GREAT campgrounds in Louisiana

[Olie]

If you are going to be in the Abbeville area I would recommend Palmetto Island State Park. We stayed there 3 nites Feb. 2012. The park had just reopened after refurbishing, paved interior roads, paved RV pads, full hook-ups, etc. Good eates are just up the road at Abbeville or a few more miles in New Iberia. The park will give you a feel for south La outdoors along the Vermilion river.

[Hodum]

Grand Isle it is. We stayed there in November 2012 and loved it. I just returned from a trip to Alexandria where I stayed at Kincaid Lake NF campground and enjoyed the time there. Very rural if that is what you are looking for.

[Protagonist]

I just made my reservation for Mardi Gras weekend at Lake Bruin State Park, near St. Joseph, LA. Never been there before, but it's supposed to be a beautiful lake surrounded by stands of cypress, so I'll be taking my inflatable kayak, and spending some time on the water.

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by mgriffrus

I did a little more research, and was amazed at the number of state parks within a two hour drive of my place. We've got to get out and get to more of them.

One perk not mentioned here is if you are 62+ and have an America the Beautiful Senior Pass (lifetime $10) the Louisiana State Parks honor it in most cases for a 50% discount on camping fees.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Silver Goose

One perk not mentioned here is if you are 62+ and have an America the Beautiful Senior Pass (lifetime $10) the Louisiana State Parks honor it in most cases for a 50% discount on camping fees.

Senior Pass or Access pass for the handicapped (no charge for the pass, but must have a handicapped ID).

The official, published policy is, if you have the pass, AND live in a state whose state parks also honor the pass, you can get the half-price discount at Louisiana state parks. According to the Louisiana State Parks web page, you can only get the Senior Pass discount if you live in Louisiana or Maryland, and can only get the Access Pass discount if you live in Delaware, Louisiana, or Maryland.

But the people manning the check-in desk may not think to verify your state of residence, so flash the pass anyway. You might get lucky.

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

... But the people manning the check-in desk may not think to verify your state of residence, so flash the pass anyway. You might get lucky.

That's probably the case, I've just shown it at checkin and it hasn't been questioned.

[nilesrob]

We are staying at Lake Bistineau SP tomorrow for a one-nighter. Will report back.

[mgriffrus]

Originally Posted by nilesrob

We are staying at Lake Bistineau SP tomorrow for a one-nighter. Will report back.

I'm interested if they've got the lake level back up. We stayed right before they dropped it (site 10 I believe) to try an eliminate the invasive weeds.

The premium sites with the decks on them are really cool.

[nilesrob]

Lake Bistineau SP is great! It sounds like they have struggled of late between algae blooms, beetles and storms. As a result, their hiking trails are virtually closed due to tree falls and some clearing they are having done. I'm sure this will resolve itself over time.

Meanwhile, enjoyed a few hours paddling in a kayak out on the lake. If you enjoy paddling, what's not to love about this place? Nice little dock right at our campsite.

Where's Waldo? Clue - look for the white F250 (yeah, I know - how rare is that at a campground). We are in site 16, right on the lake. We didn't need reservations but I suspect that is more about the time of year. A lot of the lake sites were full when we arrived.

[mgriffrus]

Glad to see that the lake is back up. I forgot about the tree issue. We were there last summer for a family get together and somehow we all made reservations the same week they had scheduled tree surgeons. Luckily, the chainsaws failed to show up, but the three campsites we occupied and two others were the only ones used that weekend.

[cwf]

Anyone have current info on Chicot State Park? Facilities, water/sewer/dump ?

Trying to remember what is availablebut, kinda blurry.

Please PM me with specifics...

Thanks Sha!

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by cwf

Anyone have current info on Chicot State Park? Facilities, water/sewer/dump ?

Trying to remember what is availablebut, kinda blurry.

Please PM me with specifics...

Thanks Sha!

Stayed there for New Year's weekend. It's an older park, and the hookup locations are non-standard. The campsite I used (Loop A, Site 10), the electric pedestal was on the curb side, and the water hookup was over 30 feet away from the asphalt-paved pad, directly to the rear. Dump station for South Landing campground is at the exit to Loop A.

I stayed in the South Landing campground, recommended to me by coworkers, who say it's better than the North Landing campground. I haven't stayed at the North Landing yet so I can't confirm that assessment. The South Landing campground is a lot closer to the Louisiana State Arboretum, which is well worth a visit, but farther from the boat ramps. In fact, the whole weekend I was there, I never even saw the lake (didn't have a toad then, and the lake was too far for my gimpy legs to hike to it).

Terrain is low but sometimes steep forested hills.

[cwf]

That is great G2! Thanks!

I set up first few Harley Owners Group, LA State Rally's back in the 80s and much of that time is now a distant howling mind fog these days. I do recall most folks had popup campers or tent camped.

P.S.--- there were MANY campfires.

[911Patriot]

We just returned from a trip south that included a week's stay at Fontainbleau SP in Mandeville, LA. It was superb. Here is the picture of the sandy beach on Lake Pontchartrain.
From there we took a day trip to Oak Alley Plantation along the Great River Road.

[badkat]

In Chicot we stayed at the one without the laundromat. I think it is the North. If so that is the one we love. It is hilly and you can see the swamp. Very nice.

[badkat]

One other note though..I love Fairview in Madisonville on the Tchfuente River.