Best Campgrounds near Lake Charles, LA

Camping near Lake Charles, Louisiana, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a quiet retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

• Explore the outdoors: Check out the hiking and biking trails at Village Creek State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Great staff. Clean bathrooms. Good hiking and biking trails."
• Enjoy the beach: Head to Rutherford Beach Campground for some beach time. A camper shared, "Easy access with lots of beach space to choose from."
• Wildlife watching: Visit Wild Ivy Sanctuary for a chance to see various animals. One reviewer said, "Woke up to a pig grunting which we found utterly adorable."

What campers like

• Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Sam Houston Jones State Park. A visitor noted, "Bath house is close by but we honestly didn’t use it."
• Friendly staff: Many campers enjoy the welcoming atmosphere. At Frog City RV Park, one guest said, "The first thing you encounter is the super friendly and helpful staff."
• Spacious sites: Campers at Gulf Coast RV Resort appreciate the roomy spots. A reviewer mentioned, "The sites are very narrow and pretty close to fellow campers but it was all good."

What you should know

• Mosquitoes can be a problem: If you're camping at Sea Rim State Park Campground, be prepared for mosquitoes. One camper warned, "We had RV campground reservations for 3 nights but left after one because of the mosquitoes."
• Limited amenities at some sites: Campgrounds like Pickled Pelican RV Park have few amenities. A visitor mentioned, "Rates are $70 a night... this is not a typical RV park as there are no amenities."
• Noise from highways: Campers at Boomtown USA RV Resort noted that highway noise can be bothersome. One said, "Minus 1 star because we were parked by the highway so the noise was a little annoying throughout the night."

Tips for camping with families

• Bring bug spray: Mosquitoes can be fierce, especially at places like Sea Rim State Park Campground. A camper advised, "This was a great spot on the gulf - we needed a winter get-a-way. Bring bug spray!"
• Check for family-friendly activities: Look for parks with amenities like playgrounds. Red Shoes RV Park & Chalets has a dog park and is close to a casino with family activities.
• Plan for downtime: Make sure to have games or activities for kids. One family at Wild Ivy Sanctuary enjoyed the peaceful environment, saying, "My dog was thrilled to be allowed off-leash."

Tips from RVers

• Reserve in advance: Popular spots like Village Creek State Park Campground can fill up quickly. A camper suggested, "Reserve far in advance if you want to see bird migration activity."
• Check site conditions: Some RV parks, like Gulf Coast RV Resort, have uneven ground. One visitor noted, "The pad is buried into the ground which causes hills into the grass."
• Stay connected: If you need internet, check reviews for Wi-Fi quality. Campers at Frog City RV Park mentioned, "Free Wi-Fi... but it was already cold for us to use."

Camping around Lake Charles, Louisiana, has its quirks, but with the right preparation, you can have a great time exploring the outdoors and making memories.