W.P. Franklin Campground
Army Corps Of Engineers
Write a Review 17991 N. Franklin Lock Rd. Alva, FL 33920 239-694-8770 Reservations: 877-444-6777 Official WebsiteGPS: 26.7243, -81.6928
Overview of W.P. Franklin Campground
Campground entrance gate opens at sunrise and closes at sunset.
$20 to use the dump station before staying at the campground. Campers are limited to one RV dump per week of stay, max two in a 14-day period. Portable blue holding tanks may dump unlimited times during a stay.
Last Price Paid: $30
Reported by a60dan on 2/22/2024
Longest RV Reported: 41 feet (Class A)
Reported by cterwilliger on 9/8/2019
Number of Sites 29
Pad Type asphalt
Reservations yes
Elevation 0 ft / 0 m
Max Stay 14
Max Length 50 ft
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about W.P. Franklin Campground
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 239-694-8770
No Excuses Travel On asked on 1/9/2021
The website says $30 but the last few reviews says 15. Can someone confirm?
Nick asked on 8/7/2020
On the reservation website, they limit RV size to 35' - Can a 42' RV fit, and will they allow it if you show up?
Reviews of W.P. Franklin Campground 24 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 14 Users
Last reported 12/30/2022
Confirmed by 5 Users
Last reported 4/7/2021
Confirmed by 7 Users
Last reported 2/22/2024
“A great dog-friendly hiking trail off Hwy 78”
Reviewed 1/3/2021
| Nightly rate: | $15 |
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| Days stayed: | 5 |
| Site Number: | 22 |
Overall Rating
My research for a suitable place to pitch camp near Ft. Myers provided only this Corp of Engineers highly rated campground. Twenty minutes outside of Ft. Myers, and near several nature preserves, this quiet fishing camp proved acceptable but not really what we typically look for in deriving the most meaningful camping experience. We do... more
My research for a suitable place to pitch camp near Ft. Myers provided only this Corp of Engineers highly rated campground. Twenty minutes outside of Ft. Myers, and near several nature preserves, this quiet fishing camp proved acceptable but not really what we typically look for in deriving the most meaningful camping experience. We do not boat or fish. We ride bicycles and love to hike wooded trails with Bob the dog. We, of course, prefer sand roads and natural settings which make it difficult for bigger rigs to be our neighbors. This Army Corps of Engineers campground in Alva, Florida looks like the typical RV park with concrete slabs, paved roads, no trees, big rigs, a generally elderly population, and definitely ultra-conservative white citizens. The only people of color here in this campground were the ones cleaning up the leaves and cutting the grass. Twenty-nine campsites total. The area surrounding us was bucolic with large ranches and farms, plenty of trees, and light traffic on the country roads. The problem was it is severely not dog-friendly and Bob the Dog needs his nature walks as often as possible. But the campground itself was clean and safe. And that matters. Plus we had four bars of AT&T cell service which meant we could get in our daily streaming TV news and also search for alternatives on our computers for where and how to spend our five days camping here.
The highlights of this stage of our trip included a Saturday morning tour of the Edison and Ford winter homes in downtown Ft. Myers. The museum was top-notch as were the grounds and well-maintained houses and outbuildings dotting the grounds. We also discovered a suitably long and great dog-friendly hiking trail off Hwy 78 about eight miles from our campsite. The trail was in the Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve (East) and was perfect for us. (Go early before too many others join you.) The Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve (East) on the west side of I-75 was beautiful as well, but not only disgustingly loud from the freeway traffic, the two trails were very short and in the end disappointing. Restaurants in the area we found to be severely lacking, but a Publix, Walgreens, and ATMs are all within a pleasant seven mile drive through farmlands and preserves.
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AT&T 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“One of the better COE parks in the system”
Reviewed 12/1/2020
| Nightly rate: | $15 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 7 |
| Site Number: | 7 |
| RV Length: | 32' (Class C) |
Overall Rating
Gorgeous campground on a small island adjacent to one of the dams/locks on the Okeechobee Waterway. Only 10 miles from Ft. Myers, it’s convenient to enough infrastructure to meet any need. Most of the sites are waterfront with plenty of privacy. The bathhouses are clean and spacious. There are 29 RV sites and 8 boat slips, and ther... more
Gorgeous campground on a small island adjacent to one of the dams/locks on the Okeechobee Waterway. Only 10 miles from Ft. Myers, it’s convenient to enough infrastructure to meet any need.
Most of the sites are waterfront with plenty of privacy. The bathhouses are clean and spacious. There are 29 RV sites and 8 boat slips, and there is a very nice fishing pier adjacent to the dam.
There is a day-use area to WP Franklin on the other side of the dam, but you cannot get there walking from the campground, even though it’s a mere 200 yards across the waterway. Instead you must make the 10ish mile drive around to access it. But that area contains the Dam Visitor Center, great views of the lock, and plenty of picnic pavilions and open park land to make for a great day.
There are boating opportunities on the Caloosahatchee River, and there are also various trails and waterways just outside of the campground in the Telegraph Creek area.
There is electric and water at every site, and there is a dump station available, but there are certain restrictions to its use. You can only dump once in each 7-day stretch, or you can pay $20 for additional dumps. There is unlimited use of blueboys, however, if you want to use that option.
Overall, it’s one of our favorite parks. We loved our site (7) because of the incredible sunsets looking down the Caloosahatchee River.
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Verizon 4G
traderboynh would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“10/10 ”
Reviewed 8/7/2020
| Nightly rate: | $30 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 5 |
| Site Number: | 3 |
Overall Rating
The important tips: -Stay on the west side - multiple showers, bathrooms -Shade is limited -Middle row is not ideal but has the most shade -North side has best view, south view is of the dam which has very bright lights at night -Front gate is locked with a hand padlock, have to get out to open it and to close it -lots of dogs ... more
The important tips:
-Stay on the west side - multiple showers, bathrooms
-Shade is limited
-Middle row is not ideal but has the most shade
-North side has best view, south view is of the dam which has very bright lights at night
-Front gate is locked with a hand padlock, have to get out to open it and to close it
-lots of dogs (great for us)
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AT&T 4G
Outdoorsbae would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful view of the locks”
Reviewed 9/8/2019
| Nightly rate: | $30 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 7 |
| Site Number: | 22 |
| RV Length: | 41' (Class A) |
Overall Rating
Another nice COE campground. Hosts were friendly and helpful. We were a tight fit in site 22, but there are a few others that can hold a MH > 40ft. Quiet, clean, well maintained. Showers OK, but could use a locked door. Water + 50A elect. + dump station.
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Verizon 4G
cterwilliger would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Not a bad campsite in the place.”
Reviewed 12/26/2018
| Nightly rate: | $15 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 5 |
| Site Number: | 17, 6 |
| RV Length: | 30' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
This is such a great campground. Arrival was awful due to user error. Don’t rely on your GPS! The campground is on the north side of the Caloosahatchee and our GPS took us to the south side. Volunteers staying in the volunteer village gave us directions to the correct area across the river and gave us the gate code as we were late ... more
This is such a great campground. Arrival was awful due to user error. Don’t rely on your GPS! The campground is on the north side of the Caloosahatchee and our GPS took us to the south side. Volunteers staying in the volunteer village gave us directions to the correct area across the river and gave us the gate code as we were late (8:00 pm). There’s not a bad site in this campground. Each is angled for easy backin and has a water view. Campsites are very private. Picnic tables have shelter and there are a grill and separate fire pit at each campsite. Our first site (17) was on the northeast side of the campground and gave us a great view of the dam and locks, beautiful day and night. Our second site is on the southeast side and offers a waterfront view of beautiful neighboring properties. This time of year (December) there are manatees in the morning and fish jumping all day. There is a resident bald eagle fishing all day - lovely. You can walk out on the pier next to the dam and fish (get a license online) or just enjoy the view. Partial hookups - make sure you dump before you get here if you need to or there’s a $20 fee. You can dump on your way out or every 7 days for free. Squeaky clean bathhouses and laundry facilities that accept credit cards. There was a Christmas Day gathering we didn’t attend due to other commitments - potluck with a bonfire in one of two group areas. Everyone attending looks to have had a great time. :) 5 miles from a gas station/convenience store, and 7 miles from Publix/Walgreens/gas station, banks, etc. We will definitely stay here again.
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Verizon 4G
Aurora would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Good we would stay here again”
Reviewed 11/14/2018
| Nightly rate: | $15 |
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| Days stayed: | 8 |
| Site Number: | 3/11 |
Overall Rating
Very nice park all sites are water front except the two pull through in the center, only 10 miles or so from Fort Myers but far enough. We stayed here in our class A, very friendly fellow campers and the host were awesome. Used our senior pass for half price.
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T-Mobile 4G
Tom McCoy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Good we would stay here again”
Reviewed 11/14/2018
| Nightly rate: | $15 |
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| Days stayed: | 8 |
| Site Number: | 3/11 |
Overall Rating
Very nice park all sites are water front except the two pull through in the center, only 10 miles or so from Fort Myers but far enough. We stayed here in our class A, very friendly fellow campers and the host were awesome. Used our senior pass for half price.
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T-Mobile 4G
Tom McCoy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Camping on the waterfront”
Reviewed 7/7/2018
| Nightly rate: | $30 |
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| Days stayed: | 5 |
| Site Number: | 13 |
| RV Length: | 29' |
Overall Rating
There are not many places where you can camp directly on the waterfront. Not just on the waterfront, but with paved angled sites for easy back-ins. The location is out in the country, but only 20 minute from all of the big city amenities of Fort Myers. Watching someone fishing is usually described as exciting as watching paint dry... more
There are not many places where you can camp directly on the waterfront. Not just on the waterfront, but with paved angled sites for easy back-ins. The location is out in the country, but only 20 minute from all of the big city amenities of Fort Myers.
Watching someone fishing is usually described as exciting as watching paint dry - however, that's not the case here. The backwash from the dam creates a turbulent section of water that seems to draw fish like a magnet, and there are always several campers looking for that trophy fish.
The staff has always been friendly and helpful.
Cdrfred would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Short but lovely stay! Beautiful scenery. ”
Reviewed 6/26/2018
| Nightly rate: | $30 |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 22 |
Overall Rating
We were greeted upon arrival by the two camp hosts who were extremely friendly. The campground was clean and quiet. The sites are gravel and have a covered picnic table, grill and firepit. We had a manatee swim up to our site and the sunsets were stunning. The campground is dog friendly. Bathrooms were small, but clean. If you are a m... more
We were greeted upon arrival by the two camp hosts who were extremely friendly. The campground was clean and quiet. The sites are gravel and have a covered picnic table, grill and firepit. We had a manatee swim up to our site and the sunsets were stunning. The campground is dog friendly. Bathrooms were small, but clean. If you are a mountain biker, the trail head is 2 miles up the road.
NoWorriesAdventures would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Wonderful Place ”
Reviewed 2/21/2018
| Nightly rate: | $15 |
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| Days stayed: | 4 |
| Site Number: | 25 |
| RV Length: | 32' (Class A) |
Overall Rating
Although the sites are small our site faced the river with a long grassy lawn. Our camping neighbors were great and we enjoyed interacting with them. My only complaint is that there is no bench at the laundry room.. it would be nice to be able to sit while your wait. The campground is immaculate and well groomed. A bargin wi... more
Although the sites are small our site faced the river with a long grassy lawn. Our camping neighbors were great and we enjoyed interacting with them. My only complaint is that there is no bench at the laundry room.. it would be nice to be able to sit while your wait.
The campground is immaculate and well groomed.
A bargin with a senior pass.
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T-Mobile 4G
antiquehippies would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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167 reviews
A Dam Fine View at W.P. Franklin Campground – Alva, Florida
A Dam Fine View at W.P. Franklin Campground – Alva, Florida Our Dam View W.P. Franklin Campground Next stop would have us venturing into southwestern Florida to attend Loo...
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February in Florida
After a busy 2 weeks in Orlando, we were ready for some down time. Our next stop was WP Franklin, a COE campground in Alva, outside of Fort Myers. This is a really nice campground that sits on the...
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Amenities
Hookups
- 50 Amp
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- water
- Partial Hookups
Recreation
- boat ramp
- fishing
- playground
- water access
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- dump station
- ADA Accessible
- restrooms: flush
- security
- showers
- trash
- water available
Discount Clubs
- Senior Discounts
Pets
- pets
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