Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Amistad National Recreation Area

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Amistad National Recreation Area

93 Reviews of 21 Amistad National Recreation Area Campgrounds

• 

  Kera P.

  Ranger

  Nov. 12, 2020

  American Campground

  Lake and sunset view

  Laundry, showers, restrooms. Easy access from rt 90. Super close to Amistad National Recreation Area. Tent camping is $20, I think that’s a little high for renting, but there are many amenities on site.

• 

  Jacob W.

  Ranger

  Aug. 4, 2020

  Southwinds Marina on Lake

  Military and law enforcement only

  The Southwinds marina is a nice area within the Amistad National Recreation Area with a boat ramp and camping. The boat ramp is open to the public but the camping options and boat rentals were reserved for military and law enforcement only as of 2013. Users often come from Laughlin Air Force Base, which is located on the eastern edge of Del Rio. U.S. Border Patrol also have access. I’ve never camped here but it’s a nice place.

• 

  Rick G.

  Legend

  Mar. 7, 2021

  Buzzard Roost RV Campground

  Just for One Night

  We wanted a layover stop on our way to Big Bend National Park and chose this park to use a PassPort America discount. It is close to Del Rio with all the shopping, etc. you might need, but it’s target clientele isn’t transient folks. Mostly long-term stays with people working in the area. The Bar has a some loud music running on Saturday night as well. Once the “booming” stopped around midnight we were able to get a decent night sleep. To do over again, I’d pull into San Pedro Campground at Amistad National Recreation Area.

• 

  Laura F.

  Ranger

  Jan. 2, 2022

  San Pedro Campground — Amistad National Recreation Area

  Nice, no hookups, sites with good access to Amistad and Del Rio

  We stayed 2 nights at San Pedro, using it as a base camp to explore Amistad National Recreation Area. It's very close to the Spur 454 boat ramp, which we used to launch our kayak. You can also get over Diablo East, Governor's Landing, and the Figueroa trail for good hiking by driving maybe 10 minutes. 

  The non-tent sites all have covered picnic tables with a concrete pad and charcoal grill. There are quite a few pit toilets dispersed amongst the sites. There doesn't seem to be anyway to get down closer to the lake from this campground. 

  When we were there, we saw 4 - 5 other campers in the campground and everyone setup spaced apart. We heard lots of coyotes in the distance just after sunset.

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  christine

  Guide

  Dec. 30, 2021

  Seminole Canyon State Park Campground

  Stunning, historic, remote desert

  Two sunsets that went on and on, we hiked the Canyon Rim- Presa Overlook trails and back ( about 3 mi worth). We live in the PNW, so desert is not home territory for us. Much of the beauty is subtle, and Seminole Canyon really shines.

  There is a small well done history museum in the Park Headquarters. Everything looks new and clean; restrooms, campsites are level, most have shelters. The trails are well marked and well mapped. It’s one of the best-designed and maintained camps I have been to.

  They offer guided tours to the nearby Pictograph site; some of the pictographs apparently go back as far as 10,000 years. You purchase tickets for these tours and some moderately challenging hiking is required.

  All in all, it’s a pretty fabulous place. But I sort of wish we didn’t bring our dog. It’s not a very pet-friendly environment because the desert is like that.

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• M

  Maggie C.

  Legend

  Apr. 8, 2025

  Seminole Canyon State Park Campground

  West TX - what’s not to love?

  Cactus, no trees, hot sun. This is west Texas! Seriously, it’s a nice campground with covered picnic tables. Plenty of areas to walk with your dog. Just watch out for the cactus and thorn bushes. Sites are spaced and as private as you can be when there are no trees. Would I stay here again? Definitely if coming through the area. Beautiful stars and sunsets are an added bonus

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  Jan. 31, 2021

  San Pedro Campground — Amistad National Recreation Area

  $6 a night...a real steal for this place!

  Just 5 miles outside of Del Rio, Texas lies the limestone lined Amistad Reservoir which gathers the waters of the Rio Grande river on its journey to the gulf. Amistad means friendship, and as a dam project, was co-sponsored by the US and Mexico.  This park is a confluence of three distinct ecosystems, which makes the flora extra special.

  There are many developed campgrounds throughout the Recreation Area, the San Pedro campground has a few sites that offer more privacy away from the main campground, and dozens in the larger, more open area.  Each is set up with a grill, picnic table and shade shelter. A large group campsite is available for reservation, but not during COVID. There are no electrical hook-ups (bring your solar!), and no water available at this campground.  Pit toilets were clean and hopefully they'll fix the lock on the doors soon (in the meantime, just use a stick).  Whaddya want for 6 bucks a night?  The stay limit is 2 weeks, and the rangers do check.

  San Pedro is further away from the water than some of the other camping areas, but it was quiet, comfortable and lovely. Since the Verizon signal was super strong we were able to get a ton of things accomplished while also squeezing in some hikes, bikes, paddles, and runs. There are a few trails around, but lots of quiet dirt roads to stay active.  The boat launch was a short 2 mile drive away. And of course the crystal blue lake offers everything from swimming, fishing, paddling, and powerboating.

  Del Rio is one of the larger cities along the border between Loredo and El Paso, so there really isn't much you can't get in town just a short drive away. We even got some work done on our truck and were able to just bike back to the campground whiel it was in the shop.  Drinking water can be filled at the Diablo East Campground dump station, about 4 miles away for no charge, and of course the town is full of water filling kiosks like all southern desert towns.

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• 

  Scott B.

  Guide

  Oct. 28, 2021

  San Pedro Campground — Amistad National Recreation Area

  Great overnight stay location near Del Rio

  Campground is located just a few miles from Del Rio, Texas and is part of the Lake Amistad Nat'l Rec Area. Great location if your looking for a safe, quiet, level, overnight stay location with good cell service signal (AT&T). Not so good if you're here to enjoy the water as there is any lake access from the campground proper (hence the 4 versus 5 star rating). Nevertheless, very clean and numerous pit toilets, covered picnic tables, and 30 or so level sites await the road weary RVer. And if you do want to enjoy the lake, lake access is a few miles nearby.

• J

  Justin D.

  Traveler

  Oct. 30, 2018

  Devils River State Natural Area Del Norte Unit

  A hidden gem

  Devils River SNA is one of my most favorite parks in the Texas Parks system. I've been here only twice but both times this park was amazing.

  Things you should know before you go:

  *Cell service with ATT is non-existent (Not reliable at all. I had one bar along the river in certain areas and the rest of the time no bars)

  *All of the campsites are offgrid, no electric, no water, no shade. Just a picnic table. Bring a canopy or umbrella because it can get very hot in the summer. There are no trees near the campsites as this is a borderline desert ecosystem.

  *The river is the main attraction. It is pristine, clear, see-through untouched river system. Alligator gar and other fish are visible from the river side. Water can be deep in some areas so swim with caution. The river also flows at elevated speed in some areas so be careful. Generally you are fine swimming in the summer though. The water is cold.

  *The river is day-use only. You cant camp alongside it, which sucks but it's meant this way to protect the river. Some people are dumb and litter or pollute.. they ruin it for the rest of us.

  *The park is about 1hr off a highway, back on gravel and dirt roads. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended but not necessary. First time I went I had a 2x4 ford explorer and it was fine.. however there are certain mud holes along the way to the park, so be aware of that. The roads to the park are rough, cant drive faster than 20mph, which is why it takes 1hr to get to there.

  *Top off your gas tank before you go to the park... there is no gas station within 1.5hrs or so of the park itself. Bring extra gas with you if you can. Again, cell service is almost non-existent around the park area... traffic is light, so you will be in a pickle if you run out of gas.

  *There are only a handful of campsites, so reserve ahead.

  *There is no vehicle access to the river. You basically drive from the campsite to a parking lot and then hike to the river about 1.5miles up two steep inclines and then down a hill to the river. Carrying a cooler sucked. Along with fishing gear and chairs. We brought a wagon the 2nd time we went.

  *There is no ADA access to the river. No vehicle access, period.

  *Ground fires not permitted. There is no water.

  *There is one set of bathrooms are the park office - they are far from the campsites, so you'll need to drive to it if you need to use it.

  *No electricity in the park whatsoever. Bring a battery for your electronics.

  *Watch the weather... the river swells when it pours or storms. You dont want to be around it when that happens. The campsites are safe though... there is a creek between the campsites and park exit.. so if it does storm bad, you could be trapped. Defintely monitor weather and leave the park if it gets questionable.

  *Again, there is no electricity in the park. It is pitch black when night falls. Have plenty of flashlights, batteries. It is pitch black out there.

  *Stargazing is great and worth the drive to the park. Enjoy it.

  Overall, this park is awesome. I'm glad it isn't popular. This being said, if you have time, visit this park. You will not regret it. Will add pics later.

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