Best Tent Camping near Fort Polk, LA
Kisatchie National Forest surrounds Fort Polk, Louisiana with several primitive tent camping options for those seeking seclusion in the piney woods. Hunters Camp in the Calcasieu Ranger District offers free tent camping with basic amenities just off Range Road. The Enduro Complex provides tent-only camping with access to miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Coyote Camp, located along the sandstone trail system, offers peaceful tent sites with vault toilets but no water. These public lands provide year-round tent camping opportunities with varying levels of accessibility and amenities.
Most primitive tent campgrounds near Fort Polk require campers to bring their own water and supplies. Sites typically feature natural surfaces with minimal improvements, and a 14-day stay limit applies at most locations. Vault toilets are available at most campgrounds, though they may be located some distance from actual tent sites. Road conditions vary significantly, with some campgrounds accessible via well-maintained roads while others require travel down rutted dirt roads. According to one camper at Hunters Camp, "You're surrounded by wilderness. The only amenities are a vault toilet. Fort Polk is close enough for supplies, check your gate schedules."
Walk-in tent sites provide the most secluded camping experiences in the area. At Red Bluff Camp, a short quarter-mile walk leads to peaceful tent sites along a bayou. Kisatchie Bayou Campground (temporarily closed) features 17 primitive walk-in tent sites alongside a clear-water bayou that "looks more like a creek in Arkansas than a Louisiana bayou." The hardwood and pine forests create a natural setting for backcountry tent camping. During summer months, some sites offer swimming opportunities in nearby water features. Wildlife sightings are common, with visitors reporting deer, bobcats, and various bird species. Weekdays typically offer greater solitude than weekends, when popular tent campgrounds can fill quickly, especially at established sites like Indian Creek Recreation Area's primitive camping section.
