The campsites are a good size – I could hear the people camped next to us talking on their cell phones when we were all outside, but not well enough to know what they were saying. So, you won’t have a giant area to roam in, but you will have some privacy from your neighbors. Each campsites has a shelter area – a concrete pad with a picnic table and a roof overhead. A few sites have a screened shelter, but most are open to the elements.

The bathhouse was a little off-putting at first when I walked in and discovered the stainless steel toilets (they always make me think of prisons) but the showers were hot and everything was clean which is always a good sign. The doors to each side were kept open – I assume for good ventilation – and Robert learned the importance of entering with caution when he found a snake in the men’s room in the early morning. It’s one of those things that happens when you’re out in nature, so just take a moment to pay attention when you walk in to be on the safe side.

Corps of Engineers campgrounds have a few specific things to keep in mind – at Jim Hogg or any other property. Frequently the gates are staffed by older, retired folks who work in exchange for a campsite. We experienced one gentleman who had a pretty difficult time hearing us and another that moved a little more slowly that expected. Relax, take a deep breath and be patient. Smile and just don’t worry about it. Five extra minutes at the gate shouldn’t ruin your plan and because they are willing to take on the job, we can have the benefit of a campsite (with water and electric) for $18 per night.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the campgrounds have gates. And those gates are closed at 10pm. If you aren’t in by 10pm, you’re going to be out of luck unless your camper is already inside and you feel like hiking. We were having a really nice visit with friends in North Austin one of the days we stayed at Jim Hogg. I happened to look at the time at 9:15. We grabbed our stuff and got going as fast as we could and we arrived at the park just as the person on duty was getting ready to close the gate. Considering our camper was already inside and we had our dog with us, it would have been a frustrating situation if we had missed the gate. If you’re going to be out late, this type of campground might not be for you.

It all worked out well for us. We were happy to have an inexpensive campground available with a nice view of Lake Georgetown, some hiking trails nearby and hot showers when we wanted them. If you can compromise and make sure you will be in by 10pm, Jim Hogg Park, or any Corps of Engineers campground, really offer a good value, usually in a very nice, natural surrounding.

The first key to our trip involves where we planned to stay. We were on a camping vacation so we needed to find a campground instead of a hotel. Big savings right there if you look around. Some campgrounds in large metro areas will cost $40 a night or more. Now, I would rather sleep in my camper than in a $40 motel room but the preferred option is to find a campsite that is cheaper than a cheap motel. Don’t settle for the first place you come across in a google search. Had I done that, we would’ve stayed at the KOA West in New Orleans for $37.95 per night. It’s not an awful rate and I’m sure it’s a very nice campground. It has a pool and wifi and numerous amenities.

I kept digging though. The problem with staying someplace like that? We’d have to get up really early in the morning, go see what we could in New Orleans and get back to the camper and packed up and out of the campground by lunchtime because of the checkout time. Campground checkouts range anywhere from 11am to 3pm or so, depending on the location. And if they aren’t busy, they aren’t usually as picky. But, you certainly can’t count on that as an option – you have to plan to be out by the specified time.

I started looking at the Louisiana State Parks. We stay in state parks whenever we possibly can. The rates are frequently half that of a private campground. Many parks are adding wifi and there are plenty of outdoor activities going on. It’s great when we travel with our dog also. Occasionally we run in to a bathhouse that hasn’t been remodeled since 1972 or one without air conditioning but overall we have had great experiences in state parks in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana and Louisiana. The New Orleans stop was our first experience with a Louisiana State Park.

Get this – to avoid the check out time problem, we reserved two nights at St. Bernard State Park. It was $18 per night. There was no park entrance fee. Two nights cost less than one night at the KOA and by doing this we were able to see the sights in New Orleans until about 2pm before heading back to the camper, packing up and moving on. Driving the camper in the French Quarter area, or really any areas in downtown New Orleans would have been a nightmare so being able to leave the camper behind was perfect. And, it meant our dog could hang out in the air conditioned camper until we got back. The temperatures were over 100 degrees that day, so it was not a good sightseeing day for the pup at all.

Because we were in the area to go into New Orleans and see the French Quarter, go to Pat O’Briens, go to Cafe Du Monde and numerous other must-see things, we didn’t need a campground with a bunch of fancy features. We needed a place to park, plug in and be safe. St. Bernard State Park was about a 20 minute drive from the French Quarter. It does have a pool, but that has a separate fee. The gate is locked at night and you are surrounded by the sounds of crickets and the shushing of the nearby bayou waters. Many people were there in tents with inflatable swimming pools set up to keep cool in the heat.

St. Bernard State Park was the perfect solution for us in New Orleans. We had great affordability without any sacrifice.We saw the city and had more money to spend because we found such a good deal on our campground.

Near the French Market

One caveat – if you are staying there on a weekend night you must reserve two nights. Of course, you can be like us and only stay one and guarantee a late check out for yourself.

– Posting on the road