Pineville, Louisiana camping options sit among the longleaf pines of central Louisiana at 110 feet above sea level. The region maintains an average high temperature around 92°F in summer and 59°F in winter, making camping accessible throughout the year. Most campsites near Pineville are situated within Kisatchie National Forest, where pine-dominated ecosystems create distinctively shaded camping environments.
What to do
Hike the Wild Azalea Trail: The 18-mile Wild Azalea Trail at Valentine Lake Wild Azalea Trail offers primitive camping opportunities. "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," notes one hiker who recommends being "prepared for plenty of ups and downs and some rough terrain."
Kayak on restricted waters: Indian Creek Recreation Area provides lake access directly from campsites. "We were able to launch our kayaks from our RV site," reports one visitor. Valentine Lake offers non-motorized boating only, creating a quieter water experience.
Mountain biking: Kincaid Lake area maintains dedicated mountain biking trails. The Glenn Emery trail can be accessed through Stuart Lake NF Campground, with connecting trails throughout the forest system. The area attracts "hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, fishermen and fisherwomen" according to visitors.
What campers like
Separation between sites: At Valentine Lake Northshore Campground, campers appreciate the layout with "8 spacious sites with picnic table, tent pad, fire ring, and lantern pole." The campground offers a mix of lakefront and forest sites, with "super quiet (minus gunshots during hunting season)" conditions.
Weekday tranquility: Midweek stays offer significantly reduced crowds. "We went during the week, so it was quiet," reports one Indian Creek visitor. Another notes that popular campgrounds like Stuart Lake can sometimes mean "the entire place was mine for 3 days" during off-peak times.
Forest canopy coverage: The tall pines create natural shade throughout most campsites. One visitor described Indian Creek as having "beautiful tall pines amongst the level, for the most part, campsites," which helps moderate temperatures during hot Louisiana summers.
What you should know
Hurricane recovery status: Several campgrounds remain affected by 2020 storm damage. "The campground has been closed since," reports a visitor to Kincaid Lake Recreation Area. "I spoke to forest service personnel on site, in August of 2021. I inquired about the reopening of the campground and was told that they were projecting it to reopen in 2025."
Wildlife encounters: Alligators are present in many lakes. At Valentine Lake Wild Azalea Trail, visitors warn: "Wouldn't recommend swimming in that lake. Lots of Gators and big snapping turtles." Another camper at Valentine Lake Northshore notes seeing alligators while canoeing.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby roads or shooting ranges. A Stuart Lake camper mentioned: "Aside from the occasional gunfire from a nearby shooting range, I had a wonderfully peaceful time here." At Indian Creek, one visitor reported "golf carts riding around with loud music until 1:30 am both nights."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access options: Indian Creek Recreation Area includes multiple sandy beach areas for swimming. "This is a campground that is designed for young families, from the multiple sandy beach areas to the playgrounds, there was lot for my elementary age children to do," shares one parent.
Supervision requirements: Crowded weekends may require additional child monitoring. One family noted: "Because this campground is geared toward young families, there were a lot of kids running around unsupervised" with incidents including "a group of boys tearing the roof off the play house in one of the play grounds."
Campsite selection for space: Look for sites with large cleared areas. At Indian Creek Recreation Area Best Camping Spot, certain sites offer significantly more space. One family enjoyed site 56 which had "a HUGE backyard leading down to the lake" and felt like "kings of the mountain" during their stay.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness varies: Many concrete pads require adjustments. "Slightly unlevel, needed blocks on the right side," reports one RVer at Indian Creek. Another camper at the same location found site 52 challenging, stating they "barely fit it and our Toyota Tundra" and experienced "a pretty steep drop off from the concrete pad to the ground level."
Limited full hookups: Most campsites offer electric and water without sewer connections. "Electric & water at sites, but no sewer. Full hook up sites are being built," notes a visitor. This requires planning for dump station use, with Indian Creek providing two dump stations despite lacking sewer hookups.
Low site warnings: Some areas remain muddy after rain. A camper at Indian Creek noted their site "was also a little low, so it was a bit soggy from rains that fell the week before we had arrived." Higher elevation sites like #56 at Indian Creek or the ridge sites at Valentine Lake offer better drainage.
