Finding COE Campgrounds: The Best Place to Camp!
Updated 2024
Disclosure: The links below may be affiliate links that are at no additional cost to you. When you use our links, we may earn some extra beer money, but it won’t be enough for Phil’s ice cream habit or a batch of Stacy’s famous margaritas (recipe here).
If you are looking for the best campgrounds, look no further! The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers RV campgrounds are the best campgrounds around! They are inexpensive and usually sit on a body of water. Finding COE camping parks is easy. We will show you several ways to find the best campgrounds and save money on your reservations.
What are Army Corps of Engineers
George Washington appointed the first Engineers on June 16, 1775, during the American Revolution, and engineers have served in every war since. In 1908, the branch of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was established. During that same period, West Point Military Academy was created, and for many years, it was the only engineering school in the country.
The COE engineers were even on the beaches of Normandy! Operating under heavy enemy fire, they cleared lanes for landing craft by destroying the mine-bearing steel structures placed by Germans and bulldozed roads through the cliffs lining the beaches. So let’s salute the COE!
Today, the Army Corps of Engineers is found worldwide. At home, it is the lead federal flood control agency and a primary provider of hydroelectric energy. It regulates the nation’s wetlands and maintains over 700 waterways and dams.
Abroad, they provide relief through many humanitarian missions and assist other countries in building transportation networks such as airports and roads.
Click to SAVE 50%
Famous COE Projects
Many of our nation’s most prominent structures were planned and constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Below are just a few of their masterpieces!
Mississippi and Ohio River, the shipping and commerce hub it is today
Panama Canal
Washington Monument
Pentagon
Library of Congress
Assembly building at Kennedy Space Center: they built the building where spaceships are built!
Lincoln Memorial
WHY Corps of engineer rv Campgrounds
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is one of the nation’s leading federal outdoor recreation providers. COE parks offer so many activities for everyone.
Hiking
Boating
Fishing
Hunting
Snorkeling
Windsurfing
Whitewater rafting
Mountain biking
Geocaching
And of course, CAMPING
Our Favorite corps of engineer Campgrounds
Corps of Engineer Parks by the Numbers
You can find COE parks in 43 states across the country. They sit on over 400 lakes and manage dams and locks. Many campgrounds began as temporary housing for thousands of men working on COE projects. The COE manages
55,390 miles of shoreline
7,856 miles of trails
92,588 campsites
3,754 boat ramps
Now that sounds like a lot of fun!!
Who Can Use COE Campgrounds
EVERYONE! Many people think the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a military facility. This is not true! The COE is open to everyone!
Corps of Engineers Campground fees
Like many campgrounds, prices vary by location. We have paid $18 to $34 per night for a campsite. If you want to use the COE parks without reserving a campsite, day passes start at $5.
How we find the best COE Campgrounds
Finding COE Campgrounds
There are several simple ways to discover COE Campgrounds and parks quickly.
Corps Lakes Gateway: Corps Lakes Gateway is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website that allows you to search for campsites by state. It also provides information on every COE park and what activities they offer. This website has a lot of other information, including travel tips and travel safety tips. However, it is a bit outdated and clunky.
USACE Recreation Brochure: Download Recreational Opportunities with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This free PDF booklet lists all the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers parks by state and body of water. It also lists all the activities available at each park, including camping. You can use this resource without wifi once you download it to your computer.
Allstays: The Allstays app allows you to filter for COE campgrounds easily. It is one of my favorite resources for finding campgrounds.
RV Life Trip Wizard: RV Trip Wizard (save 25% with our affiliate link) is my favorite tool for planning trips and keeping track of reservations. The filters make it easy to find COE parks. RV Trip Wizard is part of a bundle that provides RV-safe routing, campground reviews, and much more!
Recreation.gov: Recreation.gov is free and also includes national parks and state forests. You can search for campgrounds by name or by location. It is also where you will make reservations for your campsite. Recreation.gov is available as an app or website.
Army Corps of Engineers campground Map
The COE is divided into many different regions. Each region has its own website, so it can be difficult to find a map with every campground across the US listed.
This is where the apps I mentioned above are handy: they allow you to locate COE campgrounds quickly. The picture to the right is from the Allstays app.
Save 50% on coe camping
Did you know you can stay at Army Corps of Engineer campgrounds for half price? That’s right. It is one of the cheapest ways to camp. We love to sprinkle COEs into our travels to keep our costs down and stay within budget.
Who qualifies for the discount?
If you have any of these passes, you will qualify.
Golden Access Pass (old national park passes)
Golden Age Pass (old national park passes)
How to get the discount?
It is easy to apply the discount to your COE reservation. When you make your reservation, you will see ‘Apply a Pass Discount.’ Click which card you hold and then enter the card number on the back of your card. The website will apply 50% off the cost of your reservation. *Interagency is listed instead of America the Beautiful. Also, not every site will qualify for the discount ie group sites.
The best part of the discount is that it applies to almost every campground on Recreation.gov, not just COEs. This site covers 14 different agencies, from camping to day passes.
Now go camp!
Pack your bags and get ready to explore the great outdoors. The memories and experiences gained from a COE campground adventure are truly invaluable. Happy camping!
Meet the Author: Stacy and her husband, Phil, are a wanderlust couple who have been roaming the great USA for an epic 6 years! They ditched the daily grind to embark on thrilling adventures and inspire fellow dreamers to chase their travel dreams. Curious about how they do it? Check out their awesome YouTube channel, Today is Someday, where they're spilling all the secrets to living a life on the move. Get ready to pack your bags and join them on this incredible journey.
Today is Someday, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2020