Army Corps of Engineers Parks - The Best Camping Bargain in the Country

Bob and I stayed at an Army Corps of Engineers park for the first time in 2010 on the way to California.  I had heard from fellow campers that these parks were always clean, well designed and spacious, and that they were a real bargain for anyone with a Golden Age or Golden Access passports (these passes have now been replaced with the Inter-agency Senior or Inter-agency Access Pass), since the sites are reduced by 50% with these cards.  Most of the sites are already very reasonable, so the 50% reduction makes these sites some of the best camping deals we have ever seen.

Our first experience was at Goose Point on Philpott Lake in Virginia.  There are campsites right on the lake that are outstanding with water and electric for $22.00 a night, $11.00 with one of the passes.  This beautiful lake has swimming, fishing and boating.  We were so impressed with this park that we are returning for two weeks in August.

We next stayed at Floating Mill Park in Tennesee where we had full hookups and a very large concrete site right on a lake.  There are two swimming beaches - one for the campground, and a public day area beach.

Next was Maumelle Park in Arkansas, which offered a beautifully shaded site on the Arkansas River with full hookups.  The park is conveniently located near Little Rock if you want to tour the city.

We stayed at two more parks on the way home from California.  John Day Lock and Dam in Washington provided us a great campsite with full hookups from which to tour the Washington wine country.  Cochiti Lake in New Mexico had water and electric, but no sewer.  As usual though, we found the campsites to be very large and the park well designed.

Goose Point Campground, VA

Floating Mill Park, TN

Maumelle Park, AR

Not one of these parks was a disappointment, and compared to private parks that we have been to, they are far superior in the spaciousness and beauty that they provide.  If you are looking for a great deal, try out these wonderful parks.  You can reserve them at https://www.recreation.gov .