Carrollton area camping options include full-service facilities with water and electric hookups for RVs and primitive sites for tent campers seeking more seclusion. Campgrounds span across three main lakes—Lewisville, Grapevine, and Ray Roberts—with elevations ranging from 435 to 644 feet. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F with humidity levels reaching 80%, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Ray Roberts Lake State Park offers varied trail experiences for different skill levels. "A very nice state park, about an hour northwest of Dallas. Lots of hiking and biking trails, with clean restrooms! Deer will approach your campsite and you're likely to see all kinds of wildlife," notes a visitor to Isle du Bois Campsites.
Kayaking and paddleboarding: Twin Coves Park provides rental equipment and protected water areas. "What a beautiful park. Lake front, kayak rentals with a great cove to paddle around in. Walking trails galore," states a reviewer at Twin Coves Park.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer fishing docks and bank access. According to one camper at The Vineyards: "We boated, kayaked, rented a golf cart and more. The gold sites are worth it! All concrete sites on the water and stone encased cooking areas. Great water pressure, sewer hookups and more. Incredible sunsets and my boys caught a 12 lb and 20 lb catfish right off the fishing dock."
What campers like
Lake access sites: Waterfront campsites rank as the most desired locations. At Willow Grove Park, one camper reported: "Beautiful, clean, modern campsite. The wifi is not very reliable. The bathrooms and showers work, and are clean. There is a park with slides and swings. The lake was warm and there was a little 'beach' for swimming."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-serviced amenities. "Very clean and quite. We are going back next weekend," noted a visitor to Hidden Cove Park & Marina, while another mentioned: "RV and tent sites are spacious. Lots of lake access from sites. They also have cabins for rent. The staff is friendly."
Space between sites: Campers appreciate sites that aren't overcrowded. At Hickory Creek, reviews consistently mention this feature: "A lot of space between sites, well level and paved, family oriented, very quite, beautiful lake and tree sites, lighted power supply post with all the amps available. Fire pits, bbq, picnic tables and some with gazebo."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. "Twin coves is my favorite park. It has great hiking, a nice kayak launch and new, clean bathrooms. The cabins are well equipped with granite countertop kitchens even!" states a camper at Twin Coves Park.
Seasonal crowds: Weekends from April to October see the highest visitor numbers. During busy periods, campgrounds implement quiet hours at 10 pm, though enforcement varies by location.
Security concerns: Some parks have open access points without gated entry. As one camper at Lake Park Campground noted: "Very friendly staff, clean bathrooms, Verizon 2 bar 4g. Bathrooms locked down to prevent non campers from using them. You will be given the access code on check in. Front gate get locked at 11pm. If you don't make it, you have to park outside and walk in."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and beaches: Several campgrounds feature child-friendly recreation areas. "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 a visitor to The Vineyards Campground & Cabins.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many sites offer chances to see local animals. At Isle du Bois, "We have car camped on a few occasions here and each time we saw plenty of deer around camp," shares one reviewer.
Safety considerations: Some waterfront areas require extra precautions. A Willow Grove Park visitor advises: "The lake was warm and there was a little 'beach' for swimming- I would recommend water shoes and floaties!"
Tips from RVers
Hookup specifics: Electrical service varies by campground. "The electric was recently upgraded after the flooding this year. So there's 50 amp available now too. I camped at site 39 and it was an asphalt/gravel pad and fairly level. Water pressure was good and there was lots of shade and ample privacy between sites in this section," notes a Hickory Creek visitor.
Site selection strategy: Many RVers recommend researching specific site numbers. At Hidden Cove Park, "Site #33 is for tent camping so there was no electric or water. The website said no toilets but there was a port-a-potty about 40 yards from our site along with a water spigot. The site was fairly level and comes with a covered picnic table and enough trees to provide shade."
Dump station locations: Not all parks offer convenient waste disposal. One camper at Willow Grove notes: "Dump station is near the middle school outside the park so had to drive our tote 1/4-1/2 mile up the street with a decent amount of traffic."
