Marathon Lake
Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.
More like this: first-come in Mississippi · group sites in Mississippi
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 24 |
| Standard, no hookups | 10 |
| group shelter electric | 2 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Amenities & rules
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 01, 02, 03, 04 and 20 more are listed accessible |
- 34 campsites with water and electricity
- 14 picnick tables
- Sand volleyball court (no ball provided)
- BBQ grills
- 2 Pavilions (can be reserved for groups, please call local Forest Service Office at 601-469-3811)
- Boat Launch
- Swimming area with sandy beach
- Hiking Trail (1.7 miles in length)
- Water fountains
- Sanitation facilities with showers and flush toilets
- Dump station for trash
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Forest, go south on Hwy 35 for 8.5 miles to Homewood. Turn east on Morton-Marathon Road and go 9 miles. Turn south on Forest Service Road 520 and go ½ mile to entrance. Another route would be to go south on Hwy 501. Turn east on Morton-Marathon Rd. and go 3 ½ miles. Turn onto FS Rd 520 and go ½ mile to entrance.
| Nearest town | Raleigh, Mississippi |
| Coordinates | 32.1992° N, 89.3592° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireMount Pilgrim Road
48 mi from the campground · 150 acres · 10% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 38 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Trent`s Outdoor Power ↗ | 46.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camper Corral ↗ | 48.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Marathon Lake and WEIRD Cicadas Hatching! Camping in Bienville National Forest in our Jeep
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miMarathon Lake Hiking1.6 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside National Forests in Mississippi.
- inNational Forests in Mississippi ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,373,306 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Montrose Presbyterian ChurchBuilding · Montrose · 8.9 mi
- Lake Railroad StationBuilding · Lake · 10.1 mi
- Moore Lookout TowerStructure · Forest · 11.5 mi
Natural features
Marathon Lake is a 50-acre lake located in Smith County. It got its' name from Marathon Lumber Company which closed in 1929. You will enjoy the beauty and seclusion of this quiet campground located approximately 15 miles southeast of Forest, MS and 25 miles northeast of Raleigh, MS. Marathon Recreation area is equipped with 34 camping sites (with water and electric hook-ups), boat ramp, swimming area, 2 bath houses (warm showers), picnic shelters, picnic tables and a hiking trail. The lake has been stocked with catfish, bass and crappie and is open to bream fishing. A dump station is available. The area has a volunteer Campground Host on site most of the time.
Recreation
Marathon Lake provides various recreational oppurtunties. This includes activities such as biking, hiking, boating, picnicking, fishing, camping, swimming, wildlife viewing, and volleyball.
Guidebooks for Mississippi
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Marathon Lake?
No. Marathon Lake is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: How first-come camping works
What time is check-in at Marathon Lake?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
How many sites does Marathon Lake have?
37 sites, including 24 standard sites with power, 10 standard sites without power, and 2 group shelter electric.
Source: Site mix
Are there showers or a dump station at Marathon Lake?
Sanitation facilities with showers and flush toilets
Source: Amenities & rules
Can I have a campfire at Marathon Lake?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Marathon Lake?
Sites 01, 02, 03, and 04 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 24 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
What is there to do at Marathon Lake?
Marathon Lake provides various recreational oppurtunties. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Marathon Lake?
Raleigh, Mississippi.
Source: Getting there
What if Marathon Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Shockaloe Trail Bc 1 (16.6 mi, first-come), Twiltley Branch (38.1 mi), and Turkey Fork Recreation Area (70.8 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby