Top States for RV Friendly Casinos – Part 1
The temperatures in the southern states are warming and starting to bring hints of spring. Fulltimers and snowbirds alike are starting to migrate back from Florida, the RGV, Southern California, and Mexico. RVers living in colder climates are thinking about getting the RV out of storage and heading south for a week, or maybe just a long weekend and a round of golf. The casinos are ready for us all.
Photo of the RV Park - Hollywood Casino – Tunica, MS
This will be a multi-part series, but I won’t be posting the parts in consecutive weeks. I want the weekly post to have some variety, and this single topic could take up two months easily. I won’t rank states top-to-bottom. Instead I’ll cover the top 7 or 8 states as they start warming up, beginning with southern states and working up to northern ones.
We’ve been among the RV travelers for the past month, having left Key West Florida in early February we slowly traveled across the southern USA and now find ourselves in Las Vegas, Nevada, parked at a casino of course! But I’m not going to start with Nevada. Although Las Vegas and Laughlin are warming nicely the northern areas will average below freezing at night through much of April. I’m beginning with Mississippi, where the gulf coast already has nighttime averages in the 50’s and north Mississippi will be there in April.
Mississippi has two areas with excellent casino camping opportunities; the Gulf Coast and Tunica, and a few other casinos scattered around as well. Let’s look at RV parks first, then the dry parking spots.
Mississippi Casinos with RV Parks:
Gulf Coast
- Hollywood, Bay St. Louis – $27
- Silver Slipper, Bay St. Luis – $26.75
Tunica
- Grand Casino, Tunica, $30.00 for 50A weekend, less for 30A and weekdays
- Hollywood, Tunica, $18.00
- Sam’s Town, Tunica, $15.99
Other Areas
- Ameristar, Vicksburg, $22.50
One thing all the casino RV parks in Mississippi have in common is reasonable price. Basic RV parks like Sam’s Town Tunica start around $16/night, and the highest price I found in the whole state was $30/night for a 50 Amp pull-through spot at Grand Casino Tunica, a park that’s highly rated by Woodall’s and Good Sam.
In previous posts I’ve mentioned Hollywood Casino, Bay St. Louis MS. It’s our top pick for a south Mississippi casino RV park. More than a casino and campground, they also have a beautiful golf course. Nightly rates are $27, and it’s easy to get a comp for the RV park and food, or even the golf course, if you’re gambling. In Tunica the Grand Casino gets the highest marks, and Sam’s Town is the most frugal choice. Tunica has much to offer including buffets, restaurants, and golf courses, and everything is a good value. Not to ignore Vicksburg, they are a destination even without the casinos, rich in civil war history and outdoor recreation.
Mississippi Casinos with Overnight RV Parking
Gulf Coast
- Hollywood, Bay St. Louis *(see footnote)
- Beau Rivage, Biloxi – Oversize vehicle lot, I suggest one night only
- Boomtown, Biloxi – Large lot, no formal process, several days OK
- Imperial Palace (IP), Biloxi – Two large lots, no formal process, several days OK
- Island View, Gulfport *
Tunica
- Bally’s *
- Casino Center (including 3 casinos; Gold Strike, Horseshoe, Sheraton) – Two areas, some restrictions on days of the week, no limit on time, see my web site for details
- Fitzgeralds *
- Resorts Tunica – FREE dump station and fresh water. Several nights OK
- Sam’s Town – OK for one night only, they also have an RV park
Other Areas
- Pearl River Casino, Philadelphia – several nights OK
- Isle of Capri, Nachez *
- Ameristar, Vicksburg
- Horizon, Vicksburg
- Lighthouse Point, Greenville
* Overnight parking here is “unofficially” allowed. I suggest one night only or check with security
The Mississippi Gulf Coast has locations for an overnight stop or a longer stay. Our top choice is the Imperial Palace or “IP” (not to be confused with the “Palace Casino”). They allow RV and truck parking in two large lots with no formal process or restriction on number of nights. I’ve talked with security and they’re thinking of starting a registration and tagging system but it’s been on the back burner for a year or more.
In the Tunica area there are several choices. The Resorts Casino, Tunica, allows RV parking with no formal limit on number of nights and they offer a free dump station and fresh water fill – how’s that for southern hospitality!
A note about the footnote in the dry camping list. Some casinos allow overnight parking unofficially. They don’t advertise the fact, and some may even say “no” if you ask, but they recognize that it’s good for business. A little tact, finesse, and flexibility is needed when dry parking at some casinos. Also see my earlier post on Casino Parking Etiquette.
I’ve started a thread in the Forum of the Open Road for discussion. Also if you’re aware of any Mississippi casinos I missed with an RV park, or that allow overnight parking, let me know.
Part 2 will feature a Western state – how’s that for a teaser?
Happy Travels and Good Luck,
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When you finally get up North, be sure and try Mystic Lake Casino just south of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Great RV Park and very loose casino.
http://www.mysticlake.com
Hi Linda,
We lived in Minnesota in the pre-casino 1980’s – in Stacy and Blaine. We plan to return for a visit, hopefully this year. Mystic Lake is on our list along with the Grand in Hinkley and maybe others. We also want to make the loop through Michigan,
Mac
http://www.casinocamper.com
[...] enjoy all the information! RV.Net Blog AdminTwo weeks ago I started this series by featuring the Mississippi casinos that welcome RVers with southern hospitality. This week we’ll look to the west for a state [...]
Mystic Lakes is a good place to stay. It has a rv wash bldg and fuel with a discount, if you stay there. The buffet is “awsome” and is as good as any in Vegas! Grand Casino in Hinckley is good also and is improving.
Thanks for the info, never thought about Casino Parking but since we gamble on occation this will be worth looking into.Linda I did not see any RV parking or RV ground in their website, did I miss something?
Hi Slink,
The casinos sometimes don’t do a good job of marketing their RV parks. Here’s some info on both the park, and free overnight at Mystic Lake
http://www.casinocamper.com/Minnesota.htm#Mystic
Mac