Best Tent Camping near Bienville, LA

Tent camping options near Bienville, Louisiana include several established campgrounds within a short drive. Wenks Landing Recreation Area offers tent sites with basic amenities, while Ivan Lake provides a more rustic camping experience. Corney Lake North Shore Primitive Campground and Bucktail Camp Complex are additional options for tent campers seeking backcountry experiences in the region. Most sites are within 30-45 minutes of Bienville, situated among the pine forests and waterways characteristic of northern Louisiana.

Most tent camping areas near Bienville feature minimal site preparation with natural dirt or grass surfaces. Wenks Landing Recreation Area provides flush toilets, running water, and designated tent sites, though campers should note it costs $12 per night rather than being free as sometimes reported. Sites 1-5 are most suitable for tent camping, with site 1 offering the best flat, grassy area. Ivan Lake provides more primitive amenities with pit toilets and trash collection, but limited water access. Campers should check seasonal conditions, as humidity and insects can be significant factors, particularly during warmer months.

The tent-only camping experience in this region offers good access to fishing, hunting, and nature observation. According to one visitor at Wenks Landing, "It was quite buggy even in early April, but I managed to keep moving and make a fire so the smoke would help the bugs stay away." Many campsites remain uncrowded, with visitors reporting they "didn't see a single soul" during their stay. The backcountry tent camping areas provide a more secluded experience, though with fewer amenities. Ivan Lake receives positive reviews from hunters who use it as a base camp. Cell service varies throughout the region, with some areas like Wenks Landing reporting 1-2 bars of ATT service, while more remote tent camping areas may have no connectivity.

Best Tent Sites Near Bienville, Louisiana (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bienville, LA

1 Photos of 10 Bienville Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Bienville, LA

205 Reviews of 10 Bienville Campgrounds


  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 4, 2025

    Corney Lake South Shore Campground

    Wooded, Lake Views

    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.

  • Chris & Rosanne C.
    Aug. 4, 2020

    Gum Springs Recreation Area — Kisatchie National Forest

    Hidden Gem

    We absolutely loved this campground! It was quiet and felt very secluded. There is a nice hiking trail around the forest. Lots of cool construction around the area from the 1930’s. Stairs that come from all areas leading down to the little lake by the campground. Several little gazebos are around the lake, too.

    There is a vault toilet and one spot for potable water, which is located at one of the campsites by the toilets. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring and a lantern pole.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 24, 2021

    Corney Lake South Shore Campground

    Dejected & Rejected

    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

  • D
    Nov. 24, 2022

    Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    Beautiful state park

    Lake Bistineau is a great state park park near Shreveport, LA. We stayed 2 nights. The sites are very shady. The park streets and sites are asphalt. Some roads need repaving. The park was clean and quiet, and the staff was friendly. Unfortunately, the lake was drawn down to eradicate an invasive water plant. But, this presented a unique opportunity. We could walk on the dry lake bottom and see the parts of cypress trees that are normally under water. 

    Stayed in back-in campsite#14 which was level side to side, but the front was higher. The site has a nice view of the lake and a large wooden deck. There was just enough parking for my 34 ft TT and truck. Neighbors are nearby, but not too close. The site included: picnic table on concrete, BBQ pit, trash pole, and fire ring. Utilities: 20/30/50A electric in back. Water in back, good pressure. No sewer, but a dump station is available. 

    AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon 2 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 5.1 Mbps down, 0.7 Mbps up. Verizon Speedtest: 7.4 Mbps down, 0.1 Mbps up. No WiFi. 

    Would stay here again. We camped at Lake Bistineau State Park in a Travel Trailer.

  • Mike V.
    Jun. 29, 2016

    Cloud Crossing Complex

    Cloud Crossing Campground, Kisatchie Natl Forest, N of Goldonna, LA

    Free public access small boat launch on to Saline Bayou at the campground. One end of the hiking trail along bayou is very close to the campground. Bathroom bldg. at campground has pit toilets only, not flush toilets. Campsites have fire rings and picnic tables. No electrical hook-up. First come - first serve, no reservations.

  • Paula W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2018

    Gum Springs Recreation Area — Kisatchie National Forest

    Log bridges and boys

    Located inside Kisatchie National Forest, Winn district. We were not alone here, but felt very secluded. This campground has sites with picnic tables, lantern posts, and fire rings. The grounds are hilly and has great small trails throughout. The gum springs body of water has large trees across small parts of water allowing the boys to test their balance skills. They had so much fun running up and down the hills and through the trees. We really liked this place. There are bathrooms on one side of the loop.

    The Winn Ranger Station is next to campground.

    "The Gum Springs Campground is located in an area of hilly terrain and natural springs. Gum Springs Recreation Complex exhibits recreation design and construction from the Civilian Conservation Corps era of the 1930's. Gum Springs campground offers basic recreation opportunities of picnicking and camping and is close to Gum Springs Horse Camp and Trail."

  • Paula W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2018

    Gum Springs Recreation Area — Kisatchie National Forest

    Log bridges and boys

    see Gum Springs Campground

    Located inside Kisatchie National Forest, Winn district. We were not alone here, but felt very secluded. This campground has sites with picnic tables, lantern posts, and fire rings. The grounds are hilly and has great small trails throughout. The gum springs body of water has large trees across small parts of water allowing the boys to test their balance skills. They had so much fun running up and down the hills and through the trees. We really liked this place. There are bathrooms on one side of the loop.

    The Winn Ranger Station is next to campground.

    The Gum Springs Campground is located in an area of hilly terrain and natural springs. Gum Springs Recreation Complex exhibits recreation design and construction from the Civilian Conservation Corps era of the 1930's. Gum Springs campground offers basic recreation opportunities of picnicking and camping and is close to Gum Springs Horse Camp and Trail.

  • D
    Dec. 11, 2021

    Jimmie Davis State Park Campground

    Prettiest La. State Park (so far)

    Jimmie Davis State Park is wonderful, well maintained, and has a number of amenities.  Prettiest La. State Park I've stayed in so far. We had a great stay the days before Thanksgiving, and the weather was awesome. The fall leaf colors were spectacular. Caney Lake is clean and beautiful. I enjoyed walking and sitting along the lake in the mornings. Bathrooms were clean. 

    Stayed in campsite#52. Back-in site with asphalt parking, picnic table and fire ring. 15A/30A/50A, and water. No deck, sewer, Wi-Fi, and cable TV hookups. It has a large area on door/awning side. Awning faced west but the trees provided ample shade from the evening sun shining underneath. The spot is well spaced from other sites. The site is located near the lake. I wish the site had a paved patio or deck like site 51 and 54 on either side. Nearest neighbor was at least 30-40 ft. Away. Roads in the park were asphalt/concrete/gravel. 

    Both AT&T and Verizon had low signal(2 bars each). AT&T Speedtest= 16.8 Mbps down, 1.4 Mbps up. We camped in a Travel Trailer. Would definitely stay here again. We camped at Jimmie Davis State Park in a Travel Trailer.

  • Cultivating Fire L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2022

    Corney Lake South Shore Campground

    Shaded lakeside view

    Quiet spot with heavy tree cover - don’t expect good Solar charging or satellite. Fantastic lakeside views, especially in the morning. Water hook ups next to most spots and primitive toilets in the middle of the camp area.

    Paved roads and semi level RV spots - great spot to stop for a few days!


Guide to Bienville

Tent camping near Bienville, Louisiana features several primitive sites located among the mixed pine-hardwood forests of northern Louisiana. The regional landscape consists of gently rolling hills with elevations between 100-250 feet, creating diverse terrain for camping experiences. Summer temperatures average 90-95°F with high humidity, while winter camping offers milder conditions with temperatures typically ranging from 40-60°F during daytime hours.

What to do

Hunting opportunities: At Ivan Lake, many visitors use the campground as a base for hunting expeditions. One camper noted, "We camp here while hunting..love this camp site no worries or problems, all nice red blooded Americans loving Gods outdoor country."

Fishing access: Corney Lake North Shore Primitive Campground provides direct lake access for anglers seeking bass, crappie, and catfish. The primitive shoreline camping allows visitors to set up tents within steps of prime fishing spots, particularly during spring and fall seasons.

Boat launching: The boat ramp at Wenks Landing Recreation Area gives campers water access for small watercraft. Sites near the ramp provide convenient overnight options for boaters. According to one visitor, "There is a boat ramp right by site 1."

What campers like

Natural setting: Turkey Trot Complex offers tent campers a more secluded backcountry experience with minimal development and natural surroundings. The designated sites maintain the native landscape with minimal clearing.

Affordability: Camping costs remain reasonable at most sites near Bienville. One visitor at Wenks Landing clarified, "I thought I'd stay here because it said it was free on the app: IT IS NOT FREE. It's cheap though! $12/night and you can book on the recreation.gov app."

Solitude: Many campsites in the Bienville area provide quiet, uncrowded experiences even during peak seasons. A camper at Wenks Landing Recreation Area reported, "I didn't see a single soul while I was there."

What you should know

Facility limitations: Most tent camping areas near Bienville provide only basic amenities. At South Abutment East, tent campers have access to toilets and drinking water but should prepare for primitive conditions otherwise.

Bugs and wildlife: Insect activity can be significant year-round but peaks during warmer months. Campers should prepare with appropriate repellents and protective clothing.

Site selection: Not all numbered campsites work well for tent camping. At Wenks Landing, a visitor advised, "If you want to tent camp or sleep in your car, only book sites 1-5. The others don't seem to have flat spots for much of anything. Perhaps hammocking would work!"

Connectivity: Cell service varies significantly across camping areas. One camper reported Wenks Landing has "ATT cell service, 1-2 bars," but more remote areas may have no connectivity.

Tips for camping with families

Best beginner sites: Wenks Landing Recreation Area offers the most amenities for families new to tent camping. One visitor described it as having "Flush toilets, running water, and a spigot to fill up."

Safety considerations: Bucktail Camp Complex and other remote sites require extra preparation for families. Pack additional water, food supplies, and first aid items as services are limited.

Weather preparation: Summer camping requires planning for heat and humidity. Bring plenty of water, cooling towels, and portable fans. Spring and fall typically provide more comfortable temperatures for family tent camping.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Most campsites near Bienville accommodate only smaller RVs and trailers. None of the campgrounds are designated as big-rig friendly.

Limited hookups: At Wenks Landing Recreation Area, one camper described it as "Great campsite..kinda primitive but good for those that like the outdoor experience," highlighting the minimal facilities for RVs.

Access roads: Many campgrounds have narrow, sometimes unpaved access roads that can be challenging for larger vehicles. Scout routes in advance when planning tent camping near Bienville in an RV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bienville, LA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bienville, LA is Turtle Slide Campground with a 1-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Bienville, LA?

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Bienville, LA, with real photos and reviews from campers.