Louisiana › Bossier Parish

Tom Merrill Recreation Area

Open

Open year-round. Reservation only through Recreation.gov; no fee booth on site. Check-in 3:00 PM, check-out 1:00 PM. Quiet hours 10 PM to 6 AM.

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Extreme Heat Warning issued July 22 at 12:09AM CDT until July 22 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

12:09 AM — 8:00 PM

* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 114. * WHERE...Portions of northwest Louisiana and east and northeast Texas. * WHEN...Until 8 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events.

Heat Advisory issued July 22 at 12:09AM CDT until July 22 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

12:09 AM — 8:00 PM

About

Tom Merrill Recreation Area sits downstream of Bayou Bodcau Dam along Bodcau Creek near Haughton, Louisiana. This Class A campground provides 20 sites, including 19 standard electric sites and one group shelter. Each site includes electric hookups (20/30/50 amp), water hookups, a picnic table, fire pit, grill, and lantern hanger. Sites are positioned within walking distance of the water, with a mix of shaded forest and open locations. The campground features a showerhouse with flush toilets, a dump station, playground, outdoor exercise equipment, disc golf course, bike trails, and a game cleaning station. Bayou Bodcau is a 33,500-acre wildlife management area popular during hunting season for deer and other game. The area includes moss-laden cypress swamps, mixed deciduous and pine forests, and Ivan Lake for fishing and boating. Downtown Bossier City and Shreveport are 30-45 minutes away. The campground enforces quiet hours from 10 PM to 6 AM and allows one RV plus up to three tents per site. Maximum stay is 14 days per 30-day period.

Directions

From Interstate 20, take exit 33 and head north on State Route 157. Drive 9 miles and turn right on Bodcau Dam Road. Drive 3 miles and destination will be on the left.

Nearby Campgrounds

South Abutment East 0.2mi Wenks Landing 12mi Beaver Dam Campground 12mi Caney Lakes Beaver Dam Campground 13mi Lake Bistineau State Park Campground 19mi Bucktail Camp 33mi Turkey Trot Hunter 35mi Lake Claiborne State Park Campground 35mi Caddo Lake State Park 39mi

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Location

32.700828, -93.511347

1749 Bodcau Dam Rd, Haughton, LA 71037

Amenities

Water	Yes
Fires Allowed	Yes
Toilets	Yes
Dump Station	Yes
Wifi	—
Pets Allowed	Yes
Showers	Yes
Electric Hookups	Yes
Water Hookups	Yes
Sewer Hookups	No
Camp Store	—
Price	$20 - $50

Vehicle

Max RV Length	50ft
Max Trailer Length	50ft
Big Rig Friendly	No
Pull Through Sites	No

Contact

Phone

+1 (318) 949-1804

Cell Service

AT&T	None
Verizon	None
T-Mobile	None

Useful Links

View on Recreation.gov

Availability

Photos

Shaded Class A Campsite #18. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

This free game cleaning station is located off in the woods behind the campground. Please clean up after use.

Shaded Class A Campsite #4. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #11. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #3. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #12. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #5. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #16. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #8. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

The new Disc Golf Course extends from Tom Merrill to SAE winding through the woods for excellent shots.

Beginning of summer season at Tom Merrill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #2. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Bathrooms and Shower House. Flushing toilets, running water sinks, and drinking fountain amenities located within the comfort station.

Great place for fishing within walking distance of the campground. Steps are located on both sides of the outlet channel leading down to the bayou.

Shaded Class A Campsite #19. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #9. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Outlet channel located within walking distance of campground. Patrons are able to put in kayaks and fish from campgrounds.

Shaded Class A Campsite #13. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

New partitions installed and freshly pained shower house 2020.

Shaded Class A Campsite #6. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #10. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #7. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Approximately a mile North of the campground off Bodcau road. The LDWF operates a free rifle range on the area. The range is 200 yards long and has covered rests for shooting. The range can accommodate rifles, handguns, shot guns and archery. It is supervised by an approved Range Officer and is open to the public on regularly scheduled days. Targets, sand bags and ear plugs are provided.

168 Ben Durden Rd, Haughton, LA 71037

Shaded Class A Campsite #17. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #14. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #20. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #1. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Shaded Class A Campsite #15. RV pad, water, and 20/30/50 AMP electric hook-ups as well as basic campsite amenities including a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, trash can and grill.

Trail head for North and South bike trails located at entrance of Tom Merrill.

This picnic shelter is available in the Tom Merrill Recreation Area. Pavilion fee is $50 a day and shelter reservations may be made by calling (318) 949-1804, or by reserving on recreation.gov. Pavilion can hold a maximum capacity of 75 people. Located within walking distance of the comfort stations and the outlet channel.

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