Where to Camp in Texas — 25 Campgrounds Worth the Drive

Texas has more public campgrounds than most people realize. Between 89 state parks, two national parks, dozens of Army Corps lakes and thousands of acres of open shoreline, you can camp every weekend for years without repeating a spot.

Here are 25 campgrounds worth your time, organized by region.

Hill Country

The best camping in Texas if you want clear rivers, swimming holes and fall foliage. Book early — Hill Country parks sell out fast.

1. Garner State Park — Concan

The most popular state park in Texas for a reason. The Frio River runs cold and clear through the park. Tube the river during the day, hit the dance terrace at night. RV sites have water and electric. Tent sites sit along the riverbank.

• Sites: 340+ (RV and tent)
• Hookups: Water/electric on most RV sites
• Book: 6 months out. Summer weekends sell out in minutes.
• Drive from DFW: 5 hours

2. Pedernales Falls State Park — Johnson City

A canyon carved by the Pedernales River. The falls area is a massive limestone shelf where water cascades into pools. Great swimming when water levels cooperate. Camping is above the canyon with shaded sites.

• Sites: 69 (mix of RV and tent)
• Hookups: Water/electric
• Drive from DFW: 3.5 hours

3. Colorado Bend State Park — Bend

One of the most underrated parks in the state. Gorman Falls is a 70-foot spring-fed waterfall with travertine formations. Wild cave tours if you’re into that. Primitive camping only — no hookups, no flush toilets at most sites.

• Sites: 37 (tent and walk-in)
• Hookups: None
• Drive from DFW: 3 hours

4. Inks Lake State Park — Burnet

The only Highland Lakes park where the water level stays constant. Swimming, kayaking, cliff jumping off Devil’s Waterhole. RV sites with hookups overlook the lake.

• Sites: 200+
• Hookups: Water/electric, some full hookup
• Drive from DFW: 3 hours

North Texas / DFW Area

Close to home for DFW campers. These parks work for Friday-after-work departures.

5. Dinosaur Valley State Park — Glen Rose

Walk in actual dinosaur tracks preserved in the Paluxy River. The river is swimmable in summer. Excellent mountain biking trails. Full hookup RV sites. An hour south of Fort Worth.

• Sites: 46
• Hookups: Water/electric, some full
• Drive from DFW: 1.5 hours

6. Meridian State Park — Meridian

Small, quiet park on a spring-fed lake. Good fishing, easy hiking and the least crowded state park within 2 hours of DFW. Screech owls at night.

• Sites: 20
• Hookups: Water/electric
• Drive from DFW: 1.5 hours

7. Eisenhower State Park — Denison

On the south shore of Lake Texoma. Tall bluffs, rocky shoreline and decent fishing. Some campsites sit right on the cliff edge above the water.

• Sites: 95
• Hookups: Water/electric, some full
• Drive from DFW: 1.5 hours

8. Mineral Wells State Park — Mineral Wells

Rock climbing, rappelling and Lake Mineral Wells for paddling. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the stone structures in the 1930s. Shaded tent sites on the lakeshore.

• Sites: 80+
• Hookups: Water/electric
• Drive from DFW: 1 hour

West Texas / Big Bend

The most dramatic scenery in Texas. Plan for long drives and limited services.

9. Big Bend National Park — Brewster County

Texas’s only major national park. Desert mountains, the Rio Grande canyon, hot springs and dark sky stargazing that’ll ruin every other night sky for you. Chisos Basin campground has RV access (generators allowed, no hookups). Rio Grande Village has partial hookups.

• Sites: 200+ across multiple campgrounds
• Hookups: Partial at Rio Grande Village only
• Drive from DFW: 8 hours

10. Big Bend Ranch State Park — Presidio

The largest state park in Texas. 300,000+ acres of raw Chihuahuan Desert. Fewer crowds than the national park next door. Primitive camping — bring everything you need including water.

• Sites: Dispersed and designated primitive
• Hookups: None
• Drive from DFW: 8 hours

11. Davis Mountains State Park — Fort Davis

Cooler temperatures than the surrounding desert thanks to elevation (5,000+ ft). Connects to the Indian Lodge hotel if primitive camping isn’t your thing. The McDonald Observatory is 15 minutes away for star parties.

• Sites: 94
• Hookups: Water/electric
• Drive from DFW: 7 hours

12. Guadalupe Mountains National Park — Salt Flat

Texas’s highest point (Guadalupe Peak, 8,751 ft). Fall colors in McKittrick Canyon rival anything in the eastern US. Tent camping only — no RV sites in the park. The closest RV parks are in Carlsbad, NM (45 min).

• Sites: 39 (tent only)
• Hookups: None
• Drive from DFW: 7.5 hours

Gulf Coast

Beach camping, fishing and warm winters. Best from October through April — summer means mosquitoes and brutal humidity.

13. Galveston Island State Park — Galveston

Bay side has calm water for kayaking and birding. Beach side has surf fishing and sand. Both sides have RV sites with hookups. The mosquitoes in summer are legendary — bring serious repellent.

• Sites: 170
• Hookups: Water/electric, some full
• Drive from DFW: 5 hours

14. Mustang Island State Park — Port Aransas

Five miles of Gulf beach. Drive your RV right onto the beach at some primitive sites. Developed campground has hookups and hot showers. Best surf fishing on the Texas coast.

• Sites: 48 developed + beach primitive
• Hookups: Water/electric at developed sites
• Drive from DFW: 6 hours

15. Padre Island National Seashore — Corpus Christi

The longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. Malaquite campground near the visitor center has paved sites. South Beach is 60 miles of open sand for primitive camping — 4WD recommended past the first 5 miles.

• Sites: 42 developed + unlimited beach
• Hookups: None (dump station available)
• Drive from DFW: 6 hours

16. Goose Island State Park — Rockport

Famous for the Big Tree — a 1,000+ year old live oak. Waterfront RV sites on Aransas Bay. Great fishing and birding (whooping cranes winter here). Some of the best RV sites on the Texas coast.

• Sites: 102
• Hookups: Water/electric, some full
• Drive from DFW: 5.5 hours

East Texas / Piney Woods

Tall pines, lakes and a completely different feel from the rest of Texas. Cooler summers than Central and West Texas.

17. Huntsville State Park — Huntsville

Lake Raven with excellent swimming, fishing and paddling. Tall pine forests for shade. Full hookup RV sites. One of the best family campgrounds in the state.

• Sites: 165
• Hookups: Water/electric, some full
• Drive from DFW: 3 hours
• Drive from Houston: 1 hour

18. Caddo Lake State Park — Karnack

The only natural lake in Texas. Bald cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. Feels like Louisiana. Rent a canoe and paddle the maze of bayous and sloughs. Cabins available if tent camping in mosquito country sounds terrible.

• Sites: 46
• Hookups: Water/electric
• Drive from DFW: 3 hours

19. Martin Dies Jr. State Park — Jasper

On the B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir in the Big Thicket. Old-growth forest, alligators and serious bass fishing. Two separate camping areas — Hen House Ridge and Walnut Ridge.

• Sites: 186
• Hookups: Water/electric, some full
• Drive from DFW: 4.5 hours

Panhandle / West

20. Palo Duro Canyon State Park — Canyon

The second-largest canyon in the US. The drive down into the canyon floor is something else. Hiking, mountain biking and the outdoor musical “Texas” in summer. RV sites with hookups in the canyon.

• Sites: 62
• Hookups: Water/electric
• Drive from DFW: 5.5 hours

21. Caprock Canyons State Park — Quitaque

Bison herd roaming free in the park. Red rock canyons and the old railroad tunnel (1/3 mile long, walk through it). Less crowded than Palo Duro with similar scenery.

• Sites: 44
• Hookups: Water/electric
• Drive from DFW: 5 hours

Central Texas

22. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area — Fredericksburg

A massive pink granite dome. The hike to the top is a mile round trip with 360-degree Hill Country views. Walk-in tent camping only (no RVs in the park). Day-use reservations required on weekends.

• Sites: 60 (walk-in tent only)
• Hookups: None
• Drive from DFW: 4 hours

23. Lake Whitney State Park — Whitney

On the shores of Lake Whitney. Good swimming beach, fishing and boating. Close to DFW with full hookup sites. Underrated and usually has availability when other parks are booked.

• Sites: 68
• Hookups: Water/electric, some full
• Drive from DFW: 1.5 hours

San Antonio Area

24. Government Canyon State Natural Area — San Antonio

Hill Country hiking on the edge of the city. 40+ miles of trails through oak and juniper woodland. Primitive camping only — this is a hike-in park, not a drive-up campground.

• Sites: 4 backcountry sites
• Hookups: None
• Drive from DFW: 4.5 hours

25. Guadalupe River State Park — Spring Branch

Cypress-lined riverbanks on the Guadalupe River. Tubing, swimming and fly fishing. RV sites with hookups in the upland area. The river sites are tent-only and worth the walk.

• Sites: 85
• Hookups: Water/electric
• Drive from DFW: 4 hours

Tips for Booking Texas State Parks

Texas state parks open reservations 6 months in advance on a rolling basis. Popular parks like Garner, Enchanted Rock and Palo Duro sell out the day reservations open.

How to get a site:

• Mark your calendar 6 months out from your target date
• Log into the Texas Parks & Wildlife reservation site at 8:00 AM Central
• Have your dates and preferred site numbers ready
• Book the moment the window opens

Texas State Parks Pass ($70/year) waives the daily entrance fee ($5-7/person) for everyone in your vehicle. Pays for itself in 3-4 visits.

Midweek camping is the cheat code. Most parks have availability Tuesday through Thursday even during peak season. Same sites, same views, fewer neighbors.

Related Guides

• Best RV Parks Near Dallas-Fort Worth
• Texas State Parks RV Camping
• RV Storage in DFW
• How to Level a Travel Trailer