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Best Dispersed Camping in Louisiana

43 Reviews

Louisiana's dispersed camping options span from beachfront spots to secluded forest areas. Rutherford Beach offers free camping directly on hard-packed sand suitable for RVs and tents with basic amenities including trash service and portable toilets. Multiple wildlife management areas provide primitive camping experiences, including Russell Sage WMA and Sugar Creek Hunt Camp, both offering free sites but varying in facilities.

The Kisatchie National Forest contains several dispersed camping options, including Forest Road 380 with multiple large group sites and access to a natural spring. According to one visitor, "There are about 5 camp areas, a few of them are group sites. Very large and spacious." Most Louisiana dispersed sites have stay limits between 14-30 days. Seasonal considerations are important, particularly for beach camping where mosquitoes can be problematic. A camper noted that Rutherford Beach had "thick clouds of mosquitos" that "made the grave mistake of opening the van door at night." Vault toilets are available at some locations, but most sites require visitors to be fully self-contained with no hookups or drinking water.

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Best Dispersed Sites in Louisiana (15)

    1. Rutherford Beach Dispersed Camping

    22 Reviews
    Cameron, LA
    Website

    "We were able to camp in our camper van right on the beach, the sand is very hard packed, so we had no trouble even in our two-wheel drive."

    "Stayed about a week A few people here all friendly Sunset and sunrise was amazing Bugs were not really an issue bug spray is mandatory No problem with getting stuck I have a 24 foot motorhome heavy"

    2. Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area

    6 Reviews
    Monroe, LA

    "This is a nice site at end of turn around. Next to a nice pond. About 5 miles from I20. No amenities. Beware only one camp site."

    "Don’t even try to find it on your own with Apple Maps! It’s just a longish drive off of a nice paved two lane. There is a big sign at the mouth. Just a circle turn around back in the woods."

    3. Valentine Lake Wild Azalea Trail

    4 Reviews
    Gardner, LA
    Website

    "I hiked about 7.5 miles in from the Valentine Lake trailhead to a large clearing by the bridge with a nice cool stream. There are other clearings nearby which would be great for a small group camp."

    "There is both primitive and fixed campsites.you have a couple Small trails in and around Valentine lake, or you caan hop on wild azeala trail and hike it. Its just short of 18 miles start to finish."

    4. Sugar Creek Hunt Camp Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    Junction City, AR
    Website

    "The road down there is full of huge potholes, be aware! Especially at night lol."

    "It is a hunt camp so you might have a truck or two drive by but other than that we were the only ones out here so it was real quiet and there's at least three "spots" where a big rig like ours (35ft) can"

    5. Evangeline Camp Complex

    2 Reviews
    Gardner, LA
    Website
    +1 (318) 473-7160

    "Great trail. Very well marked and maintained. Some wet areas but not bad. Awesome primitive camping sites along trail."

    "Very clean and and kept up very well nicely shaded"

    6. Highway 472 Camp

    3 Reviews
    Winnfield, LA
    Website
    +1 (318) 793-9427

    "Vault toilets, too. 2 bars Verizon service, enough to send/recieve & use internet/gps. Close to the road but nicely wooded."

    7. Forest Road 380 Kisatchi National Forest

    2 Reviews
    Gorum, LA
    Website
    +1 (318) 472-1840

    "No trash pick up. No water hook ups. There is however, a natural spring that is piped just as you enter FR380. Locals come here to fill water. It’s very fresh and refreshing."

    "The drive there was beautiful. Getting to the camp site was pretty straightforward through google Maps. You can pull ur vehicle right up your camp site."

    8. Crow Lake Primitive Sites

    1 Review
    Cullen, LA

    "This is just the one campsite, but it's quite large and there's a turnaround which could be used for a second campsite if you have a vehicle that can handle it."

    9. Mae's Beach

    2 Reviews
    Sabine Pass, TX

    "Unfortunately, the area was hit by Hurricane Laura in 2020 and the nearby neighborhoods have been destroyed. Locals are in the process of rebuilding. I'd suggest having 4x4 to drive on the beach."

    10. Hunter's Camp

    1 Review
    Fort Polk, LA

    "Map shows a camping loop that appears to have been abandoned by the Forest Service. It had a dead hog blocking the loop."

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos in Louisiana

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Dispersed Camping Reviews in Louisiana

43 Reviews of 15 Louisiana Campgrounds

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

    Highway 472 Camp

    Split down the middle

    This campground is aptly named because it is split in half by a major hwy. Yes, hwy 472. There are vault toilets on both sides. It is dispersed free camping in the Kisatchie National Forest, Catahoula district, Catahoula national wildlife management preserve. The grounds are overgrown in places but there are a few cleared out spots with obvious old campfires. There were even places that looked like you could back in an RV. We will be back to this spot during the fall to see the leaves change colors. It feels secluded even if it is on the hwy.

    This campground is a designated Hunter camp so if you plan to stay here call the rangers or know your seasons (deer, turkey, etc.).

    According to the fs.usda.gov website, "The Highway 472 Camp is a designated Hunter Camp inside the Catahoula National Wildlife Management Preserve. The Hwy 472 Camp allows primitive camping in a predominantly pine setting."

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2022

    Rutherford Beach Dispersed Camping

    Free Beach Camping

    Free camping on the beach. No problem driving on the hard packed sand. Camped here in a camper van. Plenty of room, far from other campers. I was surprised at how wide the beach was given it's history with storms. Clean. Portable toilets near entrance to beach; pretty nasty. Also, trash dumsters; full when we arrived. Horse flies & other insects can be a problem here, but not too bad if a breeze or wind is coming off of the gulf. Good AT&T & T-Mobile service. Good experience.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2021

    Valentine Lake Wild Azalea Trail

    Wild

    Open all year 

    Primitive 

    The Wild Azalea Trail is south west of Alexandria, Louisiana on the edge of the Valentine Lake Recreation Area. There is a trail head with parking on the grass, nicely mowed but if it has rained it could be muddy. Primitive camping is permitted adjacent to the trail but campsites must be at least 30 feet from the trail center line.

     Pack it in, Pack it out 

    LNT 

    BTYFI 

    NO FIRES 

    Travel safe

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 11, 2024

    Hunter's Camp

    Quiet spot in the Pine Trees

    Nice disbursed site. Map shows a camping loop that appears to have been abandoned by the Forest Service. It had a dead hog blocking the loop. This loop is about 150 yards from the vaulted toilet and garbage receptacle.

    There is another loop adjacent to the toilet and garbage that appears to have disbursed camping spots with places where fires were made.

    The camping area is open to the sky and has yellow pines that create random shade. Great place to charge with solar panels on a sunny day.

    The only other camper is a crazy dude on the old camping loop by the dead pig.

  • UnnamedAdventures The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 11, 2019

    Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area

    Worst WMA Land Ever Visited

    This WMA land is the worst that I have ever stayed at. If you stay here and don’t need to leave your vehicle your probably safe. We ended up staying here on our drive from Texas to Alabama and thought it was a great spot on the map to stop as its close to the highway(Historic Highway 80). The location was great due to the proximity to the highway and there was very minimal road noise. Since we got their late at night we were unable to really get a full lay of the land. We pulled in and used the turnaround and setup camp. After an incident that night with our dog rolling in human feces we knew we wouldn’t like the site of the camp in the morning. After we cleaned him(thank goodness we had lots of water and dog shampoo) we went to bed only to hear barking of stray dogs. The next morning we kept our dogs on a tight leash and were in disarray with the amount of garbage and trash around the camping area. Overall don’t stay here unless you absolutely have to. The road in is Gravel and.05 miles from a paved road. Russell Sage WMA is open Year round. There are 1-5 campsites at this location and the maximum RV length is 25 feet. You may stay 14 days at Russell Sage WMA.

    Check out our blog at www.unnamedadventures.com and follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram or on our YouTube Channel at Unnamed Adventures. 

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    • YouTube

  • Jenna L.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 12, 2025

    Rutherford Beach Dispersed Camping

    Great free camping right on the beach

    We were able to camp in our camper van right on the beach, the sand is very hard packed, so we had no trouble even in our two-wheel drive.

    Unfortunately the bacteria was so high, so you are not able to swim, but the beach itself was really wide and had a lot of seashells to peruse. It is also very dog friendly, and my dog really enjoyed romping around in the sand as we did our long walks.

    There are four porta potty is near the entrance, which is nice that a dispersed place has some facilities. There is also a water spigot with a hose for Philips.

    So far there's a couple of other camps at the beach, but it is big enough that there is probably 50 yd between each person, which is really nice. I stayed Sunday to Wednesday, so I don't know if it gets busier during the weekends. But through the week, it seems fairy chill

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 5, 2023

    Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area

    Nice and secluded

    This is a nice site at end of turn around. Next to a nice pond. About 5 miles from I20. No amenities. Beware only one camp site.

  • Kelly E.
    Mar. 30, 2022

    Mae's Beach

    Soft Sand!

    Sketchy access for my rig. I’m a pickup truck camper at 10,000 pounds and was very uncertain about getting very far in. Do I didn’t! No facilities Close to Sabine NWR and Cameron Ferry

  • sThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2025

    Rutherford Beach Dispersed Camping

    Loved it

    Stayed about a week A few people here all friendly Sunset and sunrise was amazing Bugs were not really an issue bug spray is mandatory No problem with getting stuck I have a 24 foot motorhome heavy and old

Guide to Louisiana

Discover the thrill of dispersed camping in Louisiana, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the hustle and bustle, all while enjoying the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.

Top Activities for Dispersed Campers in Louisiana

Unique Features for Dispersed Camping

  • Campers at Highway 472 Camp will appreciate the big rig-friendly access and the convenience of vault toilets, making it a practical choice for overnight stays.
  • Enjoy the secluded beach front at Mae's Beach, where you can relax by the water and soak in the natural beauty of the area.
  • Experience the peaceful environment at Sugar Creek Hunt Camp Dispersed, which features secure trash cans and vault toilets for added convenience.

Must-Visit Attractions for Dispersed Campers

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best locations for dispersed camping in Louisiana?

The Kisatchie National Forest offers excellent dispersed camping opportunities in Louisiana. Forest Road 380 Kisatchi National Forest provides peaceful sites, though roads can be rutty and there's no cell service. For beachfront dispersed camping, Rutherford Beach Dispersed Camping is a popular choice with hard-packed sand suitable for vehicles. The beach is wide with plenty of space between campers, though be aware it's about 45 minutes from the nearest major supplies. Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) also offer dispersed camping options throughout the state, with varying levels of accessibility and isolation.

Is free camping available in Louisiana state forests or public lands?

Yes, free camping is available in several Louisiana public lands. Highway 472 Camp offers free dispersed camping in the Kisatchie National Forest's Catahoula district with vault toilets. Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area provides free primitive camping spots near ponds, located about 5 miles from I-20. When camping on public lands in Louisiana, remember that Wildlife Management Areas typically require a valid hunting or fishing license or a Wild Louisiana Stamp. Most free sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with varying maximum stay limits that may be enforced differently depending on location.

What are the regulations for boondocking in Louisiana?

Boondocking in Louisiana requires following specific regulations that vary by location. At Mae's Beach, access can be challenging for larger rigs, so vehicle size restrictions apply practically if not officially. Most WMAs like Sugar Creek Hunt Camp Dispersed require visitors to possess either a valid hunting/fishing license or Wild Louisiana Stamp. Standard regulations include pack-in/pack-out trash policies, fire restrictions (particularly during dry seasons), and staying on established sites to minimize environmental impact. Maximum stay limits are typically 14 days within a 30-day period, though enforcement varies. Vehicles must remain on designated roads and camping areas, with no off-roading permitted in most locations.

What amenities can I expect at primitive camping sites in Louisiana?

Primitive camping sites in Louisiana generally offer minimal to no amenities. At Valentine Lake Wild Azalea Trail, you'll find primitive camping adjacent to the trail with only basic parking available at the trailhead. Hunter's Camp provides a bit more with vault toilets and garbage receptacles, though some camping loops may be unmaintained. Most primitive sites across Louisiana lack running water, electricity, or shower facilities. You should prepare to be fully self-sufficient with your own water, waste disposal methods, and toilet supplies. Cell service is typically unreliable or nonexistent, especially in forested areas, so having offline maps is advisable.

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