Featuring an abundance of recreational activities, solitude, and privacy, Caddo Lake is a great choice for your next RV destination. Located on the border of Texas and Louisiana, there is an urban legend that the lake originally was formed by the 1811–12 New Madrid earthquakes. A more likely reason why this magnificent body of water came to be is due to a 100-mile log jam on the Red River in Louisiana known as the "Great Raft".
Before the lake was around, the area was used by Native Americans for thousands of years for hunting, gathering, and as a place to call home. New settlers arrived in the 19th century and when oil was found in the early 20th century the lake was a hive of activity.
The U.S Army Corps of Engineers altered the original state of the lake in 1914 when they added a dam for flood control purposes. A further flood control dam was added in 1971 to protect the surrounding areas from the rainy season. Thanks to the works of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the area around Caddo Lake has some great amenities. They helped to build the amenities at Caddo State Park between 1933 and 1937, and since then another 7,000 acres have been added to the area to form the Caddo Lake State Park and Wildlife Management Area.
For those looking to explore in and around the lake, there are plenty of opportunities for you to do so. The lake is a great fishing and boating destination, and you can also explore the area around the lake thanks to the hiking trails. Whether you are a first time RV traveler renting a rig, or an experienced camper, you will be happy with the RV campsites that located within Caddo State Park. Caddo Lake is open all year round.
Caddo Lake is fairly easy to get to, but driving directions will depend on where at the lake that you would like to visit. On the Texas side of the lake, you can gain access via Caddo State Park. To get here, you can take Route 43 and the park entrance is just outside the tiny East Texas burg of Karnack, which was the childhood home of Lady Bird Johnson. On the Louisiana side of the lake, there are many access points, including the popular Earl G Williamson Park. The park is located right off the LA-1 so you really can't miss it.
If you need to pick up any supplies or amenities before your visit to the park, there are many towns located close by that you can check out. These include Oil City, Mooringsport, and Belcher on the Louisiana side, and Karnack, Jefferson, and Marshall. Shreveport is the closest city to the park, which is located 24 miles to the southeast.
During your journey to the park, there shouldn't be any major issues that will hinder your trip. Route 43 is almost completely flat and somewhat isolated, so there won't be any visibility or traffic problems. The same can be said for the Louisiana side of the lake. Even if you are not a very experienced RV driver, you should have no problem navigating the lake and its surrounding area.
There are plenty of parking areas around the lake on both sides.
Caddo Lake State Park is the best place to stay if you want to call an area near the lake your home during your visit. The camping area at Caddo Lake State Park is located near Saw Mill Pond, which connects to the Big Cypress Bayou and then Caddo Lake.
All of the RV friendly sites at Caddo Lake State Park have the ability to connect to electricity and they all come with some great site-specific amenities, including a picnic table, fire pit, and an outdoor grill. The 19 sites at Armadillo Run and Squirrel Haven areas also come with water hookups, and you do have the option for full hookup sites thanks to the eight campsites at Woodpecker Hollow. Other amenities include water collection points, toilets, and showers. The camping area is also pet-friendly and you will be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks during your stay.
Reservations for the camping area at Caddo Lake State Park are available online and we recommend you do so in advance of your visit. The camping area is open all year round.
If you are looking to stay at a campground away from the lake you can't beat the Shreveport / Bossier City KOA. Known for its relaxed pace, Shreveport / Bossier City KOA is an award-winning campground.
The campground is very quiet and it has some fantastic amenities, including full hookup sites with 50 amp electrical hookups, Wi-Fi, cable TV, hot showers, clean bathrooms, laundry facilities, a camp store, a playground, shelter, and dog park. The campground also has pull-through sites that are suitable for up to 93 feet.
Guests can also enjoy the beautiful sounds of the local songbirds and by staying here you will be in close proximity to some great food in Shreveport. Reservations are a must at Shreveport / Bossier City KOA and can be done online or by calling the campground. Shreveport / Bossier City KOA is open all year round.
Getting out and exploring the somewhat mysterious-looking waters of Caddo Lake is one of the most popular activities for visitors to the area. There are many boat ramps available for you to use and all types of boats are allowed on the lake. If you don't have your own boat, you will also be able to rent some from private marinas and businesses near the lake. Due to the swamp-like conditions of the lake, we recommend that you don't go fast out on the water.
Along with boating, there are also some great paddling routes on Caddo Lake and the surrounding bayou. One of the best paddling trails to check out is on the south shore of Saw Mill Pond that extends into around ten trails to cover 50 miles in and around Caddo Lake and the Big Cypress Bayou. There are private canoe and kayak rentals if you don't have your own equipment, and be on the watch for speedboats if you go into the bayou.
One of the best ways to enjoy the warm weather at Caddo Lake is to pack a picnic. There are plenty of picnic areas available for you to check out during your visit, including some within Caddo Lake State Park, Earl G Williamson Park, and Horace M Downs Park. If you are traveling with a larger group we recommend reserving one of the screened-in shelters at Caddo Lake State Park. You can reserve a site online or by calling the park office.
There are no public transportation options that will take you to Caddo Lake.
If you are looking for a different camping experience you should check out the tent camping option at Caddo Lake State Park. The camping area near Mill Pond has twenty tent-only sites that are located right on the edge of the lake. All of the sites are primitive and have no electrical, water, or sewer hookups, but each site features a picnic table, fire pit, water, and an outdoor grill. Restrooms are located nearby. ADA accessible sites are also available.
If you love to fish then you will love Caddo Lake. There are many piers available for you to choose from, or you can get out on a boat to reach different spots. The lake is a hotspot for many species of fish, including crappie, sunfish, white bass, catfish, and a few other kinds of freshwater fish. Anglers do not need a license to fish from shore on the Texas side of the lake but you will need a Louisiana license if you are fishing on that side of the lake.
For those interested in hiking at Caddo Lake we recommend checking out the trails leaving from Caddo State Park. There are many trails for you to choose from that range from being great for beginners to best suited for the advanced hiker. If you are looking for an easy trail, check out the Pine Ridge Loop Trail. This is a one-mile moderate trail that goes through some of the isolated areas around the lake. When hiking near Caddo lake, make sure to watch out for roots, rocks, and wayward alligators.
Birding is a great activity for nature lovers to do when visiting Caddo Lake. The lake itself is a major hotspot for water birds, but there are many other areas to explore thanks to the wooded areas and bayou on the western side of the lake. Some of the birds that are spotted in and around the lake include henslow's sparrow, wood stork, barred owl, Kentucky warbler, le conte's sparrow, and brown-headed nuthatch. No matter what time of year, Caddo Lake is a lot of fun for birding.
