Ray Roberts Lake State Park and Grapevine Lake are the primary water features supporting glamping close to Bedford, Texas. With summer temperatures often exceeding 95°F, waterfront accommodations are especially popular during June through September. Most cabin rentals include air conditioning, essential for comfortable overnight stays during the hot Texas summers.
What to do
Beach access and swimming: Johnson Branch Campsites at Ray Roberts Lake State Park offers water activities for visitors. "We stayed in site 136 in dogwood canyon, and it was lovely... if you're a fisherman there's easy access to a couple of coves that look like they would be great fishing spots," notes Grace B.
Kayaking and paddling: Pilot Knoll Park Campground on Lake Lewisville provides calm water areas perfect for novice paddlers. "Calm water, large lot land area and clean, easy access to walk right into the lake to swim, and space to dock your boat make the cove side of the park an excellent score," says Monica C.
Hiking trails: Explore the nature paths at Loyd Park, which offers both wooded and lakeside routes. "We spent three days there swimming and hiking around. Great times!" mentions Myc C. The park maintains several miles of trails with minimal elevation changes, suitable for all skill levels.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: The Vineyards Campground & Cabins receives high marks for site layout. "Very Pretty Views. Large Sites with covered Picnic tables. Sites spread nicely with no one on top of you," writes Andrew B., highlighting the spacing that creates a more secluded feel.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained bathrooms at many parks near Bedford. "Cleanest bathrooms and showers," notes Dan W. about The Vineyards Campground. This standard extends to many of the higher-rated glamping properties within 30 miles of Bedford.
Security features: Multiple campgrounds implement security measures for guest safety. Andrew B. appreciates that The Vineyards has "Great security visible as well as a coded gate after hours." Northside RV Resort similarly uses a gate system, with one guest noting, "The park was very clean with four bathroom/shower rooms and laundry room as well... The park also has a gate with a code needed to enter."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most cabin and glamping sites require advance booking, with weekend dates filling 2-3 months ahead during peak season (March-October).
Weather considerations: Summer heat impacts camping comfort significantly. "You really can't go wrong with Johnson Branch on Lake Ray Roberts," states Chris P., but many reviewers note the need for shade structures during summer months.
Site selection strategy: When booking at Johnson Branch Campsites — Ray Roberts Lake State Park, consider tree coverage. "We stayed in the Walnut camping circle and got site 62. The site was actually pretty nice. It had the most trees over the sites around us, to give us a 'in the woods' feel," explains Chris H.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. At North Texas Jellystone, families find extensive recreation options. "Lots of activities, games, crafts, pools, petting zoo, water park, and more. We love it here," shares Lauren Z.
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for parks with dedicated family facilities. "Check-in was very easy, sites were very clean and well maintained, playground was amazing with an awesome 'roller-coaster' swing that the teenagers even loved," reports Joie S. about The Vineyards.
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer learning activities. At Johnson Branch, one parent noted, "It's was very windy but we had loads of fun! We learned what native plants we can eat!"
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Cowtown RV Park provides level concrete pads that simplify setup. "Level concrete camp spots. The FHUs were in good working order," notes John T., adding "We would stay here again for even more than a day."
Hookup availability: Check specific sites for utilities needed. "Cactus A." clarifies about Loyd Park: "Also they have electric and water hookups. Don't know why it says no electric on this site. Would rate it a 5 star if it had full hookups but we had to use the dump station."
Proximity to water: RVers seeking lakefront views should book early. "We stayed at site 115 great spot close to the water," mentions Tammie L. about Loyd Park, where sites with both lake views and hookups are limited and book quickly.
