Bogue Chitto State Park Campground is located in Washington Parish, Louisiana, approximately 20 miles east of Franklinton. The park spans over 1,786 acres of mixed bottomland and upland forests at an elevation of around 200 feet above sea level. The diverse ecosystem includes both hardwood forests and pine stands, with multiple water features including a gorge area that offers a rare topographical feature for the otherwise flat region.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake fishing at Bogue Chitto State Park Campground varies by location, with the lower lakes hosting alligators. "Literally, don't feed the gators. There were signs everywhere. Apparently many people don't heed the signs. When my hubby rustled a bag, several alligators swam right up to our site," notes camper Cat R.
Wildlife viewing: Percy Quin State Park Campground offers abundant wildlife sighting opportunities along its nature trails. "We saw plenty of wildlife such as turkey, deer, rabbits, turtles, alligators and birds," reports Tiffany M., who enjoyed exploring the park's diverse habitats.
Paddle sports: Multiple waterways allow for different paddling experiences. The creek at Land-O-Pines Family Campground provides shallow water play areas. Nicole R. describes it as having an "Awesome creek that the kids have a blast in," making it suitable for families with younger children who want to cool off.
Biking trails: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated cycling paths with various difficulty levels. At Tickfaw State Park, campers report that "the park is a great place to bring bikes as well," according to Paula W. The relatively flat terrain makes it accessible for riders of different skill levels.
Swimming options: Beyond the river and lakes, some campgrounds maintain dedicated swimming facilities. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, "the pools are nice it has a nice splash pad a big jump pad open all the time has a water slide up front $5 per hour and you use a mat to go down it's fiberglass," according to Philip P.
What campers like
Waterfront sites: Many campers prefer lakeside accommodations with direct water access. At Indian Creek Campground, Tammy D. raves that "Primitive sites are all by the water!! Awesome place." These sites allow for immediate kayak launching and fishing from your campsite.
Natural boardwalks: The elevated trails through wetland areas provide close wildlife viewing without getting muddy. "Be sure and hike the nature trail at the north end of the park. Part of the trail is a boardwalk through the swamp," suggests David B. at Percy Quin State Park, noting that while some sections need repair, the trails remain accessible.
Private camping peninsulas: Tickfaw State Park Campground offers isolated tent sites. "The tent camping section has defined/private tent sites with picnic tables, and parking next to each site," explains Mary S., who appreciates the layout that provides seclusion while maintaining access to facilities.
Free amenities: Some parks provide unexpected complimentary services. "Free laundry for campers. Our site was lined with woods and gave us the feeling of seclusion," shares Therese A. about Tickfaw State Park, making longer stays more convenient.
Holiday celebrations: Several campgrounds host elaborate seasonal events. At Hidden Oaks Family Campground, David D. reports, "We went for Halloween weekend and there were a lot of activities and trick or treating for the kids..great campsite great memories."
What you should know
Flash flooding risk: Low-lying campgrounds can experience rapid water rises. Cat R. warns that at Bogue Chitto State Park, "We were in the lower area campsites, which were prone to flash flooding. We actually left a day early due to prediction of rain."
Wildlife safety: Alligators are present in many water bodies throughout the region. Larry notes that at Bogue Chitto, "This place is crawling with gators in the lower portion on the lakes. Hey this is south Louisiana." Always maintain a safe distance and never feed wildlife.
Variable site conditions: Campsite quality can differ significantly within the same campground. At Percy Quin State Park, Layla D. observes, "The sites were all quite close to one another, not affording much seclusion and privacy from other guests."
Seasonal crowds: Weekends and holidays bring significantly higher attendance. Sean S. from Tickfaw State Park shares, "Went for a few nights solo camping (with my dog) in late January, so we had the tent area to ourselves until Friday afternoon."
Road navigation challenges: Some campgrounds have confusing internal road systems. David B. notes at Percy Quin, "Campground roads were narrow and there were no signs at intersections in the campground indicating which loop to take for which campsite numbers."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Land-O-Pines Family Campground offers multiple recreation areas for children. Farrah B. shares, "There is a lot of fun things to do for the whole family, from swimming, water slide to playing bingo and a lot more." The variety of activities helps keep children of different ages engaged.
Safety considerations: When camping with children near water features, supervision is essential. At Indian Creek Campground, Tara L. notes, "There are cabins that can be rented, a playground, a swimming pool and a game room for kids. It was quite at night and during the day lots of kids riding bikes and fishing. Great family place."
Nature education: Several parks offer wildlife demonstrations and educational programs. Paula W. explains that Tickfaw State Park "offers a nature center that is really nice and they have animal demonstrations where you are able to really learn about Louisiana wildlife and touch the animals as well."
Campsite selection for families: Choose sites away from water edges when camping with small children. Cat R. cautions about specific sites at Percy Quin: "Our site #57 needed 2 blocks to level," indicating that some preparation may be needed for a comfortable setup with children.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Many campgrounds in this lowland region require leveling equipment. At Hidden Oaks Family Campground, Cat R. notes, "The campsite was quite muddy due to the large amount of rain recently. Took 2 blocks to level off."
Hookup placement: Pay attention to the location of utilities at each site. David B. describes his site at Land-O-Pines: "Utilities: 20/50A electric near the middle. The 20A receptacle looked like it had some minor burn marks. Water next to power pole, good pressure. Sewer near power pole with 4 non screw-on fitting."
Cell service variability: Coverage can be spotty throughout the region. David B. reports from Land-O-Pines, "AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon full bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 30.8 Mbps down, 3.6 Mbps up. Verizon Speedtest: 4.5 Mbps down, 11.8 Mbps up."
Full hookup availability: Not all sites offer complete utility connections. Paula W. advises about Bogue Chitto, "Full hookup in uplands, just water and electric in bottomland," helping RVers select the appropriate camping area for their needs.
