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Covering 268,597 square miles, Texas is so large and diverse that it encompasses seven natural regions—the Gulf Coast, Pineywoods, Prairies and Lakes, Hill Country, South Texas Plains, Panhandle Plains, and Big Bend Country. Camping is the best way to snag a front-row seat to the state’s biggest natural attractions. From the rugged desert terrain of Big Bend to the lush cypress swamps of the Pineywoods of East Texas, each region has unique attractions and ecosystems to explore. From hike-in primitive sites to full RV hookups, there’s a campsite for every type of traveler. Want to bring your horse? Many state parks and natural areas even have equestrian sites.
Climb the tallest peak in Texas, take a dip in the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool, and stargaze at International Dark Sky Parks. Don’t forget to book ahead—campsites go quickly in peak seasons, especially during holidays and school breaks. Here are some of the best Texas camping escapes for your next vacation or weekend getaway.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
image by WMay/Getty
The Texas Panhandle is home to the second-largest canyon in the country, Palo Duro Canyon. Explore the rugged landscape on 30 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Keep an eye out for hoodoos, large rocks balanced on top of thin rock spires. Don’t feel like roughing it? Snag one of the glamping sites complete with air conditioning, microwaves, and covered porches.
Padre Island National Seashore
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Wake up on the beach to the sound of waves at Padre Island National Seashore, a narrow barrier island with 66 miles of pristine coastline. (Don’t confuse this natural area with the crowded resort town of South Padre located 100 miles south.) One of the highlights of every visit is driving on the beach—a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle is needed to reach most destinations. Plan your visit to align with one of the sea turtle hatchling releases that take place between mid-June and August. Camping is first-come, first-serve year-round.
Lost Maples State Natural Area
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This prime fall leaf-peeping destination is famous for a stand of orange-hued Uvalde bigtooth maples located along the park’s East Trail. While the fall foliage is spectacular, the entire area along the banks of the Sabinal River is scenic year-round with 2,174 acres of grasslands and steep limestone canyons perfect for hiking, fishing, and stargazing. Birders will love a chance to see rare green kingfishers year-round.
Pedernales Falls State Park
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Located only 30 west of Austin, this riverfront Hill Country haven feels much more remote. The Pedernales River, pronounced “peder-nah-les,” winds through 5,212 acres of a former ranch and provides ample opportunities for swimming, paddling and tubing. Explore the ten trails on foot, mountain bike, or horseback. The 5.5-mile Wolf Mountain Loop offers scenic views. Solitude seekers should opt for primitive campsites that require a minimum two-mile hike.
Big Bend National Park
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The Lone Star state’s oldest national park is an outdoor adventure paradise with over 200 miles of hiking trails and 250 miles of roads (100 paved and 150 unpaved) to explore. The southern border of the park abuts the Rio Grande River for 118 miles offering a plethora of opportunities for rafting, canoeing and kayaking. March is typically wildflower season—bluebonnets, the Texas state flower, carpet the roadsides. Advance planning is a must for campers—the park’s four developed campgrounds often sell out from February to April.
Caddo Lake State Park
copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (Earl Nottingham)
Paddle through a spiderweb of bayous, sloughs, and ponds lined with bald cypress trees draped with Spanish moss at this East Texas hideaway. The 26,810-acre lake boasts over 50 miles of paddling trails and is home to over 70 species of fish. (A fishing license isn’t required in state parks to fish from shore.) Snag one of their 46 campsites or ten historic cabins. Opt for one of the Mill Pond Camping Area sites, which are closest to the water.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
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Hugging the border with New Mexico, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a true wilderness park and hiker’s wonderland. The park is home to eight of the ten highest mountains in Texas and not a single paved road. The trek to top the 8,751-foot Guadalupe Peak, the state’s tallest mountain, is the biggest draw. If you’re looking for a place to unplug, there’s no better spot than the park’s three developed campgrounds—only one (Frijole Horse Corral Campground) has cell reception and none have showers. The nearest shower is in Whites City, New Mexico, 31 miles away.
Dinosaur Valley State Park
provided to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Walk in the steps of dinosaurs at this 1,587-acre park near Fort Worth. Two types of dinosaurs— Acrocanthosaurus and Sauroposeidon proteles—left tracks in the mud along the edge of an ancient ocean. There are five track site areas on the bed of the Paluxy River spread throughout the park and visibility is usually best when water levels are lower in late summer. Stop by the park headquarters to pose for a photo with two fiberglass dinosaurs—a 70-foot-tall apatosaurus and a 45-foot-tall tyrannosaurus rex, former attractions from the 1964-65 New York’s World’s Fair.
Balmorhea State Park
copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (Earl Nottingham)
The star attraction of this high desert oasis is the crystal-clear waters of the world’s largest spring-fed swimming hole. The 1.3-acre pool is perfect for snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming. This isn’t just a summer respite—the water temperature ranges from 72 to 76 degrees year-round. To be the first in the water in the mornings, book one of the 33 campsites with water and electric hookups.
Big Bend Ranch State Park
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The largest state park in Texas encompasses 238 miles of multi-use trails prime for hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding. After a day of exploring, spend your evenings relaxing and stargazing. (The park is one of four International Dark Sky Parks in the state and the only one with a Class 1 Bortle Scale ranking making it one of the best spots for stargazing.) All campsites are primitive, and most are accessible by car.
Colorado Bend State Park
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Colorado Bend State Park is a rugged, unspoiled wilderness along a six-mile stretch of the Colorado River. It’s an adventure lover’s dream with a series of spring-fed swimming holes, 35 miles of hiking trails, including the three-mile roundtrip hike to the 70-foot Gorman Falls, and some of the best mountain biking trails in the state. The most famous attraction is a series of 400 caves. Book one of the two guided tours, the easy Discovery Tour or the action-packed Adventure Tour that involves crawling and climbing through caverns. All the campsites, even the 15 drive-up spots, are primitive.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
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This enormous pink granite dome is an oasis for rock climbers with over 40 climbing routes and a plethora of other activities from hiking to geocaching. Attend one of the regular nighttime Rock Star Parities to stargaze and learn about the night sky. (The park is an International Dark Sky Park and updates its website every 15 minutes with data from a sky quality meter.) The park draws more than 250,000 visitors a year, making it one of the most visited parks in the state.
Sea Rim State Park
Getty Images/Matthew White
You can spend the night on a floating platform at the state’s only public floating campsite at Sea Rim State Park near Port Arthur in southeast Texas. You’ll need a canoe or kayak to get there; but if you don’t own one, you can rent from a boat vending machine at the launch area. Alternatively, you can camp on the park’s beach side, which offers 15 developed and 75 primitive sites, plus a cabin that holds six people.
Seminole Canyon State Park
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Book a spot in the small campground at Seminole Canyon State Park, laid out among the prickly pear and scrub. Visitors can access the primitive hunter-gatherer rock shelters within the park via daily ranger-led tours. The faded yellow, red, black, and white pictographs feature animals, human figures, and abstract designs that researchers believe tell the story of the ancient peoples’ cultural belief systems.
