Recommendations for Texas state parks?

If you haven't already, you can purchase a State Park Pass that covers the entrance fee at all TX State Parks for a year. You initially also get 4(I think)half price camping fees with it. You get one night @ half price when you pay for at least one other night @ regular price. Here's the link for it. You can purchase it at any SP. If you use TX SPs frequently they quickly pay for themselves as each daily entrance fee is per person/day which can add up quickly.

Send me a PM if you would like more info about the Bonham area!

We were quite discouraged to find that Texas SP's charge an admission/use fee, but weren't going to let that spoil our trip. We like to tour as many SP's as we can on any given trip, and with our track record could get a bit expensive. Pleasantly, to our surprise, we found that 100% disabled veterans get a free lifetime pass. Resident or not. In the long run, it didn't make a whole lot of difference, would have done it anyway, but just the thought really made the whole trip worth while.

Thank you Texas!

Rug wrote:
Just a little south of you down around Waco is a great Park.


Lake Whitney has both a state park and a C.O.E. Park.
This is a nice park.

Lake Whitney SP even has an airstrip and a shooting range but I dont think they let you use the range anymore.

COE Parks are a much better value. NP Senior Pass gets you half price campsites and there is no daily user fee.

We have wintered the last two years in Texas and have stayed 8 state parks.

Call me fufu but we like the full hookup parks and have stayed at them this year.

Try Caddo Lake east of Dallas has nice wooded camsites.

Fort Richard Richardson and Abilene are nice also.

Further away we also enjoyed Davis Mountain and Goose Island.

Not really any bad choices. Get a state park brouchure and have a great time.

I like Bastrop state park, as it has FHU, and north of that, there is Inks Lake which is pretty. Last time I went there, it was far enough away that the drunk college students from UT and TAMU tended to not be in abundance (as opposed to other places closer to Austin or College Station.)

This is in Oklahoma but it looks like a place I would like to go for a few day. Robber's Cave

Paw-Paw and all the others, thank you for all the great information!!!


:)


USMCRet

Just a little south of you down around Waco is a great Park.


Lake Whitney has both a state park and a C.O.E. Park.
This is a nice park.

All the COE parks around Texoma are 'closed' for the winter - Oct 1 - Mar 31. There are some sites open and available at the bigger parks, but most will be closed off. The restrooms will be closed and no water except at one frost free faucet at each park. (Texoma is in the Tulsa Ranger District) Some FW district parks are open at every lake with W/E, restrooms, etc.

If you or the DW is over 62 - the Senior Pass makes COE camping very affordable.

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The very first thing you need to do when you get to Bonham - buy the Texas State Parks Pass.

Texas charges a daily entrance fee. If you do not have the pass, you have to pay between $3 and $7 per person per day in addition to camping fees.

You also get 'camping coupons' with the State Parks Pass - that is four times per year, you get half off a second day camping fee if you camp over two days. Use it when you want. The four coupons almost pay for the $70 pass ($95 for two persons at the same address). The pass is valid one year from date of issue. We do not renew ours when it expires, but only do so on our first camping trip to a state park after it has expired.

You also get a small discount on some items at some stores in the state parks.

My favorite TX State Parks are:

Inks Lake - near Burnett in the hill country. Great sites, great wifi access, fantastic showers/ toilets. The lake is a flow-thru lake so the water level is near constant year round - unlike all the other near empty lakes in Texas.

Dinosaur Valley - near Glen Rose - easy drive from the DFW area. 30 Amp only and watch for overhanging trees at some sites if you have a tall rig

Mineral Wells - has 30A and 50A loops

Bonham - upgraded from 30A to 50A a couple years ago. A favorite spring break location with the grandkids. Can be tight, but I see 35-40 footers in there all the time. Do stop and take a look before trying to get your rig in.

Caprock Canyons - beautiful - but very remote. Stock up before your get there. Two years ago there were still no merchants in town who could take a debit card. Wanted a check.

Garner - north of Uvalde - well worth the trip. The 'old Garner' is higher priced and more crowded, but next to the swimming hole. The Rio Frio lives up to its name. Newer sections have better room, and 50A.

Mustang Island - Corpus Christi - much like Galveston but I like it better. Be aware this is 'parking lot' style camping at the W/E sites, and a somewhat short walk to the ocean. Or you can take your chances with 1.5 miles of open beach. Drive down the beach and dry camp. I've seen 35 foot motorhomes and 40 ft 5th wheels on the beach. But talk to the rangers first, and unhook / test drive the beach before trying to get a rig down there.

Texas really has a good state park system - something for everyone.

Note to out-of-state visitors - the Texas State Parks Pass is available to everyone, not just Texas residents. Just the daily use fees saved alone can pay for the pass in a 10 days for a couple.

I should add that Cedar Hill and Cleburne are the two most expensive state parks in Texas at $30 for a 50A/W/S site (2013 rates). The two parks at Ray Roberts Lake are also expensive at $26 for 50A/W and $25 for 30A/W sites.

Unlike several states - Texas parks are priced apparently according to demand / what the traffic will bear. Many states like Arkansas have a set price for a certain type site statewide.