 natural swimming holes within about 90 miles of the city center — including 3 rivers, 5 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 2 lakes. The closest mapped spot is Black Creek Swimming Holes, Mississippi (18 mi straight-line). Distances are not drive time; open each listing for directions, fee notes, access rules, and safety context before you travel.
| Central place | Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Search radius | About 90 miles |
| Mapped spots | 11 |
| Closest listing | Black Creek Swimming Holes, Mississippi (18 mi) |
| Water types | River (3), Creek (5), Waterfall (1), Lake (2) |
| Typical fees | 6 free · 4 fee · 1 varies |
11 natural swim spots in Mississippi, sorted by distance from the city center. Statewide inventory counts are on the U.S. swimming holes dataset. For live GPS sorting from your device, use the GPS finder.
Winding through the heart of Mississippi's De Soto National Forest, Black Creek moves at its own unhurried pace. Dark with tannins from surrounding pine and hardwood forests, cool enough on a summer afternoon to make you catch your breath, and clear enough to watch your feet sink into white sand.
View detailsOkatoma Creek near Seminary, Mississippi is a popular creek swim and float stretch. Public access is at the Hwy 590 / East Main Street bridge landing — not residential side streets.
View detailsSitting along the banks of Red Creek near the small community of Perkinston, this informal natural . If you're willing to navigate the back roads to find it, the reward is genuinely worth the effort.
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Set among towering pines and hardwoods that define this corner of the Deep South, the recreation area centers on a peaceful pond that gleams through the tree line like a secret the forest has been keeping.
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Merit Water Park and D'Lo Water Park sit an easy day trip from one another, each with its own personality. One a creek-carved wonderland of sculpted rock, the other a wide river bend with enough current to make you feel genuinely alive.
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Located near the bridge crossing on MS Route 18, close to the quiet town of Puckett, this unofficial, undeveloped stretch of river offers a genuinely rustic escape from the summer heat.
View detailsIts name rooted in the Choctaw language, meaning roughly "big creek". Winds lazily through a canopy of hardwoods and riverside vegetation, carving out sandy banks that feel tailor-made for bare feet and long summer afternoons.
View detailsWolf River swimming spots in southern Mississippi offer free informal sandy-bottom river swimming and floating. Currents vary — wear a PFD when floating and respect private property.
View detailsBluff Creek Park near Biloxi, Mississippi is a creek swimming spot on Bluff Creek. What people come for: Crystal-clear waters perfect for swimming; Surrounded by lush hardwood and pine forests. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas and camping. Best visited in Summer. Always supervise children closely near and in the water.
View detailsThe park is anchored by a stretch of Chunky Creek. A clear, gentle waterway that has been drawing visitors to its banks since long before the park was ever officially designated.
View detailsPresleys Outing is a lake swimming spot on Goodes Mill Lake, Franklin Creek, Escatawpa River near Mobile, Mississippi. What people come for: Accessible swimming areas in Goodes Mill Lake; Activities like kayaking, tubing, and canoeing. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find picnic areas and camping. Best visited in Spring. Check local water conditions and weather forecasts before visiting, as currents can vary.
View detailsBrowse by water type in Mississippi — each link opens the full state directory for that category.
Looking for rivers near you to swim? A river swimming hole is moving water deep enough to swim or wade — often a bend, pool, or slack-water pocket. Browse river spots below, or start with GPS near-me sorting, then confirm access and flow the day you go.
Looking for swimming creeks near you? Creek swimming holes are smaller stream and brook pools — usually cooler, shallower, and tucked into forests or hollows. Use the list below (or near-me GPS), then confirm water level after rain.
Waterfall swimming holes are plunge pools and cascades fed by falls. Flow is often seasonal; check depth, cold water, and slippery rock before you enter.
Looking for swimming lakes near you? Only swim where it is allowed — many reservoirs and drinking-water lakes ban body contact. This catalog is lakes, ponds, and reservoirs with documented public swim access: beaches, fees, and no-swim warnings on each listing.
People search for this in a dozen different ways. Here is what each one means around Hattiesburg, with the counts from our directory.
Highlights and safety notes from our listings — not third-party reviews. Report outdated info or share a tip.
Hattiesburg is the gateway to the Pine Belt’s top river and creek swimming. Situated between De Soto National Forest and the coastal plain, the area is rich with white sandbars and clear blackwater streams.
Okatoma Creek in Seminary offers lively shoal swimming and tubing, while Black Creek provides dozens of quiet sandbar beaches along Mississippi’s only National Scenic River corridor.
Every card on this page is a verified directory entry in Mississippi with map coordinates. We measure straight-line distance from the Hattiesburg city center — not driving time. A creek swimming hole 12 miles away on forest roads can take longer than a river access point 20 miles away on a highway.
Wild swimming near Hattiesburg includes informal river bends, spring-fed pools, waterfall plunge pools, and developed park swim areas. Rules, fees, and seasonal access differ by land manager. Never assume swimming is allowed without checking the listing and posted signs the day you visit.
Natural water near Hattiesburg changes after rain, snowmelt, and summer heat. Cold shock, currents, submerged rocks, and bacteria are real risks at creek and river swimming holes — most sites have no lifeguard. Check weather and local advisories before you enter the water.
We publish original planning copy, safety tips, and last-updated dates on each listing. See our editorial policy for sourcing standards, or contact us if access or conditions have changed.
Okatoma Creek in Seminary (15 min north) is the top local river run. Black Creek at Janice Landing or Cypress Creek (30 min south) in De Soto National Forest offers premier white sandbar swimming.
Yes, Okatoma Creek is famous for tubing, kayaking, and swimming around its limestone shoals. Several local outfitters provide rentals, or you can access public bridge landings for free.
Near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, our directory lists 11 natural swimming holes within about 90 miles — mainly 3 rivers, 5 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 2 lakes. Each listing links to directions, fee notes, and safety context. Use near me on your phone for live distance sorting from your location.
This page shows 11 mapped natural swim spots within about 90 miles of Hattiesburg. The full Mississippi directory may list additional holes farther out or awaiting coordinates. Counts update as we verify new listings.
The closest open mapped spot to Hattiesburg is Black Creek Swimming Holes, Mississippi (18 mi straight-line). Open that listing for driving directions, access notes, and current fee information — unofficial holes can change without notice.
6 listings note free or no-fee access; 4 require a fee or park admission; 1 have variable or unverified fees. Open each spot page for current fee details.
Near Hattiesburg, documented water types include rivers, creeks, waterfall, lakes. A swimming hole is a natural outdoor pool in moving or spring-fed water — not a chlorinated pool. Filter by type on the Mississippi state page or open each card for water-body details.
Late spring through early fall is the usual swim season near Hattiesburg, but snowmelt, drought, and weekend crowds change conditions week to week. Check each listing before you drive — high water after storms can make creeks and rivers unsafe.
Wild swimming near Hattiesburg carries real risks: cold water, currents, rocks, and no lifeguards at most unofficial sites. Check weather, water level, and posted warnings the day you visit. Read our river safety guide and each listing's safety section before entering the water.
Within about 90 miles of Hattiesburg we map 5 creek swimming holes. The closest is Black Creek Swimming Holes, Mississippi, about 18 mi out. Also searched as: swimming creeks near me, water streams near me.
Within about 90 miles of Hattiesburg we map 3 river swimming holes. The closest is Strong River, about 58 mi out. Also searched as: rivers you can swim in near me.
Within about 90 miles of Hattiesburg we map 2 swimming lakes. The closest is Shongelo, about 55 mi out. Also searched as: lakes to swim near me, swimmable lakes near me.
Listing data last updated across spots on this page.
Guides: Mississippi swimming holes guide · Clear water & spring swimming holes in Mississippi · Places to swim near Jackson · Swimming holes near Hattiesburg · Creeks near Biloxi & Gulf Coast · Swimming holes near McComb