Best Tent Camping near Bardwell Lake

We went to check this place out to reserve for a family camp trip. The grounds are clean and spacious. They have wonderful cabins and RV sites. The only have 5 tent sites. There are no tent pads and the sites are on a small hill. The picnic tables are limited and not every tent site has one. There are no fire rings so it’s a little unnerving building a fire on the grass. The lake and marina is wonderful and clean. They have all sorts of thing to do there. Kayak rentals, fishing charters, a cute little cafe. This is a place I would come to rent a cabin but not to tent camp!

We tent camped in a primitive spot #47. Overall the spot was nice but not very level making the best placement of our large tent a bit of a challenge. Vault toilets were clean and had hand sanitizer. The nature and hiking in this park was our favorite part. Even rented a canoe and paddled across the lake to the river. Park staff were friendly and helpful. Some primitive tent sites are right on the edge of the lake and after a big rain were very swampy. I believe all sites had partial shade and some have more privacy than others. We did spot some full hook up sites in the RV section that have good space for a tent set up and we may try that next time cause we definitely will be back.

Great COE campground on Lake Whitney with well spaced sites for trailers and tent camping. Includes a large section for equestrian campers that includes paddocks for your horse as well as trails to ride on. There are both 30 and 50 amp spots as well as tent camping sites. A boat launch, shallow swimming areas and 2 playgrounds round out this fantastic, family friendly campground!

I tent camped here one night with my friend. Our site was perfect for us. It was close to the restrooms and privacy from others was great. Views of the lake were beautiful! I recommend if you just need to get out of your house for a bit!

Camping amongst the llamas was a dream come true! It was everything we hoped for- and more! You can tell Judy does this for the love of llamas. We got a tour of the pasture, and met all of the llamas by name. We got to feed the llamas, and they hung around our camp for almost our entire visit. We. Had. A. Blast. 

Multiple fire pits and picnic tables per site. Big, shady trees to escape the beating Texas sun. And we felt safe enough to let our boys camp in their own tent for the first time. Not too far from the city, but definitely feels like you're in the middle of nowhere. Tent sites aren't secluded, but they aren't close-by either, and our neighbors were never bother. 10/10 we will definitely be back.

Another great Army Corps of Engineers Park. It is a bit neglected but still pretty awesome with its spacious sites and gorgeous views of Bardwell Lake. Our site #29 was nice and shady and panoramic view of lake. We have a class a so never checked restrooms. I base my review rating on the beauty of the view.

We had limited weekends to take the grandkids camping. It has been raining non stop all over Texas. I began to look for places within 2 hours of Fort Worth. Texas State Parks are a great. I settled on Lake Whitney. They have these shelter sites that are awesome. For $30 per night ($10 per night more than normal e&w site) plus $5 per adult gate fee. That may not be economical for everyone, but $40 for an overnight camp was fine. The shelters are very clean and well kept. Inside is a picnic table and enough floor space for another plus some. So if your tent fails in you go. The top of walls are screened and bottom solid. I set up my camp kitchen and we ate meals inside due to weather. We set up our large tent behind the shelter to block wind from the lake. The site also had it's own parking, another table outside and fire ring. We had site 4 right across from the lake and swimming area. The bath house was very clean and only a short walk. You can fish license free from the shore. There are 5 or 6 moderate hiking trails. Also the park is home to plenty of woodland animals. The 4 yo and I took a 2 am bathroom break and saw a herd of dear about 30 head.

The park is very good for families and fishing.

There are also a boat ramp, small airstrip and day use areas.

The staff is awesome.

I’ve been there twice and have had a great time….quiet,clean convenient to the DFW area..nice fishing area and water sports rentals available…will be going to this park a lot..had full hook ups…has 30/50 amps..water/sewer…a lot of tent spaces and spots with just water/electric…a great variety…

Really nice sites to park and camp. Lake is beautiful but rocky shoreline. Only nit-picky thing is that the tent pads between me and my neighbor were pretty close, but hey - it’s a state park. The bathrooms were also further than you’d want to walk. Overall, good experience though!

Our family started a new tradition of having a small camping thanksgiving the weekend before thanksgiving and we love lake Whitney. We camped in spot 91 and 92. We have our tent and the kids have a RV. The campground is nicely maintained and the bathrooms are clean. We hiked and biked.

We stopped here overnight on the way home from Renfest in October 2017... it was rustic, we saw a couple of wild hogs on the way to our campsite.

Like the other state parks we had been to, there was running water, tent pads & a nearby restroom. Since we were only there for one night, we didn't get a chance to explore the park.

We decided our immediate family would have our thanksgiving camping, there were 10 of us,one RV and two tents. We scored a spot at lake Whitney state park the weekend before thanksgiving and it was awesome! We hiked and biked and enjoyed the weather. The restrooms were clean and the staff was helpful. There was wifi by the restrooms. We hope to make this an annual tradition. It’s only an hour or so from the Dallas area.

This park is beautiful with lots of areas to explore. The camp sites are all in one location and are very close to one another. Some sites are awesome while others are kind of awful, unfortunately. We were in site 004 and it wasn't great. There wasn't a good spot for a tent or a hammock. However, site 005 was much better. The sites that are listed as next to the bathrooms are RIGHT next to the bathrooms.

This park is just outside the DFW area which makes it a great alternative to staying in an expensive hotel. It’s only about 30 minutes to downtown Dallas but it still feels like you’re way out in nature. I stayed at site #77 in the Shady Ridge area. It was an RV site but there was plenty of room for a tent. Plus, you have water right at your site. There are hiking and biking trails, swimming and fishing. There was a little bit of road noise from the nearby highway but it wasn’t too bad.

In early March of 2020, right at the beginning of the Covid 19 Pandimic, I had the opportunity to visit Fort Parker State Park is located next to the town of Mexia Texas and sits on the banks of Fort Parker Lake. This great Texas State Park was built by the CCC starting in 1935 and finishing in 1942. The CCC Company 3807(C) that constructed the park and for recreation was an an all African American CCC Camp. Old Fort Parker was rebuilt by the CCC in preparation for a Texas Centennial Observance in 1936, the rest of the constructs were completed over 6 years. Fort Parker State Park was dedicated in May 1941. Fort Parker State Park provides an excellent location for family camping trips, great family reunions or just a fun day hiking and exploring. Come along with me as I explore Fort Parker State Park!

https://youtu.be/9JDt7QTb-Ps

It’s okay but it’s too pricey for how small it is. Good representation of Texas wildlife and a good spot for family camping. Lots of traffic and places for rvs and such. Good trail system

Although a small park, the design is thoughtful and you don't feel like you are so close to the huge DFW area.  The sites are tight (we have a 30' rig) but I did see a large 5er do some tricks to get into his spot, but he got 'er in there.  Because the sites are so compact, the covered table, fire ring, and nice flat tent area is behind the RV pad.  See the picture posted.  It is an interesting layout, but it does work.  Quite a few of the lake-side spots are closed, looks like previous flood damage.  Lake level was good.  Fairly clean and nice.  But ongoing improvements are being made.  I would stay there again.

I think this may be a drug/theft area. There are locals coming in and out constantly all night. One keeps shining a very high power green laser at all the camp sites. Another has parked a boat in a tent only site and is walking around my site and others sites with a very bright flashlight looking through peoples stuff.

The bathroom is full of rotted wood all over the ground.

There is an astounding amount of Gar and other large fish all over the ground around the camp sites.

The camp hosts seem so old they dont have a clue what is going on here.