Tom Merrill Recreation Area

4.19

114 reviews

1749 Bodcau Dam Road, Haughton, LA, 71037-7443

Summer Destination

Featured in:Fishing Louisiana

Quick Facts

210 ft

Price

$12 - $20/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

20 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV FriendlyElectricShowers

Opens Bayou Bodcau Recreation Management site

Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

February 2026

Quick Facts

210 ft

Price

$12 - $20/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

20 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV FriendlyElectricShowers

Opens Bayou Bodcau Recreation Management site

Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

February 2026

Tom Merrill Recreation Area

$12.00 - $20.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Standard Electric Site costs $15.00 per night; Non-Electric Site costs $12.00 per night. Peak season rates are $20.00 per night for Standard Electric...

Standard Site Fee$15.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$50.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

318-949-1804

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What Campers Say

4.19

Satisfactory

Based on 114 reviews

Most mentioned

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Campground Map

1749 Bodcau Dam Road, Haughton, LA, 71037-7443

Tom Merrill Recreation Area

1749 Bodcau Dam Road, Haughton, LA, 71037-7443

Driving directionsFrom 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.

The campground is located well off main travel roads, ensuring minimal traffic and noise interference. The roads leading to the campground are paved, and accessibility is year-round.

Nearby places

Bossier City and Shreveport are 30-45 minutes away.

Nearby supplies

Grocery stores and other supplies are accessible in nearby cities such as Bossier City and Shreveport, approximately 30-45 minutes away.

Best Time to Camp at Tom Merrill Recreation Area

Experience the dramatic seasonal transformations of Bayou Bodcau throughout the year. Summer brings languid days where the creek slows to a gentle whisper, creating mirror-like waters perfect for peaceful paddling and fishing. As winter arrives, the landscape awakens with abundant rainfall, transforming Bodcau Creek into a rushing torrent that showcases nature's raw power. Each season offers its own unique charm and recreational opportunities, ensuring year-round appeal for adventurous spirits.

Summer(Jun-Aug)

3.0 / 5

Summer is hot; creek slows to mirror-like waters—pleasant water views but heat and bugs likely.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.0 / 5

Peak season runs Sept–Nov; recommended season with favorable conditions and scenery.

Spring(Mar-May)

4.0 / 5

Spring offers wildlife and birding opportunities and pleasant weather for hikes and boating.

Winter(Dec-Feb)

3.5 / 5

Open year-round; mild Louisiana winters and fewer visitors but fewer seasonal activities.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: September 1 - November 30 (Peak Season). Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Open year-round. Peak season runs from September 1 to November 30.

About Tom Merrill Recreation Area

Nestled downstream from the Bayou Bodcau Dam, Tom Merrill Recreation Area beckons outdoor enthusiasts to discover a tranquil escape along the winding Bodcau Creek. This premier Class A campground offers 20 thoughtfully designed campsites, each equipped with electric hookups and water access, creating the perfect basecamp for exploring the rich wilderness of Bayou Bodcau Reservoir. Whether you're seeking a peaceful weekend retreat or an extended adventure, this quiet sanctuary provides easy access to fishing, boating, and wildlife watching opportunities that make every stay memorable.

Tom Merrill Recreation Area caters to various camping styles, offering RV and tent sites with modern facilities.

Historical SignificanceStep into a living museum where Louisiana's natural heritage towers above you in the form of magnificent 'Champion Trees' – some of the largest and oldest specimens in the entire state. This treasured landscape serves dual purposes as both a sanctuary for these ancient giants and a carefully managed wildlife area that draws hunting enthusiasts from across the region. Here, conservation and recreation blend seamlessly, preserving traditions that have shaped Louisiana's outdoor culture for generations.

Weather and SeasonsExperience the dramatic seasonal transformations of Bayou Bodcau throughout the year. Summer brings languid days where the creek slows to a gentle whisper, creating mirror-like waters perfect for peaceful paddling and fishing. As winter arrives, the landscape awakens with abundant rainfall, transforming Bodcau Creek into a rushing torrent that showcases nature's raw power. Each season offers its own unique charm and recreational opportunities, ensuring year-round appeal for adventurous spirits.

Natural Features and SceneryImmerse yourself in an enchanting tapestry of Southern wilderness where ancient cypress trees draped in Spanish moss create cathedral-like canopies over mysterious swamps. The diverse landscape seamlessly blends lowland marshes with upland forests, where towering pines mingle with deciduous hardwoods. This remarkable ecosystem shelters an array of rare and endangered species, while adventurous visitors might glimpse prehistoric alligators gliding through dark waters or industrious beavers engineering their aquatic kingdoms. Every trail and waterway reveals new wonders in this biodiverse paradise.

Geological RegionSpanning an impressive 33,500 acres, Bayou Bodcau showcases one of Louisiana's most diverse geological treasures. From the hauntingly beautiful cypress swamps draped in ethereal moss to the surprising Morse Clay Calcareous Prairies – rare geological formations that support unique plant communities found nowhere else in the region. This remarkable landscape weaves together lowland wetlands, upland forests, and mixed stands of deciduous trees and pines, creating a complex ecosystem that represents millions of years of geological evolution and natural adaptation.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Check-in

3:00 PM

Check-out

1:00 PM

Stay Limit

Maximum consecutive stay is 14 nights. Campers may stay up to 14 nights within a rolling 30-day period.

Guests Allowed Per Site

One RV and up to three tents are permitted per campsite.

Groups

No information on designated group camping sites is provided.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Site layoutThe campground includes 20 sites with electric hookups and amenities like fire pits, picnic tables, and lantern hangers. Sites are either closer to the forest or open within the park.

Reservation PlatformsReservations must be made via Recreation.gov.

Walk-in AvailabilityThe campground is by-reservation-only; walk-up availability is not offered.

Cancellation PolicyReservations can be canceled any time before arrival. A $10 cancellation fee applies, along with potential forfeiture of the first night's fees for late cancellations.

AccessibilityThe campground offers one handicap-accessible RV/Tent site. Additional accessibility features include accessible drinking water, flush toilets, grills, parking, picnic areas, picnic shelters, and showers.

Site SizeSites include RV pads and are equipped with 20/30/50 AMP hookups, making them suitable for larger vehicles.

PrivacySome campsites are closer to the forest, offering more seclusion, while others are more open within the park.

Total Campsites20 campsites

Recommended SitesSites closer to the forest offer more privacy, while open sites provide access to park amenities.

Amenities available

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Flush toilets

Dump station

Fire rings

Activities you can enjoy

Visitors to Tom Merrill Recreation Area can enjoy a wide range of activities, including fishing, boating, hiking, biking, and disc golf. Additionally, the area offers unique opportunities for birding, hunting, wildlife viewing, and photography. The nearby Ivan Lake is ideal for fishing and boating, and the campground provides access to trails and outdoor exercise equipment.

HikingHiking and biking trails are available within the recreation area, but specific details such as trail lengths or difficulty levels are not provided.

FishingFishing opportunities are available at the outlet channel where Bodcau Reservoir drains into Bodcau Creek, as well as at the nearby 500-acre Ivan Lake, which is noted for its popularity among local fishermen.

BikingBiking trails are available, though specific information about terrain or recommended skill levels is not included.

BoatingBoating is supported at both Bodcau Creek and Ivan Lake. Ivan Lake is especially noted as a well-maintained site for fishing and boating activities.

Wildlife viewingBayou Bodcau is home to diverse wildlife, including alligators, beavers, and rare bird species such as bald eagles. The area's moss-laden cypress swamps and bottomland forests make it an excellent spot for wildlife viewing.

Winter Activities

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsPotential hazards include encounters with wildlife such as alligators and beavers. Burn bans may be enforced during dry periods.

Fire PolicyOnly fires in provided rings/grills are allowed. No outside firewood permitted. Firewood cutting permits are available onsite for fallen deadwood.

Quiet HoursQuiet hours are 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Emergency ServicesFor emergencies, contact local authorities in Haughton, LA, including the Sheriff's Department. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also enforces regulations in the area.

Trash & RecyclingTrash collection facilities are available, but specific details about recycling or schedules are not mentioned.

Water FeaturesAll campsites are within walking distance of Bodcau Creek.

Camp HostCampground Host is available for assistance when stationed onsite.

Weather at Tom Merrill Recreation Area

Reviews

4.2

114 reviews

Satisfactory

Tom Merrill Recreation Area is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

User reviews are not provided for this campground.

Review Summaries

Based on 114 reviews

What Campers Love

No user reviews are available to extract positive highlights.

Based on 114 reviews

Common Concerns

No user reviews are available to identify common complaints.

Based on 114 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

No user reviews are available to compile tips and recommendations.

Based on 114 reviews

Seasonal Insights

No user reviews are available to analyze seasonal trends.

Based on 114 reviews

Camper Quotes

No user reviews are available to include direct quotes.

Based on 114 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

No specific site reviews are available as user feedback is not provided.

Based on 114 reviews

Accessibility Features

No reviews are available to assess accessibility features.

Based on 114 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

No reviews are available to discuss pet-related policies or experiences.

Based on 114 reviews

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Last updated February 17, 2026

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