Best Tent Camping near Canyon, TX

I had passed through the Texas panhandle so many times on my bi-yearly drives to Scottsdale Arizona from central Illinois, but had not stopped at this park until June of 2017. I found this on the Internet and having been to the Grand Canyon several times I wanted to compare it to this one.

The canyon is amazing and I saw a wild boar, a roadrunner, an armadillo, 7 turkey's and 2 white tail deer. In the morning after spending just one night here. It cost $16 for a site with no electricity and I reserved it online for another $4. The tent campsites all have covered pavilion structures that shade the picnic table and many people hang hammocks in them. There are fire pits with grates and porto potty's that were disgusting, so I dug a cat hole in the morning, which was a much better option. I tent camped and intended to hike some after my long day driving, but was held up in a two hour traffic jam making the hike impossible before dark. The people I found having a Birthday party in my campsite said the hiking is great here and treated me to a hamburger, a beer ( not allowed ), some great conversation and a piece of Birthday cake.

The RV campsites had shower houses and much better restrooms, so if I return here with my wife I will spring for the more deluxe campsite. I was in awe of the scenery in this canyon but surprised by the lack of groundskeeping, restroom maintenance and park management not knowing what people were doing in the campgrounds. Although I found 10 people in my reserved campsite after driving all day, I made the most of it and was happy I met this group of people.

Unexpected beautiful canyon in northern Texas! Beautiful views and clean, well maintained tent sites! Many trails walking distance from your camp and shared water spigots near sites. Come for the canyon and stay for Texas the musical! That exceeded my expectations too!

Great little campground circle inside Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Sites have water and electric hook up with a dump station nearby.

This state park is massive with many campgrounds to choose from. You really can’t go wrong with any of them. Some are great for RV’s, some are better for tent camping!

Nice visitors center and camp store nearby.

Excellent tent camping location inside Palo Duro Canyon. Winter camping is excellent here. The temps were really cold, but no bugs and no sweating made for a great Thanksgiving trip.

There is a nearby camp store with a simple menu restaurant. The also rent propane fire pits sonde there is usually always a burn ban.

Lots of nearby hiking trails. This campground is very close to the popular and usually full Trailhead for the Lighthouse.

This is the perfect place for quiet, secluded tent camping. The sites were spread apart a nice distance, each with a picnic table. Pit toilets centrally located. Grills And fire rings at some (but perhaps not all) of the sites.  The best part of this campground is the quiet. We were the only ones at the campground the weekend of our visit - we literally had the campground to ourselves. Just a short drive/hike further up the canyon on the dirt road for some beautiful views.

Beautiful campground down a windy road. Tent site doesn't get much of the expansive views, but it is much easier to set up shade shelters. Beware of the heat, even when headed into fall. Pleasant morning temperatures don't last long.

Location: You’ll probably not stumble across this location. It’s remote and you’ll need to be looking for it to find it. Once we arrived the flat farmland opens up before you into an amazing canyon. The first time you descend into the park it is breathtaking and a huge change from up on the rim. summer trips can be extremely hot and winter trips can be extremely cold, it may seem obvious, but temperatures in Texas are usually on the warmer side for the seasons.

Campsites: The sites are broken up into standard RV sites and tent sites with no access to sewer for the RVs. The tent sites are standard car camping sites with a pull-in at each site for your vehicle. Depending on the terrain you may be close to other sites. They also offer cabins on a few sites that were built in the 1930s by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp). They have been fitted with window AC units and microwaves. It is a single room with full sized bunk beds. The fireplaces rely on airflow in the cabin to ensure the smoke goes outside rather than filling the cabin. Instructions for building fires appropriately are provided.

Activities: There are a lot of hiking trails for various skill levels. Mt. Biking is great fun in the canyon as well. We have been on several of the trails. They are all relatively short at around 4 miles round trip. They do offer back country hiking and camping, but you’ll want some experience before attempting that in this area. There are many great rock formations to explore, but you could get lost quickly if you go off trail.

I went last summer and the campsites were nice with a covered area, tent site, table, and firepit. However, there was no controlling the noise of nearby campers. Quiet time wasn't enforced and there wasn't a number to call to get someone out there, so there was a group partying loudly until midnight. Made it incredibly difficult to sleep.

This campground is only .5 miles from the park. It was really convenient. It’s pretty basic but sufficient. There are bathrooms in a hard sided building next to the store. I was car/tent camping and when I reserved online I booked site 3, however when you receive your welcome email it explains that all the field area around the RV pads are open for camping so choosing a stir is not necessary unless you’re in an RV.

They have tiny cabins that looked nice and we’re occupied. The grounds are very dark at night, could use some security lamps.

Wind coming off the canyon is STRONG, keep that in mind when you choose your site.

Has some really nice views of the canyon and I saw some deer roaming around the camps.

There is not a lot of shade, I found the only tree and claimed it.

It’s a good spot!

You have a lot of campground variety options. Some campgrounds can handle giant monster RVs and have hookups while others are tent only and then you have group and hike in sites.

The tent sites are drive up and have tables and fire rings, some areas have (shaded tabled, which you may need because it's pretty open) You have some water nearby, but depending on which campground you're at you might want to make sure and pack it in.

This also goes for restrooms and showers, as they are not everywhere....

If you are looking for lots of hiking and mountain biking in the beautiful Texas panhandle.  2nd largest canyon in the U.S.  Great amenities and a well cared for state park.  We spent 5 days there and still didn't get to cover all the trails and sights.  Plan to go back.  We went in April to beat the heat, but it was still pretty warm on the trails, near 90 in the days and high 50's at night.  Next trip will be likely in the fall (October-ish).  All the trails warn to bring water and they mean it!  Lots of wildlife; deer, hogs, numerous birds, reptiles.  Sudden storms can pop up and bring quick winds and rain, so be prepared!  Sites are large, but not isolated from each other (not many trees), so be ready for some openness.  Flat pads with good water and electric.  There are numerous primitive tent sites and some pack-in sites as well.  Park store is run by a 3rd party vendor, so Texas Parks pass doesn't give you discount, but the store is large and has bistro-type eating.

My husband and i were here in late august,2018 and the flies and bugs were so awful we could do nothing outside at our campsite. The tent campsite was poor compared to others. The bathrooms were horrible, no hot water in the shower, no water pressure, and simply nasty, not sure when they had been cleaned. The views are amazing and the hike we completed was challenging due to the heat (108). We recommend coming in spring or late fall.

We visited Palo Duro the week after the Winter Apocalypse and I think because of that, the park was a lot less crowded than usual.  It was our first trip in an RV, so we weren't sure what to expect.  (We normally back country tent-camp and are used to a bit more space.)  We booked Sagebrush site 126, and we drive into the campgrounds, we're literally the only people there.  We plug in, get settled, enjoy the gorgeous views from inside the canyon.  There's a nice structure for each campsite over a picnic table, and a fire ring (which we couldn't use due to the burn ban.)  Not 10 minutes after we get set up, a ginormous RV pulls in right next to us.  The way that the sites are set up, our site was facing their picnic table directly, and there was no barrier between our site and theirs.  Some of the sites closer to the entrance of the campgrounds had more privacy, but then you have the lights of the general store to contend with.  We moved around night-to-night, based on the most peaceful section of the campgrounds, and I think because it was so deserted that week, the authorities never gave us any trouble.  Overall the park is absolutely gorgeous and we went on some wonderful hikes.  Highly recommend!!! [But don't stay in site 126 if you like privacy :) )

Wow, this place is incredible! It’s a state park but could easily qualify as a National Park based on the natural beauty and park programs. This is a major state park with hundreds of camping sites for all levels of camping from large RVs to simple tent campers. The canyon is huge on covers hundreds square miles. It’s about a one day drive from Austin and located near Amarillo in the Texas Plains. This area can get very cold in the winter and extremely hot in the summer. The campgrounds are down in the canyon which is normally hotter. We visited in July on the way back from Colorado. It was 93 degrees at 10pm at night. So tent campers need to plan carefully. They have some of the Best facilities for a state park. The amphitheater is very popular and puts on great programs. We canyons are breathtaking and the red variations of the canyon walls are fantastic for artists and photographers alike. The visitors center staff were very helpful and were able to accommodate a couple of special request. They are open until 9pm which is great. The restrooms and other facilities are some of the best we have experienced. The hiking trails here are a highlight and popular for hiking and mountain biking. We saw eagles and roadrunners during our stay. The area has some interesting history and worth learning more. I would highly recommend for those looking for a campsite in Northern Texas near Amarillo. This has to be one of the best Texas State Parks on our list.

We love camping at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. This is the second largest canyon in the U.S. It’s 120 miles long and 600 to 800 feet deep. It’s so beautiful that you swear you are on a Disney Wild West set and this is make believe.  It’s awesome cause you can camp at the bottom of the canyons near all these great red cliffs.  There are some epic mountain bike trails here thru Juniper and Mesquite trees.  If you’re looking for other entertainment besides just camping or bike riding there was also a Texas Hoe-Down BBQ, a Texas musical and an interpretive night hike along the canyon floor with flashlights.  Flush toilets and showers are available.

The Grand Canyon of Texas. Nice camping sites. Excellent trail system. Breathtaking views. No cell phone service with Spectrum.

Took a chance on this SP based on state guide book. Hard to believe there is a natural canyon in Texas!

Read some reviews where they stated they didn't unhook their toad upon heading to the canyon. Well I'm glad we did, being from Florida we don't have drops like this. What a drive. Loved our site, very wooded. Not much if any cell service as you are down in a canyon. This is a must stay if you're in the panhandle of Texas.

What an incredible entrance! We unhooked our toad before heading into the canyon, and I'm glad we did. The drive was stunning, especially for us Floridians not used to such drops. Our site was beautifully wooded, though cell service was minimal down in the canyon love tester online. Definitely a must-visit if you're in the Texas panhandle.

We we’re driving through and planned to disperse camp at Palo Duro Canyon but the rain flooded the area and they had to close it. We drove here, and it was okay. The grass was tall so we couldn’t really get to the lake from the tent areas. They do have a restroom but we didn’t use it.

Palo Duro Canyon is just amazing! We have been 3 times, as it is one of our stopping points on our Texas and Colorado trek. Seeing the canyon is such a treat! Be sure to ask about the best spots to take pictures at sunset.

If you go in the Summer, expect it to be HOT, and always have water with you. The drive down to the campsites has lots of switchbacks, but we have successfully navigated it with our RV in tow. MANY opportunities for hiking, climbing, biking and just walking around. The rock formations are just wonderful, and if you are a photographer, you will love this park.

The Texas Show is a MUST- at least once in your life!!

Wow, Palo Duro Canyon sounds like a dream outdoor getaway! Can't wait to explore the trails and catch a TEXAS Outdoor Musical. Any hidden gems you recommend checking out? unscramble words

For most people, it is a long drive to this park. The Palo Euro Canyon State Park is located in the Texas Panhandle. From Central Texas it is a 8-9 hour drive. The long drive is worth it. When you arrive at the park you feel like you’ve arrived to someplace special. The park is a typical Texas State Park with a number of reservable developed campsites with a table, water, electricity and restrooms nearby. There are also some basic sites without water and electricity. And of course there is primitive camping. Since we had a long drive we stayed one of the developed campsites for the first night. For the remaining days we hiked into the canyon and camped primitive. While there is a small creek that runs through the canyon, we did not use the water. There is cattle grazing throughout the park and it is rumored that the creek is both a water hole for the cattle and a toilet. We were planning an in and out hike, so we carried a couple extra gallons of water in, stashed them near a tree, then relocated and used them on the way out. The park has some really cool rock formations, cliffs and orange soil. This weather can by dry and hot in the summer, so early spring and late fall are probably the preferable time to visit.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Amarillo Texas boosts where the Comanche Indians lived Where Coronado traveled and where John Goodnight brought in Cattle ...full of history and great views, Including Observation Point Los Cedros Ranch and ofcourse the famous play "TEXAS"..a must see for history buffs. Plenty of campsites and you can call ahead for reservations Check out their web site..you won't be sorry!

This park is Amazing! Absolutely gorgeous landscape, in the 2nd biggest canyon in the US, behind the Grand Canyon. The park is relatively new and still under development. As of the time of this review, there are only boondocking sites available, but they offer epic views of the canyon. There are miles of hiking, and MTB Trails to enjoy, and even some top notch off road trails down in the canyon, green to black skill level. If your looking for a true overlanding experience, this is one of very few places in Texas where you can get away from the crowds, and into some raw, natural land to set up your camp. This is a private park, so you'll need to be a member, or a guest of a member, to enter. They do have a few days a month open to the public, so check their website for available dates.