Lake Livingston State Park and surrounding campgrounds offer various pet friendly camping options near Ace, Texas. The area sits within the Pineywoods ecosystem at approximately 295 feet of elevation with high humidity levels in summer months. Winter temperatures typically remain above freezing, making it a year-round camping destination with distinct seasonal characteristics.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Double Lake Recreation Area provides excellent mountain biking opportunities on well-maintained trails. "Smooth and fast are the best way to describe them," notes Jeanette T., who considers it her "favorite place to camp and ride the trails."
Horseback riding excursions: Lake Livingston State Park Campground offers equestrian activities for campers. "You can have a horseback ride and steak dinner at the park for a reasonable fee and meet some interesting people," explains Emily M., who recommends combining this with other activities like swimming and kayaking.
Kayaking on Double Lake: The small lake at Double Lake NF Campground provides calm waters ideal for paddling. "Deep in the woods and on a nice shallow lake. Fantastic for walks around the lake, playing in the park, and fun trails," writes Devin P., adding that it's "only an hour from Houston!"
What campers like
Lake Livingston water recreation: Wolf Creek Park features excellent access to Lake Livingston for various water activities. "This campground has plenty of shaded sites with plenty of space for walking pets, riding bicycles or just fishing," Keith H. notes about this "hidden gem of campground with very large sites."
Lakefront camping options: Double Lake NF Campground offers sites with direct lake access. Jennifer notes, "Campground not full. Very quiet, sites not on top of each other (some more private than others), gravel pads for rv, tent, table, lantern post and campfire ring."
Local wildlife viewing: Huntsville State Park provides opportunities to hear and see local wildlife. "We went on the long trail in the evening and heard coyotes which was cool. We turned around though lol," writes Kyndall W., who appreciates the natural setting with "pine needles everywhere, beautiful lake."
What you should know
Site selection considerations: Woodsy Hollow Campground & RV Resort has distinct areas for different types of campers. "It seems on the left side of the campground is for long term sites so make sure you pick a site on the right side as you drive in," advises Curt, who found the campground "nice and quiet with a small lake."
Summer temperature management: The high humidity and temperatures during summer months require planning. "When camping during summer months, be mindful of the high temperatures and humidity," reminds Mary G., who recommends Woodsy Hollow for those who "like quiet, fishing, and trees."
Cell service variability: Cell coverage can be inconsistent throughout the area. At Rainbow's End RV Park, Rachel H. notes that "if you have Tmobile cel phones or hotspots, this is not the RV park for you. We barely had cel phone reception, and our mobile hotspot was all but useless," while "Verizon works well here."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly swimming areas: Huntsville State Park Campground offers designated swimming areas that work well for children. "There's decent fishing, a dedicated swim area, a small lake you can take boats out with trolley motor only, miles and miles of good hiking and biking trails," notes Destiny L.
Accessible boardwalk options: Lake Livingston State Park features a boardwalk trail suitable for all ages and abilities. Rocco describes it as "quite literally a board walk through the forest. It's just a 1 mile loop and has a few benches and attractions, and this would be an excellent handicap option."
Educational opportunities: Lake Livingston State Park includes educational facilities for children. Rachel W. mentions "Connected to the park store they had a small educational space for young kids with a functioning beehive. The kids (ages 2-6) loved it."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Rainbow's End RV Park offers full hookups but requires leveling equipment. "The sites are decent, with gravel driveways and full hookups for both 30 amp and 50 amp. They have an area for dry camping as well. Sites are not level, so be sure to bring your leveling blocks if your rig doesn't have a leveling system," advises Debbie J.
RV site selection at Lake Livingston: Certain loops at Lake Livingston State Park work better for larger RVs. David S. reports, "We have stayed here 2 different times. The east section is a little older and smaller sites but was still able to find one for our 42' coach. The 'YAPUN' section is where we stayed last and was new and very nice, all the sites had concrete pads to park on and are fairly level."
Power protection equipment: Lake Livingston can experience electrical issues. Napunani recommends, "Power interruptions, albeit short. Very glad we had our power surge protector."