Camping near Madisonville, Louisiana offers access to diverse water environments including riverfront sites, lake access, and stream-adjacent spots. The region sits at a low elevation of approximately 6-7 feet above sea level, making drainage a primary concern during Louisiana's frequent rain events. Most facilities remain open year-round despite seasonal flooding risks along waterways such as the Tickfaw and Tchefuncte Rivers.
What to do
Kayaking river systems: Several campgrounds offer direct water access for paddling. At Hidden Oaks Family Campground, you can put in directly at the campground. One visitor noted, "There's a river that runs right through the campground. A small 'general store' is a real convience for those of us who forget the ketchup!"
Fishing opportunities: Tickfaw State Park Campground has multiple fishing spots with both lake and river access. "There's a small fishing lake behind the CG down a short road between sites 15 and 17. The lake has a cool boardwalk fishing pier that was in good shape," reported one camper, who also warned about "some pretty good sized gators lounging about."
Wildlife viewing: Bogue Chitto State Park Campground offers multiple ecosystems for animal spotting. A camper shared, "We love this campground cause has lots of wildlife." Another visitor cautioned, "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!"
Biking trails: Several parks feature paved paths suitable for family cycling. A visitor at Fontainebleau State Park Campground mentioned, "We enjoyed riding our bikes around the campground and the trails in the park. We also, took the trace to town and rode along the lake."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Most state parks in the region maintain well-kept washrooms and common areas. One camper at Fairview-Riverside State Park noted, "Bathrooms were clean everytime I went, which is just as much about the guests as the staff."
Waterfront sites: Riverside camping spots receive consistent praise. "Our site, #101 was right on one of the many lakes in the park. Not much room, but nice enough for looking at the alligators and fishing," wrote a visitor to Tickfaw State Park.
Shade coverage: Many campsites feature mature tree canopies that provide relief from summer heat. A visitor to Abita Springs RV Resort noted, "Nice RV pads next to the fishing pond. Scenic nature trails and wildlife. This is out in the woods but only a short drive to shopping and dining."
Holiday celebrations: Several private campgrounds host special seasonal events. A camper at Hidden Oaks Family Campground shared, "This campground has been around for a long time. It has great festive activities for the seasonal holidays and a general laid back mind set year round. Halloween decorations were in full effect."
What you should know
Drainage issues: Low-lying sites can become problematic after rain. One Fairview-Riverside camper warned, "I want to give them a 5, but they have a water problem. It doesn't take much rain to have standing water in many sites. Lots of the pads are old and narrow. You find yourself stepping out your coach into sloppy mud."
Alligator presence: Wildlife viewing includes potential alligator sightings at most waterfront locations. A camper at Bogue Chitto mentioned, "This place is crawling with gators in the lower portion on the lakes. Hey this is south Louisiana."
Campground layouts: Site spacing varies significantly between parks and within individual campgrounds. At Fireside RV Resort, a visitor observed, "We stayed at site #54, and luckily site #55 was empty. Some sites are a little too close together while others have plenty of green space."
Flooding vulnerability: Some campgrounds experience closures during high water events. A Tickfaw State Park visitor noted, "I have had a few of my reservations cancelled by the park when the river is high because the camping areas will flood."
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Several parks offer swimming areas with varying amenities. A visitor to Sun Outdoors New Orleans North Shore noted, "Their Halloween was this weekend and had a blast," highlighting the family-friendly atmosphere with "multiple swimming pools (with swim up bars), café, lazy river, pool cabanas, putt putt golf."
Playgrounds and splash pads: Parks with dedicated children's areas provide entertainment options. At Tickfaw State Park, a visitor recalled, "When my children were very young. This was one of the first places in the area to have a splash park for my children to run and play while staying cool in the south Louisiana heat."
Educational opportunities: Nature centers enhance kids' experiences with wildlife education. "The 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," shared a Tickfaw State Park visitor.
Halloween camping: Multiple campgrounds offer special October activities. A visitor to Land-O-Pines Family Campground shared, "Great site..we went for Halloween weekend and there were alot of activities and trick or treating for the kids..great campsite great memories."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Choose carefully based on rig size and pad conditions. At Fontainebleau State Park, one RVer advised, "Be careful booking a pull thru site if your unit is over 25', they're horseshoe shaped. We could not fit on a pull thru site, and Betty at the entrance was awesome and found us the perfect back-in site."
Hookup variations: Water pressure and electric service quality differ between parks. An RVer at Fairview-Riverside mentioned getting "No dip in electricity at peak usage. Good water pressure. Free laundry for campers. Our site was lined with woods and gave us the feeling of seclusion."
Leveling challenges: Many sites require adjustment equipment. A Hidden Oaks camper noted their "site was quite muddy due to the large amount of rain recently. Took 2 blocks to level off."
