Cedar Hill State Park offers paved camping loops accommodating up to 350 sites within 30 minutes of Colleyville. The park features well-defined campsites with asphalt pads situated on loops that minimize traffic near individual spots. Located at Joe Pool Lake, the park provides water recreation access along with 1,200 acres of hiking and biking trails through grassland and forest terrain. Winter temperatures remain mild enough for comfortable camping with occasional cold fronts requiring additional layers.
What to do
Fishing from shore: Cedar Hill State Park offers accessible bank fishing with multiple species available. "We stayed in site 115 great spot close to the water," notes one camper at Loyd Park, which offers similar water access on nearby Joe Pool Lake.
Trail riding: Explore designated equestrian trails at various horse campgrounds near Colleyville. "There's cattle roaming around and a lot of stocked ponds to fish in and some hiking through the different areas," reports a visitor to LBJ National Grasslands, which provides primitive camping for riders approximately 30 miles northwest of Colleyville.
Watersports: Launch kayaks directly from lakefront sites at several parks. "Many spots have direct access to the lake to launch a kayak or SUP, boat launch in the day use area," writes a camper about Pilot Knoll Park on Lake Lewisville, noting the convenient water entry points from individual sites.
What campers like
Space between sites: Parks offer varying degrees of privacy between camping spots. "Sites are far enough away that you have to shout at your neighbors, so feel free to stretch out and be yourself without worrying about being too noisy," notes a camper about the primitive sites at LBJ National Grasslands.
Covered picnic tables: Many parks provide sheltered eating areas that offer sun protection. "Each site has large raised gravel areas set up in place outside the camper doorway. I love this feature because it provides a mud free immediate campsite area," writes a visitor to East Fork Park on Lake Lavon.
Wildlife viewing: Deer sightings remain common at parks around Colleyville. "We have done a lot of Primitive camping here that requires only a half mile walk from the parking lot... We have car camped on a few occasions here and each time we saw plenty of deer around camp," notes a visitor to Johnson Branch at Ray Roberts Lake State Park.
What you should know
Grass maintenance varies: Some parks struggle with keeping vegetation trimmed. "Only issue is the grass is always one high so bring a weed whip. We have family in the area, so we visit regularly and every time we stay here the grass is ridiculous," reports an East Fork Park camper.
Limited primitive camping: Most equestrian campgrounds near Colleyville require reservations. "If you are looking for a primitive site then this is the spot. If your looking for a camping area set up for tents then you can find it here," notes a visitor to LBJ National Grasslands, one of the few first-come, first-served options in the region.
Summer heat challenges: Texas temperatures require preparation during warmer months. "Don't know why it says no electric on this site. Would rate it a 5 star if it had full hookups but we had to use the dump station," writes a camper at Loyd Park, highlighting the importance of electric hookups for running air conditioning during hot weather.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several parks offer play equipment for children. "The only 'con' I have to say it that on the Johnson Branch I didn't see a store on the map. We didn't need to buy anything, but other places we've been have stores and that's where we've gotten the 411 on good hiking and places to see on the grounds. One of the nice things was the tree coverage, like I said. We had a lot of trees so we could but up some lights and a slack line for the kids to play on," reports a family at Johnson Branch.
Swimming beaches: Designated swimming areas provide safer water access for children. "They have a big beach, park area to enjoy. Staff is friendly," notes a visitor to Loyd Park about the designated swimming areas.
Wildlife education: Some parks offer nature programming for children. "We brought our small family of four out to tent camp for the first time this last weekend. I really enjoyed how well kept the grounds were and did love the open space between sites and the water, giving lots of space for the kids to play," writes a Pilot Knoll Park visitor.
Tips from RVers
Road conditions: Some parks have deteriorating internal roads. "The only reason I'm giving this campground 4 stars is because: the grass was tall at the campsite, could have been maintained better, RV pads are asphalt and not very level, only one bathroom has showers," notes a camper at East Fork Park, highlighting infrastructure challenges.
Site selection for shade: Limited tree cover affects summer camping comfort. "Sites 119-122 (maybe 123) are right on the lake so you can see ducks and do some bank fishing without needing to go anywhere," advises a Johnson Branch camper about specific sites with better conditions.
Utility placement: Hookup locations can require extensions. "I backed in and used my extension power cord because the box was located midway from the rear. Since the space was so long... I could have pulled up a bit," shares an East Fork Park visitor, explaining how to navigate variable hookup positioning.
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