Best Tent Camping near Bastrop, LA

Reserved on-line 202 days prior to arrival. 

Pros All 23 campsites are full hook up so no dump station in park 

Restroom/shower facility heated 

Restroom/shower facility clean 

Site utility hookups in good condition 

Site pad is good condition. Level campsite parking pad. No leveling needed. 

Trash cans at every other campsite so no dumpsters 

Metal picnic table, fire ring and lantern pole F

Firewood for sale at Visitors Center Park roadways in good condition. No low hanging tree branches 

Not charged a fee to make e my own on-line reservation

Wildlife sightings were bald eagle, white-tailed deer and lots of grey squirrels

Interesting historical ferry crossing exhibit in park

Closest Walmart 25 miles in El Dorado

Good overnight stop only

Cons

LOTS and LOTS of road noise from Highway 67. Lots of semi traffic.

Not dark sky friendly park! Street lights in campground! Sites 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 are fully illuminated by street lights. Who wants to camp under a street light?

Extremely low water pressure to our campsite

No park Wifi

1 bar AT&T service No privacy from neighbors or campground roadway

No campground host

No security gate closure

Never saw any park rangers or park security driving through campground

Old campground along pretty lake in a national forest. Clean; the grounds are well maintained. The campground is confusing. Campsites are not marked. Looks like it was initially developed as a tent campground. There are shared vehicle parking pads; sites are not actually next to these - need to walkin a little. RV campers can probably park on the parking pads and walk to nearby picnic tables. Some sites have metal fire rings and lantern poles near picnic tables. Otherwise, it appears that previous campers had open campfires. Hammock camping is possible in a few areas. Clean his/hers vault toilet with tp and hand sanitizer. Water pumps scattered throughout campground; water was turned on duirng my stay. Sites in the middle of the campground are level; others slope down a little toward the lake. Sites are grass surfaces. No tent pads. No RV driveways to individual sites. Quiet, peaceful. No fee. Day Use area with fishing pier nearby. Partial shade; solar charging and Starlink access may be a challenge. Sporadic AT&T and T-Mobile service. Overall, this is a nice campground. I was the only camper during the nights I camped hare. A local resident stopped by to check up on me.

FEE: FREE 

FCFS 

318-473-7160 

This is a primitive campground with NO AMENITIES. There is a very small turn around at the end. There is a fire ring and suppose to be a picnic table and lantern pole that we did not find. Along the way you will pass the trailhead for the Wild Azalea Trail. A beautiful spot that is rather wild with wonderful lake views. The track in becomes just that"a track." No trash, no pit toilet, no water. You can find trash and a toilet near the South Shore boat launch. There is a trashed travel trailer that is continues to take abuse. Gives this primitive site into a trash dump. Wish is that it be remove ASAP 

LNT 

AIS 

BTYFI 

Travel safe

Breston was an amazing host!!! DEFINITELY call or text him to reserve a site. The historic plantation is absolutely gorgeous. We got the grand tour of the land, and Breston’s impressive herb farm. The love and passion Breston has for horticulture really shines through his work here. I’m a house plant nerd, and I loved learning about the ins and outs(and scientific names!) of outdoor plants! He’s got some for sale as well. We were going to pick up a patchouli plant, but I am spacey and completely forgot to ask by the time we left. 

Breston made us drinks with mint fresh from his garden, and offered a local beer(both delicious! He makes a mean julep!) His homemade gumbo was*chef’s kiss*. We walked back to our tent in the clearing behind the house with full bellies and good spirits. 

There are lots of spots to pitch your tent on property. We chose the clearing in the back, surrounded by towering trees, next to the levee. We brought bare minimum sleeping pads(just Nemo switchbacks and bags) and it was like sleeping on a cloud. The ground was soft and cushy, perfect if you’re light car-campers like we are. Just gingerly drive over a 110 year old sidewalk to get there! Southern hospitality is abundant here. We can’t thank Breston enough for such a memorable experience!