If you're looking for fun, relaxation, and environmental diversity on your next RV vacation, then look no further than Tickfaw State Park in Louisiana. Four very different environments exist in the park's ecosystem, consisting of a bottomland hardwood forest, a cypress swamp just minutes from the Tickfaw River, and also, a pine and hardwood forest in the same park.
Located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, you are little more than an hour from all those cities have to offer. However, with 1,200 acres of Louisiana outback, you won't be thinking about the city. With multiple boardwalks, you can bike, hike, or even skate to your next adventure in the park. If paddling is what floats your boat, you'll enjoy canoeing or kayaking on the lazy Tickfaw River. Anglers will love pulling catfish and bass from the pond or wading into the river to cast a line.
There's something to please everyone at this natural wonder, so pack up the fifth wheel and head to the authentic South. Tickfaw State Park can accommodate even your large RV, no problem, in one of its 30 back-in sites that hold rigs up to 85 feet in length. With all the amenities this park and the campground have to offer, you will be putting this park at the top of your list of repeat RV destinations.
Tickfaw State Park, Louisiana is located a little over an hour northwest of New Orleans and 45 minutes east of Baton Rouge in the Springfield area. Most travelers coming from New Orleans will take I-55 to State Highway 22. From Baton Rouge, visitors will take I-110 to LA-441.
Once in the park, guests will enjoy the easily maneuverable roads. Large RVs should have no issues navigating the park. RV sites are back-in with some room for another vehicle, depending on the size of your rig. There are very nice boardwalks and hiking trails throughout the park, so once your camp is set up, you probably won't need to do any driving unless you want to leave the park for a day trip.
The multiple award-winning Baton Rouge KOA campground is minutes from the Mississippi River and features paved roads and concrete site pads. Sites also include full hookups with up to 100 amps, Wi-Fi, and over 100 channels of cable. Baton Rouge KOA offers restrooms and showers, laundry facilities, a pool with a waterfall, a wading pool, a hot tub, a pavilion, a playground, an indoor game room, and a dog park. Snacks and candy, ice cream, and cold drinks are available at the office.
Tickfaw State Park Campground contains 20 primitive sites suitable for tent camping in Loop A and 30 improved sites that allow for tents and RVs in Loop B. These unimproved sites are still comfortably located within walking distance of a comfort station, including bathrooms, showers, and a laundry facility.
Because this is a popular area park with limited camping sites, you'll be required to make a reservation to stay here. Check with the park office for regulations and cancellation policies.
With 30 back-in sites that can accommodate RVs and trailers up 81 feet in length, you won't have any trouble setting up camp at Loop B in Tickfaw State Park's campground. These sites come with 50-amp electric service and water hookups. The sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and are all pet-friendly, although pets are not allowed in any park buildings.
A fully-equipped comfort station with bathrooms, showers, and laundry is within walking distance of the camp, making your RV vacation comfortable and worry-free. You will find a convenient dump station near the comfort station as well. Reservations are required and can be made up to ten months in advance.
With several easy launching points for canoes and kayaks, you'll have no trouble setting out on your paddling excursion. The Tickfaw is a nice meandering river, so it's perfect for beginners. If you don't have your own canoe, you can rent one at the Canoe Landing shop in the park, where you can get everything you need for the whole family, including lifejacket rentals. The water is calm and a bit shallow, about two-three feet deep, but you still need to wear a flotation device to be safe.
If kayaking is something you always wanted to try, the Tickfaw River is a great place to start. Because it's so shallow, you'll easily be able to right your kayak if you flip it. You can push off the bottom with your paddle and maneuver through the river at your own pace. This lazy river is a great place to learn or just relax in the Louisiana sunshine.
At Tickfaw State Park, you can cast a fly rod in the Tickfaw River or try your luck in the fishing pond. The pier at the fishing pond is a great place to cast a line. You can catch bass, perch, bream, catfish, and bluegill. Locals recommend fishing in the shady shallows, but watch out for alligators around the edge of the pond. Alligators are relocated once they get over six feet long, but they're still not to be taken lightly.
Fishing the Tickfaw River is a fly fisherman's dream. Whether you tie your own flies, purchase ready-made ones, or use worms as bait, you'll be sure to catch your limit in this stream. Bass are a popular catch, but catfish are the clear favorites around this park. Be sure to check with local Fish and Game officials for rules of the sport.
When the days get long and hot, you'll want a place to relax and cool off. The Tickfaw State Park has just the place for you and the family to take a break and have some fun in the sun in the Tickfaw Water Park, or as most call it, the Splash Park. Sit back and enjoy a picnic lunch at the convenient covered tables while the kids run through the water cannons and water-spewing fountains on the splash pad. Children of all ages will love cooling off after a picnic lunch or hike, and there's no rule that adults can't get wet too, so jump in and play with the kids.
Fourteen cabins are available for rent at Tickfaw State Park. These luxury cabins are situated before a cypress swamp. You're sure to be comfortable in summer or winter as cabins include both a fireplace and air conditioning, a full kitchen, and a restroom. Cabins sleep eight in two lovely bedrooms; however, no pets are allowed in the cabins. Reservations can be made up to ten months in advance, and there are strict cancelation policies, so please check these online when reserving.
The Group Lodge is perfect for family reunions, large clubs, or work outings. Sleeping is dormitory-style in two separate wings, each served by its own restroom and bath facilities. The lodge holds 52 guests and even includes a dining hall and use of an on-site commercial kitchen.
Your large group will love the comfortable accommodations, and the natural environment will be a wonderful backdrop for your group event and activities. Guests will not soon forget the memories made at this serene setting.
Before you do anything else, you'll want to head to the Nature Center and watch the introductory video about the biodiversity you are about to encounter on your RV vacation. Learn all about the four different ecosystems that make up this uniques area of the country. You won't want to miss seeing the display of local fish species in the 800-gallon aquarium or the maps and educational boards, giving you all the information you'll need to appreciate the local habitat.
While you're there, sign up for one of the Nature Center programs or interpretive hikes to learn even more about this unusual environmental blend of swamp and hardwood forest. Tickfaw State Park has so many things of interest in its Nature Center, you may not even have time to try them all, and you certainly won't get bored on this RV stay, even in the winter as the Nature Center provides activities year-round.
Hiking in the fall and winter is a great time to catch the changing seasons without breaking a sweat. Whether you want to take a relaxing stroll around the park or try a more challenging hike to get your heart rate going, Tickfaw State Park is home to more than six miles of family-friendly trails. The Nature Center Trail is just over a mile and a half loop and is one of the most popular hikes in the park because of its swamp views.
For a quiet and peaceful trail where you can sit along the edge and see some wildlife, try the half-mile Soggy Bottom Trail. But if you want a more challenging hike, choose the three-mile River Trail Loop with a few more bumps and turns. While most trails are loops, if you traverse the Oxbow Trail, you'll find yourself at the river where you'll have to hike back the way you came. There are many trails from which to choose, so try them all and see which one you like best. Don't forget your camera because the park is full of wildlife.
Wildlife viewing takes on a whole new dimension when you're talking about swamp country. Unless you are from the South, you won't believe the wildlife that calls this park home. From alligators to armadillos, the astonishing variety of mammals that thrive in the swampy forest is something you won't want to miss. Beavers, opossums, foxes, deer, raccoons, and squirrels all coexist in this verdant ecosystem.
As you know, animals are not all friendly, and though they'll want to keep their distance, the common proximity of humans may make them a little bolder. So, pack your camera in the RV, and come and see how many different animals you can spot, but please respect the natural environment and take care not to disturb the wildlife on your camping adventure. Wildlife are out and about year-round at Tickfaw State Park.
