We’re moving to Houston (Katy specifically).Looking for ideas on where to camp.Preference is privacy and wilderness, but I’m up for rv Park style to see cool stuff. We like to bike, canoe, hike, and fish.I’ve heard hill country is nice but have no idea where.Pinywoods sounds like a camping area, but no clue where.Gulf coast and a beach also sounds nice.All thoughts welcome.Thanks in advance.CC

Brazos Bend State park--Inks Lake State Park near Burnet--Stephen F Austin State Park near Sealy--Huntsville State Park--Daingerfield State Park--Tyler State Park.

I wouldn't consider myself an expert on Texas yet, but from our travels visiting family, we've camped quite a bit in Texas.Hill country places we've camped are Pedernales Falls SP, Inks Lake SP, and Guadalupe River SP. Of those 3, I'd rank Guadalupe River the best one. Another awesome SP NE of Houston, probably a 4 hour drive, is Caddo Lake. You have to check that one out when you can- not a ton of hiking but you can canoe, simply enjoy the scenery. We have also enjoyed Arkansas and Oklahoma SPs.

Texas has lots of lakes, and many of these have COE campgrounds, as well as national forest, state parks, etc. The question is what sort of driving radius are you open to, Texas is a big place. If you are talking about weekend trips within 2-3 hours of Katy that will be a bit limited, if you are open to a 4-5 hour driving radius then options really start opening up.

Try some of these,Lake Livingston SP,Lake Texana,Sea Rim SP,Coleto Creek,Huntsville SP,Galveston SP,San Luis Pass campground,Goliad SP, all are within 100-150 miles of Katy

Your biggest problem is that on Friday it is going to take an hour to go back he first 25 miles from Katy. Texas is BIG and it takes time to get anywhere in an RV. The “Hill Country” starts at US-90 near Uvalde west of San Antonio and is about 50-100 miles deep (east to west) and runs northeast to a bit north of I-20. Always west of I-35. Quite a few Texas state parks in that area, all worth visiting. Definitely get the state parks guide. The national forests have some nice campgrounds. Double Lake between I-45 and US-59 near Cols Spring, TX north of Houston is one we like quite a bit. Some Texas rivers are good for canoe trips. In the Hills many are too shallow for good travel. Be very weather aware when you go out. Flash floods can occur anywhere in Texas, but of course the hill country sees more occurrences. The closest state park to Katy is probably Stephen F Austin on the Brazos River just north of I-10 near San Felipe west of Katy about 20 miles. We have camped at the COE Rocky Creek Park on Lake Somerville about 70 miles from Katy. Lots of amazing places to camp in Texas.

Houston Area Camping Advice | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Isaac-1
Explorer
Apr 23, 2018
Texas has lots of lakes, and many of these have COE campgrounds, as well as national forest, state parks, etc. The question is what sort of driving radius are you open to, Texas is a big place. If you are talking about weekend trips within 2-3 hours of Katy that will be a bit limited, if you are open to a 4-5 hour driving radius then options really start opening up.
Bob806
Explorer III
Apr 22, 2018
I wouldn't consider myself an expert on Texas yet, but from our travels visiting family, we've camped quite a bit in Texas.

Hill country places we've camped are Pedernales Falls SP, Inks Lake SP, and Guadalupe River SP. Of those 3, I'd rank Guadalupe River the best one. Another awesome SP NE of Houston, probably a 4 hour drive, is Caddo Lake. You have to check that one out when you can- not a ton of hiking but you can canoe, simply enjoy the scenery.

We have also enjoyed Arkansas and Oklahoma SPs.
wthibeaux
Explorer
Apr 22, 2018
Brazos Bend State park--Inks Lake State Park near Burnet--Stephen F Austin State Park near Sealy--Huntsville State Park--Daingerfield State Park--Tyler State Park.

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