5 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Ray Roberts Lake State Park's Isle du Bois unit features horse corrals, giving riders direct access to equestrian trails while camping. The park accommodates various camping styles including tent and RV options with water and electric hookups. Campsites include picnic tables and fire rings, with additional amenities such as showers, trash collection, and sanitary dump facilities. The LBJ National Grasslands and Tadra Point Trailhead & Campground offer more primitive equestrian camping options near Bowie with hitching posts for securing horses overnight. Many sites throughout the grasslands provide ample space for horse trailer parking and camping setups. The ground at some locations can be hard to drive stakes into, making it challenging for securing temporary corrals or high lines.
The trail system at LBJ National Grasslands connects multiple camping areas, offering varied terrain for day rides directly from camp. Water troughs are available at Tadra Point, though the water quality can be questionable, and bringing additional water for horses is recommended. Most equestrian camping areas feature tie poles for securing horses overnight when corrals aren't available. The camping areas are typically open with limited privacy between sites, particularly at busier locations like Tadra Point where the $10 per car fee is collected through a self-serve payment system. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some areas becoming challenging during wet weather. The grasslands provide plenty of open space for riding with occasional cattle sharing the landscape.
"It’s free and close to DFW. There’s cattle roaming around and a lot of stocked ponds to fish in and some hiking through the different areas."
"Ground is kind of hard to drive a stake into. No water or restrooms that we saw but I know wherever the group site is there is supposedly a restroom."
from $5 - $10 / night
"We enjoyed our overnight stay near the trailhead."
"Plenty of poles for tying horses and there is water trofts for them but the water looked pretty disgusting. May want to think about bringing several gallons of water."
"We had our own private access to the lake that was secluded by trees at our site. Picnic table and fire ring. The tent only sites was basically a big field with a parking lot nearby."
"Caution- Google Maps has no idea where the entrance to this campground is. Entry was very easy and the Ranger on duty was extremely helpful."
"A lot of people, depending the on the lakes level will also use this side for swimming."
"small RV park on the lake, quiet and shaded"
"We stayed one night at the equestrian camp on our way through the area. We prefer leaving the equestrian spots for horse owners but it was the last one available in the park."
"A few times a year, the City of Jacksboro opens its arms to an influx of campers and schools from around the state eager to see one of the unique reinactments at the historic location of Fort Richardson"
Available this weekend
from $15 - $45 / night
"Water Electric , dump station close by, all rv sites seem to have a picnic table with an awning. Lake is close by, but we could feel a breeze most nights."
"The only drawback was the distance to the bathroom...quite a walk. But I should have checked that before I booked."
Available this weekend
from $10 - $22 / night
"Roberts Lake State Park has two main campgrounds, the Isle du Bois unit and Johnson unit. These are what I would call twins. They are very similar in layout, scenery and activities."
"Bring your horses for a equestrian trail as well. Great beach for some sand castles and swimming. And don't forget to hit the Dam store and get the dam special. Good burgers there."
Available this weekend
from $15 - $60 / night
from $10 / night
"One of the more expensive Texas state parks. Standard electric at 25/night. Large bathrooms and lots of trash bins. Actual pay phones (who knew those still existed?)"
"Couldn't see the parking lot due to brush, but it was a very short walk and that was nice."
Available this weekend
from $15 - $60 / night
"They also were doing drive in concerts while we were there!"
GuideAwesome State Park. The staff was friendly and had lots of good info. Very well maintained and there were alot of Historical displays and things to see. The Pond had just been restocked with Catfish the day we arrived so my son caught 2 of them and we had catfish tacos for dinner. We will definitely keep this park on our list of places to revisit!
GuideThis is a great little park, lots of room in all the campsites we saw. Really great fishing area! The only drawback was the distance to the bathroom...quite a walk. But I should have checked that before I booked.
TravelerVery nice well kept campground. Staff very nice and professional.
Showers were great!! Hot with lots of pressure!!
GuideFolks want different things out of campsites. For me, it's scenic beauty, quiet for work and mental health, and nice places to take my dog. This checks all the boxes!
None of my reviews will be useful for amenities or activities because I just don't use them. I can't tell you about bathrooms, fishing, etc. I can tell you the water is very soft and feels slick or soapy even after you rinse. I have onboard reverse osmosis and wouldn't recommend drinking city water anywhere in Texas. There's too much oil production here and gas and chemicals are all over.
The staff at the gate were pleasant and said, "You must be David," when I pulled in, which was very nice and made it easy and welcoming.
Texas has many undiscovered and wonderful public lands, whether you're really camping or just working remote, watching the deer, or seeing the sunrise over a lake from your bedroom window. Get out here and come see them!
GuideOur family had a fantastic 2 night stay. We’ve only stayed at Johnson Branch on Ray Roberts in the past, and have loved Isle Du Bois. Our site is surrounded about beautiful lush trees and overgrowth. The beach is right up the path and my two boys (4&6) loved playing in the water with the kids. Our site is also two sites from the playground and bathroom/showers, which was super convenient! Will definitely be back and eyeing a site right off the water for some fishing!
GuideI stayed at Wild Plum campsite #124 at Isle du Bois and honestly… 5/5. I’d definitely go back.
The overall vibe was solid. The campsite itself was clean, spacious, and felt semi-private. You can see and hear neighbors a bit, but it’s not crowded or on top of each other. Just know it’s not fully secluded. The lake view was really nice, and there are several little fishing spots around the Wild Plum area. Plus, plenty of trails nearby if you want to get out and walk.
Each site out there has its own little vibe depending on where it sits, but they’re all pretty roomy and well laid out.
A couple things to be aware of…
The walk from the parking lot to the campsite is no joke. It’s gravel, rocks, and some incline. If you’re bringing a lot of gear, you’ll definitely want a cart. I didn’t expect that part.
The toilet situation… yeah, I didn’t use it. It’s a primitive setup with no plumbing, and it was pretty rough. That said, it’s expected for this type of campsite. If you need a better option, you can go up to the pier — those bathrooms have actual plumbing and are way cleaner.
No showers or water at the site either. There is a water spigot near the pier if you need to refill, and you’ll have to drive your trash up to the dumpsters.
Weather-wise, it was super windy when I went (early March), and campsites closer to the water definitely catch that wind. Also, not a lot of shade since the trees didn’t have leaves yet, so keep that in mind depending on the time of year.
On the positive side, I saw a lot of deer in the mornings, which was a really nice touch. No bugs during my stay (I did use a fogger), and the overall environment was peaceful. The park staff was also super duper friendly and helpful, which always makes the experience better.
Also worth noting — there are stores not too far from the park (like Dollar General), which came in clutch. I actually had to grab some super glue to fix a hole in my air mattress, so it’s good knowing you’re not too far from supplies if something goes wrong.
I went solo, and it was honestly the perfect little reset—quiet, scenic, and just enough nature without being too rough.
Good for solo campers, couples, or even families if you’re cool with primitive camping.
ScoutFree for up to 14 days! Find a spot and park! The site we found it big, nobody around and has a fire pit! We are in a class c
RangerNot far from Fort Worth, but feels miles away when you are there! Big beautiful lake you can enjoy and fish, large park and volleyball courts. My only complaint was our ‘double’ site barely fit my sisters one camper. If we weren’t tenting we probably wouldn’t have had room so wouldnt recommend that specific site for two campers. Also don’t drink alcohol outside of your camper or vehicle the rangers will get on to you for it
TravelerWater Electric , dump station close by, all rv sites seem to have a picnic table with an awning. Lake is close by, but we could feel a breeze most nights. Slept with windows open, to the sound of a pump jack running, read up about it, very interesting. Bathroom is dated but clean and functional, it's a state park, that is all I want. Nearby is Wichita Falls, we walked to the Falls, decent sized western city with choices for food and shopping. We would stop again.
LBJ National Grasslands offers primitive equestrian camping areas spread across 20,000 acres near Bowie, Texas. The terrain varies from open grassland to scattered oak trees and mesquite thickets, with elevations ranging from 700 to 900 feet. Ground conditions can be rocky and hard-packed in summer months, while winter brings wetter soil that can challenge vehicle access to some remote camping locations.
Trail riding at multiple access points: LBJ National Grasslands features numerous entry points for riders with interconnected trails across diverse terrain. "We love this place! It's free and close to DFW. There's cattle roaming around and a lot of stocked ponds to fish in and some hiking through the different areas," notes Kristi B. about LBJ Lyndon B Johnson National Grasslands.
Fishing in stocked ponds: Several fishing spots throughout the grasslands provide good catches even for beginners. "There is a small dumpster available. The bathroom/shower facilities and dump station are down the road at the main campground," mentions Ari A. about Fort Richardson State Park Hist. Site and Trailway, which offers similar fishing opportunities to those found near Bowie.
Historical exploration: Visit nearby historical sites for educational day trips from your camp. "We did call the park Ranger and he said the trailhead is a great place to camp and easy to access with a trailer," shares UnnamedAdventures about Tadra Point Trailhead & Campground, noting the staff support for campers interested in exploring the area.
Spaciousness of sites: Many horse-friendly camp areas near Bowie feature large, open spaces for trailers and equipment. "The site itself was really large with huge old trees for hammocks. We had our own private access to the lake that was secluded by trees at our site," explains Kenneth P. about Thousand Trails Bay Landing, which offers similar site layouts to equestrian sites in the region.
Wildlife viewing: Campers regularly spot deer, turkey, and other wildlife at dawn and dusk. "Wildlife observed; prairie dogs, western diamond back, owls (didn't make notice of which kind but they were huge), rabbits, coyote, deer," reports Jarrid R. about Lake Arrowhead State Park Campground.
Night sky conditions: Minimal light pollution creates excellent stargazing opportunities. "Very quite and no artificial lights, heat place to star gaze," states Jeanne B. about Lake Arrowhead State Park Campground, highlighting a feature common across many equestrian camping sites near Bowie.
Water availability challenges: Water sources can be unreliable or require treatment. "There is no drinking water here so you will need to bring some in," advises Mesha P. about Tadra Point Trailhead & Campground, a common issue at horse campgrounds near Bowie.
Seasonal factors: Summer heat requires extra preparation while winter brings mud concerns. "Typically you will find those wanting to camp on this side and those wanting to fish off the shore on the other side which has a gated entrance which is not always open," notes Crystal C. about Black Creek Lake NF Campground.
Ground conditions: Rocky or hard soil makes tent stakes difficult in many areas. "The ground at some locations can be hard to drive stakes into, making it challenging for securing temporary corrals or high lines," explains a camper about equestrian sites in the region.
Wildlife education opportunities: Plan morning wildlife walks for kids to spot prairie dogs and birds. "Beautiful campsite. The fort is very interesting. I was there on a re-enactment weekend and really enjoyed talking to all the re-enacters," shares David R. about Fort Richardson State Park Hist. Site and Trailway.
Playground access: Several camping areas have dedicated play spaces for children. "There is also a huge area for kid activities, family gathering and more," notes Robert M. about Thousand Trails Bay Landing, describing amenities similar to those at equestrian sites near Bowie.
Space between campsites: Select sites with more isolation for families needing privacy. "We stayed at site 136 in dogwood canyon, and it was lovely. Next time I'd stay at 137 for a bit more isolation, as you could see the boardwalk from our campsite," advises Grace B. about Johnson Branch Campsites at Ray Roberts Lake State Park.
Site selection for equestrian camping: Choose sites with adequate space for both RV and horse trailer parking. "If renting a cabin do so well in advance between summer camp, family outings and normal traffic these book up quickly," recommends Crystal C. about Bay Landing, advice that applies equally to popular equestrian sites.
Access road conditions: Some areas have rough entry roads requiring careful navigation. "The road is long and paved/gravel. The speed limit is 35mph but I didn't get over 15 or 20 mph because of the holes," cautions William about Bay Landing RV Campground.
Cell service reliability: Coverage varies dramatically across the grasslands. "We were able to work and stream video easily with T-Mobile and AT&T," reports Laura H. about Bay Landing RV Campground, which has better connectivity than some more remote equestrian camping areas near Bowie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bowie, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bowie, TX is LBJ Lyndon B Johnson National Grasslands with a 4.1-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bowie, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Bowie, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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