Looking for the best campgrounds near El Lago, TX? El Lago is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
"We went on a weekend late July 2021, NO PROBLEM finding space. Recommend some type of canopy or awning, Texas Sun is HOT! Plan ahead, stores are few and far between."
"A lot of space. Some campers but a lot privacy. Sand is not soft so no 4x4 required. You have to he self sustained since there is nothing here...just you and the gulf."
"You can drive right on the beach! Sunsets are amazing but watch out for the bugs at night!"
"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."
LegendThis 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
RangerNice 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.
RangerThis 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.
GuideNice place for overnighting. Or camp for the 3 day limit. Nice clean park. Sites have concrete picnic tables. But bring a fly swatter for the mosquitoes. A couple got into my home on wheels and when I killed them they left a big bloodstain. Otherwise not a bad place. Is there is a shell gas station across the street for food and guess. They did have 2 bathroom houses only one of them was clean. No showers. There were water spickets all over the place. I don't know if it's potable or not. It was dry camping so I already came prepared. You do need a permit for 3 day stay limit. You can obtain one by going on the website and calling and talk to Brandy she will email you one. This is a County park.
TravelerTents 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.
RangerCampground 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.
TravelerBeach 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.
RangerThere are two area's for camping in the park. The Bay Side is about 1.5 miles from the beach and about 150 yards from the restrooms/showers. The other is Beach side and is located close to the beach. Both offer electric and water hookups for campers. This restrooms and showers are clean. Park staff are very friendly and helpful. Each site has a shaded picnic table. The park offers beautiful beaches and hiking trails. Take a hike through wetlands lot's of wild life to see. Great place for those who are into birding. Park offers swimming, fishing, kayaking/ boating, hiking. Lot's do do for all ages.
RangerCampground Review
Galveston Island State Park is a really beautiful, peaceful stretch of land south east of Galveston (the city) straddled by Galveston Bay along its north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. We were amazed at the number of day use patrons there were but it was Easter Weekend and about the best possible place to picnic in all of Galveston. (Day use is $5 per person, kids under 12 are free, or if you have the $70 Texas State Parks pass it gets everyone in the car into any TX State Park for a year.)
There are two areas to camp at GISP - on the Bay Side and on the Beach Side. There are 10 Bay Side Primitive Tent Campsites at $15/night and Water/Electricity Hook-Up Sites are $20/night. Beach Side only offers “Premium Camping” with Water/Electricity Hook-Ups at $25/night. IMO, the Beach side is worth the extra $5/night since you are literally steps away from the water. All sites have picnic tables with shaded cover, trash, fire pits, and nearby restroom access. Additionally, there are two really beautiful cabins you can rent at $200 or $250/night but they are booked months in advance...
A couple other things about GISP. No trees so plan on waking up with the sun cooking you in your tent (RVs outnumbered tents). There are no open alcohol containers are allowed (but I think that applies more to glass bottles) and dogs must be on leashes at all times. We saw some well-behaved dogs off their leashes along the beach but I think this is more for the safety of the animals because there are long grasses between the beach and the bay sides with venomous snakes. Galveston’s water is not my favorite and it was particularly cold this early in the season but there were tons of people swimming, boogie boarding, kayaking, and fishing along the beach (especially on piers closer to town). It’s a great place to ride bikes and Galveston has a great cultural history that is unique in Texas.
4/5
14901 FM 3005 Galveston, TX 77554
Product Reviews
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - this weekend I tested two new products, Midland USA Two Way Radios (GXT1000VP4) and Mountain House Turkey Dinner.
Let me start with the Midland Radios. They. Are. Rad. I am so excited to have these and am considering buying a second set as you can hook up additional radios and put them on the same channel. Without an FCC license you’ve got to stick to specific channels (certain ones are reserved for police, first responders, etc). These have lots of different ring tones and settings. They are water resistant (I took these into the ocean but didn’t submerge them… that makes me nervous) and they have a fantastically long range. Website says 36 mile range. I wasn’t able to test it that far but we got to 10 miles down the beach and they worked great. (We also used them in downtown Houston and were able to get about 2.5 miles away but that was with lots of big buildings and trees obstructing them - pretty impressed!). These walkie talkies came in extremely handy - whenever anyone would head back to the campsite or into town we could call back and forth. Considering the cell service on Galveston Island is pretty miserable, these were seriously great and came in so handy. (Furthermore, I cannot wait to use these puppies at music festivals this summer!!!!)
5/5
My second review is for the Mountain House Homestyle Turkey Dinner. Let me preface this with, I’ve got a particularly snobby chef husband who was very very skeptical of this just-add-water meal in a bag situation. Well. He loved it. And honestly, it tasted like Thanksgiving. Basically a stuffing with chunks of veggies and turkey. The directions on the bag could’ve been a little clearer. I think the time to re-hydrate should’ve been a bit longer as the turkey was a bit chewy and maybe a little salt? But overall, really quite good. Cooking while camping is either super fun or terrible, so this was extremely convenient and easy. I definitely plan on try some of their other products (I’ve heard the Mac & Cheese is yum).
4/5
Tent camping near El Lago, Texas offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near El Lago, TX is Bayou Campground with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near El Lago, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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