Best Tent Camping near Franklin, TX

Tent campgrounds near Franklin, Texas offer varied terrain and natural settings for outdoor enthusiasts. Paradise Acres provides several tent-specific sites with a 4.5-star rating and access for both drive-in and walk-in camping. Fort Boggy State Park Campground, located in Centerville, offers tent camping options with hiking access available. Other options include Lawley Land and Hackberry Hills, both featuring primitive tent sites.

Most tent sites in the Franklin area have minimal amenities but allow campfires where permitted. Paradise Acres and Lawley Land both provide firewood for campers, though drinking water is not available at most locations. Picnic tables are present at Fort Boggy State Park and Lake Limestone Public Use Area, but many primitive tent campgrounds require campers to bring all necessary equipment. Toilets are available at some locations including Lake Limestone, but shower facilities are generally absent throughout the region. Trash collection is provided at several campgrounds including Paradise Acres, Lake Limestone, and Hackberry Hills.

The tent camping experience near Franklin offers peaceful natural settings with varying levels of seclusion. A visitor commented, "Very quiet and loved looking up at the stars!" regarding their stay at Paradise Acres. Tent campsites at Lawley Land provide access to a lake for swimming and other water activities. Most walk-in tent sites require short hikes from parking areas to camping locations. Fort Boggy State Park features well-maintained grounds with hiking trails accessible directly from tent campgrounds. Sand Creek Campground accommodates both tent and RV campers with drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access options. Summer temperatures in the region can be high, making spring and fall the preferred seasons for tent camping experiences in the Franklin area.

Best Tent Sites Near Franklin, Texas (6)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Franklin, TX

2 Photos of 6 Franklin Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Franklin, TX

94 Reviews of 6 Franklin Campgrounds


  • K
    Apr. 25, 2021

    Fort Parker State Park Campground

    Peaceful place

    We tent camped in a primitive spot #47. Overall the spot was nice but not very level making the best placement of our large tent a bit of a challenge. Vault toilets were clean and had hand sanitizer. The nature and hiking in this park was our favorite part. Even rented a canoe and paddled across the lake to the river. Park staff were friendly and helpful. Some primitive tent sites are right on the edge of the lake and after a big rain were very swampy. I believe all sites had partial shade and some have more privacy than others. We did spot some full hook up sites in the RV section that have good space for a tent set up and we may try that next time cause we definitely will be back.

  • Denise V.
    May. 14, 2021

    Big Creek Resort, Marina, & Campground

    One of my favorite local campgrounds

    I like this park because it's close to home. It's got a good space between sites and is broken into 3 or 4 areas so you're not just piled in like sardines. You can being 4-wheeled vehicles that have a steering wheel. No sewer hookups, but there is a dump station. Unfortunately, subsequent major floods have caused them to lose much of the tree cover. It's great when camping in groups though, which we do quite often. All sites have views of the lake. They have a really good fireworks display on 4th of July. 

    Type of Park: Private-owned 

    Check In: 4p Check Out: 3p 

    Site#79- Back-In

    $35 per night($105 total) 

    Water 20/30/50 amp 

    Picnic Table with concrete pad 

    Grass site. No rock or concrete base

    👍🏻 Pros: No trees to avoid 

    On the end of the line so no one is on the"front" side of the camper 

    Good area for camping in groups 

    Close to good swimming areas and store 

    Close to boat ramp

    👎🏻 Cons: Split-level site- table is down a slight hill from parking area. No shade 

    Across from the cabins on stilts, lake view is a little blocked 

    Cabins are being refurbished and the equipment and materials are stacked near the site(and some construction noise) 

    No grill or fire ring at this site

    📝 Park Notes: Gates closed and locked from midnight to 6 am on weekends. 

    Closed at 10 pm on week days. 

    Can bring golf carts, ATV's(machines with steering wheels, not handle bars) 

    Dump Station- a little hard to get to for big rigs. Also hard to leave the park from there. You may have to go back into the park to turn around. 

    Park Store- has fishing bait and supplies, too 

    Cabins are under re-construction There is a Places Munzee here

    Boat Ramp

    🐦 Wildlife: Birds: Cormorants(Water Turkeys), barn swallows, scissor-tail

    For more info, see https://www.denisevajdak.com/2021/04/camping-on-easter-weekend.html

  • T
    Jun. 15, 2018

    Fort Parker State Park Campground

    Really spacious RV sites on the lake- yahoo!

    This was the first trip we took with our new vintage camper and it did not disappoint! Even in the bitter cold of December Fort Parker had plenty to offer. Their sites are well spaced and large with a picnic table and fire ring. There are several right on the lake. They have several hiking trails and a few historic sites to explore. We really enjoyed our stay.

  • Nancy B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2021

    Tradinghouse Lake Park Camping

    Nice lakefront spot

    We arrived in November and were the only ones here. The spots are lake front with covered picnic tables. No hook ups available. View was amazing.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 31, 2025

    Limestone Lake Park

    Not as great as people make it out

    This park is not as great as other reviews lead you to believe. I'll break it down:

    1. They don't allow campfires. As in, none. There are no fire rings. That right there takes it off the list for me.
    2. It’s your typical park in a lot and haul stuff to your campsite. Texas really needs to get with the program that car camping is a huge thing.
    3. Most of the picnic tables are uncovered. There are some that are and I managed to get one, but if it’s busy they'll be taken quickly.

    It is a nice area and a good view of the lake. It’s fairly close to the water but the lake it low so you'd have to jump down a bit in order to get to it currently.

    All in all not terrible but the no campfire thing is puzzling. I wouldn't come back. There are better places- Possum Kingdom I'm looking at you.

  • Brittany S.
    Aug. 19, 2018

    Falls on the Brazos Park

    Filthy and unkept.

    This park has so much potential to be a family friendly place to fish and swim but sadly I would not want to stay here. My grandmother lives in Perry, TX which is just about 10 miles from this park. I drove down to view it and see if it would be a good place to set up a campsite with my son and unfortunately it was not what I was expecting.

    The views are beautiful and just the sound of rushing water is peaceful but there is trash literally everywhere. The picnic tables were gross and paint was chipping everywhere. Dirt dobbers lined the ceiling of every pavilion and the park looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years.

    The first thing I noticed was that no one was there. No park ranger, no owner, no one. The little park office/ store/ restaurant had a sign that said closed, and a number to call if you wanted to reserve a site. Although I don't think you would want to. Every site was grown up with weeds and debris and trash. It's almost like it has been abandoned.

    I know flooding from the Brazos River (that flows though the park) could possible have caused some trouble for the owners, but it doesn't look like any action has been taken to bring the park back to life. Which is a shame, it looks like it could be a great spot for fishing and swimming. It doesn't seem there were any hiking trails, although I could be wrong. I did not have a map or a way to get one.

    I hope one day it will be revived, until then....

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 7, 2019

    Flat Creek RV Resort

    Ideal Country Setting Only A Few Miles From Waco

    There is nothing I like more than finding a nice place to retreat from a city which allows the comfort of the outdoors and relaxation with the convenience of the neighboring city amenities. It is the perfect blend of both worlds.

    This can be a bit difficult for a tent camper however, so again I was able to find an ideal location for my RVing friends at this site. Normally that would instantly lower my rating because I cannot personally utilize the location at this time without a rig, however this site was so impressive I couldn't steer away!

    Pulling up to the park the gate is grand. The park itself sits a short 5 minutes away from the city on a quiet road. The park is expansive and the accommodations rest several hundred yards away from the traffic of the small country road. It is so peaceful!!

    Sites seemed to be spread nicely to have the sense of community but not being to close to form crowding. Each space is separated by a grassy area which accommodates a picnic table and has enough room for a little stretching room.

    When I visited all of the units there seemed to be very well maintained and even though they do have both overnight and long term stay options, nothing seemed to have the "moved in" look (no underpinnings, no long sewage hoses typical of long term parks).

    I was very excited to see the large area for walking your dogs, area which allowed space to play and roam, a pond to fish in or to enjoy, a fire pit for community use and very nice shower and laundry facilities.

    The roads around the park were wide and well maintained, the green spaces were manicured well and as I visited people were all very friendly. It made me want an RV just so I could visit!

    Tips:

    • To stay at this park make sure you make reservations ahead of time. While there is plenty of space, they do fill up and reservations will ensure your stay especially during the more populated seasons.

    • Take advantage of the free wifi when here, just pulling in I checked it out and noticed it was pretty decent from all areas of the park.

    • Bring your fishing poles! This park has a variety of fish in the stocked pond perfect for a relaxing day at the park.

  • Perla P.
    Apr. 13, 2023

    Fort Boggy State Park Campground

    Hidden gem

    Beautiful small state park. We usually tent camp but this time we decided staying at a cabin. Nice, beautiful and modern cabins. Love the enclosed porch and open porch as well. The cabin was spacious enough for our family of 6. The new family restroom close to the cabins was great, nice and clean. I will be back.

  • G
    Oct. 19, 2023

    Flat Creek RV Resort

    Lovely location, limited bathhouse

    This is a lovely creekside campground. The campground is well kept. Sites are gravel and pretty level. No WiFi. Bathhouse is clean and pretty new but there is one each Mens and women’s bathroom and shower for a long thin park. From our site to the bathhouse was 3 tenths of a mile.


Guide to Franklin

The tent camping areas around Franklin, Texas range from primitive backcountry sites to established campgrounds with basic amenities. The region features rolling hills with Post Oak Savannah terrain characterized by mixed hardwood forests and open grasslands. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 350-450 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F during peak season.

What to do

Swimming access: Lawley Land offers tent campers access to a lake where families can cool off during hot Texas months. One camper noted, "We want to get some survival wilderness experience and this was definitely the right place for that. It has a nice lake we're you can swim."

Trail exploration: Fort Boggy State Park Campground maintains several hiking paths through wooded areas. A visitor mentioned, "We hiked the trails and went and checked out the little lake." The park offers both short and longer routes suitable for casual walkers.

Target practice: Some private campgrounds near Franklin permit recreational shooting, offering an option for campers interested in this activity. One family at Lawley Land reported, "You can pop off fire work here or shoot off guns. My kids had a great time."

What campers like

Stargazing opportunities: The minimal light pollution around Franklin makes night sky viewing exceptional at most primitive tent sites. Paradise Acres receives particular praise for its clear views, with one camper stating it provides "Great views and very peaceful" conditions.

Modern cabin alternatives: For tent campers seeking occasional comfort, Fort Boggy offers cabin accommodations. A reviewer described them as "Nice, beautiful and modern cabins. Love the enclosed porch and open porch as well. The cabin was spacious enough for our family of 6."

Helpful staff: Hackberry Hills and other campgrounds in the area maintain friendly park personnel who assist with site selection and local information. Camp hosts typically provide firewood at established campgrounds during fire-permitted seasons.

What you should know

Water availability: Most primitive tent sites near Franklin require campers to bring all drinking water. None of the backcountry options offer potable water sources, and even established campgrounds like Lake Limestone Public Use Area #3 have limited facilities.

Bathroom facilities: Fort Boggy State Park maintains clean restroom facilities near its cabin area. One visitor commented, "Wonderful bathrooms nearby," though tent sites in more remote sections may not have direct access to these facilities.

Seasonal considerations: Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) provide the most comfortable tent camping conditions. Summer camping requires heat preparation with daytime temperatures routinely exceeding 95°F in July and August.

Tips for camping with families

Age-appropriate activities: Several campgrounds accommodate family needs with varied terrain. One family at Sand Creek Campground appreciated the drive-in access combined with short hiking options suitable for children of different ages.

Space considerations: When booking at Fort Boggy with larger families, consider cabin options. A reviewer mentioned, "The cabin was spacious enough for our family of 6," making it suitable for those with children needing more structured accommodations.

Safety planning: Lawley Land and other primitive sites require additional safety preparation for families. Pack extra water, first aid supplies, and insect repellent, particularly during summer months when ticks and mosquitoes are prevalent in the region.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Most tent-focused campgrounds near Franklin have limited space for RVs, with Lawley Land being one exception that accommodates larger vehicles. The access road quality varies seasonally, especially after rain.

Hookup availability: RVers should note that electric, water, and sewer connections are extremely limited in the Franklin area. Fort Boggy State Park offers some sites with hookups but requires advance reservations, especially during peak spring and fall seasons.

Generator policies: Most primitive campgrounds near Franklin have quiet hours or restrict generator use entirely. Sand Creek Campground permits limited generator operation during daytime hours only, requiring self-contained power solutions for overnight needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Franklin, TX is Paradise Acres with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Franklin, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.