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RV Parks In Arcadia, Louisiana

32.5490° N, 92.9202° W

Quick Overview

Arcadia is a small north Louisiana town right off I-20 between Ruston and Minden, best known for the 1934 Bonnie and Clyde ambush a few miles down the road. For RVers it is a low-key, low-cost stop with two genuinely good options: one private park in town and one state park on a lake to the north. That mix covers most travelers, whether you are breaking up an I-20 haul or settling in to explore the Bonnie and Clyde trail.

In town, Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park at 20550 LA-9 has 44 full-hookup sites plus 28 water-and-electric sites with 20/30/50-amp service and pull-throughs. Its big draw is the monthly Trade Days market, held the Friday through Sunday before the third Monday, when 200-plus vendors set up and camping guests get free admission. About 25 miles north near Homer, Lake Claiborne State Park is the public choice: 87 water-and-electric sites plus 10 premium full-hookup sites on a spring-fed lake, with a dump station, showers, and reservations you can make from two days to 13 months ahead through the Louisiana State Parks system.

Between the two you get both ends of the spectrum: a convenient private park with easy interstate access and a scenic public lake for swimming and fishing. Hookups are straightforward at both, and reservations are simple. Which one you pick usually comes down to why you are here. If you are chasing the Trade Days market or just need a quick, cheap night off I-20, the in-town park is the obvious call. If you would rather wake up on the water with room to fish and swim, the extra 25-mile drive north to the state park pays off. Plenty of RVers do both on the same trip. Book Lake Claiborne State Park early for summer holiday weekends, and reserve the Trade Days park ahead of any third weekend. Staying a while? See our RV dump station guide for Arcadia when it is time to empty the tanks.

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Traveling to Arcadia by RV

Getting around here is easy. I-20 runs just south of Arcadia, so most travelers pull off near Exit 69, top off fuel, and head to a park. LA-9 takes you north to Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park and on toward Homer and Lake Claiborne State Park; US-80 parallels the interstate through town. The state highways up here are rural two-lane roads, nothing that troubles a big rig, just slower and more scenic than the interstate.

Shreveport is about 55 miles west and is your nearest city for a real airport (SHV) if you are flying in to rent, with Monroe a similar distance east. Fuel, propane, and full groceries are easiest along I-20 in Ruston and Minden, both short drives from Arcadia. If you are chasing the Bonnie and Clyde history, Gibsland and the ambush-site markers on LA-154 are only about 10 miles west, an easy afternoon loop from either campground.

Before You Go: RV Trip Essentials

Dump stations are only one piece of the trip puzzle. Before you set out for your trip to Arcadia, Louisiana, it's worth taking thirty minutes to check that the basics are in place — the four areas below are where unprepared RVers most often get stung.

Check your RV insurance coverage

A standard auto policy rarely covers a Class A, Class C, or travel trailer the way a dedicated RV insurance policy does. If you're financing a motorhome, lenders typically require comprehensive and collision; full-timers should additionally price in vacation liability and personal belongings coverage. Rates vary widely by state and travel pattern — compare quotes from multiple RV-focused carriers before each season.

Know your roadside assistance options

RV-specific roadside plans tow motorhomes and trailers that regular AAA coverage won't touch — flat beds, mobile mechanics, tire service for duallies, and even emergency lockouts at remote campgrounds. Good plans cover your spouse and trailer even if you're driving a separate vehicle, and some include trip interruption reimbursement if a breakdown costs you a reservation.

Decide about an extended warranty early

Original manufacturer warranties on new RVs typically run 12–24 months — shorter than most buyers realize. An extended service contract (essentially a mechanical breakdown policy) covers the appliances, slides, levelling systems, and drivetrain components that can run $3,000–$10,000 to replace. The time to price one is before the factory coverage expires, not after something breaks.

Set up a travel rewards card for fuel and fees

A no-annual-fee travel or gas rewards card pays for itself on a single month of RV travel. Expect to spend $400–$800 per week combined on fuel, campgrounds, and propane — 3–5% cash back on gas alone covers the next oil change. For bigger trips, a sign-up bonus can offset campground fees for the whole season.

RVingLife is supported by advertising. Third-party ads on this page may include insurance quotes, roadside plans, warranty coverage, or financial products relevant to the topics above. We don't endorse any specific provider — compare multiple offers before you commit. Privacy policy.

Dump Station Costs in Arcadia

North Louisiana is one of the better values in RV country. At Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park, daily rates run roughly $37 to $50, with weekly rates around $135 and monthly rates from about $550, so a longer stay gets cheap fast. Trade weekends are the busy, book-ahead times, but the price stays reasonable.

Lake Claiborne State Park is the budget-friendly public pick: standard water-and-electric sites are in the typical Louisiana state-park range, the premium full-hookup lakeside sites cost a bit more, and every reservation carries a small non-refundable fee. Either way you are spending far less than you would in a coastal or big-city market. Our take: use Lake Claiborne when you want scenery and a lake, and the Trade Days park when you want quick interstate access or the market weekend itself.

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What RVers Are Saying About Arcadia

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Best Time to Visit Arcadia by RV

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Winter

Nov - Feb

37F - 58F

Crowds: Low

Cool with occasional freezing nights. Lake Claiborne State Park stays open year-round and sites are easy to get, making winter a quiet, cheap time to visit. Watch for a hard freeze and protect your water hose.

🌸

Spring

Mar - May

55F - 78F

Crowds: Medium

Green and pleasant, though this is the wet, stormy season. Book the Trade Days park ahead of any third weekend and keep an eye on severe-weather alerts.

☀️

Summer

Jun - Aug

70F - 92F

Crowds: Medium

Hot and humid, so a shaded site and 50-amp AC help. Lake Claiborne swimming and fishing shine now; reserve lakeside sites and Trade Days weekends early.

🍂

Fall

Sep - Oct

52F - 78F

Crowds: Medium

The best mix of mild weather and value. Both parks are comfortable; book the third-weekend Trade Days market ahead and enjoy quieter lake sites midweek.

Explore the Arcadia Area

Plan around the market. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park fills up for the third weekend of each month when the vendors roll in, so book weeks ahead if that is why you are coming, and remember guests get in free. Outside those weekends it is usually quiet and easy to get a site on short notice.

At Lake Claiborne State Park, the lakeside premium sites go first, so reserve early for summer holidays and expect a small non-refundable booking fee per reservation. The park is open year-round, which makes it a solid cool-season base when many campgrounds elsewhere close. Stock up on fuel, propane, and groceries in Ruston or Minden before you settle in, since Arcadia itself is small. And give yourself time for the Bonnie and Clyde loop through Gibsland; the little ambush museum in the old cafe is worth the short drive.

National Parks Nearby

Frequently Asked Questions About Dump Stations in Arcadia

What are the best RV parks near Arcadia, Louisiana?

There are two standouts. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park in town, at 20550 LA-9, is the private choice with 44 full-hookup sites plus 28 water-and-electric sites and pull-throughs, famous for its monthly Trade Days market. About 25 miles north near Homer, Lake Claiborne State Park is the public option with 87 water-and-electric sites and 10 premium full-hookup sites on a spring-fed lake. Between the convenient private park with interstate access and the scenic state park on the water, most RVers find exactly what they need here.

Do the RV parks near Arcadia have full hookups?

Yes, both do, in different amounts. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park has 44 full-hookup sites with 20/30/50-amp service, plus 28 water-and-electric sites, and offers pull-throughs. Lake Claiborne State Park has 10 premium sites with full hookups including sewer, while the bulk of its 87 sites are water-and-electric with a shared dump station on site. If full hookups matter to you, book the full-hookup sites early, especially the lakeside premium spots at Lake Claiborne, which are the first to go for summer weekends.

How much does RV camping cost near Arcadia?

This is an affordable area. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park runs roughly $37 to $50 per night, about $135 per week, and from around $550 per month, so longer stays get cheap quickly. Lake Claiborne State Park charges typical Louisiana state-park rates for water-and-electric sites, with the premium full-hookup lakeside sites costing a bit more, plus a small non-refundable booking fee per reservation. Either way, you are spending far less than in a coastal or big-city market, which makes Arcadia a great value stop along I-20.

How far ahead should I reserve near Arcadia?

It depends on your target. Outside of market weekends, Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park is usually easy to book on short notice. But it fills for the monthly Trade Days, held the Friday through Sunday before the third Monday, so reserve weeks ahead for those dates. Lake Claiborne State Park takes reservations from two days up to 13 months in advance, and the lakeside premium sites book first for summer holidays, so reserve early. For a quiet midweek stay at either park, a few days notice is usually plenty.

What is the Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days market?

It is a large flea market and vendor event held at the Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park on the Friday through Sunday before the third Monday of every month. More than 200 vendors set up selling all kinds of goods, and if you camp at the park during a trade weekend you get free admission. It is the main reason many RVers time a stop here, so those weekends fill up. If you are not into markets, come on any other weekend for a quiet, inexpensive site with full or partial hookups.

Can big rigs camp near Arcadia?

Yes. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park offers pull-through sites that make big-rig setup easy, and it is right off LA-9 with simple access from I-20. Lake Claiborne State Park can accommodate large RVs as well, with some sites listed for long rigs, though the older lakeside loops can be tighter, so check site details when you book. The rural state highways up here are two-lane but flat and straight, with nothing that troubles a big coach, just a slower, more scenic drive than the interstate itself.

When is the best time to camp near Arcadia?

Fall and spring are ideal. October and November bring mild days, cool nights, and the best value, while March through May is green and pleasant despite being the wetter, stormier season. Summer works if you do not mind heat and humidity in the low 90s; a shaded site and 50-amp AC help, and Lake Claiborne swimming is at its best. Winter is cool with occasional freezing nights, but Lake Claiborne stays open year-round and sites are easy to get, making it a quiet, cheap cool-season option.

Is Lake Claiborne State Park open year-round?

Yes. Lake Claiborne State Park operates year-round, which sets it apart from many campgrounds that close in winter. Reservations can be made from two days to 13 months in advance through the Louisiana State Parks system, either online or by phone, with a small non-refundable fee per transaction. The park has a dump station, restrooms with showers, and laundry. Because it stays open all year, it makes a reliable cool-season base for exploring north Louisiana, though winter nights can dip below freezing, so protect your water hose during a hard freeze.

Are there free or boondocking options near Arcadia?

Not many right at Arcadia. This part of north Louisiana is mostly private parks and the state park, so free camping is limited. For dispersed, no-hookup camping you would need to head farther south to the Kisatchie National Forest, which is a drive from Arcadia rather than a nearby option. For most travelers, the practical and still-affordable choice is a night or two at Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park or Lake Claiborne State Park, both of which cost far less than parks in busier regions and offer real hookups.

What is there to do near Arcadia besides camping?

The big draw is Bonnie and Clyde history. The famous 1934 ambush happened just south of Gibsland, about 10 miles west, where roadside markers on LA-154 mark the spot, and the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum sits in the old cafe where the pair ate their last meal. In Arcadia, Henderson Jordan Memorial Park marks where the death car was towed. Beyond the history, Lake Claiborne offers fishing, swimming, and boating, and the towns of Ruston and Minden along I-20 add restaurants and shopping within easy reach.

Where do I get fuel, propane, and groceries near Arcadia?

Arcadia itself is small, so most RVers reprovision along I-20 in Ruston to the east or Minden to the west, both short drives away. Those towns have full groceries, propane, fuel, and RV-friendly stations off the interstate exits. There is also fuel right at the I-20 exits near Arcadia for a quick top-off. We recommend stocking up before you settle in at Lake Claiborne State Park, which sits about 25 miles north near Homer, since services thin out as you head into the quieter lake country away from the interstate corridor.

Is there a dump station near Arcadia?

Yes. Both area campgrounds have dump facilities. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park offers full-hookup sites plus a dump station, and Lake Claiborne State Park has a shared dump station along with its full-hookup premium sites. That covers most travelers staying in the area. If you are just passing through on I-20 and need tank service without booking a site, check our RV dump station guide for Arcadia, which lists nearby options for RVers moving along the interstate through north Louisiana.

Can I swim and fish at Lake Claiborne?

Yes. Lake Claiborne is a spring-fed recreation lake, and the state park is built around water activities. You can swim, fish, and launch a boat, and many campers pick the lakeside premium sites specifically to be steps from the water. The lake is clearer than many in the region because it is spring-fed, which makes summer swimming pleasant. Fishing is popular for bass and bream. If water recreation is your goal, reserve one of the premium lakeside sites early for summer weekends, since those are the first to book at the park.

What are the best RV parks near Arcadia, Louisiana?

There are two standouts. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park in town, at 20550 LA-9, is the private choice with 44 full-hookup sites plus 28 water-and-electric sites and pull-throughs, famous for its monthly Trade Days market. About 25 miles north near Homer, Lake Claiborne State Park is the public option with 87 water-and-electric sites and 10 premium full-hookup sites on a spring-fed lake. Between the convenient private park with interstate access and the scenic state park on the water, most RVers find exactly what they need here.

Do the RV parks near Arcadia have full hookups?

Yes, both do, in different amounts. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park has 44 full-hookup sites with 20/30/50-amp service, plus 28 water-and-electric sites, and offers pull-throughs. Lake Claiborne State Park has 10 premium sites with full hookups including sewer, while the bulk of its 87 sites are water-and-electric with a shared dump station on site. If full hookups matter to you, book the full-hookup sites early, especially the lakeside premium spots at Lake Claiborne, which are the first to go for summer weekends.

How much does RV camping cost near Arcadia?

This is an affordable area. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park runs roughly $37 to $50 per night, about $135 per week, and from around $550 per month, so longer stays get cheap quickly. Lake Claiborne State Park charges typical Louisiana state-park rates for water-and-electric sites, with the premium full-hookup lakeside sites costing a bit more, plus a small non-refundable booking fee per reservation. Either way, you are spending far less than in a coastal or big-city market, which makes Arcadia a great value stop along I-20.

How far ahead should I reserve near Arcadia?

It depends on your target. Outside of market weekends, Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park is usually easy to book on short notice. But it fills for the monthly Trade Days, held the Friday through Sunday before the third Monday, so reserve weeks ahead for those dates. Lake Claiborne State Park takes reservations from two days up to 13 months in advance, and the lakeside premium sites book first for summer holidays, so reserve early. For a quiet midweek stay at either park, a few days notice is usually plenty.

What is the Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days market?

It is a large flea market and vendor event held at the Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park on the Friday through Sunday before the third Monday of every month. More than 200 vendors set up selling all kinds of goods, and if you camp at the park during a trade weekend you get free admission. It is the main reason many RVers time a stop here, so those weekends fill up. If you are not into markets, come on any other weekend for a quiet, inexpensive site with full or partial hookups.

Can big rigs camp near Arcadia?

Yes. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park offers pull-through sites that make big-rig setup easy, and it is right off LA-9 with simple access from I-20. Lake Claiborne State Park can accommodate large RVs as well, with some sites listed for long rigs, though the older lakeside loops can be tighter, so check site details when you book. The rural state highways up here are two-lane but flat and straight, with nothing that troubles a big coach, just a slower, more scenic drive than the interstate itself.

When is the best time to camp near Arcadia?

Fall and spring are ideal. October and November bring mild days, cool nights, and the best value, while March through May is green and pleasant despite being the wetter, stormier season. Summer works if you do not mind heat and humidity in the low 90s; a shaded site and 50-amp AC help, and Lake Claiborne swimming is at its best. Winter is cool with occasional freezing nights, but Lake Claiborne stays open year-round and sites are easy to get, making it a quiet, cheap cool-season option.

Is Lake Claiborne State Park open year-round?

Yes. Lake Claiborne State Park operates year-round, which sets it apart from many campgrounds that close in winter. Reservations can be made from two days to 13 months in advance through the Louisiana State Parks system, either online or by phone, with a small non-refundable fee per transaction. The park has a dump station, restrooms with showers, and laundry. Because it stays open all year, it makes a reliable cool-season base for exploring north Louisiana, though winter nights can dip below freezing, so protect your water hose during a hard freeze.

Are there free or boondocking options near Arcadia?

Not many right at Arcadia. This part of north Louisiana is mostly private parks and the state park, so free camping is limited. For dispersed, no-hookup camping you would need to head farther south to the Kisatchie National Forest, which is a drive from Arcadia rather than a nearby option. For most travelers, the practical and still-affordable choice is a night or two at Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park or Lake Claiborne State Park, both of which cost far less than parks in busier regions and offer real hookups.

What is there to do near Arcadia besides camping?

The big draw is Bonnie and Clyde history. The famous 1934 ambush happened just south of Gibsland, about 10 miles west, where roadside markers on LA-154 mark the spot, and the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum sits in the old cafe where the pair ate their last meal. In Arcadia, Henderson Jordan Memorial Park marks where the death car was towed. Beyond the history, Lake Claiborne offers fishing, swimming, and boating, and the towns of Ruston and Minden along I-20 add restaurants and shopping within easy reach.

Where do I get fuel, propane, and groceries near Arcadia?

Arcadia itself is small, so most RVers reprovision along I-20 in Ruston to the east or Minden to the west, both short drives away. Those towns have full groceries, propane, fuel, and RV-friendly stations off the interstate exits. There is also fuel right at the I-20 exits near Arcadia for a quick top-off. We recommend stocking up before you settle in at Lake Claiborne State Park, which sits about 25 miles north near Homer, since services thin out as you head into the quieter lake country away from the interstate corridor.

Is there a dump station near Arcadia?

Yes. Both area campgrounds have dump facilities. Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days RV Park offers full-hookup sites plus a dump station, and Lake Claiborne State Park has a shared dump station along with its full-hookup premium sites. That covers most travelers staying in the area. If you are just passing through on I-20 and need tank service without booking a site, check our RV dump station guide for Arcadia, which lists nearby options for RVers moving along the interstate through north Louisiana.

Can I swim and fish at Lake Claiborne?

Yes. Lake Claiborne is a spring-fed recreation lake, and the state park is built around water activities. You can swim, fish, and launch a boat, and many campers pick the lakeside premium sites specifically to be steps from the water. The lake is clearer than many in the region because it is spring-fed, which makes summer swimming pleasant. Fishing is popular for bass and bream. If water recreation is your goal, reserve one of the premium lakeside sites early for summer weekends, since those are the first to book at the park.

What is the highest-rated dump station in Arcadia?

The highest-rated station is Lake Claiborne State Park with a rating of 4.7/5 stars.

Are there free dump stations in Arcadia?

Yes — there are free RV waste disposal options available near Arcadia.