Texas offers plenty of places to pitch a tent and enjoy the outdoors. Home to some of the best state parks in the nation, Texas also offers many privately owned campgrounds with amenities and activities. Casual and advanced tent campers should check with local campgrounds for current conditions, rules and permits.
North Texas Campgrounds
In the north Texas region, which includes Dallas/Ft. Worth, stake your tent on the prairie and still be near metropolitan centers. A good example is in Arlington, where the Dallas Metro Kampground of America (KOA) offers grassy tent sites 10 minutes from Six Flags, Cowboys Stadium and Rangers Ballpark. South of Ft. Worth in Glen Rose is Dinosaur Valley State Park. Offering many traditional campsites, the park is home to challenging hiking trails. Go off-trail to find unmarked dinosaur tracks on the Paluxy River.
West Texas and Panhandle Campgrounds
The panhandle region shows off Texas' true western beauty. Palo Duro State Park in Canyon is known as the "Grand Canyon of Texas." To the southwest, few national parks compare to the massive Big Bend National Park with three different campgrounds. Many campsites here do not offer electricity, although water and restrooms are available.
Central Texas Campgrounds
Central Texas features a mix of prairie lands near Waco and hills near Austin. Among the better campgrounds in the area are Fairfield Lake State Park, a woody park on I-45 with several easy trails for hiking and biking. Be sure to watch for a variety of native wildlife. If you want to camp near the lake, make reservations with the park early. Meridian State Park, northwest of Waco on Highway 22, is a hilly, well-maintained park with plenty of full-service and primitive campsites.
East Texas Campgrounds
Much of east Texas includes the Piney Woods region near Athens and Nacogdoches. Tyler is a tourist town, and the area has many fishing sites for pros and amateurs.
Off of Highway 175 in Eustace is Purtis Creek State Park, a tree-filled, hidden gem that features fishing, boating and scenic hiking. Adventurous types even hike away from the regular campground and use primitive tent sites around the lake without water or electricity.
Gulf Coast Campgrounds
The Gulf Coast region includes the Houston and Corpus Christi communities. Beach camping is especially popular, including Mustang Island State Park, which offers fully serviced campsites. Adventurous hikers venture farther out and set up anywhere along the beach. The Padre Island National Seashore offers traditional tent campsites as well as 70 miles of beaches, much of it open to primitive tent camping.
Hill Country Campgrounds
The Hill Country around San Antonio is home to campgrounds that take advantage of the local geography. Kickapoo Cavern State Park in Brackettville offers tent camping within walking distance of several caves, and during the summer, bats can be observed in the park's Stuart Cave. South Llano River State Park in Junction offers camping and tubing all in one place.
Member Comments