Where We Are Now

We landed this afternoon at Ely KOA Journey, pretty much right in the middle of Nevada, elevation, 6500 ft. This is just a stop-over for a night, but it really is a nice campground. We plan to drive around this after and check out the town.

   Ely KOA our site

Where We Are on the Map

Where to Next

From here we're heading north to Idaho. Our first stop is a place called Anderson Camp. We plan to spend a couple of days there so we can check out Shoshone Falls and what's left of Twin Falls

 Anderson Camp Stock Photo

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Wednesday, 25 December 2024

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Sam Houston Jones State Park, Lake Charles, LA

Our Visit

      Sam Houston Jones State Park, was just a one night stay over, but after going there, I wish we would have stayed longer. The park is beautiful with swamps and a river, cabins, RV, and tent camping. The campground is wooded with mostly paved sites.

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Sam Houston on the map blue burned

Most are a bit tight for bigger rigs, but we managed to fit. Walking around the park we saw that the swamp directly across from the campground had been drained. (to restore some of the forests)  As we followed the road we found a large picnic area with plenty of tables along the river bank. There is a boat ramp and we saw someone out in a kayak paddling up and down the river. There is a boat ramp with a warning sign not to swim and a possibility of alligators. Further along, the road was several very nice cabins to rent. There was a second swamp, this one not drained with a large wooden bridge crossing it. In the middle of the bridge was an amphitheater. From the bridge looking down into the swamp, we saw dozens of turtles swimming about. (I took pictures, but you need to zoom in to see their heads poking out of the water and their bodies under the surface) As we passed the cabins along our walk around the park we discovered a full 18-hole disc golf course. Had we more time, we would have grabbed our discs and tried it out. Alongside the road, we could see that water had recently receded from there and discovered what we later found to be mounds of mud with holes in them made by crawfish digging into the ground as the water evaporated. Being from the Northwest, this was new. Later we searched You-tube and watched a video of someone pushing his arm (up to his shoulder) in a hole and pulling out a crawfish. A second video showed him using a trap in a creek using dry dog food as bait and catching them by the dozen.

     Overall, we really liked the park, we met some great people there and would recommend two nights if you’re using it as a stopover on your way down the road.

Campground number eighty-six. 

  • April 18, 2018 -  1 day
  1. Campground Information
  2. Their Description
  3. Amenities
  4. Policies .
Website:
  crt.state.la.us
Type: State Park
Address: Sam Houston Jones State Park, 
       107 Sutherland Rd,
        Lake Charles, LA 70611
Phone: (337) 855-2665

Originally named for the Texas folk hero who traveled extensively in the western reaches of Louisiana, Sam Houston Jones was given its current name in honor of the state's 46th governor, who was instrumental in setting aside this tract of land for the public to enjoy for both day-use and overnight visitors.
Because the caretakers of this 1,087-acre park have worked to keep the land in its natural state, abundant wildlife inhabits the area. Tree-filled lagoons and mixed pine and hardwood forest combine to create a unique natural environment. The park is located just north of the most productive birding region of Louisiana. The bird watching is always excellent, but at certain times of the year, nearly 200 species of birds can be seen at or within 30 miles of the site.

The Office of State Parks has partnered with Sasol in Lake Charles on the Longleaf Legacy Project,  to preserve the iconic tree's rich history, restore the splendor of local forests, and ensure the resiliency of such habitats for generations to come.  The project includes the restoration of over 70 acres of longleaf forest in the park and companion educational programs for local teachers and families.

Sam Houston Jones State Park is home to more than 70 acres of longleaf pines, the oldest living southern pine species. They were once one of the most abundant tree species in the United States, stretching across 90 million acres from Virginia to Texas. Over time, land-use practices such as logging, farming, development, urban encroachment, and fire exclusion have diminished the longleaf pine, leaving less than 4 million acres of longleaf forest and less than 10 percent of their original presence in Louisiana.

The numerous waterways in this area make water sports a natural highlight at the park. Two boat launches are conveniently located on the West Fork of the Calcasieu River, providing access to Calcasieu Lake, about 20 miles away. (No-Wake Zone Advisory )

The three hiking trails winding through this beautiful park make strolling or serious hiking, pleasurable. Particularly interesting is the old stagecoach road, which hikers may travel to explore the park and the banks of the various tributaries to the Calcasieu River.

 

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Hours of Operation:
Site is open daily.

Gate Opening Times:
Sunday through Thursday

  • open at 6 a.m.
  • close at 9 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.

  • open at 6 a.m.
  • close at 10 p.m.

Entrance Station Hours:
Sunday through Thursday

  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.

  • 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Entrance Fees

  • $3 per person
  • Free for seniors (62 & older)
  • Free for children (3 & under)

Camping
A $6 non-refundable fee will be assessed on each reservation transaction made online, via phone, or as a walk-in.
( map of sites 23-43)  ( map of sites 44-62)

9 Premium Campsites (pull-through sites with water and electrical hookups) $33/night plus tax, Fri-Sat
$30/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Apr-Sept
$25/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Oct-Mar
26 Improved Campsites (water and electrical hookup) $28/night plus tax, Fri-Sat
$25/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Apr-Sept
$20/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Oct-Mar
Backcountry campsites (maximum capacity of 6), 5 available on a first-come, first-served basis $9 per person/night, plus tax
Primitive camping area (maximum capacity of 20) $20/night plus tax
America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes (formerly Golden Age & Golden Access Passports) (Available through the National Park Service. Click here for more information)
Holders of the Passes, whose state of residence also honors the America the Beautiful pass, are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. (Passport holders are allowed one site per passport).

Additional Information About Overnight Facilities

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Tennessee

Tennessee (1)

Monday, 20 May 2019 21:52

Natchez Trace RV Campground

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Natchez Trace RV Campground, Hohenwald, Tennessee

     Our original thought on choosing Natchez Trace to camp at was to visit Nashville, but we never made it there.  We had planned on staying for six days and moving on toward Memphis, but the couple (Bud and Melanie) next to us at Diamond Caverns were heading there the day after us so we added four more days to spend more time visiting with them.  (Also, Melanie was sewing us new curtains.)  Another couple (Ron & Glenda) that we had met at Diamond Caverns also joined us a week later.  On our first day there we checked out the store/cafe and met some of the local people who invited us to join them at their table for breakfast.  That wound up being a daily thing.  We also met three other couples there, one park ranger and his wife (Thomas & Pam), the other two (Bob & Debi) & (Rick & Kim) had also been at Diamond Caverns while we were there but we hadn't met them yet.  With all the truly great people there, we added another four days to our stay.

     When we arrived at the campground we went off in search of a full hook-up with 50 amps, but the only one available was in a bad location in the sun and at the time our AC wasn't working.  So we then looked for a 30 amp full hookup site and found only a few of them, but they were also in full sun.  So we found a great spot under the trees (I had to trim some branches while standing on the motorhome for us to back in)  It was 30 amps and no septic hookup, but it was a great spot and there was a full hookup 30 amp spot that Bud and Melanie could use when they came the following day.  Our park ranger friend (Thomas) set us up with a pumping service, so after five days we ponied up $10 bucks and got pumped out.  When Ron & Glenda showed up, there were a few full hookup sites at the beach and we all moved over there.  We occupied four of the seven beach sites for the Labor Day weekend.  It was camping at its best.  Thomas offered up his pontoon boat to use while he was working and once we took him up on his generous offer, we drove it back to the beach and picked up the rest of the clan and enjoyed a couple of hours out on the lake.

    The weekend before Labor Day the campground hosted a charity auto show which featured mostly "Rat Rods".  It was an interesting take on restoring old cars.  The campground is also located right next to the Natchez Trace.  The Natchez Trace is a 444-mile long national park.  It's a road starting from Natchez, Mississippi extending north almost to Nashville.  No commercial vehicles are allowed on the road and it has a 50 mph speed limit throughout.  It followed a trail that pioneers used as they traveled north through the area.  The site where Meriwether Lewis is buried is pretty close to the campground.  That, and the Amish community nearby are just about the only thing to see near the campground as Nashville is about an hour and a half drive.  

    From what we understand about the campground is that the previous owners were going bankrupt when Thousand Trails picked it up.  There are over 500 sites and it's very spread out.  Because of the park's age, most of the sites are 30 amp without septic.  Most of the facilities are rundown and are in need of a lot of work.  There are only seven sites at the beach that are near the lake that are available for "transients", the rest of the lakefront site are annual sites.  Hopefully, with enough annual sites, the park will be able to make the improvements that it desperately needs.  The campground also has a lot of cabins, which we didn't learn much about.  I think the number one draw to the campground is the people who live there, work there, and live nearby.  Everyone we met was so nice.  The other nice feature is the cafe that serves three meals a day with the best prices.  Jackie and I both ate breakfast there every day for around six dollars together.  I'm sure that the campground will continue making improvements and we're looking forward to our next visit.

Wooded RV Camp in Tennessee
    A beautifully wooded RV camp in Tennessee is within reach when you book a Natchez Trace RV Camping trip. Don't forget your camera! This picturesque Tennessee RV campground features 830 acres of stunning views in a relaxing environment. There's also plenty to do at Natchez Trace. Take a pontoon tour on our 3-mile lake. Anglers can fish for bass, shellcracker, and crappie.
      Exploring outside Natchez Trace RV Camping can be just as exciting. Located just southwest of Nashville, Natchez Trace RV Camping offers guests easy access to this active city full of nightlife, museums, live entertainment, theme parks and more. Furthermore, interesting day trips include Loretta Lynn's Dude Ranch in Hurricane Mills and the home of President James Polk in Columbia.
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