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
Roxy D
VerifiedJanuary 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: A
Camp ground is clean and very well maintained. Bath houses are in very good shape. I would recommend this campground to everyone.
Scott S
VerifiedDecember 29, 2024 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: A
The Tom Merrill campground was so clean and well maintained.
Betsy W
VerifiedDecember 12, 2024 • Stayed at: 8, Loop: A
Beautiful and well kept. Best smelling bathroom and clean. Shower was hot but needs the shower head and a bit of paint in one of the shower rooms but clean as well. Verizon was spotty but useable. Host and ranger friendly and welcoming. Site 8 and 17 best for tents. Bank fishing is good with wildlife cleaning station available. Playground, exercise equipment, and trails available. Definitely will stay again.
Shannon T
VerifiedDecember 3, 2024 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: A
Our week at the campground was very enjoyable! The campground was QUIET which is a must when you rise early and hunt all day and need a good nights sleep ! Very clean also ! Looking forward to our next stay.
Matthew M
VerifiedDecember 1, 2024 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: A
The team managing the property are excellent and help. The reception was great for young campers. We were not able to get to our spot right away because the previous campers were out hunting and did not return until after 8pm. The facilities and landscape were wonderful and beautiful views. We would definitely stay there again.
Neely H
VerifiedNovember 21, 2024 • Stayed at: 17, Loop: A
Our stay was good. Everything at the site worked.
Kyle L
VerifiedNovember 7, 2024 • Stayed at: 1, Loop: A
Signage needs improvement. Just before you cross the dam (coming from the west) there is a cross road, clearly part of the park. There is no clear direction, but turn left. The campground is just around the corner. The park itself is very nice and for the most part quiet. The camp host might have been having a day, but he really didn’t want to be bothered by us. The showers were far too filthy to use. All in all a beautiful place to spend a night or two, just be careful getting there and don’t expect a warm welcome or clean facilities.
Randall G
VerifiedOctober 9, 2024 • Stayed at: 6, Loop: A
Great little campground only about 10 minutes off I 20. Very clean and quiet. Will keep this one on my list.
Sharla A
VerifiedApril 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 5, Loop: A
Arrived at the campground in site 5 where the utilities are on the wrong side and towards the middle of the pad. We were able to make it work with our 42' 5th wheel, but then discovered no water was coming from the spigot. Given that we were scheduled to be there for 2 weeks, this was rather important. Being a small campground, there was no host or park ranger. We attempted calling the phone number for the campground and got only a recording. I left several messages, and receiving no return phone calls, we packed up the following day and left. I contacted recreation.gov to request a refund for the remaining days of our reserved stay. I called multiple times to find out the status of our refund since we had ZERO communication from anyone regarding our issues or the refund. Finally, 4 weeks after our request, the refund came through.
This may be a great place for locals to visit for weekend camping, but as full time RV'ers, it was not for us.
Brenda M
VerifiedApril 10, 2024 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: A
Love staying there
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
