Great Camping Spots in Texas

Living in the Lonestar State means that you have many options when it comes to where to go RVing. From the Woodlands of East Texas to the Hill Country there are so many different kinds of landscape in Texas that you don’t have to leave the state to feel like you’ve traveled the country.

Traveling in Texas can give you many sites and help your travel budget by not having you drive four states over. The problem is, you might not know where some of the great Texas camping spots are. I found a great list of the top ten camping gems in Texas from campinggems.com to help you find that perfect camping destination.

Bastrop State Park
Home of the famous Lost Pines, this park offers hiking and boating near a mysterious group of loblolly pines. No one understands why this isolated forest should exist here, about eighty miles west of the East Texas piney woods. This forest is an amazing place to explore by foot (on the Independence Trail), horseback, or car.

Houston Forbidden Gardens
As you stroll through this garden, you’ll learn about Chinese history, culture, and landmarks. Current exhibits include The Forbidden City, The Tomb of Emperor Qin, and The Lodge for Calming the Heart. In the planning stages are the Temple of Heaven, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Multicolored Ponds, Beihai Park in Beijing, and the Emperor’s Dining Room. (23500 Franz Road, 281-347-8000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 281-347-8000 end_of_the_skype_highlighting)

Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Said to have the very best fishing in the state, this 114,000-acre reservoir has excellent largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish fishing. This is also a great place to go boating, hiking, or to enjoy a picnic.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Refuge
Visit Fossil Rim, just 1.5 hours from Dallas-Fort Worth, and see wild animals living in their near natural habitat. The 1700 acres of open space lets you view with deer, rhinos, giraffes and other wildlife as you drive your own vehicle through the 9 1⁄2 mile tour.

Enchanted Rock
Explore this bizarre dome of pink granite by hiking to its very top. Visitors can enjoy primitive backpacking, camping, hiking, technical and rock climbing, picnicking, geological study, bird watching, and star gazing. (North of Fredericksburg)

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Laguna Atascosa NWR is the largest protected area of natural habitat left in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, an oasis for wildlife with few alternatives. Here you can hike, enjoy the visitor’s center and museum, or just take a lazy 16-mile bay-side drive, watching for ocelots, alligators, tortoises, and spoonbills.

Castroville
Stroll through a historic little town that’s dubbed itself “The Little Alsace of Texas” after the Alsace region of France. The town folks have kept the region’s language, customs, and foods alive. In addition to a walking tour, they also offer great antique shops, unique little boutiques, and restaurants, like the Alsatian Restaurant and Sammy’s Restaurant, both of which specialize in their native Alsatian foods.

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
Head to beautiful Texas Hill Country for a hike on the trails at this lovely wilderness preserve. You’ll hike through woodland, grassland, and streamside habitats as you watch for birds and other wildlife. (805 N Capital of Texas Highway, 512-327-7622 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 512-327-7622 end_of_the_skype_highlighting)

Amistad National Recreation Area
The recreation area, which includes the Amistad Reservoir, is known for excellent water-based recreation. Head here for water sports like fishing, canoeing, water skiing, and wind surfing. The lake is surrounded by a landscape rich in prehistoric rock art, a vibrant border culture, along with a wide variety of plant and animal life.

Natural Bridge Caverns
You can see the amazing cave formations on a North Cavern Tour, explore the Jaremy Room on a flashlight tour, or pan for precious stones. If you’re looking for a thrill, take the Watchtower Challenge, scaling towers and sliding down zip lines. The caverns offer plenty of climbing, crawling, rappelling, and exploring in a mysterious underground environment.