Best Tent Camping near Damon, TX

Tent camping opportunities near Damon, Texas include several beachfront options along the Gulf Coast. Follett's Island Beach and Surfside Beach Dispersed Camping offer free primitive tent camping directly on the sand, approximately 40 miles southeast of Damon. Both locations allow drive-on beach access with no reservations required. Hollywood Bottom Park along the Colorado River provides a more inland tent camping experience with four first-come, first-served sites.

Most tent campsites in the Damon area lack basic amenities. The beach camping locations have no drinking water, toilets, or shower facilities. Campers must pack in all supplies and pack out all trash. The sand at Follett's Island Beach is generally compact enough that four-wheel drive is not required, making it accessible for most vehicles. Sites are undesignated, allowing campers to select their preferred beach location. Bryan Beach has portable toilets and trash receptacles but similarly lacks other facilities. During summer months, mosquitoes can be problematic at dusk, particularly at inland sites.

The beach camping areas provide a distinctive tent camping experience with direct Gulf views and access. Tent sites are situated approximately 100-150 feet from the water, offering easy access for swimming and fishing. The beaches generally provide ample space between campsites, allowing for privacy despite occasional weekend crowds. As one camper noted, "We camped out on the beach for three days at a few different locations and had no problems other than soft sand at one of the access roads." Winter and spring offer milder temperatures and fewer insects than summer months. Campfires are permitted at both Follett's Island and Surfside Beach, allowing for traditional beach campfire experiences, though summer beach camping requires preparation for intense heat and sun exposure.

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Best Tent Sites Near Damon, Texas (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Damon, TX

6 Photos of 10 Damon Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Damon, TX

205 Reviews of 10 Damon Campgrounds


  • Napunani
    Mar. 14, 2022

    Matagorda Bay Nature Park

    Parking Lot Camping Along the Colorado River

    Reserved 68 nights prior to arriving. Campground had 78% occupancy during our 3 night stay. 

    PROS Able to clearly hear the ocean roar from all campground 59 FHU sites 

    Campsite concrete pad level and in good condition 

    Park roadways good condition with no speed bumps and easy to maneuver 

    Lantern pole at some sites 

    Some sites have two sewer connections 

    Picnic table located on oversized concrete pad 

    Combo lock on toilet/shower entrance doors 

    Toilet/shower facility very nice

    Laundromat on site with 3 washers and 3 dryers.$4.25 

    Wood campfire allowed in off-ground fire pit with screen cover you provide and placed away from any grass 

    Fairly good dark sky viewing as campground street lights are limited 

    2 large wooden Colorado River fishing piers which are lighted from dusk to dawn 

    Putt-putt golf$10 

    Bagged ice machine across road from Park 

    2 bars VERIZON signal 

    CONS 

    Toilet/shower door combination changed during our stay and was not notified and had no access until we tracked down park personnel 

    Dog poop in the mens handicap stall Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday so obviously no one monitoring toilet facility

    $6 reservation fee for self made on-line reservation 

    10 campsites were reutilized to build elevated beach cabanas 

    Park quiet hours not enforced 

    No park officials or host cruising patrolling campground

    No entrance gate locked overnight. Lots of fishermen cruising through campground

    No shade what so ever. Some sites had a pergola over their concrete picnic table; Our site had no table covering. Brisk ocean"breezes", made it impossible to deploy our trailer awning

    No privacy from any other campsite

    Sites fairly close to each other

    No campsite campfire pits

    No on-site firewood sales

    Concrete picnic table unmovable No ocean"view" from any of the campsites

    No camp store in Park. Closest H‑E‑B, Walmart and Tractor Supply in Bay City. No grocery stores in Matagorda but there is a Dollar General store. Park WIFI poor; could only connect at toilet/shower facility

    No playground, basketball or tennis courts

    No pool or splash pad

  • Napunani
    Dec. 13, 2022

    Brazos Bend State Park Campground

    Beautiful

    This would be a 5 star if there was sewer hookup 

    PROS 

    No fee to make my own on-line reservations

    Park security gate closed overnight hours 

    Good space between sites 

    Grass mowed in each site 

    Extra wide campground roadway 

    Quiet during our weeknight stay 

    Wooden and metal picnic table on concrete slab 

    Pedestal BBQ grill 

    Metal firering (no cooking grate) 

    Clean, climate controlled toilet/shower facility. 

    Ample supply of TP, and hand soap but hand dryer didn’t work and no paper towels. Campfire wood for sale via honor system in the campground 

    Regular ranger patrol through campground

    Lots of dumpsters throughout the campground

    .85 miles round trip from site 114 to closest toilet/shower facility 

    2 bars T-MOBILE 

    CONS 

    No discount for a one night stay 

    Aggressive raccoons 

    Site 114 not level 

    No lantern pole in campsite 

    Site picnic table is anchored to concrete slab and not moveable 

    No WiFi

  • Stephen & Theresa B.
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Stephen F. Austin State Park Campground

    Pleasant Texas State Park

    We had a really nice relaxing stay at Stephen F Austin State Park near San Filepe, Texas. Great little state park easily accessed from I-10. The 38 RV sites are all asphalt pad pull throughs with 30/15 amp electric, water and sewer complete with concrete pad for table, fire pit, lantern and all well spaced for plenty of privacy...big rig friendly. They have an additional 39 tent only sites with water and 25 primitive. Screened shelters are reservable for tent camping with 20 amp electric and water plus one rustic cabin with amenities. There is a$5 daily entrance fee in addition to camping fees. The bathhouse facilities are brand new. It's a small park but they do have five miles of trails for hiking/biking with views of the Brazos River. We enjoyed the wildlife; deer strolling in the campground every morning and evening, birds, rabbits, frogs, turtles, a bobcat and numerous owls. They have a Nature Center; however it was not open during our visit. The park office has a small store with sundries and park souvenirs. The nearby San Felipe de Austin State His­toric Site tells the story of early settlers to Texas and is worth a visit. We made a run to the nearby town of Sealy to do a much needed laundry stop...small community with grocery, dining and fuel to meet most needs. GPS 29.811982-96.108059 l(979) 885-3613 l Park Road 38 San Felipe, TX 77473

  • H
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Camp Mohawk County Park

    County park by Houston

    Nice wooded campground with a lot of camping and recreation options.Lots of day use activity. Shady camp sites! Nice basic tent camping with clean facilities. Came here to enjoy the wildlife refuges nearby so didn’t use the park too much, but it’s nice for what it is.

  • Red S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2025

    Brazos Bend State Park Campground

    Excellent campground.

    This is an excellent campground. In my opinion, the camper pads are really nice. Long and wide can accommodate small or large campers and motorhomes. They are fire rings picnic tables. There's firewood for sale, lots of wildlife sightings. I got 5G network with T-MOBILE service and excellent television reception. The bathrooms and showers are really clean.

  • steven B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2024

    Stephen F. Austin State Park Campground

    Mid week camping

    The pull through site was nice with plenty of shade. The site are far enough apart so you don’t feel you are in top of your neighbors. There was a fire ban at the time of our visit so we weren’t able to enjoy the fire pit. The near by visitor center was interesting.

  • Eby H.
    Jul. 23, 2017

    Brazos Bend State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Kameng Boots by Mishmi Takin at Brazos Bend State Park

    Campground Review

    It's incredible that I was born and raised in Houston and have lived here the past four years but haven't made it out to Brazos Bend State Park until now! A quick, 45 minute drive southwest will get you out of the concrete jungle that is the sprawling Space City metropolis and into one of the lushest, greenest parts of Texas. Brazos Bend is a "Nature Lover's Paradise" - there is abundant wildlife. There is great fishing, ample bird watching, and lots and lots of alligators (!). Lots of trails for walking, running, biking, and horseback riding. The George Observatory is a pretty amazing feature of this park (but only open Saturdays).

    We arrived at Brazos Bend on a Friday afternoon and were able to walk-in no problem. Walk-in rate is $12/day + the daily park entrance fee ($5 for adults, free for kids). I have a Texas State Parks Pass so we didn't have to pay the entrance fees (saved us $40 for two nights of camping!). Additionally there were several other great options including: Full-Site RV hook-up ($25/night), Standard Camping ($20/night, incl. water & electricity), and 14 Cabins ($80-200/night but have everything you could ever need or want).

    We did a lot of nature walks, game playing, and swimming during our two days at Brazos Bend State Park. Summer is probably not the best time to visit any park in Texas - its hot and muggy and the mosquitos are out in full force. Bring your DEET. Seriously. Despite that though, we were very pleasantly surprised by the amenities (swimming pool, screened in picnic tables, fire pits, and tent pads!)

    Product Review

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - this past weekend at Brazos Bend I tested out the Kameng Mid eVent Waterproof Hiking Boot by Mishmi Takin.

    These boots have got it all.

    First, these boots are hella comfortable! I was blown away how comfortable they were right out of the box. Over the years, I've owned many pairs of hiking boots and they all required a significant break-in period. Not these!

    Second, they're waterproof AND breathable. Not water resistant, like actually water proof.

    Third, the look great. All 3 color schemes are fantastic I had a tough time choosing between green, grey and orange.

    Fourth, so lightweight. These only weigh 1.5lbs so even though they are boots, they won't weigh you down.

    5/5 Would Recommend.

  • Melodie H.
    Aug. 13, 2018

    Galveston Island State Park Campground

    Tent camping

    Tents are allowed at Surfside sites but they are more difficult to get reservations then at the tent sites a couple miles from the surf. we stayed in the tent sites away from the surf. Fishing was close by. water at the sites but no electric. Electric and water at Surfside sites. Mosquitoes are worse at Surfside at night. Full hookups available with dump stations for RVs.

  • Teresa W.
    Dec. 19, 2018

    Galveston Island State Park Campground

    Galveston Island. Eco tourism friendly

    Beach side sites for RV or tents. High winds. All close to bath houses and beach walkovers. Bay side has two overnight loops. Tent loop has bath house, no electric, all open loop, next to great marsh view. RV loop has large public pavilion.
    Quiet park Great hiking, kayaking, private beach, ranger programs, birding, fishing.


Guide to Damon

Tent camping options near Damon, Texas extend inland from the Gulf Coast along river corridors and inland parks. The region sits at an elevation of approximately 75 feet above sea level with a subtropical climate that creates distinct camping conditions between inland and coastal sites. Winter temperatures average 45-65°F while summer ranges from 75-95°F with high humidity throughout the region.

What to do

Fishing from shore: At Follett's Island Beach, campers can fish directly from their sites. "We went on a weekend late July 2021, NO PROBLEM finding space. Amazing View, Lots of Space, No harassment, Ice Cream & Food Trucks pass throughout the day," reports one visitor who enjoyed casting from the beach.

Kayaking the Colorado River: Hollywood Bottom Park provides river access for paddlers. "Free camping geared towards river use (raft/kayak/canoe). Great rest stop while on the Colorado River. The next access site is 18 miles downstream," notes one camper who used the site during a river journey.

Stargazing on the beach: The minimal light pollution at coastal camping areas creates excellent night sky viewing. "Beautiful night stargazing and relaxing with the ocean waves. The days bright sun and cool water gave us great joy," shares a camper from Surfside Beach Dispersed Camping.

What campers like

Weather variations by season: Winter camping offers more comfortable conditions at both beach and inland sites. "Stayed here end of December. Nice temperatures and great view on the gulf. A lot of space. Some campers but a lot privacy. Sand is not soft so no 4x4 required," explains a visitor at Follett's Island Beach.

Beach access points: Multiple entry points allow campers to find their preferred beach section. "Being November, the temperature was mild and there weren't that many bugs nor people. Water is about 100-150 feet from top of beach. No need to pay or permit besides a $2 toll when coming from the East through Galveston," reports one camper.

Affordability compared to established campgrounds: Houston West RV Park offers reasonable rates compared to other area options. "Every other campground in the Houston area seems to be $55+, but with AAA discount I only paid $45 here! They were very accommodating when I called and gave us an easy spot up front because we were arriving after 8pm."

What you should know

Vehicle considerations: While most beach areas have firm sand, some spots require careful driving. "We had a blast! We were living on the beach in our 39ft skoolie for 5 days over Christmas!" shares one camper, while another notes beach access challenges: "overall, great spot! Just pick your driving lanes and parking spots carefully without 4x4."

Limited amenities at most sites: Bryan Beach has basic facilities only. "Port o potties only, no bathrooms or showers. The biggest problem however, was the mosquitoes! At dusk we had to retreat to our tents immediately or be eaten alive. So beware!"

Variable crowd levels: Weekends typically bring more visitors to the free beach camping areas. "I pop down here several times a year. It's super close to town and gives you a bit of reprieve from the city. Be aware - junk washes up on shore frequent. It can also get a bit crowded especially on the weekends."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Damon, TX is Hollywood Bottom Park with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Damon, TX?

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Damon, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.