Top Horse Camping near Ruston, LA

Are you an equestrian lover who prefers a more rustic experience when you visit Ruston? Finding a place to stay in Louisiana while traveling with your horse is easy. You're sure to find the perfect site for your Louisiana horse camping excursion.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Ruston, LA (1)

    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    1. Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    26 Photos
    48 Saves
    Haughton, Louisiana

    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.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access

Recent Equestrian Reviews In Ruston

12 Reviews of 1 Ruston Campgrounds


  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    May 2, 2023

    Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    Decent park

    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.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    March 24, 2023

    Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    Nice enough

    We 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.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    November 24, 2022

    Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    Beautiful state park

    Lake 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.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    November 23, 2022

    Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    Very clean!

    Very 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

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    February 22, 2022

    Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    Beautiful Park.

    Great 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.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    October 28, 2021

    Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    Great views. Easy camping.

    I 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.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    October 15, 2021

    Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    Very quiet, lots to do depending on time of year

    Stayed 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.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    March 18, 2020

    Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    Classic southern cypress setting

    A taste of the swamps in north Louisiana. Spanish moss clad Bald Cypress trees in a stereotypical Louisiana lake. Two great boat ramps, cabins and picnic tables. Keep your small dogs on a leash or you may feed the gators. Mosquitoes big enough to land at Barksdale AFB.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lake Bistineau State Park Campground
    June 29, 2016

    Lake Bistineau State Park Campground

    Lake Bistineau State Park, nw Louisiana

    State park by a lake. Pretty nice all in all. Fairly close to Shreveport, LA. Park was clean, and grass kept cut. Has a nice boat ramp and parking area by the lake. Raccoons are pro's at this park, so you may want to safely store your food and trash if staying in the campground area. They didn't get any of my stuff, but did get into another campers bag of trash.



Guide to Ruston

Camping near Ruston, Louisiana, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled trip, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking and biking: Explore the trails at Lincoln Parish Park. Campers have enjoyed the "quiet weekend with fun activities" and noted the "bike trails were really fun."
  • Fishing and kayaking: At Cypress Black Bayou Recreation Area, you can fish or rent kayaks. One visitor mentioned, "We enjoyed camping, swimming, and the zoo!"
  • Wine tasting: For a unique experience, check out Landry Vineyards Grape Escape RV Sites. A reviewer said, "We arrived close to the tasting room closing time... very accommodating service and beautiful view of the vineyards!"

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Lake Bistineau State Park. One visitor noted, "The park was very quiet and clean. The shower house and bathrooms were clean too."
  • Spacious sites: Many enjoy the roomy campsites at Beaver Dam Campground. A camper shared, "Flat site and plenty of distance between sites."
  • Friendly staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff at Jimmie Davis State Park. One review highlighted, "Great fishing with all the amenities. Family friendly, Louisiana hospitality."

What you should know:

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like Chemin-A-Haut State Park, may have limited amenities. A visitor mentioned, "If it rains, it's muddy in the site."
  • Cell service can be spotty: Campers at Lake Claiborne State Park reported weak cell service. One camper said, "AT&T is non-existent."
  • Reservations recommended: Popular spots like Lincoln Parish Park can fill up quickly. A visitor noted, "We plan on going back so we can enjoy all of that."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds and activities: Look for campgrounds with family-friendly amenities, like Moro Bay State Park, which has a nice playground. A family shared, "Met several nice folks. Park is very clean and well kept."
  • Nature exploration: Encourage kids to explore nature. At Cypress Black Bayou Recreation Area, one camper said, "Plenty of running room for my dog and there’s a TON of room between sites."
  • Plan for downtime: Bring games or books for quiet time. Campers at Lake D'Arbonne State Park enjoyed the peaceful environment, with one saying, "The sites are very shady."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site dimensions: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Beaver Dam Campground mentioned, "Even then, the roads in were a little tight, but definitely manageable!"
  • Use the right GPS: Follow directions given by staff rather than relying solely on GPS. A visitor at Landry Vineyards Grape Escape RV Sites advised, "Follow the directions the staff gives you and not the GPS."
  • Bring extra supplies: Some campgrounds, like Lake Bistineau State Park, may not have nearby markets. A camper noted, "No market, but the park was clean and quiet."

Camping near Ruston, LA, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Enjoy the great outdoors and make some lasting memories!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ruston, LA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ruston, LA is Lake Bistineau State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 12 reviews.