Tent camping near Dallas, Texas offers a range of primitive to established sites within an hour's drive of the city center. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F between June and September, making spring and fall the most comfortable seasons for tent campers in the region. Several parks around Lake Lewisville and Lake Lavon provide shoreline camping with varying levels of facilities and tree cover to escape the Texas heat.
What to do
Water activities at the lakes: Tent campers at Little Elm Park can access Lake Lewisville for swimming, fishing, and boating with convenient electric hookups nearby. "Electric hookups for RV generally a small area first come first serve.... 5 dollars per tent....restrooms and park lights.... stores nearby..... no showers," notes Joshua O.
Mountain biking trails: Erwin Park offers approximately 9 miles of maintained trails popular with local cyclists. According to Brian, "Great easy spot for day camping or easy car camping with family. Good fire pits and great pavilion at the group site if you can get it. Best mountain bike single tracks around with lots of built features."
Wildlife viewing: Many Dallas-area tent campgrounds provide opportunities to observe local fauna. One camper mentions, "There are some good hiking trails and a lot of wildlife from water fowl, deer and woodpeckers" when describing the natural setting at tent camping areas.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Tent campers appreciate the spacing at Sycamore Bend Park, where sites offer decent separation. Hannah F. shares, "Right on the lake... Really nice, secluded campground for being so close to suburbs. Great for hammocking, kayaking, paddle boarding etc."
Access to outdoor recreation stores: Camping near Cedar Ridge Mobile Home & RV Park provides convenient access to supplies if you forget essential gear. Mark B. notes, "Also a semi-pro is that it's located pretty close to a bunch of outdoor sports stores... so if you forgot something on your trip - it's pretty easy to pick up."
Value for cost: Several tent camping areas around Dallas remain affordable compared to other urban-adjacent options. Taylin B. comments on Sycamore Bend Park: "The price has gone up from $7 to $20, but that's about average it seems now. The restrooms really stink, but are always clean and stocked in my experience."
What you should know
Limited facilities at primitive sites: Most tent camping spots near Dallas lack shower facilities and may have basic toilets. Chris K. cautions about Sycamore Bend Park: "This park only has primitive camping with several camping sites along the shores of Lake Lewisville. There are no water or electricity connections. Hold your breadth while using the toilet or the closest Walmart is 2 miles away."
Site access limitations: Some tent camping areas require gear to be carried in. Hannah F. explains, "No access to drive to the actual site so I couldn't use my RTT but it's a short walk from where you park. Really nice park right on the lake, but it does get a bit crowded."
Stay limits: Most primitive tent camping areas around Dallas enforce maximum stay durations. Taylin B. mentions, "Max 3 night stay, no electricity, water, or showers. Nice fire rings, flag pole, and calm park."
Tips for camping with families
Look for playground access: Several parks with tent camping include recreational facilities for children. At Northside RV Resort, Lauren Z. reports amenities include being "Gated. Level pads. Quiet. Dog park. Play ground. Wifi. Cable. Lake."
Choose spots with good shade: Tree cover becomes essential during hot months when tent camping with children. At Collin Park, Aaron C. notes, "Easy access, plenty of tree coverage, and each area has a picnic table, grill, and fire pit."
Consider bathroom proximity: When tent camping with kids, bathroom facility quality and location matter. James from Erwin Park advises, "The park has several covered pavilions as well as restrooms but lacks shower facilities. A few of the campsites are drive up but most are park and haul."
Tips from RVers
Security considerations: Meadowmere Park & Campground offers controlled access after hours, providing added security. Melanie G. shares, "Closes to public after 530 and management made it easy for us to enter the gate upon our late arrival. We will be back!"
Noise factors: When selecting tent sites near Dallas, consider proximity to urban sounds. About Erwin Park, Riley W. reports, "It's a ways out of the way of the city noise. The only sound other than bird song is the occasional moo and some coyote yips in the distance."
Bathroom facilities: The quality of restrooms varies widely at tent camping areas around Dallas. Regarding Meadowmere Park, Melanie G. notes, "Porta potties were incredibly cleab and a main bathroom area featured showers and very clean as well."
