Balmorhea is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Balmorhea is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Discover great camping spots near Balmorhea, reviewed by campers like you.
Apache Park and Trail Camping
49 min away
Desert Gardens Oasis at Lobo, Texas
1 hr 21 min away
$20 / night
"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. "
"We stayed here two nights while we swam in balmorhea. We pulled in late at night and we just placed $20 in the office , picked a spot and slept."
$20 - $175 / night
"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!"
"Great stop passing through Texas."
$10 - $25 / night
"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."
"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."
$20 / night
"Nice off leash dog park. All the hookups seemed new. There is occasional road noise but very little traffic."
"Very well maintained, FULL hook ups, nice views and so close to tons of trails and scenery. We even saw deer a few nights wandering through."
"Close to Fort Davis, McDonald Observatory. Not far from Balmorhea, Marfa."
"If you are from Texas, then you already know the legend that is Prude Ranch. I'm not sure when they added RV spots to the Ranch but you can't imagine how excited I was to find out they had."
"This is a spectacular location for star gazing. It's also close to the McDonald Observatory. This is an important historical site and I would strongly recommend getting a tour."
"super quiet. right off the highway, but very little traffic. pretty level spots. i take my converted cargo trailer often. "
$46 / night
"There’s lots to do and great dog parks. I would stay here again"
"All of the property is very dusty, like all of west Texas. Close to town, but not too close. Bathrooms clean. Pool was nice, too. Easy on/off I-10. Nice manager showed us to our site."
TravelerWe camped here for three nights. Great spot, deer came through csmp every evening. We watched the horses in the pasture. Staff was very friendly. Close to Fort Davis, McDonald Observatory. Not far from Balmorhea, Marfa.
TravelerThis is a great little park. Even though it’s dirt. The staff is really welcoming and friendly. There’s lots to do and great dog parks. I would stay here again
GuideNeat and clean. The reservation was taken by a kind lady offsite. Easy directions to the site. Nice off leash dog park. All the hookups seemed new. There is occasional road noise but very little traffic.
LegendThere was no problem finding this campground(CG) as it is right off I-10 adjacent to a Valero gas station. We had paid online, and per the emailed instructions, we went and chose an empty site. After driving through and looking at sites that didn’t have trees that would interfere with our slide-outs, we went into pull-through site 29 with FHUs. As we were only staying overnight, we did not use water and sewer. The CG’s sites are all pull-throughs with FHUs. About 1/4 of the sites are transient workers or full-timers. When we were here towards the end of January, there were plenty of sites to choose from. Our site was plenty long enough for our 40’ 5th wheel and F450. This is a basic CG with no internet, but they have a laundry room on the back of the Saddleback Steakhouse and Bar that has seen better days. There’s also an unmanned office with instructions and a drop box for campers without a reservation. There were plenty of sites that have clear shots to the sky for satellite. We got 3 bars on Verizon. We should have used our sound machine as there’s a lot of road noise from I-10. There’s no formal dog park, but there is plenty of room to walk your dog. Other than the price, one of the reasons we stayed here was the raving reviews by other campers on the Saddleback Steakhouse and Saloon, especially their ribeyes. Boy, were we disappointed. We were expecting a big Texas-style steak. The steak was maybe 1/4 inch thick, and the hand-cut fries were greasy. This may be the only place in the US that still allows smoking inside. They live by their own rules here. On the bright side, this dive-type bar was interesting and somewhat entertaining depending on your views as this establishment is clearly pro-Trump and anti-Biden.
GuideThis 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.
LegendLove 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.
ScoutFirst 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.
GuideWe 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.
GuideThe 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.
Balmorhea, Texas, offers a variety of pet-friendly camping options for those traveling with their furry companions. Here are some great spots to consider for your next adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Balmorhea, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Balmorhea, TX is Saddleback Mountain RV Park with a 3.8-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Balmorhea, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 dog-friendly camping locations near Balmorhea, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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