Where to Stay for the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run

Where should you stay for the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run? Fireside RV Resort, tucked off I-12 in Ponchatoula, is roughly 25 minutes from Springfield, where Blood River Landing hosts what WBRZ calls the largest power boat run in the state. Park the camper on a full-hookup site or grab a furnished cabin, then sleep easy once the Fun House bands wrap up.

When is the next Tickfaw 200 Poker Run?

The official Tickfaw 200 site still lists the 2026 run, which went April 30, May 1 and 2, 2026, so keep an eye on tickfaw200.com for the 2027 dates. The 2025 and 2026 runs both landed at the turn of April into May. WBRZ reported that the 2025 run was held May 1 to May 3 at Blood River Landing.

The rhythm is easy to plan around. WBRZ reported that the 2026 event was a three-day event that started on Thursday. The official Tickfaw 200 site says the bands start Thursday night and end Saturday night at the Fun House. Book Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and you’ve covered the whole thing.

What is the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run?

The Tickfaw 200 is a charity powerboat poker run based at Blood River Landing in Springfield, and WAFB reported that the event has been a tradition since 1996. Livingston Parish Tourism bills it as “Louisiana’s Largest Poker Run!” and WAFB described it as bringing hundreds of high-powered boats to the Tickfaw River every year.

Here’s how the poker part works, per WAFB’s April 30, 2026 report: participants buy in and hit at least five stops along a 200-mile route, collecting hole punches on their cards at each one. At the end, those cards get traded for a poker hand, and WAFB reported the best hand wins up to a thousand dollars. WAFB also reported that more than 200 cards were sold for the 2026 run. Poker Runs America, previewing the 2026 run, said participants have 17 restaurants and bars to choose from.

Springfield resident Craig Mears summed up the vibe for WAFB: “It’s very laid back. You get to stop where you want to stop.” The money does real good, too. WAFB reported that proceeds benefit local nonprofits, including TARC, which serves kids with disabilities, and Sheriff Ard’s Christmas Crusade.

Those are the 2026 prices from the Tickfaw 200 registration page, where online registration for the 2026 run is now closed.

Can you go to the Tickfaw 200 without a boat?

Yes, you can visit the Tickfaw 200 without a boat. The official Tickfaw 200 site says Blood River Landing is open to the public once a year, for the Tickfaw 200, so non-boaters get a rare look at a private marina. The Tickfaw 200 site says Fun House bracelets are needed for entry and can be bought in advance online or on site at the marina, and the 2026 Fun House bracelet was $30 for all three days.

The Tickfaw 200 site also lists food, drinks and ice as available at the marina. One thing to leave behind: the event FAQ is blunt about pets, saying “NO DOGS PLEASE!” Dogs are welcome on Fireside’s RV sites as long as the leash is 6 feet or shorter, while pets have to skip Fireside’s cabins.

Where should you stay for the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run?

Stay at Fireside RV Resort and drive in each day if hookups and a quiet night sound better than a spot at the marina. The Tickfaw 200 FAQ explains that Blood River Landing is a private marina with wet and dry docks plus houseboat and RV space. The same FAQ says the majority of available spots at the marina for the event do not have utility connections.

People travel a long way for this one. Robin Abrams, publicity chair for the Tickfaw 200, told WAFB in April 2026, “we’ve had people from Australia this year, from Canada, Memphis, Missouri, you name it, California.” WAFB reported that the economic ripple effect reaches well beyond Blood River Landing, boosting restaurants, bars, hotels, and Airbnbs across the region.

Read the launch note twice if you’re towing a boat in. According to the Tickfaw 200 FAQ, the marina’s boat launch closes at noon on Thursday, boats can’t come out until Sunday morning unless they’re broken down, and the launch is for those staying on site at the marina.

So what’s the best RV park near Springfield for poker run weekend? Look for full hookups, a short drive and a night that’s actually quiet. Sewer, water and both 30- and 50-amp electric hook up right at every Fireside RV site, and every site has a picnic table and a cook-friendly fire ring, so you can grill out after a long day on the water. Fireside asks for quiet from 10 pm until 8 in the morning. Your ears will thank you after three nights of live bands.

Fireside’s 2026 nightly rates price each site for a party of up to four, and Fireside’s weekly deal lets you buy 6 nights and get 1 night free. Nobody at Fireside sneaks a resort fee onto the bill, and the same goes for site-lock charges and any community impact fee. Fireside’s family-owned, too. The free Wi-Fi reaches across the whole resort. Bigger boat crew? Fireside’s rates page adds $10 a night for each extra guest ages 4 to 13 and $20 a night for each extra guest 13 and up, with six guests max per site.

Bringing the camper? Browse Fireside’s RV sites with full hookups. Coming without a camper? Fireside’s furnished cabins near Springfield are an easy fit for a boat crew, with a full kitchen inside. Toss sheets, pillows, blankets and bath towels in the truck, though, since Fireside’s cabins are bring-your-own-linens.

Is Fireside RV Resort close to Blood River Landing?

Yes, Fireside RV Resort is roughly 25 minutes from Springfield, where Blood River Landing sits, and the drive runs along LA 445 and LA 22. From I-12, take Exit 47 and you’re roughly a mile from Fireside, which keeps the rest of the region close, too.

Springfield has deep roots, too. The Springfield historical marker calls it the oldest town in Livingston Parish and notes Springfield was the parish seat from 1835 to 1872. For more ideas around the Tickfaw, see our Springfield roundup of things to do near Springfield.

Fireside’s check-in window opens at 3:00 pm and checkout is 11:00 am. The Tickfaw 200 FAQ says badges can be punched starting at noon on Thursday, Friday and/or Saturday. One heads-up for boaters: washing RVs, campers, trailers or vehicles is off-limits on the Fireside grounds, per Fireside’s rules page, so rinse the boat trailer somewhere else.

What boating rules apply during the Tickfaw 200?

Four Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) rules come up most for poker run boaters: boater education, alcohol limits, kids’ life jackets and out-of-state registration. Expect plenty of patrol boats, too. WAFB reported that four or five enforcement boats patrol the area on a typical weekend, while around 20 were expected for the 2026 Tickfaw 200, including Wildlife and Fisheries, multiple sheriff’s offices and fire rescue. “We stress one thing. Just safe. Be safe. Wear your life jackets,” Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard told WAFB.

Before you trailer in, here’s what LDWF spells out:

• Boater education: LDWF says anyone born after January 1, 1984, must complete an LDWF-approved boater education course to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower, unless accompanied by someone over 18 who has also completed an LDWF-approved course.
• Alcohol: LDWF says boat operators with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 and higher face the same penalties as a drunk driver on the highway.
• Kids and life jackets: LDWF says all children age 16 and younger must wear a Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket while underway on a vessel less than 26 feet long.
• Out-of-state boats: LDWF says out-of-state boaters may operate a vessel with a valid out-of-state registration for up to 90 consecutive days on Louisiana waters.

What’s the weather like during the Tickfaw 200?

Tickfaw 200 weekend usually brings warm days, cooler evenings and a decent shot of rain. Using NOAA’s monthly normals from its Hammond 5 E station, the average May high is 84.5°F and the average May low is 62.5°F, with 5.41 inches of normal May rainfall. WAFB reported that organizers said rain or shine, the Tickfaw 200 goes on, so pack a rain jacket next to the sunscreen.

Warm weather also means the water at Fireside is calling. Spring through fall is when Fireside’s lazy river and pools see the most action, according to Fireside, which puts poker run weekend right in the sweet spot. A slow lap on the lazy river is a pretty great way to spend the Sunday after a poker run, trust us.

Frequently asked questions

Book your Tickfaw 200 basecamp

Fireside RV Resort is roughly 25 minutes from Springfield, and from I-12 it’s roughly a mile off Exit 47 to Fireside’s entrance in Ponchatoula. Once the 2027 dates go up, pick your poker run nights on our booking page and lock in a site or cabin early!