Johnson Creek Campground Review: Waterfront Camping at Lake O’ the Pines, Texas
Every once in a while, we pull into a campground and immediately know we’ve found a good one.
Johnson Creek Campground at Lake O’ the Pines in East Texas was definitely one of those places.
This Army Corps of Engineers campground had spacious sites, paved roads, concrete RV pads, beautiful trees, easy access to the lake, and some wonderful water views.
We stayed in Site 319, and we could see the water from every window in our trailer.
We loved this place.
If you’re considering camping at Lake O’ the Pines, here’s a look around Johnson Creek Campground and what you can expect when you arrive.
Johnson Creek Campground at Lake O’ the Pines
Johnson Creek is an Army Corps of Engineers campground located on Lake O’ the Pines in East Texas.
The campground is divided into several camping areas, with sites for both RVs and tents. There are also restrooms and showers, a boat launch, day-use areas, dumpsters throughout the campground, and easy access to the water.
One of the first things we noticed was how well the campground appeared to be maintained.
Some of the roads looked like they had been recently paved, and many of the campsites had excellent concrete pads.
For an Army Corps of Engineers campground, we were impressed.
Boat Launch and Day-Use Area
The boat launch sits near the end of a peninsula and has parking available for boat trailers.
There are also picnic tables nearby, making this part of the campground useful for people who just want to spend the day enjoying Lake O’ the Pines.
If boating or fishing is one of the reasons you’re visiting, having the launch right inside the recreation area is certainly convenient.
And even if you never put a boat in the water, the lake is a big part of the appeal of camping here.
Camping in the 200 Loop
When you’re looking at reservations, the 200 loop includes both RV and tent camping areas, so pay attention to the type of site you’re reserving.
The RV portion is fairly close to the boat ramp.
There is also a restroom and shower facility nearby.
The terrain isn’t completely flat in this section. There is a hill, and some campsites are situated on the slope, so that’s something to consider when choosing a site.
The RV sites we saw had paved areas for the RV along with separate concrete areas for the picnic tables.
Overall, it was a very attractive camping area.
Tent Camping at Johnson Creek
We were also impressed with the tent sites.
Rather than simply giving tent campers a patch of dirt, the sites we saw had nice, smooth tent platforms with picnic tables nearby.
Several were quite close to the water.
Electricity appeared to be available at the sites we toured, with water spigots located throughout the area.
Restrooms, showers and dumpsters weren’t far away either.
If you’re making a reservation in the 200 loop, just double-check whether you’re selecting a designated tent site or RV site. They were clearly identified when we made our reservations.
RV Camping in the 300 Loop
Next we explored RV Area 3, or the 300 loop.
This was the section where we stayed, and we really liked these sites.
The RV sites had concrete pads for the trailer as well as separate concrete patio areas.
The fire rings were huge, and the sites themselves were a good size. Most appeared to accommodate RVs of at least around 40 feet, with some sites considerably longer.
Everything looked relatively new and well cared for.
Then we arrived at our site.
Our Site: Johnson Creek Site 319
We stayed in Site 319 in the 300 loop.
What a site!
Our site was listed at about 55 feet long. Our trailer was approximately 30 feet, and we were able to park the truck completely within our campsite as well.
We had a concrete RV pad, picnic table, lantern holder and an enormous fire ring.
But the best feature was the location.
We could see Lake O’ the Pines from every window in our trailer.
That’s hard to beat.
There was plenty of room to enjoy the campsite outside, and having the water surrounding us made the whole site feel peaceful and relaxing.
This was one of those campsites where we were perfectly happy just staying at the campground.
Camping Fees and the Senior Pass
At the time of our stay, our campsite was $28 per night.
Because Johnson Creek is an Army Corps of Engineers campground, Ed’s senior pass reduced our eligible camping fee to $14 per night.
Fourteen dollars for a campsite like this?
We certainly weren’t complaining!
Fees, discounts, amenities and reservation policies can change, so always check the current information when planning your own stay.
But this trip was another example of why we’ve come to appreciate Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds during our travels.
They can offer some beautiful camping locations at very reasonable prices.
The 400 Loop and First-Come, First-Served Camping
We also toured RV Area 4, or the 400 loop, which was closer to the campground entrance.
During our visit, this area was listed as first-come, first-served.
That meant campers could arrive, select an available site and pay at the gate rather than making an advance reservation.
The sites we saw here were also very nice, with good pads, patio areas and access to the water.
For travelers who don’t always know exactly where they’ll be on a particular night, having some first-come, first-served sites can be a huge advantage.
Again, policies can change, so check current campground information before relying on first-come availability.
Restrooms, Showers and Campground Amenities
Johnson Creek had restroom and shower facilities conveniently located near the camping areas.
Another small thing we appreciated was the number of dumpsters.
They were scattered throughout the campground, often near the ends of the camping roads, so you didn’t have to travel halfway across the park every time you needed to take out the trash.
Sometimes it’s those simple conveniences that make a campground more enjoyable.
Between the showers, restrooms, paved roads, boat launch, picnic areas and well-maintained campsites, Johnson Creek had what we needed without feeling overly developed.
Waterfront Camping at Lake O’ the Pines
Of course, the star of the campground is Lake O’ the Pines.
Many campsites offer water views or easy access to the shoreline, and some of the most desirable sites put you surprisingly close to the lake.
If you’re traveling with a boat, fishing, or simply enjoy sitting outside and looking at the water, this is a wonderful setting.
We particularly enjoyed being able to look out of the trailer and see the lake.
It’s one thing to visit a lake for the afternoon.
It’s another to wake up to it right outside your RV.
What We Liked About Johnson Creek Campground
There was a lot to like here.
The campsites were spacious, the campground was attractive and well maintained, and the concrete pads made setting up the RV easier.
We also liked having:
- Large campsites
- Concrete RV pads and patio areas
- Lake views and water access
- A boat launch
- Tent and RV camping options
- Restrooms and showers
- Convenient dumpsters
- Large fire rings
- First-come, first-served options during our visit
- Affordable camping with the eligible senior pass discount
Most of all, though, we liked the setting.
It was simply a beautiful place to camp.
A Great Base for Exploring Jefferson, Texas
Johnson Creek also worked well as our home base while we explored Jefferson, Texas.
Jefferson turned out to be one of our favorite little historic towns in the area, with museums, historic homes, shops, restaurants and plenty of interesting places to explore.
We visited the Gone With the Wind Museum, Museum of Measurement & Time, historic downtown and several other Jefferson attractions during our stay.
After a day of sightseeing, it was pretty nice to return to our campsite beside Lake O’ the Pines.
If you’re planning to explore Jefferson but would rather stay surrounded by trees and water than at an RV park in town, Johnson Creek is certainly worth considering.
Would We Stay at Johnson Creek Campground Again?
Absolutely.
We loved our campsite, loved the water views and were impressed by the condition of the campground.
And getting a site like ours for the discounted rate we paid made it even better.
If we were returning to Lake O’ the Pines, Site 319 would certainly be on our list again.
Johnson Creek offered exactly the kind of camping experience we enjoy: beautiful scenery, plenty of space, useful amenities and a peaceful place to come home to after exploring the surrounding area.
Sometimes the campground is simply where you park while you’re visiting a destination.
And sometimes the campground becomes part of the destination.
For us, Johnson Creek was definitely the latter.
We’ll see you down the road…and Over The Hills!
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