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Hiking And Camping In Texas

Kickapoo Cavern State Park

Big Bend National Park in Texas | Hiking, Camping & Canoeing | Rio Grande River

While you are in the San Antonio area, plan a trip to Kickapoo Cavern State Park. The park has more than 20 known caves, and the largest is Kickapoo.

Texas has as much to offer underground as it does above ground. One thing to remember, the cave tours are only offered on Saturdays, so plan accordingly.

Entry to the caves is strictly controlled to protect park visitors and the bats that inhabit the caves. You must make reservations for a tour at this link well in advance of your visit. You will see the fabulous cave formations formed by water millions of years ago.

If caving doesnt excite you, there are miles of hiking and biking trails throughout the park to enjoy. Over 140 species of migrant and native birds can be seen in the park during the year, making this a birdwatchers haven. You can borrow binoculars at the Park Headquarters if you dont bring your own.

An overnight stay at Kickapoo Cavern State Park is a treat allowing you to watch the bats fly from the caves at sunset. The park has ten campsites with water and a small RV park with full hookups.

T& T Tip: Make your reservations early by to ensure your space is available.

Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

Lake Casa Blanca International State Park is a bucket list destination of one of the great Texas State Parks near the border with Mexico. Located in Laredo, Texas, on the shores of Lake Casa Blanca, this is a premier state park in the Texas system.

The border with Mexico is minutes away from the park. Across the border lies Nuevo Laredo, which offers an international flavor to explore. However, you wont have to make that trip to find lots to keep you occupied. Lake Casa Blanca is a mecca for boaters, water skiers, and fishermen.

You can hike and bike around the trails, swim at the beach on the lake or visit the Webb County golf course nearby. The park also features playgrounds, a baseball field, volleyball, and basketball courts. Geocaching in the park has become popular for young and old alike.

Lake Casa Blanca International State Park offers a full-service campground with water and electricity at all campsites. Sewer connections are available at selected campsites as well. If your group is larger, one of the picnic pavilions or a group hall might be a better fit. Make your reservations ahead of time for this popular park by .

Fredericksburg Rv Park Fredericksburg

High-end camping in the Hill Country.

Fredericksburg RV Park is located within the Texas Hill Country town of Fredericksburg.

The park is conveniently situated close to many local attractions and boasts plenty of on-site amenities that are sure to keep campers happy. The facilities here are excellent, including free hot showers, an on-site laundry room, a spacious clubhouse, and delightfully landscaped gardens. And your pets are welcome too!

Theres so much to do here, right on your doorstep! Check out the local farms, including Wildflower Ridge Alpaca Ranch, Warm Winds Trail Rides, and Wildseed Farms. Alternatively, take a stroll around the towns museums and historical sites.

The RV sites here are built to handle the biggest rigs and include full hookups, long, flat back-In or pull-throughs, and large concrete patios. All RV camping sites have 30/50-amp electricity, free cable TV and Wi-Fi, and good cell reception.

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Big Bend Ranch State Park

Image Source: pixabay.com

Big Bench ranch is the largest park in Texas with more than 300,00 acres. It is situated in the remote western part of the state and the United States- Mexico border. This outdoor location is a home of adventure. You can hike, or ride on a horse through 238 miles of copious trails. The presence of the Rio Grande gives access to fishing, floating, and swimming. Hundreds of animals of different species are present in this park.

Davy Crockett National Forest

5 PLACES TO CAMP IN TEXAS THIS SPRING/SUMMER

Spanning Houston and Trinity Counties, the Davy Crockett National Forest is a vast terrain of more than 160,000 acres of East Texas woodlands, meandering streams, pristine wildlife habitat, and recreation areas, east of Crockett. Named for the legendary pioneer, the park is centrally located within the Neches and Trinity River basins and is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area in the park offers primitive camping facilities with pit toilets and showers, as well as picnicking, an interpretive forest trail, a swimming beach and bathhouse, and an amphitheater. Recreational activities include boating, fishing, hiking, and picnicking with panoramic views.

18551 Texas 7, Kennard, TX 75847, Phone: 936-655-2299

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Mustang Island State Park

Mustang Island got its name from the ferocious horses that once prowled the island. This park stretched across Port Aransas to Corpus Christi at 28 km . In this present time, lovers of nature catch waves, fish, mountain bikes, and enjoy the sun at a camp location out of its 100 campsites. In addition to surfing the sea, kayakers can also set out for paddling trails.

Cedar Hill State Park

The rugged limestone hills and beautiful dispersed prairies make Cedar Hill a beautiful spot to escape to. Try out the DORBA Trail, named after the Dallas Off Road Biking Association, for an excellent hiking experience across 1,200 acres. In the area, you will find 30 primitive, hike-in campsites to rest your head after a long day of exploring. Campfires are not permitted in the area and these sites are not near water, so come prepared.

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Grand Texas Rv Resort New Caney

Houston is close to one of the best RV parks in the nation, never mind the state!

Grand Texas RV Resort is situated in New Caney.

If youre looking for a wonderful family vacation resort where everyones guaranteed to have a good time, look no further than the Grand Texas RV Resort in vibrant, hospitable New Caney.

The resort is located right on the highway and is handy for you to get into Houston too. The park has excellent facilities, and theres so much to see and do, your only problem will be deciding where to start!

This is a Good Sam Club-affiliated campground and is complete with a jacuzzi hot tub and brand-new swimming pool. Theres super-fast Wi-Fi, and you can chill out in front of cable TV, too, if you want. Theres a fully-fenced kids playground and a clubhouse where you can grab a coffee, play ping-pong, have a game of billiards, or watch a movie with your family.

Even the family dog is catered for with the fenced dog run where Fido can romp and frolic to his hearts content with his newfound furry friends. Shady picnic sites are scattered around the resort, all of which have grills that are free to use.

Every site is super-spacious and has full, modern hookups, including water, sewer, and enough power for the biggest rigs. Also, theres free garbage pickup, modern showers, and immaculate restrooms.

Where To Camp Nearby: The Paint Gap

Central Texas Camping – Camping, Hiking, and Cooking

For steller access to backcountry trails and unbeatable solitude, The Paint Gap is a favorite primitive campground within Big Bend National Park. There are several sites along the road. Beyond the third site, it is recommended that visitors have four-wheel drive. In addition to camping, check out the town of Terlingua, a former ghost town now revitalized into an artsy, cultural center.

Big bend is an amazing NP. You can find yourself in the park alone surrounded by beautiful views. The parks primitive roadside camping can bring you into remote areas where your only company are the amazing sunsets and serenity of big bend. Paint gap is one of these sites. Ive spent several weeks exploring big bend and although a campground with amenities is occasionally necessary, the primitive sites are where its at! The Dyrt camper Daniel S.

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Goose Island State Park

Woodland and beach camping in one on the Gulf of Mexico coast near the oldest tree in the world.

Goose Island State Park is located just north of the city of Rockport on the Gulf of Mexico coast.

There are several highlights to the park, but the undoubted main attraction is the Big Tree an enormous live oak measuring 35 feet in circumference and 44 feet tall. The tree is thought to be between 1,000 and 2,000 years old, making it in all likelihood the oldest existing live oak tree in the world.

Botanical marvels aside, the island is well worth a visit. 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.

The park has a handful of campsites with drinking water, electricity and sewage hookups, picnic tables, and grills. Theres also a lighted fishing pier, boat ramp, and a kayak/canoe launch.

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park near Pittsburg, Texas, is situated on the beautiful Lake Bob Sandlin. Sixteen hike-in primitive camping sites are available. Just hike between a quarter of a mile and a mile to find the areas. Take note: getting from the camping area to the lake is a bit of a trek, but well-worth it.

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Beautiful Backpack Camping Spots In Texas

Texans are of the earth. Its a fact. When a Texan yearns to get back to mother nature, the only thing thatll do is to have the ground underneath and the stars above. No cabins for you. These are five of the most beautiful backpack camping spots in the entire Lone Star State. Its time to get back to nature.

My Ozark Trail Connectent

Your Guide to Last

My weakness is outdoor gear. When I get home in the evenings I like to peruse YouTube in search of the latest camping or hiking or anything-outdoors gear reviews. So, it should come as no surprise that I have all sorts of gear crammed onto the shelves in my garage. And, because I am a trekking pole junkie, I keep no less than three sets of trekking poles in my pickup truck at all times. Better to be prepared!

I will have my first opportunity to use my new ConnecTent under the big Texas sky when I attend the Llano Earth Art Festival during Spring Break. I have a camp site reserved and cant wait to set up my tent for a fun weekend outdoors. Will write more after the festival in Llano. Until then, happy camping!

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Best State Parks To Camp In Texas

Camping doesnt have the same appeal to everyone. There are avid outdoorsmen who thrive on pitching a tent, spending hours in the sun amongst the bugs, hiking for miles on unbeaten paths, and then trekking back to their campsite, exhausted and sweaty, for a fireside meal. Others enjoy the pleasures of indoor plumbing, internet, air conditioning, and mattresses, stepping away from them to take in the beauty of nature, the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the breeze, and the wonderment that seeing undisturbed wildlife brings.

No matter what kind of adventurer you are, what makes any camping trip worthwhile is the abundance and variety of activities that fill your day before you rest by the fire and turn in for the night. Here are some of the best state parks in Texas to pitch your tent, or simply unpack your bag. With a variety of activities both inside and nearby these state parks, itll make your camping trips some of your fondest vacation memories.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Also known as the Grand Canyon of Texas, Palo Duro Canyon State Park provides campsites with a view. Camping in this Texas Panhandle state park is spread between different areas of Palo Duro Canyon. Campsites with electricity are on both ends of the state park at theand Hackberry Campgrounds. RVs up to 60 feet long can find spaces to park in the Sagebrush and Hackberry Campgrounds.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park also features unique primitive campsites that are only accessible by a half-mile hiking trail. No designated sites exist in this primitive camping area of the park, and overnight visitors pick the spot where they’d like to pitch a tent. Group camping is also available at Palo Duro Canyon, as are cabins. All campsites are close to mile-long views of Palo Duro Canyon.

The canyon is one of the top things to see around Amarillo, just 30 minutes away.

Address: 11450 State Hwy Park Road 5, Canyon, Texas

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Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

Wildflowers galore!

Wildflowers galore is all I can say about Palo Pinto Mountains State Park! It is a gloriously secluded, secret spot on the edge of Texas Hill Country, where the subtle rolling hills and emerging cliffs along the shoreline create an ideal spot for those looking to add a little challenge to their hiking or trail running. This parks potential lies in its ability to become a premier spot for hiking near Dallas, due to the elevation changes and varied terrain.

Texass newest state park is currently only accessible through special events, such as the 5k runcation I attended here in May, but once fully open to the public, this state park is going to shine! Palo Pinto Mountains State Park resides just west of the Dallas area metroplex. Though this park is close enough for an easy day trip from Dallas, it also has roots in some unique small town history in the immediate surrounding area, such as the ghost town at nearby Thurber.

Remnants of the ghost town of Thurber, Texas

Now just a speck of a town, Thurber used to be the largest city between Fort Worth and El Paso. The spine-tingling history of this past industrial center involves a curiously and unknown high infant mortality rate, the base for not one but two controversial religious cults, the ghostly apparitions of a female carnival worker, and the reported hauntings of the Smokestack restaurant.

Some of the best hiking near Dallas overlooking serene Lake Tucker

Civil War To Late 19th Century

Camping and Hiking in the Deep Woods of East Texas

Texas was at war again after the election of 1860. At this time, blacks comprised 30 percent of the state’s population, and they were overwhelmingly enslaved. When Abraham Lincoln was elected, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Five other Deep South states quickly followed. A state convention considering secession opened in Austin on January 28, 1861. On February 1, by a vote of 1668, the convention adopted an Ordinance of Secession from the United States. Texas voters approved this Ordinance on February 23, 1861. Texas joined the newly created Confederate States of America on March 4, 1861, ratifying the permanent C.S. Constitution on March 23.

Not all Texans favored secession initially, although many of the same would later support the Southern cause. Texas’s most notable Unionist was the state Governor, Sam Houston. Not wanting to aggravate the situation, Houston refused two offers from President Lincoln for Union troops to keep him in office. After refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy, Houston was deposed as governor. Around 2,000 Texans served in the Union Army, with a large contingent of recent German immigrants in Texas Hill Country being a Unionist stronghold.

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Four C National Hiking Trail

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Just outside of Crockett, Texas you’ll find the Davey Crockett National Forest and its famous Four C trail. It’s a 20-mile long trail, so you don’t want to head out there without first looking at some trail maps. Named for the Central Coal and Coke Company , the Four C Trail follows along some now disused tramways once used for logging.

Looking For The Best Places To Camp In Texas

Youre in the right place! In this guide, we will be covering the following:

    • 19 of the best campsites in Texas
    • What activities and facilities each of our top Texas campsites offer
    • Local and state park visits to add to your itinerary
    • The best sites for RV, tent, and primitive camping in Texas

Covering almost 300,000 square miles of forest, beaches, deserts, and rivers, Texas is rich in both natural and cultural beauty. Visitors flock here every year to see world-famous landmarks like the Alamo, Space Center, and SeaWorld, but the real fun is in the great 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.

RELATED READING: For more outdoor adventure check out our guides to the best hikes in Texas.

  • 3 Happy Camping!
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    Big Thicket National Preserve Kountze

    A biological wonderland!

    Big Thicket National Preserve is located in the Piney Woods region of the Lone Star State.

    If you love nature, then you absolutely must come to see this magical place! The site sprawls across 112,500 acres of land. It is popular with visitors who enjoy a variety of outdoor pursuits, including mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, and horseback riding.

    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. There are many species of creatures that share the environment here, including reptiles, insects, birds, and 60 mammal species, not to mention hundreds of plants, trees, and grasses.

    Keep an eye out for armadillos, skunks, white-tailed deer, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, and even the occasional black bear!

    There are plenty of primitive campsites to choose from spread out among the cypress-lined bayous and longleaf pine forests. Although you do need a permit to camp or hunt here, theres no charge. Permits can be obtained from the Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center or by calling 951-6700.

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