With more than 20 state parks to choose from, you are guaranteed to find a Louisiana State Park that can accommodate whatever you are looking for. Here is a short guide to what residents feel are the best Louisiana State Parks to visit.
Bayou Segnette State park is located in Westwego, LA. There is a small entrance fee, with the exception being visitors 62 and over or age 3 and under. Additional charges include the Bayou Segnette Wave Pool, or camping charges should you decide to camp. Bayou Segnette offers 98 campsites that all include water and electrical hookup. This Louisiana State Park offers visitors activities such as fishing, boating and canoeing. Multiple playgrounds and swimming in the wave pool is a favorite among young visitors.
Chemin-A-Haut State Park is located in Bastrop, LA. There is a small entrance fee for visitors, except for those age 62 and older or age 3 and under. Chemin-A-Haut offers many options for those choosing to camp, from standard and deluxe cabins, to campsites that provide water and electrical hookup. There are also more primitive campsites for a lower rate that those that prefer rustic camping. Chemin-A-Haut offers many activities for children, including two large playgrounds and a swimming and wading pool that is open during summer hours.
Chicot State Park is located in Ville Platte, LA. This Louisiana State Park is a favorite among campers, as it offers so many camping options. There is a lodge, standard cabins and deluxe cabins. Chicot also has 208 campsites that provide water and electrical hookups, as well as primitive camping areas. Lake Chicot offers fishermen freshwater fish such as largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. There is also a boathouse, three boat launches and boat rental facilities for those that would like to rent a boat. Chicot State Park is also a favorite spot for those that enjoy hiking and back packing with multiple hiking trails, as well as trails for those that enjoy mountain biking.
Hodges Gardens State Park is located in Florien, LA. Hodges park is a great way for the nature lover to spend their day. With over 700 acres of both wild and cultivated land, the park is a nature lovers dream come true. Much of the parks gardens consist of a variety of plants and flowers including a formal rose garden and a large grove of Japanese Red Maple trees. A nearby lake pumps water into the park to it’s waterfalls, pools, and fountains before it makes it’s way back to the lake.
Jimmie Davis State Park located in Chatham, LA is the kind of park that gives Louisiana the motto of “Sportsmans Paradise.” Many options of camping are available including cabins and group camping such as the deluxe lodge and group camp. Other camping is available including 9 premium waterfront locations with water and electrical hookups and 64 other campsites also offering water and electric. Jimmie Davis State Park offers two boat launches and a fishing pier for the avid fisherman, as well as water skiing and other water sports.
Lake Claiborne State Park in Homer, LA is an excellent destination for any family. This Louisiana State park offers many different camping amenities, including campsites with water and electrical hookups and primitive camping. There are also deluxe cabins available for large families. The park offers a beach for swimming and is a favorite spot for fisherman offering freshwater largemouth bass, channel catfish, striped bass and many other species. Lake Claiborne State Park is also great for boating of all kinds, water sports such as water skiing, birding, and hiking.
Lake D’Arbonne State Park is located in Farmerville, LA. Being located in Northern Louisiana, near the Louisiana/Arkansas border, this state park offers piney forests great for hiking and wildlife watching. This 655 acre park also offers five fishing piers for those that love fishing and many different camping options including tent or R/V sites that offer water and electrical hookups or you can also rent cabins or lodges. There is also a swimming pool complex and tennis courts for visitors to enjoy.
North Toledo Bend State Park is located in Zwolle, LA, and is a favorite destination for Louisiana residents. This Louisiana State Park offers cabins and group camping areas, as well as campsites for tents or R/Vs that offer water and electric hookups. This state park offers more than 900 acres of entertainment for visitors including camping, picnicking, and hiking. This park is also offers a boat launch area, boat rentals and a fish cleaning station, all close to the access to the fishing reservoir.
Sam Houston Jones State Park, located in Lake Charles, LA is the park of choice for residents in Southwest Louisiana. At 1,087 acres, this Louisiana state park offers a large variety of activities to its visitors. The caretakers of this park work very hard to keep the park in it’s natural state, making it a great place to view natural plant and wildlife. Sam Houston Jones State Park is an excellent place for avid bird watchers, with nearly 200 species of birds being able to be seen. This park also offers a large variety of camping options, including cabins for rent, 42 campsites with water and electrical hookup and 20 Premium campsites that have not only water and electric, but sewage hookup as well. There are also 19 campsites designated for tents only.
These are just a few of the Louisiana State Parks that you can visit. For more information on other Louisiana State Parks, you can visit the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism website.
