Help us plan our trip! Texas.

[alesis]

Hey guys.
We are planning an approx 2 week camping trip in the hte beginning of July to Texas. We'd like to visit 2 areas, and one will need to be near Dallas, as we have family there we will be visiting.

We have kids ages 2, 7 and 9, and enjoy hiking, nature, typical touristy traps like aquariums and such, swimming etc.

We need full hookup sites for both areas, and are looking for suggestions for a cg near Dallas, as well as what other area we should visit. I was thinking perhaps a ocean front town, but I know nothing about Texas so I figured you guys could clue us in to the best places to visit.

Since we'll be in each area for 5-6 days, it'd be nice to have locations where there are a few day trip options within about an hour of driving.

Thanks in advance!,

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

alesis wrote:
Hey guys.
We are planning an approx 2 week camping trip in the hte beginning of July to Texas.

Living near Dallas for 27 years - my advice - DON'T

Since you really have the option to change the dates - make sure your AC works great because much of the trip will be spent inside the RV. You will need it working great to sleep at night.

Near Dallas - where?

North of Dallas there are COE campgrounds on Lake Lewisville and Lake Lavon. Don't count on being able to spend a lot of time in the water. The lake levels are very low and have been for years. Unlikely to be very good.

Cedar Hill State Park south of Dallas is very nice and that lake tends to have decent water levels.

Benbrook Lake southwest of Fort Worth has a COE campground - but very low lake levels.

There are good commercial campgrounds near the mid-cities - Arlington, Grand Prairie. Not as much on the north side of the Metroplex.

---------------------------

Rest of Texas - I prefer the Corpus Christi area / Aransas Pass to Galveston - but your choice.

I would recommend the hill country near San Antonio / Fredericksburg vice the beach. Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels is great for the kids Schlitterbahn Water Parks though they do also have parks in both Galveston and the Corpus Christi areas.

It is going to be hot no matter where you go in the summer in Texas.

[alesis]

Thanks guys, keep the ideas coming!

[nazpaz]

I'd come down I45 from Dallas to Galveston which is a good tourist town.

However, while it isn't on the coast, I think San Antonio is the best tourist town in Texas: the River Walk, Sea World, the Alamo, tubing the river at New Braunfels, and a lot more.

By the way, no matter where you go, it's going to be HOT in July in Texas!

[Texas_Roadrunn1]

If you decide to visit Port Aransas, you'll pass through San Antonio on I35 where you can visit the Alamo and the kids might also enjoy the zoo, as well as the River Walk. There is also Fiesta Texas, a theme park, and Sea World. The closest RV parks to the downtown area (Alamo is downtown and zoo is just north of downtown) are the KOA and Traveler's World. You could easily visit the Alamo and zoo in one day. Fiesta Texas and Sea World are northwest and west respectively, of the city, and not as convenient to your route should you decide to go to Port Aransas. Hope you enjoy your visit, wherever you decide to go!

[Heisenberg]

Check Out Mustang Island State Park. You will have access to State beaches, and Padre Island National Park, The Lexington, and The Aquarium. And all else Corpus Christi.

[Jim_Shoe]

For sure visit the USS Lexington in Corpus. I lived aboard her for 2 years 69-71 in Pensacola. FL. One week every month, we headed to Corpus for secondary training for new jet pilots. Back then, we weren't allowed to tie up at night. Rumor had it that ship's company and base personnel got into a big fight and the base commander banned the Lex crew from the base.
I went back in 2005. Many post WWII jet and prop planes an deck, and self guided tours below the hangar deck. After all those years it still smelled like jet fuel.

[Bumpyroad]

for the coast I would recommend Galveston Island, the campground on the bay side close to I-45. calm, wind won't blow over sat. dish, easy water access for wading without going through a ton of sea weed, etc.
bumpy

[DougE]

For the coast I would recommend Port Aransas. The kids will like riding the ferry and the area has lots of kid friendly attractions. Seashore for swimming and shells. Corpus Christi for the Texas State Aquarium and Lexington aircraft carrier. Rockport for hundreds of yards of very shallow salt water bay for the little one. Just too much available to mention.

[BB_TX]

A couple of things.

What part of Dallas do they live in. With the size of the area and the local traffic you would want an RV park to at least be on the same side of town. Otherwise you could have an hour travel time from the park to their home.

And understand that you are likely to encounter temps in the 100+ range in July. So plan your activities accordingly.