Why Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds Are Among the Best Federal Campgrounds

Picture of a Grand Design Reflection fifth wheel on Cranes Mill, Texas

Like most RVers, we value campgrounds that offer water access and plenty of space with scenic hiking trails. We also prefer campsites that are private, spacious, well-maintained (clean, utilities in working order), and relatively easy to back in and set up (driveway length and width, levelness). Using all these points as criteria for rating campgrounds, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) campgrounds rate among the best.

Picture of a fifth wheel parked at a lake-front campsite in Florida — Ortona South, Florida

Fifth wheel at Corps of Engineers campground — Denby Point, Arkansas

What are Army Corps of Engineers (COE) campgrounds?

What makes COE campgrounds so special? They are associated with 400 lakes and river projects managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 43 states. Typically, campgrounds are near a boat ramp or marina and offer waterfront campsites. In some campgrounds (only a few in our experience), campers can view a dam or lock, or walk to one within a short distance.

Dams and locks may not be appealing to you when choosing a waterfront campsite, but they are fascinating. Most COE campgrounds are in the eastern half of the United States, with the highest concentration in several southern states.

Lock and Dam at a COE park — Ortona South, Florida

Atop Center Hill Dam at Long Branch, Tennessee

Why COE campgrounds rank among the best federal campgrounds

Affordable nightly rates and senior discounts

The best part about COE campgrounds is the price. COE campgrounds are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $20 to $32 a night. And if you have a senior interagency pass, you receive a 50% discount. Unfortunately, a military pass does not provide a discount.

Pedernal Loop Sites 1-15 — Riana, New Mexico

Campsite utilities and hookups

All COE campgrounds (with some exceptions) provide on-site electricity (typically 30- and 50-amp services). Of these, a large percentage have an on-site water hookup. Of the 22 campgrounds we have stayed in, only three were electric-only sites, 14 provided electric and water hookups, and five provided full hookups. All of them had well-maintained and easily accessible dump stations with potable water. Also, site utilities may vary by campground section (for example, one section may have full hookup, another only water and electric).

COE campground Seven Points, Tennessee — Seven Points, Tennessee

Clean facilities and campground amenities

Although we rarely use public restrooms and showers in campgrounds, we can vouch for COE campgrounds’ reputation for clean, well-maintained facilities. We’ve also discovered working laundry machines at several of them. Other amenities at many COE campgrounds include swimming beaches and playgrounds, day-use picnic areas, and groomed hiking or biking trails. Additionally, campground roads are paved and quite often so are the campsite driveways.

COE campsite at Gunter Hill, Alabama — Gunter Hill, Alabama

Kayak and fishing at a COE campground — Easy water access at R. Shaefer Heard, Georgia

Wildlife viewing at COE campgrounds

Wildlife is common at the COE campgrounds, especially deer and birds. In fact, seven of the top 10 migratory bird flyways in the United States cross over Army Corps of Engineers-managed waters.

Deer grazing on grass — Defeated Creek, Tennessee

Reservation windows and popularity

COE campgrounds are reservable 6 months in advance and can be booked up to 14 days within a month. Be aware that many campgrounds are popular destinations for anglers and boaters and can book quickly, especially on weekends. Also note that many of the COE campgrounds are near metropolitan areas, which is not necessarily a bad thing but can make them even more popular among locals.

Birds on the water at Willow Beach — Willow Beach, Arkansas

How to find and book COE campgrounds

How do you find a COE campground? There are a few ways. We rely on RV camping websites or mobile apps, such as Allstays. When creating a travel itinerary, I use the filter option to narrow my search to COE campgrounds, as these are usually preferred. COE campgrounds can also be found in the printed USACE directory. You can purchase a hard copy of the directory on Amazon.

Screenshot of COE campgrounds via Allstays — Photo courtesy of Allstays

Booking through Recreation.gov

The portal to COE campgrounds is the Recreation.gov website or mobile app. Here you can search for COE campgrounds and book campsites. Recreation.gov includes all federally managed outdoor recreation sites, such as national parks and national forests. There is much to find on recreation.gov other than campgrounds, so if you wish to find only COE campgrounds, you need to use the site’s search filters.

Filter preferences in Allstays — Photo courtesy of Recreation.gov

Narrow your search using the filters provided

Here’s a tip when searching for COE campgrounds from Recreation.gov. First, search by state. Next, use the filter option and choose the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the Federal Agency offering reservations. You can also filter by campsite type, vehicle length, and utility preferences, among others. Filters are useful when you want only full hookups or require sites that accommodate very large RVs.

Find a COE campground in Allstays — Photo courtesy of Recreation.gov

Using a senior pass for COE campground discounts

A senior pass will get you a 50% discount at COE campgrounds. Before booking, set up your Recreation.gov account. If you are a senior (62+), I recommend you purchase an interagency senior pass if you have not yet. The $80 we paid for a lifetime senior pass has given us a return many times over. Next, you’ll want to include the senior pass information in your account. When you book a site, you will use your pass to receive a 50% discount on all COE campground bookings. Make sure the same person whose name is on the senior pass is the one with the Recreation.gov account.

COE campground Coles Creek — Coles Creek, IL

Managing reservations and arrival tips

Once you start booking sites, you’ll have a record of all your past and current reservations. You can also make changes or cancel any current reservations, but there is a $10 fee. When you finally arrive at your campground, you will likely be greeted at the gate by the campground host, who may ask you to show your interagency senior pass, so make sure you have that on hand. After that, enjoy your stay!

Enjoy Connie’s perspective on RV travel and campground life? Read more of Connie posts here:

Connie Mier and her wife Vivian have been living the full-time RV dream since 2018. They have traveled the United States and Canada, exploring the wilderness parks, touring cities and small towns, and learning American history and culture. When not traveling, their home on wheels is parked on Chokoloskee Island, Florida. You can read about their adventures and see more of Connie’s photos at Changing Views. You can also see Connie’s nature photos from her travels and Florida’s Everglades on her website, Constance Mier Photography.