re: Where to go night camping in central Louisiana with a tent?

Do you want a campground or something in the middle of the woods? Either way you can start at Valentine Lake. You can camp at the campground on the north shore of the lake for $10 a night. It has bathrooms, running water, and a fire pit.

If you want in the middle of the woods then start at the Wild Azelea Trailhead just south of Valentine Lake. There is a campsite a couple miles in. It might be six or seven miles, I'll have to look it up. Valentine Lake is about 15 miles West of Alexandria.

You also have Kisatche bayou which has toilets but no running water. Again if you want middle of the woods then look at the backbone trail. There is an amazing campsite about 4 miles in. Both the backbone and Kisatche bayou are just south of Natchitoches.