CampgroundsDB

First-come camping in Louisiana (no reservation needed)

Louisiana has 23 public campgrounds you can camp at without a reservation, 14 free and 7 charging a fee. All are run by the U.S. Forest Service.

23
Total
0
Reservable
23
First-come
CoyoteEvangeline Camp

noindex Fewer than 3 campgrounds here clear the indexable bar yet, so this page stays noindex.

First-come campgrounds vs. dispersed camping

Every campground below is a named, developed site that takes no reservations: show up, find an open site, pay if there's a fee. Dispersed camping (boondocking) is different: camping on open public land away from any campground. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).

Most first-come campgrounds by town: 5 near Grant , 3 near Claiborne , 3 near Natchitoches , and 2 near Alexandria .

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Bankston Camp Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Bucktail Hunter Camp Claiborne · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Caney Lakes Camp Minden · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $25 per night
 Cat Hwy 472 Camp Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Cloud Crossing Rec Area Goldonna · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Corney Lake Rec Area Homer · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Coyote Natchitoches · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Dogwood Camp Provencal · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Enduro Ohv Camp Vernon · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Evangeline Camp Rapides · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Fullerton Rec Area Pitkin · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $15 per night
 Gum Springs Rec Area Winnfield · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Hunter Camp Vernon · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Kincaid Camp Alexandria · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $25 per night
 Kisatchie Bayou Rec Area Provencal · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Day Use:
 Oak Horse Camp Natchitoches · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Pearson Hunter Camp Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Red Bluff Hunter Natchitoches · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Saddle Bayou Hunter Camp Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Sugar Creek Hunter Claiborne · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Turkey Trot Hunter Claiborne · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Valentine Lake Rec Area Alexandria · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night
 Winn Hwy 472 Camp Grant · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free

Common questions

Is there free camping in Louisiana?

Yes. 14 public campgrounds here are free and first-come: Bankston Camp, Bucktail Hunter Camp, Cat Hwy 472 Camp, Cloud Crossing Rec Area, and 10 more.

Can you camp on BLM land in Louisiana?

Yes, in most places. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).

Campgrounds you can book ahead: camping in Louisiana.