Lake Mineral Wells State Park and surrounding campgrounds form the core of equestrian camping near Benbrook, Texas. Located approximately 30 miles west of Fort Worth, this region features limestone outcroppings, oak-juniper woodlands, and several water bodies including Benbrook Lake and the Brazos River. Daytime temperatures range from 50°F in winter to 95°F in summer with night temperatures typically 15-20 degrees cooler.
What to do
Rock climbing at Lake Mineral Wells: The park features natural rock formations at Penitentiary Hollow where climbers can practice their skills. "The hiking trails are awesome, wooded and peaceful. Usually as the dad, I am the one pushing the kids to go on a hike, but at this park it is the other way round. My eight and six year old's, wake me up wanting to go hiking and rock climbing," notes a visitor to Lake Mineral Wells State Park.
Wildlife viewing: Observe local fauna including deer, turtles, and various bird species. "We saw a few deer that wandered through our part of the CG. AT&T coverage was pretty good with 2 bars of LTE service and speeds up to 17 MB/s," reports a camper at Holiday Park Campground.
Horseback riding trails: The region offers dedicated trails for equestrians with varying difficulty levels. "This park fits me. Dog park, horse stall rentals, storage unit rentals, recreation room, bathrooms and showers, tiny home rentals. Most people stay here long term. Country feel but not far from Walmart, gas stations, eateries, etc..." comments a visitor about Hooves N Wheels RV Park.
Water activities on Joe Pool Lake: The lake provides options for fishing, swimming, and kayaking. "We stayed at site 190. It's at end of road with privacy. There's are rentals like golf carts & kayaks. They have a big beach, park area to enjoy," explains a camper at Loyd Park.
What campers like
Spacious sites with natural separation: Many campgrounds feature sites with ample space between neighbors. "All sites are paved, several are lake front, and the majority of them are well shaded. We camp here often - by ourselves, and with friends," notes a camper about Loyd Park.
Clean, accessible facilities: Bathrooms and shower facilities receive positive reviews across multiple campgrounds. "The park is designed with small loops for 15-20 camp sites in each loop. Very little traffic right by the individual spots. Easy in and out of park," reports a visitor at Cedar Hill State Park.
Proximity to urban amenities with rural feel: Campers appreciate the balance between natural setting and access to conveniences. "Hard to Believe You're Next to a Big City. When we got to Benbrook, we used the campground website instructions as we didn't see any signage for the CG on US377 coming in from the east," mentions a camper at Plateau — Lake Mineral Wells.
Ranger presence and safety: Several parks maintain good security and helpful staff. "We felt very safe at this park. The close the gate at 10 pm and you must have a code to enter after that. The park host is also a ranger. He and his wife were directly across from our site," explains a visitor to Lake Mineral Wells State Park.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially during weekends and holidays. "We have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 73 for 1 night in mid September. The CG is clean, well maintained. The CG roads are paved, but narrow and a little winding in places," advises a camper about Holiday Park.
Insect considerations: The region has seasonal issues with fire ants, ticks, and mosquitoes. "Fire ants and chiggers all over! But the lake was nice," warns a visitor to Cedar Hill State Park.
Water levels affect activities: River and lake conditions fluctuate seasonally, impacting activities. "If you're into fishing, this spot is for you. Every couple of minutes there was a 'plop' from another fish popping out of the water. If you have a small boat, you could drop in right from your site and head out across the lake," mentions a Holiday Park camper.
Terrain challenges: Some trails become inaccessible after heavy rain. "Most of the trails, and primitive camp sites, are accessed by fording the river. This can be impossible depending on recent rain," notes a visitor to Dinosaur Valley State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly dinosaur tracks: Dinosaur Valley State Park offers unique educational experiences. "We all loved this park! Our sites were good size and perfect for us. We walked to the Dino tracks from our sites too! Fishing was good," shares a family who visited the park.
Beach access for children: Several parks offer swimming areas with gentle slopes for younger swimmers. "Lake mineral wells state park was great for biking, hiking, swimming and fishing. We had something fun for all 6 of us. My husband and I stayed in our tent, while rest of family stayed in their RV," mentions a visitor to Lake Mineral Wells.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Schedule early morning or dusk walks for best wildlife sightings. "Love wildlife? There were dozens of deer out of all sizes. I came across 5 different groups of them as I was driving around taking in the entire campground," reports a Holiday Park visitor.
Educational programming: Check park schedules for ranger-led activities aimed at children. "Lots of families enjoying the nice weather the weekend we were there. Cabins looked fine from the outside. Holiday Park, Fort Worth, TX," comments a visitor to Holiday Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Research specific site dimensions before booking. "We enjoyed the view of the lake and privacy at our site since we were the only ones there the whole time of our stay during the week," explains an RV owner at Holiday Park.
Water access information: Not all sites have full hookups, so plan accordingly. "Hard sites all with 20/30/50a, cable TV, and full hookups. There are 4 washer and dryers and showers for all 124 spots. So it's iffy getting one - no place to hang your clothing in the bathrooms and or wash area," notes a visitor to Northside RV Resort.
Road conditions within campgrounds: Some parks have narrow, winding internal roads. "The registration card says to watch for branches if your RV is over 12' tall, but there were several branches much lower than that leaving site 73. We were able to navigate to avoid most of them," advises an RV camper at Holiday Park.
Hookup quality and reliability: Electrical service varies between campgrounds. "Sites have electricity and water, sewer dump is community spread across the grounds. Our site was only a hundred feet from the lake - gorgeous view!" shares an RV camper at Loyd Park.
