Amistad National Recreation Area, TX is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Amistad National Recreation Area, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Amistad National Recreation Area. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$35 - $155 / night
"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."
"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."
$10 - $20 / night
"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."
"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."
"Really close to Amistad. And any shopping needs you’ll need in del Rio. Great WiFi too."
"I did not swim in the campground pool, because I swam at beautiful lake Amistad at scuba cove at Diablo east. 
I post photos of nearby beautiful Lake Amistad, because I did not take any photos of American"
"We were only 5 spaces away from the ocean. We enjoyed the live band on Saturday night and then the church service on Sunday was very nice. I can understand why this place gets sold out so often."
$6 / night
"I tent-camped here once around 2010 when the lake was high with my then 10-year-old son. We enjoyed it and caught a yellow scorpion in a jar and waded in the lake atop the flooded spur 406."
$6 / night
"The entrance was a bit narrow but fine from our 34’ tt. The ground is rocky but each of the four campsites had a more or less level spot in front of the covered picnic table."
$35 - $75 / night
"I’ve never camped at 277 North, but we had a picnic here around 2010 and swam in the lake at the end of the spur. Good times. Right off Highway 277 but a nice place."
"It is well kept with the usual amenities but also has a hiking trail and bird watching blinds. It’s above my level of expectation for the price."
RangerLaundry, 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.
RangerThe 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.
LegendWe 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.
RangerWe 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.
GuideTwo 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.
LegendCactus, 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
LegendJust 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.
GuideCampground 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.
TravelerDevils 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.
Camping with pets near Amistad National Recreation Area in Texas offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors while keeping your furry friends by your side. Several campgrounds in the area cater to pet owners, providing a welcoming environment for both you and your pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Amistad National Recreation Area?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Amistad National Recreation Area is San Pedro Campground — Amistad National Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Amistad National Recreation Area?
TheDyrt.com has all 21 dog-friendly camping locations near Amistad National Recreation Area, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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