Here are some of the best places to go camping in Texas, plus what makes each one special and how they’re being talked about lately online.

Quick Scoop

  • Texas has everything from desert backcountry to pine forests, rivers, and even coastal camping.
  • The most-loved spots: Hill Country river parks, Big Bend area, Lost Maples, coastal sites like Goose Island, and hidden-gem piney woods parks.
  • Popular online chatter (2023–2025) highlights swimming, fall foliage, dark skies, and avoiding the most crowded parks in peak season.

Iconic “Bucket List” Texas Camping

These are the big, classic destinations people plan whole trips around.

Big Bend area (National Park & Big Bend Ranch)

  • Rugged desert and mountain scenery, some of the darkest night skies in the U.S., and very remote camping.
  • Great for: backpacking, scenic drives, solitude, stargazing, and winter/shoulder-season trips (summers are brutal).

Garner State Park (Frio River)

  • Long-time Texas family tradition spot: clear Frio River for tubing and swimming, Hill Country cliffs, and easy hikes.
  • Nightly summer dances at the park pavilion give it a nostalgic “small-town Texas” vibe that people rave about in trip reports.

Lost Maples State Natural Area

  • Famous for fall color from its maple trees; people time trips just to catch the bright reds and oranges.
  • Mix of developed and primitive sites, with trails that climb to high viewpoints over canyons.

Hill Country Favorites (Rivers, Cliffs, and Stars)

These are classic weekend getaways from Austin/San Antonio.

Guadalupe River State Park

  • Clear river for swimming and tubing, plus miles of hiking, biking, and even horseback riding trails.
  • Has a Discovery Center and even loaner fishing gear, making it very family-friendly.

Inks Lake & nearby Shaffer Bend

  • Inks Lake offers lakeside campsites, swimming, paddling, and classic granite Hill Country scenery.
  • Shaffer Bend Recreation Area nearby is quieter and less crowded, with well-spaced campsites and lake access.

Canyon of the Eagles

  • A “nature-based resort” on Lake Buchanan with camping and glamping, regular star parties, naturalist programs, and kids’ activities.
  • More structured than a state park, good if you want creature comforts and night sky viewing in one place.

Piney Woods & East Texas Gems

Shadier, greener, and cooler-feeling in summer than the desert and plains.

Daingerfield State Park

  • Piney-woods lake setting with water-only tent sites and full hookups; easy lakeside hike plus a steeper trail to the park’s high point.
  • People like it for its “out of the north U.S.” feel in fall, with colorful trees and a cozy forest vibe.

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park

  • Sits on a 9,000+ acre lake, with tall pines and great fall color.
  • Classic camping activities: fishing, paddling, and wooded trails right from camp.

Coastal & Beach Camping

Salt air and sea breezes instead of canyons and cacti.

Goose Island State Park

  • Bayside camping with big live oak trees for shade, good birding, fishing, and boating on the south Texas shoreline.
  • Home of the “Big Tree,” a centuries-old coastal oak that’s a must-see photo stop.

Other coastal options (from state-park roundups)

  • Coastal state parks highlighted in Texas parks guides offer a mix of bayfront or Gulf-side camping, fishing piers, and windy but beautiful tent spots.
  • These fill fast at spring break and on mild-weather weekends, so advance reservations matter.

Easy-Access Lakes & “Close to the City” Spots

Great if you want nature without an ultra-long drive from major metros.

Ray Roberts Lake State Park (near DFW)

  • Big 29,000-acre lake with sandy beaches, wooded areas, and many campsite types starting around budget-friendly nightly rates.
  • Popular for boating, jet skis, and kayaking, with rentals available via the nearby marina.

Buescher State Park & Lake Bastrop area (near Austin)

  • Buescher offers shaded sites, an easy, small-park feel, hiking, paddling, and even geocaching.
  • Lake Bastrop North Shore Park adds “glamping” with air-conditioned Airstreams along with standard tent/RV sites, plus swimming, fishing, volleyball, and more.

Lake Somerville State Park (between Austin & Houston)

  • About 40 miles of trails, plus swimming, fishing, birding, and horseback riding.
  • Good choice for hikers and nature walkers who still want lake access and developed facilities.

What Campers Say on Forums

Online camping communities have been debating “best in Texas” a lot over the last few years.

  • Common asks: “three-day trip, want swimming and hiking, willing to drive anywhere in-state,” which leads to a lot of recommendations for Hill Country rivers and Big Bend area parks.
  • There’s also playful back-and-forth about Texas vs. other states like California, with some joking that the best Texas camping is the airport to fly out west, and others fiercely defending Texas scenery.

“We’re willing to go anywhere in the state, but mainly interested in a nice place to swim and hike.” — typical Texas camping trip post on forums.

HTML Table: Notable Texas Camping Spots

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<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Place</th>
      <th>Region</th>
      <th>Why Go</th>
      <th>Best For</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Big Bend (NP & Ranch)</td>
      <td>Far West Texas desert</td>
      <td>Remote mountains, canyons, top-tier stargazing, rugged trails.[web:1][web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>Backpacking, scenic drives, dark-sky camping.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Garner State Park</td>
      <td>Hill Country (Concan)</td>
      <td>Frio River swimming/tubing, cliff views, summer dances.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Families, river trips, summer weekends.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Guadalupe River State Park</td>
      <td>Hill Country (Spring Branch)</td>
      <td>Clear river, swimming, tubing, miles of trails, Discovery Center.[web:1][web:9]</td>
      <td>Families, first-time campers, paddlers.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Lost Maples SNA</td>
      <td>Hill Country (Vanderpool)</td>
      <td>Famous fall foliage, hilltop overlooks, primitive and developed campsites.[web:3]</td>
      <td>Fall trips, hikers, photographers.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Ray Roberts Lake SP</td>
      <td>North Texas (near DFW)</td>
      <td>Big lake, sandy beaches, many campsite options, water rentals nearby.[web:3]</td>
      <td>Quick DFW getaways, lake weekends.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Daingerfield State Park</td>
      <td>Piney Woods (East Texas)</td>
      <td>Forest lake, easy loop trail, hilltop view, cozy fall colors.[web:3]</td>
      <td>Quiet trips, fall camping, short hikes.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Lake Bob Sandlin SP</td>
      <td>Northeast Texas</td>
      <td>9,000+ acre lake, pines, strong autumn color and lake activities.[web:3]</td>
      <td>Fishing, paddling, leaf-peeping.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Goose Island State Park</td>
      <td>Coastal Bend (Rockport)</td>
      <td>Shady oaks, coastal breeze, birding, boating, “Big Tree” landmark.[web:3][web:9]</td>
      <td>Coastal camping, fishing, birdwatching.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Canyon of the Eagles</td>
      <td>Hill Country (Lake Buchanan)</td>
      <td>Star parties, guided nature programs, glamping-style amenities.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Glamping, dark skies, family programs.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Lake Somerville SP</td>
      <td>Central Texas</td>
      <td>~40 miles of trails, lake access, birding, and horseback riding.[web:1]</td>
      <td>Hikers, equestrians, nature-focused trips.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Planning Tips and Seasonal Notes

  • Reservations: Popular Hill Country and coastal parks book early on spring weekends, holidays, and in fall foliage season at Lost Maples, so reserve as far ahead as you can.
  • Weather: Summers are extremely hot and often crowded; many recent guides encourage early spring, late fall, and winter trips, especially for Big Bend and desert parks.
  • Amenities: Check each park’s current info for fire restrictions, site hookups, and whether they offer gear loans or programs like guided hikes and kids’ activities.

TL;DR: For river fun and classic Hill Country views, start with Garner or Guadalupe River. For epic landscapes and stars, aim for Big Bend. For shade and lakes close to cities, look at Ray Roberts, Lake Somerville, Daingerfield, or Goose Island.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.