Campground Review: Sam Houston Jones State Park – Lake Charles, Louisiana

Posted January 8, 2025 – Narrated by Jim

---

We have rated this campground as a “4 Bambi” See our 5-Bambi rating legend at the end of this review. We were not paid, reimbursed nor influenced in any way by anyone for this campground review.

Dad was born in 1919 to a Louisiana factory-working family who barely made ends meet. He joined the navy on his 18th birthday.

Back in the 1950’s and 60’s, a kid could run loose in Louisiana while visiting relatives throughout the state. Even in New Orleans, I was allowed to go anywhere I wanted except Bourbon Street because my Aunt Marie said, “You stay outta dat mess young man!”

A few years ago while passing through Louisiana after a major storm, we pinned Lake Charles on the Living in Beauty list of places we like to explore. Even in that beat up condition, the region peaked our curiosity.

Sam Houston Jones State Park

Our research turned up Sam Houston Jones State Park.

This 1,087-acre wonderland surrounded by lagoons filled with bold cypress and tupelo inside a mixed pine and hardwood forest is the perfect environment to experience the cultural bounties of Louisiana.

It is named for the 46th Louisiana governor, who set aside this land in the early 1940’s for preservation and recreational use.

Located 10 miles north of downtown Lake Charles, this is where the Houston River meets the Calcasieu River.

Even though it was severely thinned out by extreme hurricane winds in 2020, this is a perfect place for travelers to experience the magic and mysteries of authentic bayou life.

Check-in

The Entrance to the park is wide and inviting.

Check-in is quick, simple and handled by a friendly and efficient staff.

The Roads

Everything is new and improved. The freshly paved roads were widened to maneuver large rigs easily. The old buildings were scraped and replaced with modern amenities. The trails are all rehabilitated and marked.

Three different camping choices are offered: RV Sites, tents and cabins.

RV Sites

The 30 RV sites are paved and divided by green space.

Some sites back-up to the woods.

There are a few pull-through sites in the central area of the campground.

We chose site #27 …

…not far from the lagoon.

All RV sites have full hookups with water, sewer, and 30/50 amp service.

This small campground is not planted with green screens, so the neighbors are in full view.

There are no shade trees within the sites, so an awning or portable shade structure is a plus.

Each site has a picnic table, fire pit and a barbecue.

There is no auxiliary dump station. Each site is equipped with a sewer connection.

Tents

Tent shelters are arranged throughout the campground.

These charming shelters are furnished with beds and every comfort a rustic camp should have: charcoal grill, picnic table, small outdoor kitchen, sun deck and chairs. Bedding, towels and kitchen gear are not provided.

Cabins

10 new luxurious cabins accommodate drive-in travelers. Fully furnished, they sleep up to 8 people with a queen bed, two bunk beds and a sofa sleeper.

Cookware, utensils, dinnerware, flatware, towels and linens are provided. All you need to bring is food and personal supplies.

All cabins boast a comfortable outdoor patio. Some have river views.

The biggest cabin, “The Lodge”, sleeps up to 14 people with two queen beds, a queen sofa sleeper and four bunk beds.

All of these rentals are located on two loops near the boat launch.

Amenities

Ideal for any road trip destination, this park has it all: cycling, fishing, wildlife viewing, kayaking, canoeing and hiking.

Cozy up to the swamp life on these beautiful hikes:

• River Walk Trail – 1.6 miles
• Cypress Tupelo Trail – 1/2 mile
• Long Leaf Pine Trail – 3-1/2 miles
• Swamp Walk Trail – 1.1 miles
• Long Leaf Pine Extension – 1.3 miles

Most of the trails follow the river or lagoon.

But, as the warning signs say, use caution near the water.

The cycling is especially delightful.

The idyllic Springtime weather made the gator warnings slip our minds and we set out on our inflatable Advanced Elements kayaks.

The boat launch is just a few minutes from the campground.

Paddling along the winding bayou, we beheld postcard views at every turn.

Here is a short video of an afternoon on the Calcasieu River.

A self-serve kiosk provides (gator-proof?) rental kayaks at the boat launch.

Though time seems to stand still on the bayou, the days passed quickly. The mornings began early with folks fishing along the shoreline.

And families stayed outside and played cornhole well into the evening.

The challenging disc golf course in the forest kept campers and locals active from sunup to sundown.

Sunset viewing from the outdoor pavilion on the riverside is a good place to meet neighbors.

Kid Friendly

Playgrounds are located in several places around the park and on the riverside.

“The Kids Trail” introduces the wonders of the Bayou to both children and the young at heart.

Enchanting figures suggest activities and tips for wildlife viewing with bayou humor and folklore.

The fascinating history of this area is explained on new signage throughout the park.

Electric car charging stations are ready to rev your ZEV (zero-emission vehicle) in the day-use area.

The park does not offer WiFi, but we had acceptable Verizon data and were able to live stream movies.

There is no fee for dogs, but neither are doggy-poop bags provided, so, arrive properly equipped.

There is no camp store or propane sales, and packages for camping guests are not accepted. (UPDATE: A follower made a comment below stating they are now accepting packages for campers)

Bathrooms, Showers and Laundry

The bathrooms and showers were modern, spotless, and well maintained.

The laundry building is in the central area of the campground.

Trash bins are located conveniently near the campground.

Downtown Lake Charles

We rarely ventured into Downtown Lake Charles, which is less than 20 minutes from the park. We feel that we must return someday to better acquaint ourselves with this beautiful city.

Downtown is filled with wonderful restaurants, cafes and breweries.

The Details

The RV Campsites vary in price based on the day of the week and month.

• $33/night plus tax – Friday and Saturday – Year around
• $30/night plus tax – Sunday through Thursday – April through -September
• $25/night plus tax – Sunday through Thursday – October through March

Tents

• Unfortunately the tents are in ownership limbo and are not available for rental as of the date of this publication.

The 10 Deluxe Cabins

• $150/night plus tax – Sunday through Thursday
• $175/night plus tax – Friday and Saturday

The one Deluxe Lodge

• $175/night plus tax – Sunday through Thursday
• $225/night plus tax – Friday and Saturday

Dogs are permitted in the 3 pet-friendly designated cabins. There is a surcharge of forty dollars ($40) per dog to cover their stay, with a maximum of two dogs per cabin.

You can make reservations online or by calling 337-855-2665 or 888-677-7264, 13 months before the day of arrival. A $4.50 non-refundable fee will be assessed on each reservation transaction made online, via phone, or as a walk-in.

Closing summary

The short video below, A Day In Beauty, was produced at Sam Houston Jones State Park.

Swamp tromping with Dad through those languid Louisiana summers are treasured memories for me. Due to wartime injuries, Dad died 40 years ago, but when I’m in Louisiana he seems nearer and our short time together not so long ago.

The Calcasieu river moves slow. Water with no particular place to go makes for good company and like Dad used to say, das awright w’me.

If you want to see the exact route we travel, click here.

*photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) were taken and copyrighted by Living In Beauty.

---

Follow “Living In Beauty” via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of new posts by email, about once or twice a month. We will not sell or share your email address, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

---

Our “BAMBI” rating system  – One BAMBI Should’a boondocked. – Two BAMBI Better than a Cracker Barrel or Walmart. – Three BAMBI Adequate for a short stay. – Four BAMBI Great place! Met our expectations for an extended stay. Needs minor improvements or is not ideally situated for all our preferred recreation (hiking, cycling, swimming, kayaking) without driving. – Five BAMBI Destination Camping at its best! Critical as we are, there’s nothing we’d improve, and you can bet your sweet Bambi we’re going back! Historically, Airstream has called their small one-axle trailer a “Bambi”.

We were not paid, reimbursed nor influenced in any way by anyone for this campground review.

Click here to see our other campground reviews.