Best Tent Camping near Cisco, TX

The Cisco, Texas area features limited tent camping options within a rural landscape dominated by lakes and parks. Johnson Park on Lake Fort Phantom Hill provides one of the primary tent camping destinations about 25 miles west of Cisco, while Lake Daniel City Park offers a more primitive tent camping experience approximately 20 miles northeast of Cisco. These established campgrounds provide varying levels of amenities in west-central Texas terrain characterized by open prairie and scattered woodlands.

Tent sites at Johnson Park on Lake Fort Phantom Hill include both drive-in and walk-in options with a range of basic amenities. The campground provides drinking water, picnic tables, trash disposal, showers, and toilet facilities that are maintained regularly. Fire rings are available for campfires with fires permitted when no burn bans are in effect. The park welcomes pets but lacks electric hookups or water hookups at individual sites. Lake Daniel City Park offers a more primitive tent camping experience with significantly fewer amenities and facilities, making it suitable for self-sufficient campers prepared to bring all necessary supplies.

Johnson Park provides good water access and multiple camping areas with supporting facilities. A recent review noted, "The park has loads of available camping areas and gazebos with tables, trash cans, grills, and a set of restrooms that are kept relatively clean." The proximity to Lake Fort Phantom Hill creates opportunities for fishing, swimming, and water recreation directly from the tent camping areas. While the park accommodates both RVs and tents, the walk-in tent sites offer more seclusion for tent campers seeking a more immersive outdoor experience. Summer temperatures can be extremely hot, making spring and fall the preferred seasons for tent camping in the region. Most tent sites have limited natural shade, so campers should bring shade structures during warmer months.

Best Tent Sites Near Cisco, Texas (2)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Cisco, TX

114 Reviews of 2 Cisco Campgrounds


  • Napunani
    Mar. 26, 2022

    Copperas Creek at Proctor Lake

    Basic Corps of Engineer Campground

    Reserved 159 days prior 

    Pros

    No reservation fee charged for marking online reservation 

    50% discount with National Park Pass 

    Roadways easy to maneuver without any low-hanging branches 

    Quiet except for middle of the night party animal noise and distant trains 

    Good dark sky viewing as there are NO street lights in campground 

    Concrete treads where RV wheels land were level requiring no additional leveling efforts 

    Metal cover over concrete picnic table 

    Entrance gate closed10pm-6am so exit only without any reentry until 6am

    Saw 1 squirrel and 5 deer 

    Nice Golf Course next to campground 

    Nice fishing piers 

    Plenty TP in toilet/shower rooms 

    Very nice large group picnic pavilions 

    3 bars 3G Verizon 

    Cons

    Site consist of sandy gravel which high winds created a dust storm making a gritty mess of everything inside and out

    Site water hookup below ground 

    Campsite had unusual amount of trash and cigarette butts 

    Campfire ring full of ash and trash upon arrival and there has been a county burn ban for the last 6 months

    Campground toilet/shower facility lit up at night like a Christmas tree 

    County Burn ban, which we discovered ourselves and confirmed by calling park prior to arriving with campfire wood

    Upon check-in, friendly woman at gate told us one thing then a man at the gate contradicted the woman regarding charcoal fires

    Quiet hours not enforced. 4 toilets for 24 campsites for possible 8 people per campsite PLUS boaters and fishermen. Phew! 

    Half of park closed during winter so 37 campsites only open April-September

    The park 3 dumpsters were overflowing; 1 was over flowing upon our Thursday afternoon arrival and the other 2 were overflowing Sunday morning so we had to pack out our trash

    No number sign on our site

    No patrolling host or ranger. 

    No privacy from one campsite to another

    No playground, basketball or tennis courts 

    No campsite BBQ grill 

    No hiking trails 

    No soap or hand towels in toilet facility 

    No trash cans in or outside toilet facility so people threw trash on floor 

    No WIFI

    ............................................

    Eat at Granny Clark’s in Dublin TX. Blue plate special and buffet. Brookshires Grocery and Tractor Supply in Comanche Stephenville 30 miles from campground has Walmart, H‑E‑B, CVS, Walgreens, but no Lowes or Home Depot.

  • M
    Dec. 3, 2024

    North D&D - Brazos River Public Use Area #4

    Off-season boondock paradise

    One week stay during the first week of December D&D south. Weather: highs in the 60s, lows in the 40s. Covered picnic tables, grills, fire pits, trash cans at most sites. Restrooms spaced throughout the park. Massive trail system throughout the area. Excellent service for school/remote work. Ideal for tents, vans, truck campers, and small trailers. No cost during May-September. No water or dump in the parks, but there are showers. There are sites directly on the water and up in the hills. Would return!

  • Matt T.
    May. 25, 2018

    Edwin King Atwood Park

    The beach camping destination with something for every level of camper.

    Beach camping on South Padre Island (NOT to be confused with camping in one of the several campgrounds and resorts located ON South Padre Island) is free/fee camping (depending on time of year) available and unrestricted on the gulf side of the island, from Beach Access #5 and Beach Access #6, to any point north. There are about 24 miles of beach from Beach Access #6 to the northern terminus of the island at the Port Mansfield Channel (aka East Cut or North Jetties). This is a popular fishing destination. Depending on the recent weather and the beach condition, usually the first 3-5 miles of the beach are accessible by 2 wheel drive, trailers, campers, etc. North of that, the sand is less packed and generally requires 4x4 to access. In the days after hurricane Harvey I was actually able to drive all 24 miles in 2 wheel drive because the storm surge had leveled and packed down the beach, but that is extremely rare. Count on needing 4x4 if planning to camp north of the first few miles. Why go that far? During the on-season especially, and many weekends in the off-season, there are many people at the beach also camping, barbecueing, etc, and for the camper that enjoys a more secluded and wild experience, going just a few miles north gets you away from the crowds, and you can find your own stretch of beach to set up and enjoy nature.

    Do not confuse South Padre Island with the Padre Island National Seashore - South Beach. Padre Island National Seashore is only accessible from Corpus Cristi, and has no direct access from South Padre Island because of the Port Mansfield Channel.

    In addition to the normal stuff, always take a shovel and extra water. I have started taking traction boards, I have never had reason to use them myself, but every time I go I end up helping someone who is stuck, and since I have started carrying traction boards I rarely have to use my recovery strap.

    It’s not hard to keep from getting stuck though - air down your tires, don’t stop moving when you start to bog down, know the limits of your vehicle, and try to stay on packed sand. DO NOT drive up on the dunes. This is illegal, even if you see others doing it. Also be aware of and watch for sea turtles and their nests, and report any you see and the closest mile marker.

    Don’t forget to air back up to normal tire pressure once you’re back on the road or at the first service station in town just south.

    Bugs come out in force for a short period as the sun sets if the breeze dies down in the summer, but this usually only lasts for about 30-45 minutes until the night breeze picks up from the gulf and sends them back into hiding. Depending on the time of year, it can get VERY windy at the island, especially there at the north end, so check conditions before you go.

    Wildlife I have seen camping out there: Dolphins, Seabirds, Crabs (especially fun to find at night with a flashlight), Nilgai (an Asian Antelope that now lives wild in south Texas), Sting Rays, and Sea Turtles. I have seen the tracks of Coyotes, Jack Rabbits, Snakes, mice, and Lizards. There have also been sightings of Foxes, Deer, and very rarely, Bobcat. It’s very safe, but as mentioned above, keep your pets with you. This is common sense when camping anyway.

    Campfires and bonfires are allowed, but you must pack in and out your own wood. Make sure to dig a hole, be aware of the wind, and most importantly, make sure the coals are completely put out with water and any logs are removed from the hole before completely covering the area back up when you’re done. Hot coals buried under sand remain hot for hours, and can significantly burn someone that steps on the spot later. Additionally logs left under the surface are a hazard to other vehicles.

    When the fee booth is open, it is $12 entry, and they give you a trash bag. If you bring back the trash bag with trash and receipt before 7pm, they refund you $2. This is irrelevant if staying overnight, since they don’t redeem for prior days. Military and Veterans are $6 to enter with ID. In the off season the fee booth is closed and access is free.

    There are (outdoor beach style) showers and restrooms at Beach Access #5, at the newly built E.K. Atwood Park, and a large dumpster at both exits. No hookups or dump sites though, until you get back to the city of South Padre Island.

    If you drive all the way north to the Channel, there is a trail that turns left and crosses the dunes, following the channel most of the way west across the island before entering restricted Laguna Atascosa NWA land (vehicle traffic is barred, and fines are heavy) and the track disappears beyond that in tidal flats. This area is more specifically what is referred to as the east cut, and while there is an awesome hidden camping site that is second to none, access is tricky, and it is VERY remote. These tidal flats have been the end of many trips, and are known as the 4x4 graveyard. They appear dry on the surface, and have thick watery silt and mud underneath. Once you’re stuck, water begins to fill in from the surrounding ground and it’s extremely difficult to self recover. Cell signal from a few miles north of the access is spotty or non-existent as well. Tow trucks do service even this far north, but the bill is usually $600-$1000+. Not worth it. If you’re going to go, be sure to be traveling in a group of more than one 4x4 high clearance vehicle, and the skills and equipment to self-recover. Stay on the path, and don’t trust how dry the ground make look off the path (except for the area immediately next to the Jetties, where you will want to camp).

    That’s a book, but hopefully it’s enough to get started. Have fun and embrace the wild of it (take a portable toilet) and if you’re like me, you’ll become addicted and go back every chance you get for the opportunity to wake up to the sound of the waves, seabirds, and feeling of sand in your toes.

    Keep in mind normal primitive camping rules, pack in and pack out everything, and leave the beach looking nicer than when you arrived, and we will continue to have this resource for years to come.

  • a
    Feb. 12, 2022

    Possum Kingdom State Park Campground

    1st road-trip!

    This park was definitely out in the middle of nowhere, with a long peaceful drive full of wildlife. We made it to the park entrance, check in was quick. We arrived on a week day and they ranger informed us the camp store was closed until weekend and no firewood. Closest store with firewood was 30min away. They lake was beautiful. We were right beside the restroom and shower facilities which was great! We came to stay for one night, we had a roof top tent so the site we had was nice and would make a perfect side for a RV but for us it could’ve been wider for our ladder but we were close to the restroom which we wanted. The restrooms were clean, could use a little update, and water was warm but not hot. Lots of wildlife around! I would stay again but I don’t think it’s the best place to go for a winter camping trip. Thank you Texas state parks!

  • LaRee S.
    May. 6, 2022

    Possum Kingdom State Park Campground

    Don't expect a quiet night's sleep

    Tent sites are walk-in to the other side of the end of the lake, and can be pretty rickety with loose rocks getting there. Was good practice for backpacking, since parking is closeby, but not very convenient. P008 is probably the only site suitable for hammock camping. Everything else is flat and exposed, next to the shore.

    We were woken up by loud boats trolling the shore and men shouting around midnight both nights we were there, and could hear conversations from the RV area.

  • Rachel S.
    Apr. 12, 2024

    SeaBee Park

    Great free spot

    We had a great experience at this free site - there are 4 designated camp sites each with a little pullout, fire ring, covered picnic table, and large gravel parking area (probably room for 4+ cars on each). Overall very quiet with a few people driving by and a bit of a hike to the bathroom from the camping area, but it did have running water so can’t complain.

  • B
    Nov. 5, 2022

    Lake Brownwood State Park Campground

    Very nice state park

    Very nice park. We are at pad # 84 and it’s great. They have a large concrete pad next to the trailer . Very new picnic table. Rest room , shower is very clean

  • Leesa
    May. 28, 2021

    Lake Brownwood State Park Campground

    State Park review

    Lake Brownwood area is full of trees, nice lake for boating, fishing and jet skis. The state park sits on a pretty cove of the lake. Sites 50,51 offer privacy and are close the bathroom/showers....not too close. You can see the water, but aren’t lakefront. Typical state park amenities. Sites have fire ring and picnic tables.

    Sites 57-65 are right on the water, but are packed in side by side. We loved site 50.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 2, 2024

    Possum Kingdom Lake BRA - Bug Beach: BRA Area #5

    5 Public Use Camping Areas for free

    Tent camping areas in all 5 with shelters, grill, and picnic tables, many waterside. Public Area 4 and 6 have RV pads (which they do charge $10 to use in the Summer) with shelters, grill, and picnic tables, and many are waterside. Public Area 5 has grass pull thru RV parking. All 5 have bathroom facilities with running water and flush toilets. We parked at #5, also known as Bug Beach and we had the place to ourselves, with the exception of a herd of deer late afternoon. Beautiful scenery and exceptionally clean campground facilities.


Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cisco, TX?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cisco, TX is Lake Daniel City Park with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.