Lavonia

Lavonia is a beautiful manicured park with the best restrooms I have ever seen in a park next to my tent campsite. The views of the lake are very pretty from the sloping green hillside. There were many good photo opportunities from Indian paintbrush to bluebonnets to alligater gars and an Osprey perched on a big snag. The sunset was spectacular across the lake Lavon. My campsite was T13 very close to the restrooms which gave just enough light at night to get around without a flashlight. The fire ring was busted but I didnt have a wood fire anyway. The price was right, I am retired and cant afford much. I rode to the park from Royce City on my bike-14 miles, it was a great ride, straight and mostly flat. I am 76 years old so big hills are harder to climb than they used to be. The restrooms have electrical outlets and there are water sources near by.

The Good:
Camping spots are nicely spaced where you don't feel right on top of your neighbors. Grounds are generally good. Staff at the check-in are nice and helpful.
The Bad:
The site needs maintenance/upkeep in almost every other area. Covered picnic table area needs need new tables, coverings, fire rings and grills. I couldn't find my spot at first as the painted number was barely recognizable. Trees need branches trimmed so they don't scrape against the metal picnic overhang as a mild wind at night and it's terribly annoying. Don't get me started on the bathroom facilities, they should be demolished and are basically unusable, especially if you don't like the 100 spiders inside. Bring your own portable solution - period.

The park is in a nice area on the lake, sites are well spaced and the park hosts are nice but it needs a lot of work. All of the asphalt needs to be repaved, low voltage issues were a regularity, only 30 amp service but it's one of the few corps of engineers parks I've seen with full hook ups. Could be a great park with some investment.

Volunteers were very nice. It was depressing to see them forced to work in a entry house with serious need of repairs.

There was a blue tarp over the roof (on one side) preventing leaks I assume. Tarp was worn and clearly had been there for extended time.

Site had serious erosion and mud, trash and glass shards.

Other sites appeared closed and in need of maintenance.

I stayed at this park a few years ago and it was in need of TLC then, has gotten very depressing to see, after visiting other ACRE campgrounds.

This could be an excellent campground, but its extremely sad to see what this place is compared to other Core campsites.

Its a convenient lay over, but not a destination site (in its current state)

This should be a premier core campground. Not volunteers or host problem. Just seeing what they were required to work in validated that.

It honestly depressing to see, after visiting a few other Core Campgrounds to compare with.

Nice, clean & quiet place to stay NE of Dallas.

We always enjoy Lavonia. It is one of the very few Army Corps Campgrounds with sewer. The sites have about 200 ft between them and just about all of them overlook the lake. Shopping, churches, restaurants are all no more than 15 minutes way. Don’t know why, but a very underrated CG. We camped in a 40ft motorhome. Normal rates are $30 per night. The senior pass makes the rate $15 per night. There is a maximum 2 week stay.

Full hookups are nice. Very large sites with great views of the lake. The restrooms in the A loop were recently upgraded and very nice. Boat launch restrooms are not nice at all. Not sure about others. Beautiful sunsets over the lake. Watch out for lake road. If coming from the south (i30) do not follow GPS to take lake road from tx-58N. Go another mile and you meet lake road again. That entrance is MUCH better. Highly recommend siren rock brewery in rockwall. Beer and food are both excellent. We were in site 19 at which the sewer pipe was sticking a foot out of the ground. Hard to get a good downward slope to the hose.

Peaceful, great place to stay. Clean showers, and friendly staff.

Perfect campsite

One of my favorite close by places to camp. Has a great view of the lake and the sunsets are unbeatable. With the new bathrooms, the facilities are much better. The campsites themselves need an update, but for being in the metroplex, it’s a nice place.