Searching for a tent camping spot near Amistad National Recreation Area? The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. You're sure to find the perfect campsite for your Texas tent camping excursion.
Scout
Only stayed one night, in late March cool night warm day. Showers / bathrooms were nice, site was private with picnic table, tent pad, a ramada, water electric, dump station.
We missed the tour, the vistor center was very nice, did a little exploring on our own, coming back for sure.
Ranger
(Note, there used to be 3 reviews of Campground 406 but Dyrt deleted them for some reason. Dunno why because totally appropriate). 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. Night was dark and to be honest, I feared a mountain lion attack because my son was smaller then and there had been recent sightings nearby. Otherwise nice experience. That said, I scouted it out in July 2023 and decided not to camp there, partly because the lake was much farther away and the bank didn’t seem conducive to fishing. By then my son was grown and gone, and my dog had died, so I was solo. That said, it is a decent campground and could be a good waypoint enroute to Big Bend. Now, another deleted review complained of a lack of toilet paper in the block bathroom and gave it like 2-3 stars.
Traveler
Great value, only $3 with the senior pass. We stayed at site 31, level, gravel with a picnic table under a sun shade and a grill. There were maybe 4 or 5 others here and all very quiet.
Pit toilets were clean and had TP and did not smell.
It was a great overnight. Easy to get to, the dirt road here is in great condition, and it is not far from 90. It's close to Del Rio and we have internet, but the lake is low and it was hot, 89 on March 6 so we didn't stay longer.
Payment is easy at the kiosk. It right there at the end of the camp sites Takes credit cards.
Guide
We will definitely come back to this one. It is $10 per night to park overnight and the automated machine takes card! We found a nice spot that fit our 21ft travel trailer and 20ft van pulling it right next the the Reservoir. We woke up to beautiful views of the blue/green water and took a morning hike down to walk right out onto one of the natural jetty’s that goes right out into the middle of the water. The picnic tables on the way down to the water have usb charging that is solar powered and umbrellas built in. Perfect spot to have morning coffee/breakfast. We met some nice folks who also helped us back into our spot since it was dark. 10/10 for a boondocking experience
GuidePerfect place for a short stay to get away from everything and have some very peaceful nights. No road noise or people noise. With the lake being low it keeps most people away but it was perfect to just hang out. We had great Wi-Fi and long walks.
ScoutÁrea muy bien cuidada con un viento contante que te ayuda a mitigar el calor.
RangerNote, this is my second review of San Pedro campground. My first review was based on good nostalgia from around 2010 when the lake was high. However, I tent camped here on July 5, 2023 and I was the lone camper. The place felt scorched abandoned. It was hot. There is almost zero shade apart from the metal shade structures. I stayed in site 10 or 12 where there is some evening shade from the mesquite or huisache trees. The closest lake water is a 2 mile drive down Spur 454, where the NPS has improvised a boat ramp and swimming area with parking. But man, San Pedro campground is now high and dry and hot. I hate to give it 2 stars because I love Amistad but times have changed. Maybe some day the lake will rise again but it’s been like 12 years already since the lake receded. I had planned to stay more nights but it just wasn’t wise. Not in July anyway.
Ranger
Nice campground with RVs, trailers and concrete cabins.  Good customer service. I stayed in regular cabin number 8 for $63 per night. Nice AC because it was blazing hot . No bathroom in the regular cabins but the bathhouse was nice. I would return.
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 Campground. 
GuideEverything you would want out of a cheap campground. This was our first stop in our week long van-camping trip. We swung by the dispersed site past the reservoir going west on 90, but it was occupied by a large family with very little room left. Right before crossing the reservoir we noticed a campground overlooking the water and it looked somewhat open. The map showed it to be Governor’s landing and guided us into a sketchy road off the highway under the bridge, but once we entered the campground you can see Amistad Reservoir in all its glory.
$10 a night and first come first serve so you should get there early enough to find a spot facing the the water. You can hear the highway for sure but I didn’t mind it. The wind, on the other hand, was a challenge. I learned it’s more efficient to cook in a charcoal grill than a gas stove with high winds. The winds were so high, the overhang of my roof top tent lifted up taking the ladder up with it. By the way, if you ever get into that situation, tie down your tent to your vehicle. You’ll thank me later.
Come to find out, that wind fed a storm that freaked both us out inside our tent! We’ve weathered a storm before in the tent, but the added high winds had us holding on all night.
Concluding my review of this place, we went back as a bookend to our trip because we did love the place and learned how to deal with high winds since. Then, of course, we were hit with a storm. Again. Same camp. Same time. Same day of the week. But this time we sealed up the tent tight and hung out in the van watching movies on an iPad using the car stereo to over power the thunderous storm.
We see you Governor’s Landing. We’ll be back. We still love you.
GuidePerfect camping in the high desert . Small quiet campground with stunning views . Mexico to our right … U.S . To our left . Impeccable restrooms . Site was secluded .
GuideThis is a wonderful dispersed campground in a national rest/park area on the hill with close access to the highway.
Guide
The tent area is well shaded, water at each site and power by the bath house. Bath house is concrete floors but the water is hot and the facilities sufficient. Love the live oaks and the manager John is a great guy.
GuideThis is a small well maintained campsite next to the main road. It had potable water, clean sites, clean bathrooms, tent pads, BBQ, picnic table with shade covers, day use area and NPS workers showed up. It had an easy check in kiosk where we used a credit card. The sites that were on top of hill have a lot of road noise. The sites that sit lower and also further away would be your best bet. 15 was flat but noisy. There were not many sites available when we pulled in at night. 4? Available at 7pm on a Sunday.
TravelerThe campsites were well maintained and the bathrooms were clean. The views are fantastic and all the other campers were respectful. NPS came through in the morning and checked the garbages and bathrooms. I would stay here again!
GuideThis campground has running water, pit toilets, and well maintained campsites (small camper van or tent - not good for big rigs). First come availability- we pulled in at 7pm and had plenty of spaces to choose from. No electric Beautiful views of the water Safe and clean Credit cards only to pay fee ($10)
GuideNice concrete level sites. Easy access. The sites are large with short fence sections between. My only complaint would be I was unable to contact the office to confirm availability or make a reservation. With that said we showed up and there were 4 or 5 sites unoccupied.
GuideCame here as a last minute plan B after original trip east showed too much rain. Very happy we found a great camp space here. Really enjoyed the facilities, staff were very friendly, campground extremely clean, and great hiking trails. Will be back in Spring or Fall for more temperate weather and I imagine it is spectacular!
GuideSo far an amazing place and wish I was staying longer. Clean, nice, easy in and out. The views and the quiet are priceless!
GuideSeminole Canyon is usually my first stop on my way to Davis Mountains State Park. I'm a tent camper. Every campsite has all you would need. Water, electricity, and a table. Can be challenging if the wind is blowing hard but doable. Wonderful hiking trails with vistas over the Rio Grande River. Also take the guided tour into the canyon to see the ancient pictographs.
GuideWhen traveling near Del Rio, we always try to stop here for a night or two. Well spaced sites and clean pit toilets. If looking for an out-of-the-way place to spend the night, this is it. Just a short 1-mile drive on a gravel road (well maintained) to a number of great sites. The only downside is that the water at this “water front” site was nowhere to be seen. The lake hadn’t extended up this far in many, many years.
Guide
Want to get away from it all? Make sure you have a rig that can handle rough dirt and rocky roads, make sure your camper can do the same, or bring a tent, and you’re good to go. The campsites are so spread out, you can run a generator all night if you wanted to, and not a soul except the coyotes would hear it. It’s peaceful, dusty, and beautiful all at the same time. Not many hiking trails, but the ones there are awesome. The river and Finegan Springs are AMAZING. The restrooms are the cleanest around, the showers are hot, but they are a LONG drive from the sites and on pretty rocky roads. Not easy. The sites are fantastic. We stayed in site 6, which has a beautiful canyon view. We loved the peace and quiet and the sunsets. No cell service AT ALL. Wi-Fi is spotty at the restrooms/ campground entrance, but you won’t get it at the sites. Make sure you have the water you need for the weekend and a porta potty. Limited availability so book early. That’s what makes this park an awesome experience.
GuideThis park is right along the border, but don’t let that deter you. It’s as safe as can be, as the river in this area ledges up anyone intending on crossing over illegally. The rangers offer a tour of the petroglyphs, some of the oldest in North America, and it is done very well. Visitor center has an amazing museum inside. Campsites are pretty exposed, but spacious. There is zero cell service there, but spotty Wi-Fi from the restrooms. The trails are well marked and offer amazing vistas. Fun mountain biking too. Lots to do.
GuideBeautiful park with great desert scenery.
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.
RangerThis campground is your typical Texas desert environment, and has awesome pictographs that you can view via guided tour! There are hiking trails that trace the rim of the Seminole Canyon and have views of the Rio Grande. We did the Fate Bell guided tour which is not very strenuous and takes you down into the canyon to see 4000 year old pictographs. Definitely worth it as they are fading due to man made changes in the environment and won't be visible to the eye much longer.
We stayed in site 6, which was a bit disappointing. Since you're in a desert there's not much to divide the sites, but they are spacious. The prime real estate is in the loop with sites 18 - 31. The outer sites on that loop have a really great view! The no hookup sites on the other loop (9, 10, 11, 13) also have nice views. The primitive camping area is actually pull through RV sites that just never got their hookups so if you're up for camping with no hookups those sites can accommodate large rigs.
Don't miss taking a few mile drive to the west to check out the Pecos High Bridge views!
Ranger
This state park is really in the middle of nowhere. It has a tiny campground, with only 5 RV sites. The sites feel well spaced with trees in between them giving you privacy. They have sewer hookups at the official RV sites, and a dump station if you stay in one of the no hookup sites. The sky is amazing at night! They have good hiking and allow mountain bikes on the trails. We stayed 2 nights and definitely want to go back again to experience this park. We hiked most of the trails, but did not get to see the bats due to the time of year, and did not get to do a guided tour to the cavern so have a great reason to go back. There is no cell service so you can fully unplug and relax.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Amistad National Recreation Area?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Amistad National Recreation Area is Rock Quarry — Amistad National Recreation Area with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
