Direct Links To Louisiana Reviews Below

Dates: November 3, 2009 - November 10, 2009
Location: A few miles north of I-10 just outside of Lake Charles in southwestern Louisiana. The best exit to take off of I-10 is Exit 33 onto U.S. 171 northbound to LA Hwy 378.
GPS Coordinates: 30.29257N, 93.25719W
Our Site Number: 33
Reason Selected: We selected this state park for the natural setting on our way from the west to the southeast.
Setting: Camp Area 1 is in the middle of the park among cypress ponds. It is wooded with gravel roads and sites. That area also includes several tent sites that are tightly squeezed in next to the RV sites.
Camp Area 2 is also wooded, but has paved roads and sites. Though it is separated from outside roads by woods and a river, there is still quite a bit of road noise as this loop is more on the edge of the park.
Guidebooks: None used.
Big Rig Friendly: Big rig friendly getting into the park, but the sites themselves are pretty tight. It's a bit surprising how close together the sites are for a state park. There are a few pull-through sites, but most are back-ins. Most of the back-in sites in Camp Area 2 can accommodate large rigs, but many of the sites in the inner part of the circle have trees that can obstruct slides and awnings. Reserving sites online without seeing them first could be risky for bigger rigs.
Hook-ups: There are a few full hook-up sites in Camp Area 2 in the inner part of the campground. Most sites are water and electric sites with Camp Area 2 having 50 amps and Camp Area 1 having 30 amps. Both areas have old dump stations right in the campground. Caution: The website implies that all "premium" sites have full hook-ups, but that may not be the case. There are some sites that don't have full hook-ups that are considered "premium".
Laundry: No laundry.
Price & Discounts: Most sites are $16. "Premium" sites are $18. As of this visit there is a $3 one-time fee for walk-ins, and a $5 or $9 one-time fee for reservations (price depends on how the reservation is made). America The Beautiful Senior & Access 50% discounts apply - the only state park system we have visited so far that takes those federal discount cards.
Other Factors: Park personnel were very friendly. Website is decent, but not very good at describing campgrounds. Louisiana State Parks use Reserve America for reservations which, as I have said often, I hate. Rooftop satellite is tough, but we did manage to get it in Site 33. There are a few tripod opportunities. Trails, boardwalks, and a boat launch are also in the park. The park is loaded with deer and raccoons and some other wildlife. The West Fork of the Calcasieu River provides the southern boundary of the park. Bathhouses are fairly new and quite adequate. However, the push-button showers only stay on about 20 seconds at a time.
OVERALL RATING: 7.0 (out of ten)
Based on everything I've read, this is a highly regarded park. My opinion is that the park, and certainly the campgrounds, are just a bit overrated. We were fortunate to get Site 33 in Camp Area 2 as it has more awning-side privacy than most other sites. But the sites are really close together. And there is too much road noise in Camp Area 2. But it does have the natural setting we like, there is plenty of wildlife, and it is a great place for walking and bike riding. I wish the campgrounds were a little better so I could give it a little higher rating. :)

Dates: November 29, 2007
Location: That's a secret. :)
GPS Coordinates: Can't disclose. :)
Our Site Number: N/A
Reason Selected: We were invited to stop by RV-Dreams readers as we passed through Lake Charles on our way our volunteer stint at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.
Setting: A residential subdivision.
Guidebooks: None used
Big Rig Friendly: Yep.
Hook-ups: Water & 50/30 amp electric.
Laundry: Did not partake. :)
Price & Discounts: N/A
Other Factors: Great hosts!
OVERALL RATING: N/A (out of ten)
It's always nice staying with folks that have a fifth wheel and have installed hook-ups for guests. :)