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10 Scenic COE Campgrounds With Beautiful Water Views

This post was updated on March 15th, 2024

Corps of Engineers (COE) campgrounds offer spacious, level sites for RVs. Most are in quiet waterfront locations with lots of opportunities for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and boating.

There are over 450 COE campgrounds across the US along various lakes, rivers, and streams.  We searched Recreation.gov and RV LIFE Campgrounds to narrow down ten of the most popular spots.

1. Potters Creek Park: Canyon Lake, Texas

Potters Creek Park is a nice place to cool off in south-central Texas.  On the northern shore of Canyon Lake, this huge campground is open year-round with sites for tents and RVs.  The sites all have electric and water hookups, paved pads, and their own picnic table, fire ring, and grill.  The upper sites are secluded among the woods while the waterfront sites offer relaxing views without shade.

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Photo: TripAdvisor

There’s something for everyone in the area.  Head out on the water, hike (or bike) one of the trails around the lake, or check out one of the many local attractions like the Natural Bridge Caverns and historic town of Gruene in New Braunfels.

2. Eastbank Campground: Bainbridge, Georgia

Eastbank Campground, on the eastern shore of Lake Seminole, is less than five minutes from the Georgia-Florida border.

The campground is open all year with 65 RV sites, most of which have water and electric hookups.  Here you can go hiking, swimming, water skiing, and look out for local wildlife like ducks and tortoises.

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Photo: COE

The lake’s also known as one of the top sites in America for sport fishing.  Over 79 different species of fish can be found in the water from largemouth bass to catfish.

3. Cochiti Lake Campground: Pena Blanca, New Mexico

Cochiti Lake is a waterfront oasis just outside of Santa Fe.  This campground is made up of four loops, some with no hookups and others with water and electric.

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Photo: TripAdvisor

Fishing and windsurfing are some of the area’s biggest draws.  The park also has a beach and playground for families. 

4. W.P. Franklin North Campground: Alva, Florida

East of Fort Myers, W.P. Franklin North COE is a smaller campground with only 30 sites along the Caloosahatchee River.  With such a prime location, the park is a hot spot for bass fishing and boating.

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Photo: TripAdvisor

It’s also a short drive to downtown Fort Myers, where you can find shops to browse and see the historic Thomas Edison and Henry Ford’s Winter Estates. 

5. Twin Lakes Campground: Clemson, South Carolina

Twin Lakes Campground spans along Lake Hartwell near the South Carolina-Georgia border.  The park has 102 spacious RV sites, 89 of which are located along the lake with easy access to the water.

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Photo: TripAdvisor

Everything from swimming to kayaking can be enjoyed out on the lake.  Or, if you’d rather stay on land, you can also find several trails to hike and bike around the shoreline.

6. Maumelle Campground: Little Rock, Arkansas

Maumelle Campground lies on the Arkansas River just north of Little Rock.  The large campground has 128 big rig friendly sites with electric hookups, a dock, boat ramp, hot showers, and a playground.

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Photo: TripAdvisor

There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors in this area.  The river offers excellent fishing while Pinnacle Mountain State Park is only two miles away with trails varying in length and difficulty.

7. Seven Points Campground COE: Hermitage, Tennessee

Seven Points Campground provides a serene home base while you take off to explore Nashville.  A twenty-minute drive east of the city, the park is situated along sparkling Percy Priest Lake with a boat ramp and a beach.

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Photo: Facebook

59 large sites are offered at the campground, all shaded and complete with water & electric hookups.  Two huge day-use picnic shelters are available and can each fit up to 100 people at a time.  For campers, they also offer drinking water, a dump station, restrooms, and showers.

8. Hickory Creek COE: Hickory Creek, Texas

North of Dallas, Hickory Creek Campground is ideally located along Lake Lewisville.  The campground has 121 large RV sites complete with water and electric hookups.

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Photo: Yelp

Other amenities include hot showers, a dump station, boat ramp, and playground.  The park also offers plenty of ways to enjoy nature at its finest: fishing, hiking, and swimming are some of the popular options.

9. Hood Park: Burbank, Washington

Hood Park is a well-maintained campground in Eastern Washington’s Tri-Cities area.  The park is situated on the shores of Lake Wallula with excellent salmon and steelhead fishing, as well as opportunities for hiking and swimming.

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Photo: TripAdvisor

67 large sites are available for RVers, as well as a day-use group picnic shelter, all of which have electric hookups.  Park amenities include a boat ramp, showers, and beach access. 

10. Canal Campground: Grand Rivers, Kentucky

In Western Kentucky, Canal Campground is in a unique location on a lake-surrounded peninsula.  This park between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake has sites with water and electric hookups as well as restrooms and showers.

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Photo: Facebook

A beach and boat ramp provide access to the lake.  The park also offers picnic pavilions and a playground for families.

Never been to a COE campground?  Read more about them here.



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