Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Balmorhea, TX

This is a historic ranch down the road from Fort Davis.  The ranch serves as a summer camp for kids and groups and we did arrive in Nov so it was like having the place to ourselves (not sure how it would be with lots of kids around!).  There are two locations for RV parking; front and rear.  We stayed in the rear, but would pick the front next time.  The rear was private, but the front seemed to have less building obstacles for night sky and sun setting viewing.  The road is not active at all it seems ... very much off the beaten path.

Our spot was a back in and did require leveling, but had full hook ups.  There is no set dog park area (not a big deal!). The horse corrals and horses were a great site to see. The buildings could use a fresh coat of paint and the landscaping could use a few flowers and decorative improvements, but we were not there for the RV spots, but for a short stay and hiking.

We entered from the north side of town and was a little skeptical, but eventually we arrived and were happily surprised.  They do have horse back riding available at all times; however we chose to hike the near by hills in the state park ... be prepared for the walk is on rocky, shale, hills so extra work on the leg muscles but WELL worth it!

The staff is very very welcoming and knowledgeable of local attractions ... There is Fort Davis you can walk through, hiking at Prude Ranch, hiking in the state park, and a 2 - 3 hour drive that has local natural sites you can see from the car.

Love Alpine with its street art, food trucks, quaint downtown and history. Hiking up to see the desk on the grounds surrounding the Sul Ross campus is just one fun excursion. Also, the Big Bend Museum and Kokernot Field. 

The campground is set on the outskirts of Alpine and has pine trees around it. Unfortunately most sites that I saw don’t have much, if any, shade. That being said, there are lots of plusses for this campground. The staff is great, the site I was in was level and had full hook ups, the campground laundry is excellent and there’s also a community recreation room.

Good rates for a nice stopover in a great location in Big Bend country with a pet park, gift shop, pool/playground and cabins.

We actually stayed here for a week, part of relocating from Texas over to the desert for the winter. 

The Pros:

• Easy in and out.  You can actually just go right to the back of the gas station there and cut left, big entrance area, though going to the right of the Saloon and restaurant does put you going the right way for....

• Large, long spots.  Now, some have a cone in them, I'd guess some problem with one of the three hookups, but I don't know.  Some of them are also overgrown.

• Plenty of room, really.  This isn't a place people stay for long, being next to the highway, I would guess.  So when you're trying to "reserve" a spot on the phone, it'll pretty much be "just come on".

• During our stay we had reliable power and water, no issues.  Decent water pressure as well.  We did hit some freezing overnights so I just filled the tanks and we ran off that until we left.  I didn't actually hook up to the sewer at all.

• The onsite bar and restaurant isn't bad.

The Cons:

• Not really a problem for me, but you ARE next to a truck stop and a highway, but honestly, I didn't hear them really at all during the night unless I was listening for it.

• There was someone with loose dogs.  As a former traveling-with-dog RVer, that annoys me to a VERY great deal.  I don't know your dog, mine always seemed to get attacked.  Keep your dog on a leash, please.

• Again, not a problem for me, but the bar/restaurant is very right wing Republican.    F*** Biden flags, Trump Won, etc.  Just warning you.  The patrons and staff didn't say or do anything untoward, but if this kind of stuff bothers you and you're easily offended, just be aware.

• It took me second time to realize that my chicken fried steak wasn't just awesomely tender, but rather I'm pretty sure it was hamburger.  The batter and gravy was good, really, all the food was good.  (Though we did feel a little ripped off at 5 or 6 small onion rings for $6.99.)   There is a great Mexican restaurant in town (as much as there is any town to Balmorhea), too, be sure to check hours and such.  It's called La Cueva de Oso.

First off, drive in one route, then leave another way. Lots to see. (Keep an eye out for wild bores! Almost hit two on drive in) I entered from the north in Kent on TR-118 S. I exited on TR-118 E to TR-17 NE towards Balmorhea. This year everything was super green for September and was so beautiful, in a west texas way. Make sure to go up to the lookout point before you leave. Great views! Campsite was average. WARNING - Hard ground. Might have to MacGuyver a custom anchor for different tent pegs. I had to use rope to secure one peg because the only place it would sink in and not hit rocks was two feet away from the tent peg loop. Bathrooms and showers were great! Free showers! Look out for creatures. Was taking a shower when a spider with 3” legs started traversing the ceiling directly above me. Thats 6” wingspan. Big enough to freak me out. Still, i would come back for sure.

The Davis Mountains and the state park offer an opportunity for Texans to experience all the Trans-Pecos has to offer.

With close proximity to McDonald Observatory, Balmorhea, Alpine, Marathon, Marfa, and even close enough for a day trip to Big Bend & Terlingua, this campground is tough to beat.

The sites themselves are well cared for, with clean bathrooms and attentive hosts. The trails are modest but still offer some stunning views. The on-site, CCC built Indian Lodge is a beautiful work of architecture and history.

It’s hard to imagine this site being set up any better than it is.

Its in an amazing location, near Balmorhea, Big Bend, Marfa and Alpine. Its full of wild life and if your into bird watching its an incredible place to go with two indoor/outdoor viewing areas.The staff is wonderful with lots of outdoor and naturalist programs. the Davis Observatory is right up the hill. There are tons of hiking trails and lots of great terrain. Its a zero light pollution zone so bring your telescope or go to the observatory for a star party.I honestly cant say enough about this park its one of my favorites (which also makes me want to delete this review).

We stayed here for 4 nights and couldn’t have asked for a better stay! A lot of wildlife come within feet of your campsite; we saw mule deer and skunks and a bull snake during our stay. We didn’t have cell service at our campsite but did when we went up the scenic road. The park isn’t but a few miles outside of Fort Davis and you can get cell service there if needed. Also, there’s fuel/gas, a grocery store and a few restaurants in Fort Davis. Balmorhea is approx 45 minutes away and Marfa is only about 30 away and you can’t not go to the McDonald Observatory that’s only 13 miles away. Lots of fun places to explore here!

We stayed here one night in April 2021 and could have gladly stayed longer. Nice campground, with privacy between sites and some shade. There are good hikes right from the campground , which is nice. It’s much cooler here than other nearby parts of Texas and locals told us that this is generally true (not just when we were there). Some javalinas visited our campsite at night and ate our dog’s food (our fault for leaving it out). Nice spot, we would return here again.

We only stayed here one night passing through west Texas on our way home, but I’m glad we discovered this place. The camping was pretty close together, so I’d probably want to find dispersed camping when we go back, but the campground had full hookups, bathrooms, and showers. The campground was also about 5 minutes from town, and Fort Davis is pretty adorable. The stars are amaaazing out there, though. So pretty! We definitely had some critters who visited us during the night because our dog’s water bowl was chewed up! Will go back.

When we camped here (last June) we stayed at Dog Canyon, which is the less visited end of the park. To get to this entrance you actually have to cut into New Mexico and come back into Texas north of the main entrance where the visitor’s center is. The campground is nestled into Dog Canyon with mountains all around you and it was COMPLETELY empty when we arrived. It isn’t a small campground, but it apparently doesn’t get much traffic. There is one small ranger’s station with a few maps and a hummingbird feeder I could’ve watched all day, and usually a ranger who can answer any questions you have regarding the trails or wildlife. From the canyon you can do sections of a 14 mile loop or you can hike all the way back to the main visitor’s center (one way), although that is a bit much for a day. There are several primitive sites along the 14 mile loop as well as a couple of geocaches. I recommend being extremely careful with timing if you do the whole loop, as we got caught in a sudden afternoon storm about 3/4 of the way through. We saw tons of beautiful birds, some Barbary sheep, and lots of mule deer. The loop was a gorgeous hike and the campground overall was simplistic but perfect. There are no showers, only a bathroom and water fountain, and the nearest town is a bit of a drive back out of the mountains. A lot of the roads here flood and/or are rough dirt roads, so be prepared for that and make sure you have the right vehicle and maybe call ahead to see how bad the flooding has been. I highly recommend this park and campground to all adventure lovers!

Lots of diverse trails so you don’t get bored being there for a few days. Lots to explore both in and around the park. Dog-friendly, spacious campsites, incredible stargazing. Showers close to campsites, an added bonus when camping for 5+ days.

Oh were to start...this place has everything! Let's start with accommodations. They have primitive, primitive equestrian, water only, water and electric, full-hookups, Indian lodge and a historic motel on site. We went with my in-laws and they have an RV and my husband and I chose to tent camp at a water-only site. My in-laws brought their little dogs and it was very dog friendly here. The camp facilities were very nice. Bathrooms and showers clean and easily accessible from camp sites. Sited weren't overly crowded and there was a lot of shade and nice views.

Wonderful hiking trails! Every trail had a different view and variety of difficulty. Most trails no longer than 2 miles, but the views over the mountains were exceptional. I think my husband and I walked every trail we could find in the short time we were there and not a single one was disappointing. The wildlife and nature was exotic and something very rare within the Texas borders. Bird watching is a big thing here, not my thing, but it was still awesome to see! It is also a very equestrian friendly park as well. We saw a lot of people horseback riding the trails.

Fort Davis historic site is an awesome piece of history. They have so much education on the Fort Davis military post and it is a really cool experience. While we were there they were putting on shows in the amphitheater. Lots to learn about american history.

12 miles down the road is the McDonald Observatory which is a must see! I am a space girl. I studied astrophysics in college and it is a huge passion of mine. The McDonald observatory is one of the most education, breathtaking places. Perfect for everyone to learn about the skies and see things you've never seen before. Please take your kids here for an experience of a lifetime and check ahead for events going on.

My favorite moment at this park was just laying in the hammock under the stars with my hubby listening to the beautiful music nature delivers. I hope to go back again to enjoy more wonderful moments!

We spent a few nights at Davis Mountains and it was gorgeous....for southwest Texas, haha. The hiking is great and the spots, we stayed in our NoBo 19.3. We took our 7 year old, 9 year old and 2 dogs on the Skyline Trail hike. It’s one of the longer trails and we had to catch the CCC trail to head back to our site. The wildlife was active and we had a pack of 6 Javelina walk through our site, and a skunk.....The only couple things that I’d warn people about is that the site has been in a burn ban sense 11-19, and they’re hardcore about it, as they should be. We had a propane fire pit and had a park host and park ranger come by to make sure we weren’t burning wood. There’s not a ton of “kid stuff” to do. There was a dry creek bed behind our site that helped, but I didn’t see any playgrounds or stuff like that for kids. The last thing to be aware of, if you’re in a camper, is the waste hookups aren’t level and takes some “leveling” to make for an continual flow of waste water.

My grandson, my dog and I set up our tents in a fully equipped (electricity, water and a table) and fairly level site.  The site was convenient to everything if you don't mind walking.  Why should you as this park is made for hiking.  Numerous trails.  Some short. Some long. Some easy.  Some not so easy.  The park is also a place for great views of the area and a great place to hang out waiting for the Star Party at the McDonald Observatory.  You will also like the dark sky at night if you brought your telescope.

Only drawback I would say is the lack of a gift shop for souvenirs, snacks, and toiletries you forgot to pack.  The backup is a drive to the nearest town Fort Davis.

Also cell phone and wifi services are only available by driving up to one of the vistas. Easiest is the vista about half-way up Skyline Drive

Closest campgrounds to El Paso Texas in Texas with a forest

I have lived in Texas 50 yrs and had never been to West Texas...Mind BLOWN!!! We went in January and, while cold the first part of the week...17 degrees...being Texas, it was 80 by Friday...lol! The spring stays between 73-76 year round! My Husband even braved the cold and jumped in...Although, he claims the water was not that warm..LOL! The campgrounds had elec/H20 sites, covered picnic areas and nice grills. AND WARM SHOWERS!!!. And the most AMAZING SUNSETS I've ever seen!!! The pool is crystal clear and about 25 ft deep and the toe nibbling fish are cool too! I Highly recommend you look this place up, however, I saw that it's closed until March of 2019 for repairs to the pool itself and the campgrounds....BUMMER!

This is another Texas favorite. We have camped here 3 times this year. It’s a large camping area near the town of Fort Davis Texas. The campground is next to the Indian Lodge which is a must see. The adobe lodge was built in the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps. The campground has excellent facilities including showers, water, and a dump station. The sites tend to be close together and crowded during peak season. If you have an RV or van you will need levelers. Many of the sites are uneven or angled. Lots of wildlife including the javelinas and mule deer.

In west Texas lots of site variety- tents, trailers, rvs. Full hookup, water/electric, or just water. Found a good site for short trailer