Best Tent Camping near Allen, TX
Tent campsites around Allen, Texas offer several established options within a 30-minute drive. Erwin Park in McKinney provides spacious tent sites with picnic tables and fire pits, while Sycamore Bend Park offers primitive lakeside camping along Lake Lewisville. Little Elm Park also maintains tent-specific areas with electrical hookups for campers seeking basic amenities.
Most tent campgrounds in the Allen area feature basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and trash receptacles, though facilities vary significantly between locations. Erwin Park includes drinking water and toilets but lacks shower facilities, requiring campers to plan accordingly. Sycamore Bend Park charges $20 per night with a maximum 3-night stay and provides only primitive facilities. As one camper noted, "The restrooms really stink, but are always clean and stocked in my experience." Walk-in tent sites are common at several parks, with Sycamore Bend requiring campers to park and carry gear a short distance to lakeside spots.
The tent camping experience near Allen offers surprising natural settings despite proximity to suburban areas. Sites at Erwin Park provide access to approximately 9 miles of maintained trails popular with mountain bikers and hikers. A review mentioned that "it's a ways out of the way of the city noise. The only sound other than bird song is the occasional moo and some coyote yips in the distance." Lakeside tent camping at Sycamore Bend and Little Elm parks provides opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Weekends typically see higher visitation, particularly at Erwin Park where mountain bikers frequent the trails. Sleep Under The Pecan Trees, located about 45 minutes northeast of Allen, offers a more secluded tent camping experience on a 100-acre property with ponds and wildlife viewing opportunities.
