Free Camping in Louisiana

90 sites across 5 federal and state land agencies. 0 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

National Park Service sites

14 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Acadian Cultural Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Atchafalaya National Heritage Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cane River Creole National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cane River National Heritage Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National Cemetery
    Developed· Indexing
  • French Quarter Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
    Developed· Indexing
  • Magnolia Plantation Store
    Developed· Indexing
  • New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Oakland Plantation Store
    Developed· Indexing
  • Poverty Point National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Poverty Point World Heritage Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Prairie Acadian Cultural Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Texas and Pacific Railway Depot
    Developed· Indexing

PRIVATE sites

12 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • Bayou Segnette State Park Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Berry Creek Cabins
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bogue Chitto SP - Bottomland
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bonnet Carre Spillway - COE
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Burn’s Point Lane
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fam Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fontainebleau Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Jackson Park
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Kisatchie Bayou Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lotus Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Red Bluff Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • St. Bernard State Park Campground
    Developed· Indexing

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

22 sites. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • Atchafalaya Basin
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bawcomville Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bayou Bodcau Reservoir
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bonnet Carre Spillway
    Developed· Indexing
  • Caddo Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Columbia East Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Columbia Landing Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Finch Bayou Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Necessity Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Moon Lake Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Old River Lock
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ouachita-Black River - Calion Pool
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ouachita-Black River - Columbia Pool
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ouachita-Black River - Felsenthal Pool
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ouachita-Black River - Jonesville Pool
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pearl River - 3 Pools
    Developed· Indexing
  • Prairion Bayou Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Red River Waterway
    Developed· Indexing
  • Riverton Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Sterlington Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Sterlington Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Wallace Lake
    Developed· Indexing

US Forest Service sites

17 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • Beaver Dam Campground (Kisatchie National Forest, LA)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cane
    Developed· Indexing
  • Claiborne Multi-Use Trail System
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cloud Crossing Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Corral Ohv Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fullerton Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Gum Springs Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kincaid Lake Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kincaid Lake Day Use Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kincaid Lake West Boat Launch
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kisatchie National Forest
    Developed· Indexing
  • Livingston Trail System
    Developed· Indexing
  • Loran Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lower Caney Lake Boat Launch
    Developed· Indexing
  • Sandstone Multi-Use Trail System
    Developed· Indexing
  • Stuart Lake Day Use Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Valentine Lake Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

25 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Breton National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Breton Wilderness
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Delta National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Handy Brake National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Louisiana Wetland Management District
    Developed· Indexing
  • Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Red River National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Sabine National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
1 more US Fish and Wildlife Service site in Louisiana.

Common questions about camping in Louisiana

How long can you camp on public land in Louisiana?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Louisiana is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Louisiana have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Louisiana right now?
Fire restrictions in Louisiana change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Louisiana state office page and the USFS Louisiana forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Louisiana?
Dispersed camping in Louisiana means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. USFS national forests in Louisiana allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Louisiana?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Louisiana with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Louisiana prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Louisiana?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Louisiana when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Louisiana are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Louisiana in winter?
Winter access in Louisiana depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Louisiana often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Louisiana?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Louisiana do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Louisiana?
Coverage in Louisiana varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Louisiana sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

Browse Louisiana by topic