Review of Sam Houston Jones State Park Campground – Lake Charles, LA

Sam Houston Jones State Park is located about 15 minutes north of I10 near Lake Charles, LA.  We arrived on a hot July afternoon after driving 400 miles from Pensacola, FL.  The campground is filled with big trees which provide abundant shade.  It’s a study of contrasts.  On the positive side: full hookups, free wifi, and paved camp sites.  On the negative side: whoever planned this campground was likely never in a camper.  A person might get lucky and land in a site with all the hookups conveniently close at hand.  However, that is unlikely.  The sewer, water, and electric hookups are most often 20 feet or more from the site.  I told the young lady at the office that I couldn’t reach the electric outlet and she produced a 30 foot extension I could borrow.  Actually, she had two left.  The first was shorted out and the second worked fine.  If anyone came in after me, they were out of luck.  I was able to reach the sewer by hooking together the two hoses I carry.  Then, I couldn’t reach the water.  The office carried no hoses, so I walked up to a campsite in which several were sitting in a circle and asked if I could borrow a water hose for the night.  Typical of campers, three people offered me, a stranger to them, a hose.  With that I was in business.  Aside from these things, and the sites being quite close together for a state park this is a nice place to stay.  Oh yes, one more thing, we are parked right next to restroom facilities, but the building is closed.  As I said, this place is a study of contrasts.  The other restroom is not only open, but it’s the only air conditioned restroom I’ve ever seen in a state park!