Looking to get away and reconnect with nature? Cabin camping near Ruston is the perfect choice. Find the best information on cabin camping near Ruston, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. You're sure to find the perfect cabin rental for your Louisiana camping adventure.
Take your pick: swimming, fishing, birding, boating of all kinds, waterskiing, camping, hiking or just plain relaxing and enjoying the unsurpassed natural beauty. It's all here . . . at Lake Claiborne State Park. For fishermen, the freshwater lake was lavishly stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, channel catfish, black crappie, striped bass, chain pickerel, bream, and white perch. The lake itself, at full reservoir level, has a surface area of 6,400 acres.
Two-bedroom cabins are nestled among the pine trees, and many offer a view of the lake. The RV campground rests among the slopes of the north Louisiana foothills, offering shaded spots to get closer to nature. Whatever your preference for an overnight stay, you'll be sure to rest peacefully.
One of the most popular activities for visitors of all ages is swimming at the park's sandy beach. The beach is situated on an inlet of the lake and is protected from boats and waterskiers. So work up an appetite for that fresh fish supper by taking a brisk swim in Lake Claiborne's famous clear water. Ecologists and sportsmen alike hail the lake's excellent water quality, and you will too, once you've made the trip to Lake Claiborne. Once on-site, you will see the area come to life as a park naturalist will be available to present nature-based programs and give guided hikes.
Lake Claiborne SP offers the #1 and #2 ranked disc golf courses in the state. Both courses offer 2 sets of tee pads, the Blue tees are for the skilled players and the Red tees for the newer players or first timers at the park. Families are encouraged to check out discs at the fee station on their next visit. Both courses start and end at the entrance. Scorecards and maps are available to the fee station or in the below "Disc Golf" section.
The woods of Lake Claiborne are also home to a wide variety of wildlife. Lovely nature trails and a scenic overlook will allow you to appreciate the beauty of the area at your own pace. Or you may be interested in a variety of nature tours, offered on a regular basis.
Located on a peninsula on Caney Lake, Jimmie Davis State Park offers two boat launches and a fishing pier that cater to the outdoors enthusiast looking for a prime freshwater fishing spot. Waterskiing is another way to enjoy the clear waters of the lake, which was created by damming Caney Creek in 1986. Don't forget to look back at the lakeshore to appreciate the beautiful mixed pine and hardwood forest surrounding the lake and the birds and animals that make the forest their home. To ensure that there's never a dull moment, the park also has a playground for the kids after a day on the lake. Cyclists will enjoy the park as a starting point for biking treks through the hills of North Louisiana, and nature lovers are invited to discover the beauty of the wooded land and lakefront. Bring your binoculars to get a closer look at the wide variety of birds that live in or pass through the area. After a day of fishing and exploring the park, stay the night in a cabin...or bring the extended family and sleepover in a lodge. For large groups, a group camp – including four dormitories and a dining hall – is available, with its own playground and fishing pier. RV campers have several scenic sites to choose from, for a closer visit with nature. Opened in the fall of 1996, Jimmie Davis State Park was originally named Caney Creek Lake State Park. The 2003 Louisiana State Legislature approved renaming the park in honor of two-term Governor Jimmie H. Davis, who served from 1944 to 1948 and again from 1960 to 1964.
$25 - $35 / night
Situated on the western shore of Lake Bistineau, this park offers a satisfying blend of beautiful vistas and outstanding recreational facilities. Memorable for its upland mixed hardwood forest, its open waters, and its enchanting stands of cypress and tupelo trees, the park offers two boat launches, hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, camping, cabins and excellent fishing!
Beginning in January with the "yo- yo" season and lasting through the spring, summer, and early fall, the dedicated fisherman can draw such freshwater catches as black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow bass, catfish, bluegill, and red-ear sunfish from the lake's clear waters.
Lake Bistineau dates back over 200 years. It began in 1800 when several thousand acres of land were flooded due to a gigantic log jam in the Red River. Gradually, however, as the area was dredged, the lake began to drain. Then in 1935, a permanent dam was built across Loggy Bayou, creating the present-day Lake Bistineau. The dam has since been enlarged, giving the reservoir a surface area of 26.9 square miles, with an average depth of seven feet and a maximum depth of 25 feet.
Area 1 is located in the main section of the park, with cabins, and a group camp. Picnicking along the lake is tremendously popular at numerous sites equipped with tables, grills, and nearby restrooms. Several picnic pavilions are also available for larger groups. The park's trail system encompasses nearly 10 miles of woodland trails and an 11-mile canoe trail, for visitors who want to see the park's beauty from the water.
Legend
Super nice owners! Dwayne was very accommodating...good price for full hookup.Quiet and convenient campground.
15 mins from Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge if you want somewhere to hike and walk around. Some delicious restaurants around for some Louisiana cuisine. We enjoyed our stay.
Level spot. Cell phone service and bathroom with shower available.
Ranger
I tent camped here in April 2023. The staff was friendly and the office was still open at 6pm, when I arrived on a Saturday. I don’t know their normal hours. The weather was nice but it had just rained so my campsite was wet with a little mud. Plus it was a little uneven without much clear space for a tent but my tent fit because it is a 2-person tent. Other sites had wooden platforms but mine didn’t. I took an evening walk on the Discovery Trail and saw two deer. There are several other, longer trails. I didn’t explore the lake. The bathroom/shower house was clean. It was a little ways from I-20 but overall decent park.
GuideWe stayed here for a one night stopover. I’m not sure I’d go out of my way to stay there again but I was happy enough with my stop. It’s an older park. The lake is pretty swampy. No sewer at the sites, but water and electric. Cell service with AT&T was pretty weak but manageable to get some work done. Bathhouse was a typical older state park set up. Definitely needs some TLC. It would take a little work to get level in most of the sites from what I can see. They do have a wooden platform (almost like a deck) at most sites that is pretty cool. Our table was old and kinda warped. There is a fire pit. Table and fire are down a level but sites where we stayed were large and spacious. The park was almost empty during our stay but when we booked there were very few open sites available less than a week earlier. That seemed odd once we saw there was literally no one staying there. Sunset was beautiful.
Guide
Spot #29 is the best! Beautiful park, great fishing, kids loved the beach!
TravelerBeautiful site off the beaten path. Quiet and serene. between the Spanish moss and the cypress trees truly get a sense of the Deep South.
RangerLake Bistineau is a great state park park near Shreveport, LA. We stayed 2 nights. The sites are very shady. The park streets and sites are asphalt. Some roads need repaving. The park was clean and quiet, and the staff was friendly. Unfortunately, the lake was drawn down to eradicate an invasive water plant. But, this presented a unique opportunity. We could walk on the dry lake bottom and see the parts of cypress trees that are normally under water.
Stayed in back-in campsite#14 which was level side to side, but the front was higher. The site has a nice view of the lake and a large wooden deck. There was just enough parking for my 34 ft TT and truck. Neighbors are nearby, but not too close. The site included: picnic table on concrete, BBQ pit, trash pole, and fire ring. Utilities: 20/30/50A electric in back. Water in back, good pressure. No sewer, but a dump station is available.
AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon 2 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 5.1 Mbps down, 0.7 Mbps up. Verizon Speedtest: 7.4 Mbps down, 0.1 Mbps up. No WiFi.
Would stay here again. We camped at Lake Bistineau State Park in a Travel Trailer.
TravelerVery clean! Clean bathrooms, beautiful scenery, but the sites are angled so it’s difficult to back in. There are trees right at the road edges that you have to worry about while backing
ScoutWi-Fi did not work anywhere in park (signal Broadcasted fine just no connection to internet) AT&T is non existent.
Bathrooms clean. Park clean. Great views.
GuideEnjoyed our stay. Bathhouses were good.
GuideWhitetail deer, owls, fish/gar, butterflies, dragonflies, fireflies, and much more! Sites right on the Lake. Two Disc Golf Courses and hiking trails. Nice facilities with all lodging options from primitive tent, yurt, RV hookups, and cabins.
Guide
Kels Kove ls s hidden Gem, beautiful property alongside the lake. Very Friendly Staff and the property looks well taken care of. I met some really cool people and plan to visit a few times a year. They also have a country store with Beer, Alcohol, and all other essentials. ATT works best, Verizon and Tmobie are spotty reception. The lake is Big, try and get out on the water when visiting!
GuideGreat Lake spots no sewer on lake spots, no hot water last night in the bath house.
Legend
This is not my first time to visit but rapidly becoming a favorite. Each trip is different and I find different ways to get more out of the park. They have great hiking trails, sites by the lake, and now I’ve discovered the biking trails too. There’s disc golf, a tennis center and multiple playgrounds. You can camp out in the campground or stay in a cabin or lodge. They also have canvas tents on wooden decks that are super cute. I stayed in the RV for my visit and have both water and electric at my site.
GuideGreat park , lots to do and see the sites for Campers have decks!! No sewer though!
TravelerGreat place, good rates. So very quiet and peaceful. Winter deals were great on my budget. Park personnel were awesome. Helped me with a dead truck battery and were just all around wonderful. Showers/bathrooms were spotless. One minor drawback—no sewer sites. I stayed two weeks and had to hook up to dump once (small tanks). Drive to Shreveport for shopping was easy and pleasant.
LegendThis lakeside state park has RV and tent camping, cabins, lodges and YURTS available. There are also day use pavilions available for family reunions, employee barbecues or birthday celebrations. You can also rent a meeting room in the visitors center.
There are lots of recreational opportunities which include hiking, biking, fishing, canoe and kayak rentals, tennis courts and an 18-hole disc golf course. They also have a large hiking trail system. Closed right now but available Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend they also have a really large swimming pool. A tornado hit the park in March 2021 and there’s still some trees down and a brief section of the trail I walked on today that wasn’t accessible but it is an easy detour amazing how much they have restored.
Ranger
Jimmie Davis State Park is wonderful, well maintained, and has a number of amenities. Prettiest La. State Park I've stayed in so far. We had a great stay the days before Thanksgiving, and the weather was awesome. The fall leaf colors were spectacular. Caney Lake is clean and beautiful. I enjoyed walking and sitting along the lake in the mornings. Bathrooms were clean.
Stayed in campsite#52. Back-in site with asphalt parking, picnic table and fire ring. 15A/30A/50A, and water. No deck, sewer, Wi-Fi, and cable TV hookups. It has a large area on door/awning side. Awning faced west but the trees provided ample shade from the evening sun shining underneath. The spot is well spaced from other sites. The site is located near the lake. I wish the site had a paved patio or deck like site 51 and 54 on either side. Nearest neighbor was at least 30-40 ft. Away. Roads in the park were asphalt/concrete/gravel.
Both AT&T and Verizon had low signal(2 bars each). AT&T Speedtest= 16.8 Mbps down, 1.4 Mbps up. We camped in a Travel Trailer. Would definitely stay here again. We camped at Jimmie Davis State Park in a Travel Trailer.
TravelerThe park was very quiet and clean. The shower house and bathrooms were clean too. We camped in a tent and they have sand pits for the tents to sit in. The park is beautiful, especially right now with a the changing colors of the trees.
The locals and park rangers are also very nice. I locked my keys in my car and the park ranger helped me get ahold to a person to unlock it. He also gave us some camping tips and helped us build a fire and gather firewood.
TravelerI stopped at this campsite on my way back to atlanta. The views of the "swamp" are great. It's dry, and apparently has been for some years, so there's a lush grass growing down to the water's edge. Lots of wildlife to watch.
GuideBeautiful large park, nice all the way around!
ScoutStayed in a cabin and it was great! Very clean and useable. Didn’t realize they lowered the lake. My fault for not investigating more. Facilities are nice and has about 10 miles of trails to walk/bike.
ScoutClean, well kept park. Has a nice splash pad and beach for kids. Also a couple parks and many hammocks. Has wifi, just not a good signal. Only down side, no sewage hookup, only a dump station. Not a big deal for a weekend visit, but may be an inconvenience if it were a longer stay.
TravelerThe only park on caney lake. Good lake for fishing and water sports, many sites you can park your boat very close.
LegendReally nice like a resort. Tennis courts, swimming pool (closed for winter), horse shoe pit, laundry mat, disc golf, and awesome clean bathrooms. Very nice sites and BEAUTIFUL cabins. Great piers on a very nice lake with big, beautiful cypress trees. Just a beautiful, hilly campground on a gorgeous lake.. Lots of trails. They have been doing some improvements such as cutting trees while we were there but an awesome park!
LegendLots of amenities. Tennis courses, disc golf course, hiking/biking trails, swimming pool, cabins, lodges, several playgrounds, picnic areas, pavilions & WiFi. Very reasonable sites for $23/night unless you’re in the lakeside premium sites which are more. Laundry room next to the bath house and playground. I will definitely be back.
TravelerLake Darbonne is our first experience with camping. I really didn’t know what to expect but we really loved it : the staff is really helpful, the campsite is really cosy (and not crowded during week days), the view on the lake is beautiful, etc.
We already planned to go back there on our way home to Louisiana.
RangerGreat fishing with all the amenities. Family friendly, Louisiana hospitality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Ruston, LA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Ruston, LA is Lake D'Arbonne State Park — New Lake D'arbonne State Park with a 4.8-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Ruston, LA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 cabin camping locations near Ruston, LA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
