Military campgrounds and ID

My wife and I have stayed at several Military campgrounds while crossing the country, attending my grand daughter's Naval graduation, camping for a weekend to meet with friends camping, or just for a weekend to get away. Never had we ever been asked to leave for active duty personnel. All the campgrounds have a reservation requirement and active duty members are also required to reserve, but never bump you out. As long as the military member (active, reserve, retired) has a military ID they can register for a site. The cost varies by base, but always reasonable.

The secondary folks that has the ID Card can stay but they can be bumped in the middle of the night by active duty folks which is understandable...

Being DOD contractors we always got to stay at BOQs and other military places but always had to give up our stay if active duty folks came in late in the evening or early mornings... Looking for another place to stay at 3am is not fun sometimes hehe...

Some of our trips they sort of required us to stay at Military locations since we was working on Military Systems but the same thing would happen there getting bumped in the middle of the night so that didn't last long haha...

Being retired civil service I have stayed at a few Military camp grounds. Used to stay at the one at Lake Martin MAXWELL-GUNTER Rec Center North of Wetumpka AL. This was close to one of our DOD Space Surveillance Work Stations...

Roy Ken

Many Corp of Endineers campgrounds are free to Active military.

The web site provided below will answer all your questions. Larry Farquhar established that site more than 15 years ago and always keeps it up-to-date.

Each military campground is managed by whoever is in charge of the military establishment that oversees its operation. Therefore, there is no set standards to rely upon other than the local commanders rules. The web site has all the particulars about who can or cannot stay there.

Click Here!

Basically, camping at military campgrounds is restricted to Active Duty, Retired military, and 100% disabled veterans. Any one that fits in those categories can access the campgrounds and bring guests.


In some cases, based on the base commander, retired or active DOD employees can stay under some conditions, but that's more a local issue than an earned benefit.

And I agree, Larry is a huge resource, and that website will tell you all you need to know (almost :) ) about MCGs ...

Thank you all, and yes, i just did go to that website, and indeed, it answered a lot of my questions. Thank you so much!

Actually as long your friend is staying with you with proper ID there will be no problem.

She should if she is still on active or if retired.
www.militarycampgrounds.us (note its .us)
will give you access to the information on them. Larry that runs it is a fountain of knowledge and will be happy to assist.

You may want to check out and become familiar with the Military Campgrounds web site. I believe as long as she makes the reservations and/or checks in that is all that is necessary.