Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates20 total sites
RV Sites
20 sites
Tent Sites
20 sites
About Tom Merrill Recreation Area
Number of accommodations: 20
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Showers
Playground
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Showers
On Site Services
- Playground
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
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Site Details
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20 Sites Available
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Reviews (169)
What Guests Are Saying
Tom Merrill Recreation Area is praised for its clean, spacious campsites and friendly hosts, making it a popular spot for fishing, canoeing, and outdoor activities. Visitors appreciate the serene atmosphere, well-maintained grounds, and positive experiences at the nearby store. While some facilities, like hot water in the showers and signage, need improvement, many campers express their intention to return, highlighting the campground's charm and peacefulness.
What Guests Are Saying
Tom Merrill Recreation Area is praised for its clean, spacious campsites and friendly hosts, making it a popular spot for fishing, canoeing, and outdoor activities. Visitors appreciate the serene atmosphere, well-maintained grounds, and positive experiences at the nearby store. While some facilities, like hot water in the showers and signage, need improvement, many campers express their intention to return, highlighting the campground's charm and peacefulness.
Review Summary
Harley R
VerifiedJanuary 20, 2022 • Stayed at: 5, Loop: A
The Bodcau Dam Road is closed across the Dam, you must approach the campground from the east (Bellevue).
Sites are very nice well spaced but utilities are quacked, most are on the wrong side of your camper/RV, bring extensions if you have them.
When making the reservation if over 30 feet, only site 5A will accommodate according to the reservation system, but most sites here will accommodate larger campers.
Dee Jaye T
VerifiedJanuary 10, 2022 • Stayed at: 7, Loop: A
Nice quite, clean & great trails
Jennifer D
VerifiedJanuary 9, 2022 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: A
I didn’t end up staying - the markers to get to the campground weren’t clear. I got in late in the evening, got lost and generally didn’t feel safe driving around the area.
Tammy J
VerifiedJanuary 9, 2022 • Stayed at: 6, Loop: A
Tom Merrill is a perfect getaway. HIking, biking, frisbee golf, paddling and fishing right outside your camper door. The campground is clean and well-maintained. We love it there.
Andrea E
VerifiedJanuary 4, 2022 • Stayed at: 16, Loop: A
AWESOME!!!
Brent A G
VerifiedDecember 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: A
Great park for the Family love this park.
Timothy N
VerifiedDecember 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 5, Loop: A
Nice quite campground. Couple of things. You want to get there before dark...it’s really hard to see where to go otherwise. The camping spots and road look kind of the same. Follow the directions they give you in the email. We saw a road closed sign (where we should have turned) and followed what our GPS was telling us. That had a road closed sign too, it takes you a mile or so short of the campground so we turned around to that first road and that takes you to the campground, the road ends just after. Very pretty, nice area. Pretty poor cellular and internet reception. We had to drive away a few miles to get a good enough signal to search the internet for our next campground on our trip. So if you just want peace and quiet, this is a great place.
Mark M
VerifiedDecember 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 16, Loop: A
Great campsites, good people!
Israel F
VerifiedNovember 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 5, Loop: A
Very nice, clean, and quiet place. Hiking, fishing, and playground for the kids. Has bathroom and shower facilities. Overall very nice area.
Margaret C
VerifiedNovember 27, 2021 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: A
We are newbies to the travel trailer world. We love it. Tom Merrill Recreation Area is a great place for us as we learn how to use our travel trailer. It has trails, fishing and is very peaceful.
Location Tom Merrill Recreation Area
Address:
1749 Bodcau Dam Road
Haughton, LA, 71037-7443
United States
From Interstate 20, take exit 33 and head North on State Route 157. Drive 9 miles and turn right on Bodcau Dam Rd. Drive 3 miles and destination will be on the left.
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
3PM
Check out time
1PM
General
- Campground follows all rules from Title 36, part 327, Code of Federal Regulations. A full copy of Title 36, part 327, Code of Federal Regulations can be obtained from one of the Park Rangers, the Campground Hosts, or at the Bayou Bodcau Main Office. Regulations are enforced at Bodcau by our Park Rangers, the local Sherif’s Department and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Only one RV and three tents allowed per site.
- It is required you clean your campsite before you leave.
- Length of stay policy is 14 days in a 30 day period.
- The unauthorized placement of camping equipment or other items on campsite and/or personal appearance at a campsite without daily occupancy for the purpose of reserving the campsite for future occupancy is prohibited (title 36 section 327.2C).
- Playground is closed after dark.
- All pets MUST be on a leash no longer than six (6) feet long.
- Speed in the campground is ten (10) MPH. Remember to be vigilant, there are children in the campgrounds. The campground road is a one-way road. Vehicles must be parked on your site, not obstructing others. (ATV's can only be loaded and unloaded from trailers in park.)
- Quiet time is strictly observed; please keep other campers in mind as they often have children trying to sleep. Violation may result in citation or eviction.
- There is absolutely no dumping of gray water (wash water, dish water, bath water, and cooking water) on the ground at any time.
- All Campfires MUST be confined to the fire rings that are provided or to personal grills. Fires may never be left unattended. To remove potential hazards for future users, extinguish campfires and remove fire debris before leaving.
- No outside firewood allowed; obtain or purchase firewood at or near your camping destination and burn it on-site; firewood can carry invasive insects and diseases that destroy forests. Firewood cutting permits may be obtained at the Bayou Bodcau Main Office. Only fallen deadwood may be collected. Absolutely no fires during burn bans. Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
- The picnic shelter located at Tom Merrill Recreation Area can be reserved up to 6 months in advanced by reserving online at Recreation.gov or by calling the reservation line at (877) 444-6777. The fee is $50 per day, with a max capacity of 75 people. (Reservations must be confirmed at least 1 day prior to the date of reservation. Payment by card only.)
- At the end of your stay, visitors must fill out a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Self Check Permit located at the entrance to Tom Merrill Recreation Area at the top of the hill Adjacent to the Bodcau Dam Road.
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Last updated: August 6, 2026
