Rhinehart, Louisiana sits within proximity to several campgrounds offering various accommodation options in central Louisiana. Tent and RV sites are available at several locations including Highway 472 Camp, a free dispersed camping area in the Kisatchie National Forest about 30 miles southwest of Rhinehart. For those seeking more amenities, Brad's Old Ferry Landing Campground & RV Park in Enterprise provides cabin rentals alongside traditional camping sites. The Stuart Lake Recreation Complex near Pollock features primitive tent camping with vault toilets in a pine forest setting, while River View RV Park in Vidalia offers full hookup sites with Mississippi River views.
Road conditions vary throughout the region with many campgrounds accessible via paved highways, though some dispersed sites require traveling on unpaved forest roads. "Great little option as an overnight spot. Not much to it, just a few obvious clearings along the small gravel/mud loop on either side of the road, a few more if you're imaginative," noted one visitor about Highway 472 Camp. Most campgrounds remain open year-round, though summer brings high humidity and temperatures often exceeding 90°F. Winter offers milder conditions with occasional freezing temperatures. Cell service can be spotty in forested areas, with reviews indicating about 2 bars of Verizon service at Highway 472 Camp. Visitors to dispersed sites should be aware of hunting seasons, as many forest camping areas double as hunter camps during deer and turkey seasons.
The region's camping experiences range from secluded forest settings to riverfront views. Several campers highlight the peaceful nature of camping in the Kisatchie National Forest, with one visitor describing Stuart Lake as offering "serenity (with occasional gunfire)" from a nearby shooting range. Wildlife encounters are common, with reviews mentioning black bears, deer, and snakes particularly at Richard K Yancy Wildlife Management Area. River View RV Park receives consistently high ratings for its Mississippi River views and amenities, including a riverfront walking path. Tent campers seeking budget-friendly options appreciate the free dispersed camping at Highway 472 Camp, though reviews indicate facilities are minimal with vault toilets that may not be regularly maintained. Campgrounds near water features tend to be most popular, with Stuart Lake offering fishing, swimming, and hiking opportunities around a 5-acre lake.
"Kept everyone close to the office & restrooms (aka storm shelter). Great walking path by the river."
"A beautiful walk path along the river it's all here at the park. Then 5 minutes drive is Walmart, gas, pizza, dollar tree. An awesome place to stay the night, a week or month. We Love it here."
$16 / night
"It was a very quiet spot tucked away on the far side of the campground. It was right off the water and had a beautiful view of the sunrise and all the birds."
"Beautiful views of the lake can be seen from almost all primitive sites. We were visited by raccoons one night, but they were easily & quickly scared away."
$5 / night
"Campground and bathrooms clean, quiet except the background highway noise. Lake was pretty, and small, able to walk all the way around the lake in about 20 minutes."
"Within the Stuart Lake Recreation Complex there are lots of activities including fishing, swimming, hiking, and picnicking. Located on a 5-acre lake in a pine forest."
"Aside from the aforementioned gunfire from a nearby shooting range, I had a wonderfully peaceful time here."
"RV sites behind the lodge, some semi permanent units there. The lodge itself has several motel suite type accommodations plus a larger main lodge that can sleep in excess of 10 people."
"the campgrounds are tucked back in the wooded areas. You drive in from main highway and feel like you’re in a tunnel of trees; temperature drops 5-10 degrees."
"Don’t let the condition of the road or the buildings scare you away from this state park. These people have had to clean up after 2 hurricanes this year."
"Close to the road but nicely wooded."
GuideOverall a nice campground. There was no entry gate, ranger or camp host so there wasn't much security. The restrooms were old but we'll kept up and clean. During our stay some other campers came in late at night and left very early and threw trash all over the ground around their campsite. Some better security would be good.
GuideI am out here at the end of January on a cold couple days and have not seen another human. Beautiful forest.
GuideFollowed Google Maps to lat long, was just a bit off... took what looked like a road in. Well, not the cool campsites the other reviews spoke of. I should have continued further down the Forrest road in. Anyway, I followed the obvious tracks in... went through some mud holes and a few steep inclines. This wrong route I ended taking would not be good with a trailer. One other person is out here... but I can hear others and what is probably the main area. I'm just here for the night, so I am not moving to find the main area. At&t 4G, 2 solid bars. Thorny out here.
ScoutVery clean and well maintained park. Level lots. Lots of activities for kids like swimming pools, water slide, zip lines, and more.
GuideA fairly large campground with no striking qualities, other than a remote feeling. As noted in another review, the sites are in old tall pines (typical of tje Kisatchie NF) and mostly large and well spaced. However the whole place has an abandoned feel (aside from the deer which seemed surprised to see me)... Rotting infrastructure (roads, grates, toilet buildings). As a lone female camper on a weeknight in September, I did not feel comfortable here, nor was it appealing, so I moved up the road to Lake Valentine north shore, which had a host.
ScoutNice toilet,his and hers. Only one spot for that .
ScoutI would like to start by saying 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. The bathhouses were cleaned every morning and I didn't see much trash lying around, other than our fire pit, but I assumed the previous tenants must have dumped some of their trash in the pit when leaving. Some of the issues I had are, because this campground is geared toward young families, there were a lot of kids running around unsupervised. There was a group of boys tearing the roof off the play house in one of the play grounds, another group jumping off the fishing pier while people were fishing, little kids driving golf carts around without adults on them (one time almost hitting a lady on a scooter), there were several dogs running around not on leashes, and even adult driving vehicles through the grassy play area rather than the roadway. The rules seem to no be enforced, including the no noise times of 10pm-7am. There were golf carts riding around with loud music until 1:30 am both nights. I never saw a single park attendant, other than the gate operator. We will likely try camping here again, but perhaps during the week while schools are in session to avoid the crowds.
TravelerIf you're looking for a quiet, back-to-nature escape, Gum Springs in Kisatchie National Forest delivers big. This tent-friendly spot is nestled among tall pines, with spacious and shady pads, peaceful vibes, and killer access to a 17-mile horse trail. At just $10/night, it’s an absolute steal. Pit toilets are clean, and while you might hear the nearby highway now and then, it doesn’t spoil the experience. Just don’t expect hookups or glam amenities—this is all about the woods, the trails, and the quiet.
GuideThe entry road is not really suited to most RVs The electric box has a wasp nest The concrete slab was partially covered in mud The picnic table area was covered in fire ants everywhere plus a huge ant hill Laundry is out of service The campground has no lawn care and you are basically camping in a mud jungle Mosquitoes were thick Leaves were deep There were two other campers 1 van, 1 motorcycle No on-site rangers or staff We never unhooked and left We will attempt to get our money back
Rhinehart sits in central Louisiana where elevations average 130 feet above sea level, with surrounding camping areas featuring pine forests and waterfront options along rivers and lakes. Seasonal considerations are important when planning a trip, as summer temperatures consistently reach above 90°F with high humidity while winter nights can occasionally drop below freezing.
Fishing opportunities: 5-acre lake access at Stuart Lake NF Campground provides relaxed fishing in a serene setting. One visitor noted: "Went here for my first ever solo camping trip, and I couldn't have chosen a better time or place. It was early November, and aside from a couple of hunters and afternoon fishers, the entire place was mine for 3 days."
Water recreation: swimming beach and fishing pier available at Indian Creek Recreation Area, located about 55 miles southwest of Rhinehart. "The cleanliness of the primitive camp sites is unsurpassed. Beautiful views of the lake can be seen from almost all primitive sites," according to a primitive camper.
Hiking trails: network of nature paths throughout the area provide walking opportunities. At Stuart Lake, "There is a trail from the campground to the swimming and fishing pond at the day use area and beyond," reported a camper who enjoyed the recreation complex.
Privacy between sites: Campers at Indian Creek Recreation Area appreciate the space between camping spots. "The campsites are basic tenting areas with no improvements such as fire rings, tables, trash barrels, tent platforms, etc. There is some privacy and separation between campsites," noted a frequent car camper.
Riverside experiences: The Mississippi River views at River View RV Park provide a unique waterfront camping experience. "We spent a few days at River View RV Park in January, visiting Natchez and enjoying the view of the Mississippi River. The sites were pretty spacious and many have an unobstructed view of the river. There is even a nice paved trail on top of the levee," wrote one visitor.
Quiet, wooded settings: The pine forests create peaceful environments. One camper at Brad's Old Ferry Landing Campground & RV Park shared: "Brad is kind and wonderful. It is in a beautiful woods. We planned to stay 3 nights. Stayed a full month. Would DEFINITELY come back!"
Wildlife awareness: Many camping areas in the region have active wildlife. At Richard K Yancy Yakey Rd Campground, visitors should "Beware of Bears. Do not take this lightly. There are curious black bears in the area as well as snakes and deer."
Hunting seasons affect availability: Several camping areas double as hunting camps. Highway 472 Camp is a "designated Hunter Camp inside the Catahoula National Wildlife Management Preserve" allowing primitive camping in a predominantly pine setting, according to Forest Service information.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: From basic vault toilets at dispersed sites to full facilities at established campgrounds. At Natchez State Park, "The bathhouse is dated but clean and warm. Although the gaps between the shower stalls leave little privacy in my opinion."
Multiple beach areas for children: Indian Creek Recreation Area offers family-friendly water access. One parent noted: "I would like to start by saying 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."
Look for campgrounds with playgrounds: Several established campgrounds include play equipment. At Natchez State Park, one camper mentioned there was a "Nice playground by the lake" with "decent shade at half of the sites on the loop."
Supervision expectations: Some campgrounds experience issues with unsupervised children. A reviewer cautioned: "There were a lot of kids running around unsupervised. There was a group of boys tearing the roof off the play house in one of the play grounds, another group jumping off the fishing pier while people were fishing."
Site selection considerations: At Natchez State Park Campground, RVers should choose sites carefully. "Be careful selecting your site, some are uneven and the pad sets above ground level. Sites all have a grill and fire pit."
Budget-friendly options: Several RV parks offer discounts. At River View RV Park, one reviewer mentioned "Veteran discount" among the pros, along with "Easy access to Natchez Trace Parkway" and "Quick checkin with friendly staff."
Road access challenges: Some of the best places to camp near Rhinehart, Louisiana require navigating difficult roads. A camper warned about Natchez State Park: "The entry road is not really suited to most RVs" and "Currently, the main entrance to the park is under construction, so we were detoured about 7 miles around very bumpy backroads to an alternate entrance."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Rhinehart, LA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Rhinehart, LA offers a wide range of camping options, with 52 campgrounds and RV parks near Rhinehart, LA and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Rhinehart, LA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rhinehart, LA is Old River Campground with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rhinehart, LA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Rhinehart, LA.
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