Caddo Lake State Park is one of the best places to camp in east Texas and is located less than 10 miles from the Louisiana border. Camping in Texas Check In / / Check Out / / Guests 1 room, 2 adults, 0 children Austin Campgrounds Houston Campgrounds Galveston Island Campgrounds Port Aransas Campgrounds Galveston Campgrounds Dallas Campgrounds Port Isabel Campgrounds San Antonio Campgrounds Fredericksburg Campgrounds Corpus Christi Campgrounds If you're a fan of art, be sure to visit the River Walk Public Art Garden for a complete public art experience. Near the center of the park, some of the best hiking trails in Big Bend surround the Chisos Basin Campground. KOA Campgrounds in Texas | Best Camping in Texas With such a wide variety of outstanding options, it is easy to reconnect with nature in Lone Star State on a camping trip. One of the largest national parks in the United States, there are plenty of things to do. If the weather does not cooperate, prepare a meal in the clubhouse while playing board games. Another thing to note: this is another spot where you may see alligators, so brush up on your alligator safety tips if you havent done so recently. Pace Bend Park is on a peninsula tucked into a bend of Lake Travis, which is part of the Colorado River. The state park features over 30 sites with electricity for RV camping. Airstreams, cabooses, tepees, and other unique places to lay your head. Half the sites offer cable TV hookup as well. Lost Maples State Natural Area, Vanderpool, 18. Winter Texans and vacationers alike can take advantage of the following ways to camp at KOA: No matter what type of campground in Texas youre looking for, youll find outstanding customer service and clean, comfortable lodging when you choose to camp at KOA. If your neighbor is doing so, contact a ranger. If you vacation here during the fall and summer months, youre almost guaranteed hot, sunny days, and warm, sultry nights. Camping is one of the best ways to experience the Long Star State's abundance of beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and outdoor adventures. Please note that there are no reservations taken for these campgrounds; first come, first served is the rule. You can learn more about our editorial policies here. Lance Stevens/500px/Getty Images. Several camping options are available in the park. Top 11 Dog-Friendly Campsites in Texas - Wolf Republic The Turkey Sink and Cedar Sage Campgrounds are the biggest of the three and have full electric hookups, flushing restrooms, potable water, and shower facilities. 31 Best Camping Spots in Texas (2023) - Happy To Be Texas Texas is the ideal destination for people who love the outdoors. Prepare a meal on the grills or in the fire rings located near this campgrounds pavilion. Overnight Options Campsites Lodging Group Gatherings For fee information about a specific park, go to the "Fees & Facilities" section of their website. What Are the Top Outdoor Activities in Texas? All sites at Tyler State Park have access to restrooms with showers, and all are a short commute to the shoreline. It is popular with visitors who enjoy a variety of outdoor pursuits, including mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, and horseback riding. From beautiful beaches to historical sites, there's something for everyone in Texas. The 7 Best Camping Spots Near Dallas, Texas - Territory Supply They all have concrete RV pads, a tow parking spot, and a picnic area. Here's a look at our favorite camping digs in the area. Take a stroll under the pines, oaks, and dogwood trees that surround this beautiful campground. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area also features 20 hike-in campsites that require a one to three-mile trek. Cypress swamps define places to camp in East Texas, and rugged mountains offer a scenic backdrop in West Texas. The state park also features two group campgrounds that accommodate up to 40 people. Alongside this spring-fed swimming spot, the Civilian Conservation Corps also constructed the adjacent San Solomon Springs Court. Camping and Lodging Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Colorado Bend State Park is one of the primary outdoor attractions in the state and provides visitors with the perfect blend of outdoor fun activities and mind-blowing views. Botanical marvels aside, the island is well worth a visit. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. Camping Near Houston: 11 Beautiful Parks + Campgrounds There are only 20 improved campsites here and theyre known to get booked quickly, so its in your best interest to make a reservation in advance. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); #mc_embed_signup{background:#000000; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%;} Best Camping In Texas: Top Camp Spots in the Lone Star State Inks Lake State Park. Activities: Outside the fantastic glimpse into ancient history, Hueco Tanks also presents a fantastic landscape to explore. Big Bend National Park encompasses over 800,000 acres. Driving Distance from Downtown Houston 50 minutes. Primitive camping is possible right along the coastline. During the summer months, when the water is low, visitors can explore the dinosaur trackway and spend the night in the campground nearby. Primitive campgrounds start at $10 USD per night and RV campgrounds can vary from $20 USD $80 USD depending on amenities and location. Shorter hikes spread throughout the rest of the state recreation area. Do NOT feed, crowd, follow or approach a bison. Here are the top eleven dog-friendly campsites in Texas: 1. Only $5 per person per day and children under 13 can go for free. The park offers a bounty of water sports along a four-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River. The facilities here are excellent, including free hot showers, an on-site laundry room, a spacious clubhouse, and delightfully landscaped gardens. However, you wouldn't know it by the serene sounds and vistas! Passing around tasty side dishes is always a great way to bring everyone together around the campfire, here's a few of our favorites. It includes the entire Chisos mountain range and a large section of the Chihuahuan Desert. Theres no lack of different ways to go camping in Texas, and youll find a number of accommodation options at KOA. Places like Colorado Bend State Park offer some of the best tent camping in Texas. */, Travelinglifestyle.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Copyright 2023 Traveling Lifestyle Network, LLC. Back in the day, Mineral Wells was a renowned health resort that billed itself as as where America drinks its way to health. These days, you can enjoy the rejuvenating powers of nature at the parks campground, which also has 20 equestrian campsites for anyone who brings their horse along. Each campsite puts visitors in the shadow of the mystical monolith the park is named afterEnchanted Rock. Drive west out of Fort Worth for a couple of hours, and you can get to Possum Kingdom Lake, where theres over 300 miles of shoreline and more than 18,000 acres of clear, blue waters. The Eastern portion of Texas experiences very warm summers with high humidity, the central portion of the state has dry summers and very cold winters, and the remainder of the state is mostly a subtropical climate. But youll be able to narrow things down a bit with this list of the best lake camping destinations in Texas. Mill Creek Ranch Resort is a great place to stay if you are looking for a budget vacation in Texas. One of the most popular places to go for a dip here is Devils Waterhole on the parks northeast end. Rent a boat at this state parks headquarters to enjoy fishing on the 80-acre Little Pine Lake, where the state regularly stocks rainbow trout. Overnight visitors can choose from campsites, screened-in shelters or cabins. 4,000+ Deluxe Cabins and Camping Cabins are camper friendly, even for the novice. You will need to carry your gear a short distance to these walk-in sites. When you stay at this park, check out the many astronomy events as this park is part of the International Dark Sky program. Situated just 10 miles from the border with Louisiana, Caddo Lake State Park is a far cry from the desert landscapes found elsewhere in the state. All sites are near flushing restroom facilities and are a short walk to the spring-fed swimming pool. Theres super-fast Wi-Fi, and you can chill out in front of cable TV, too, if you want. Camping in Austin, TX, US: 12 Best Campgrounds 2023 | Hipcamp Airline Has Dropped A Big Fall & Winter Pass Sale For Only $299, New Report Sheds Light On The Thriving Global Ecotourism Industry, This New 2-Hour Cable Car Ride Is The First To Enable Travel Between Two Countries, 3 Of Americas Finest Glamping Spots For Summer 2023, U.S. The campsites at Franklin Mountains State Park accommodate up to eight people. Amenities and facilities in the park include over 150 campsites with drinking water, electric and sewage hookups, restrooms, and group pavilions. One of the most unique state parks is the Dinosaur Valley State Park, where you'll find dinosaur footprints. Reservations accepted: Yes Best season: Spring, summer, fall Campsite type: Tents, RVs RV hookups: Yes Campsite type: Tents, RV's. Note that the primitive sites are walk-in tent sites and accessible only via a 1.58-mile hike. The hike-in and drive-up sites all have water nearby but no hookups. And your pets are welcome too! See the TPWD Nondiscrimination Policy. Shady picnic sites are scattered around the resort, all of which have grills that are free to use. These lodging options come with beds, electricity and often many other features, such as patios, porches fire pits and more. Share your camping experiences, stories, photos and videos! Anyone who plans a trip here in the autumn will get the chance to see some beautiful fall foliage as the parks trees change color. While all campsites have their unique differences, each place to camp shares the same spectacular Texas sunsets and sunrises. Have a free weekend and want to get out of town? All have easy access to amenities like restrooms, hot showers, flushing toilets, and also a playground for the kids, and a park store. Visitors come to Lost Maples during the fall, when the glowing colors of the turning leaves are especially vibrant and you can almost smell the seasons changing. The state park is home to three campgrounds, which between them boast just under 100 campsites. KOA Care Camps Big Weekend and KOA Rewards Weekend. Campers at Wagon Ford Campground have access to restrooms but no showers. Water sports fans can also enjoy no-wake boating, fishing, and swimming on Lake Theo. Want to hike? One of the largest reservoirs in the country, Lake Texoma stretches across the Texas-Oklahoma border. Goose Island State Park is located just north of the city of Rockport on the Gulf of Mexico coast. The seashore extends for almost 70 miles, separating the Laguna Madre from the Gulf of Mexico by an expanse of wild dunes, prairies, and coastline. TPWD complies with Federal civil rights laws and is committed to providing its programs and services without discrimination. When not writing, reading, or eating, you can probably find her making an itinerary for her next adventure or dreaming about pizza. Cabin amenities: 2 rooms, sleeping space for 6, electricity Price: $70-$80 Odetah Camping Resort Almost every Texas State Park offers camping and lodging options, so you won't have a hard time finding a place to pitch your tent, lodge in a cabin, or park your RV. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. Located on the shores of Lake Texoma, near Dennison, Texas, there are many ways to enjoy a visit to this state park. 15 Family Fun Places to Camp in Texas | Nature Rocks San Antonio Texas Hotels Texas Pet Friendly Campgrounds Texas Pet Friendly Campgrounds Enter dates to find the best prices Check In / / Check Out / / Guests View map Popular Pool 143 & up 256 Luxury 4 Property types Campgrounds 301 Amenities Pet friendly Free Wifi 183 Breakfast included 6 Pool 143 Show all Traveler rating 49 & up 256 & up 299 RVs up to 60 feet long can find spaces to park in the Sagebrush and Hackberry Campgrounds. Exploring the Outdoors in Texas: For some underground adventures in the Lone Star State, our guide to the top caverns in Texas feature guided tours and breathtaking speleothems. Mill Creek is a stunningly gorgeous area where you can really lose yourself in. Discover the best river, stream, or creek campgrounds in Texas Here, you can enjoy scenic hiking along 10 miles of trails, fishing and swimming in the river, geocaching, birding, and stargazing without the interference of urban light pollution. Big Bend National Park Nearby RV Rentals Nearby Activities Located in West Texas, Big Bend National Park offers expansive views of mountains, canyons, and ancient limestone. There are picnic sites along the beach, and youll also enjoy free Wi-Fi, weather permitting. Many were formed by the building of dams along rivers for flood control and drought management. Dont worry, you wont find any T-Rex or velociraptors waiting outside your tent in the morning, but you will find plenty of their contemporaries footprints in the limestone embankments of the Paluxy River. Looking for all the amenities? He is currently working towards qualifying as a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader. Address: 1629 Park Rd 59, Glen Rose, Texas. Graford, TX Connecting Families with Nature our 188 acre ranch is a wildlife retreat featuring a 40 foot deep lake called Lake Godstone and two fishing ponds. Permits can be obtained from the Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center or by calling (409) 951-6700. (512) 389-4800 or (800) 792-1112, TPW Foundation OfficialNon-Profit Partner. Hiking, biking, basketball, bird watching, board games, novels, and much more are just a few of the activities that will make for a memorable holiday. On the Texas Coast, Padre Island National Seashore protects the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. Your email address will not be published. The 20-mile Four C National Recreation Trail originates at Ratcliff Lake and ends at the Neches Bluff Overlook. Cool off with a dip in the heated outdoor pool from Memorial Day to Labor Day or relax in the adult-only spa. A must for any list of the best Texas camping spots. Unique features of a few include spring-fed swimming pools, wild rivers, and ancient caverns. The resort is located right on the highway and is handy for you to get into Houston too. Get affordable RV coverage, top-notch service, and peace of mind for your journey ahead. For a larger experience, the Big Bend National Park has over 800,000 acres of mountains and desert. You can check availability and make reservations online. Before you go, get some minimalist hiking shoes for perfect comfort & performance! Family owned and operated for over 50 years, Zubers takes pride in remaining a family oriented and fun place to vacation. Tent-only sites can also be found at the Cactus or Fortress Cliff areas, where youll have access to water but no showers. Caddo Lake State Park. Also, theres free garbage pickup, modern showers, and immaculate restrooms. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area offers a special place to camp 20 miles north of the city of Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country. Since the water level stays pretty consistent year-round, this state park has ample opportunity for water recreation. 2. Consider going on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive for amazing views of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape or get an up-close look by hiking the Window Trail or Lost Mine Trail. If canoeing, tubing, swimming, and/or fishing in stunning locations is your thing, this is the place to be. Campsites require a two-night stay on the weekends (Friday and Saturday). Most visitors take advantage of the ample beach camping available at Padre Island. Ray Roberts Lake State Park is situated on a 3,000 . Oak Forest offers accommodations for motor homes, 5th wheels, and travel trailers. Great places to camp can be found in every corner of the state. Its home to shaded forests, sandy beaches, and each year over 60,000 campers flock there to enjoy boating, swimming, birding, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife watching. Written by: Kieran James Cunningham | Reviewed by: Last Update: May 18, 2023 Where to camp: Drive-up Primitive Campsites 35 - 47. Lost Maples State Natural Area is located in Vanderpool in the Hill Country, just two hours northwest of San Antonio. These 12 outdoor destinations in Texas prove just how stunning, rugged, and adventurous the Lone Star State truly is. Each site has a picnic table making it easy to enjoy meals prepared in the fire rings or on the waist-high grills that you find at many sites. Related Read: 7 Epic Places to Go Glamping Near San Antonio, Texas. The 81 campsites each have water and electricity. An exercise room, horseshoe pit, and game room provide plenty of places to relax. If you love nature, then you absolutely must come to see this magical place! Choose from lakeside cabins, lakeside a-frames, screen shelters, group campsites, backpacking campsites and walk-in campsites. Bring along your all-terrain vehicle or your dirt bike to enjoy the backcountry wilderness. The Rio Grande Village Campground is the largest tent campground at Big Bend National Park and has over 100 sites close to the river. Once you get to Padre Island, be ready to relax and enjoy the best camping in Texas. Like boating? This state park offers water-only tent sites, or you can reserve one of their full-hookup sites with many pull-through options available. Other attractions included the nearby Fort Davis National Historic Site and the Indian Lodge, a full-service adobe hotel. Riverfront Resort Glamping "Safari for the Soul" Riverfront Resort Glamping "Safari for the Soul" - Spicewood View on Airbnb Only a short drive from Austin, this safari tent offers you a chance to appreciate the outdoors. Whether you want to relax at a luxury RV campground with every modern convenience or prefer the idea of getting back to nature under canvas on a primitive campsite near the beach, the Lone Star State has what you need for the perfect camping vacation.In this guide to the best camping in Texas, well run you through our favorite 19 Lone Star State campgrounds so you can make the most of your time here. To make your fishing adventures even easier, there are boat ramps, fish cleaning stations, and a fishing pier. You can swim, go boating, water ski, fish, and scuba dive. I'm from Slovakia but living between the World & Barcelona. The park also features boat rentals to access the water. This includes the Rio Grande Village RV Campground, which features 25 full hook-up sites. Why you should camp here: Peninsula park in the Highland Lakes region with limestone cliffs and designated swimming coves. There are multiple hike-in sights. This area is special for its enchanting, twisting landscape of bayous and sloughs, which is beautiful to explore by canoe or kayak. Other popular natural attractions at Tyler State Park include multi-use trails, massive trees, and several places to park an RV or pitch a tent. These include rustic cabins, full-service campsites, RV sites, and group sites. When you choose KOA for places to camp in Texas, you'll find fun opportunities to take the whole family will love. Camping on public land is illegal in Texas. Just an hour outside of Austin, Inks Lake State Park is known for its beautiful blue water and rocky outcroppings. Keep an eye out for armadillos, skunks, white-tailed deer, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, and even the occasional black bear! Theres no better way to go camping in Texas than at a KOA campground. The largest state park is the Big Bend Ranch State Park. 1. Nature lovers will marvel at the wildlife and the towering rock walls that frame the tranquil Sabinal River. All campers at Ratcliff Lake have easy access to swimming areas and hiking trails and are also near shower facilities. Learn more. Known for its waterfalls and swimming holes, McKinney Falls State Park is located very close to central Austin, allowing you an escape to nature even within the city limits. Sites cost $18 per night at the time of writing, plus the daily $10 entrance fee per person. Palo Duro might not be as deep as its larger sibling to the west, but its colored strata of cliffs and rock formations give the same sense of the interminable workings of geological time. The Gorman Falls Trail is one of the most well-traversed trails in the park. Campers looking to pitch a tent at North Beach, South Beach, and Yarborough Pass need to obtain a free permit before spending the night. The canyon is a floodplain, so if you plan a hike down 800 feet to the bottom, make sure to check the weather. Southern California is so full of diverse landscapes that theres something to please even the pickiest camper in your crew. Walk-in Primitive Campsites 1 - 29. Enjoy the view of Caddo Lake or try your hand at fly-fishing or cast fishing for crappie, smallmouth bass, and catfish. This campground offers many outstanding places to cuddle up with a good book, so bring some old ones along to participate in their book exchange program. Many of them are surrounded by lush vegetation, whereas some of them feature a paver patio, a pond-view patio, a fire pit, a palapa, a pergola, or a grill. McKinney Falls State Park. In September 2023, 7 Great Weekend Getaways In Kentucky For Summer 2023, This U.S. Take a dip in the pool located inside one of the oldest buildings on this ranch. Sign up for Weekend Wanderer and join thousands of readers getting epic travel ideas weekly. A few other popular attractions are the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Dallas World Aquarium, Space Center Houston, Padre Island National Seashore, Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, and Moody Gardens and Aquarium. For the most part, these months avoid Texas's hottest and coldest temperatures and the heaviest rainfall. An hour drive southwest of the city, dinosaurs left their tracks in the limestone bed of the Paluxy River here. Ray Roberts Lake State Park. The nearby Guadalupe River State Park features an excellent RV park close to Austin. THE 10 BEST Texas Pet Friendly Campgrounds of 2023 (with Prices Campsites at Guadalupe River State Park are split between three campgrounds. All RV camping sites have 30/50-amp electricity, free cable TV and Wi-Fi, and good cell reception. The campsites at Bird Island Basin are completely primitive and have only chemical toilets available. Find it here, Hundreds of KOA campground job opportunities for those who love the RV camping life, Information and education on camping at KOA with an electric vehicle (EV). Dino footprints aside, Dinosaur Valley State Park is well worth visiting. Updated April 28, 2022. The area is known as the biological crossroads of North America, being a transitional zone where deciduous forests, pine savannas, swamps, plains, and sandhills meet. The numerous primitive camping spots, some of which offer easy access to the lake, are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Padre Island National Seashore is located in Corpus Christi on the Gulf Coast. Make sure you check out Bird Island Basin for beautiful views and a quiet night. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is located just outside of Llano in the central portion of the state and is home to the second largest monolith in the US: Enchanted Rock. The three other campgrounds in Big Bend cater to tent camping and dry RV camping. The good news for campers is that there are many beautiful places to stop and camp for a day or two. These walk-in campsites have immediate access to the Bald Cypress Trail and the adjacent Guadalupe River. Inks Lake State Park also features nine primitive campsites that are only accessible by a 1.5-mile hiking trail. The state park also features screened shelters to spend the night. Visitors have several opportunities to primitive camp within this vast expanse of canyon landscapes. Cabin Camping in Texas | Cabin Rentals in Texas - Jellystone Park Mountain biking, birding, fishing, nature watching, camping, backpacking, and you-name-it can be done in Big Bend. Follow her adventures on Instagram @cindybrz. As the parks name implies, the main attraction here is of the Jurassic variety. The Franklin Mountains State Park campsites are in the Tom Mays Unit of the park, approximately a 20-minute drive from El Paso. Big Thicket National Preserve, Kountze, 5. In this guide, well give you the lowdown on nineteen of the best campgrounds in Texas. The My Open Country name is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Best Camping Destinations In Texas: Our Top 19 Picks, 2. The park has excellent facilities, and theres so much to see and do, your only problem will be deciding where to start! Hikers and cyclists are strongly encouraged to travel with a gallon of water wherever they go. Youll find at each of our locations a staff thats focused on customer service, as well as convenient features like laundry facilities, clean bathrooms with hot water and even playgrounds for the kids. This state natural area features 35 tent-only sites with access to water. The park extends for 114 miles along the Rio Grande and offers visitors the best primitive and roadside camping options in the entire state of Texas. Palo Duro Canyon is one of the largest canyon habitats in the continental United States. This makes Inks Lake State Park one of the most popular for Texas Hill Country RV camping. Address: 2236 Park Hill Drive, Bend, Texas. Texas Hill Country is also home to many of the best caverns in the state. A 64-acre lake is the centerpiece attraction of this popular state park in east Texas, located in Tyler, also known as the Rose Capital of Texas, one hundred miles east of Dallas. Required fields are marked *. The activities available are numerous, including bird and nature watching, mountain biking, and geocaching, as well as boating, swimming, fishing, and paddling on the 210-acre Lake Raven. Another popular attraction is the San Antonio Riverwalk, also known as Paseo del Rio. There is no water available at the sites, and theres only a primitive toilet available on the trail. Every site is super-spacious and has full, modern hookups, including water, sewer, and enough power for the biggest rigs. Theres a nice sandy swimming beach within the park and even scuba diving sites around the lake. Related Read: 10 Unforgettable Glamping Spots Near Dallas, TX. 11 Stunning State Parks Near Houston For overnight stays, Brazos Bend State Park has dozens of full hookup sites for RVs, tent sites, and primitive camping areas. Canoeing at Caddo Lake State Park. Here, you can enjoy lots of fun activities, including boating, swimming, hiking, geocaching, birding, and more. 19 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Texas, 20 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Houston, 15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Austin, TX, Saltwater vs. Freshwater Trout Fishing in Texas & 9 Hot Spots, 4 Top Places for Deep Sea Fishing in Texas, Texas in Pictures: 15 Beautiful Places to Photograph, 14 Top-Rated Things to Do in Texas in Winter, 15 Top-Rated Things to Do in Abilene, Texas, From Queenstown to Wanaka: 4 Best Ways to Get There, 24 Best Places to Visit in the United States, 21 Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts in the World, campsite reservations at most state parks, Big Bend National Park provides great camping options, Best Places to Stay near Big Bend National Park, Top-Rated Things to Do in Big Bend National Park, Top-Rated Things to Do on South Padre Island, TX.