Best Tent Camping near Fort Davis, TX
Tent campsites near Fort Davis, Texas are concentrated primarily in Davis Mountains State Park, which offers developed tent camping areas with various amenities and services. Located approximately 3 miles north of Fort Davis on TX Highway 118, this park provides numerous sites suitable for tent campers seeking mountain scenery at 5,000 feet elevation. The Hornets Nest also offers tent sites in the region, though with fewer amenities than the state park.
Tent campers at Davis Mountains State Park will find a mix of water-only and water/electric sites with picnic tables and fire rings. Most sites have enough trees to provide partial shade, though the vegetation consists primarily of desert shrubs rather than dense forest. The park maintains clean bathrooms with hot showers and flush toilets. While drinking water is available throughout the campground, campers heading to more primitive sites should bring adequate water supplies. Cell service is limited or non-existent in most camping areas, with some AT&T coverage reported near facilities and Verizon service available at higher elevations on Skyline Drive.
The camping experience at Davis Mountains offers abundant wildlife viewing opportunities, with visitors frequently reporting mule deer, javelina, and birds around their tent sites. Numerous hiking trails connect directly to the campground, ranging from easy walks to more challenging routes leading to scenic overlooks. The area is known for exceptional dark skies, making it popular among stargazers and those visiting the nearby McDonald Observatory. A recent visitor noted, "We had no cell service at our campsite but did when we went up the scenic road. The park isn't but a few miles outside of Fort Davis and you can get cell service there if needed." During peak seasons, sites can fill quickly, so advance reservations are recommended for weekend tent camping.
