carilyne H.
Traveler
TravelerLBJ Grasslands
Very dark at night but a great site overall!
Great roads. You hit some well maintained gravel coming into the campsite and the sites are pretty well spaced. Only note
Camping near Gainesville, TX
214 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping opportunities around Gainesville, Texas include a mix of state parks, RV resorts, and lakeside campgrounds within an hour's drive. Ray Roberts Lake State Park offers two distinct camping areas—Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch—with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Lake Texoma's numerous campgrounds provide additional options along the Texas-Oklahoma border, while several private RV parks like Lake Point RV Resort and Sanger-Denton North KOA cater to travelers seeking more amenities.
The North Texas climate makes camping viable year-round, though summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, making lakeside locations particularly desirable. Most developed campgrounds in the region provide water and electric hookups, with many offering full sewer connections for RVs. A visitor noted, "The location of this campground feels secluded from the city but close to the highway so you can be in the city within a few minutes drive." Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, with most campgrounds reporting strong coverage. During holiday weekends and summer months, advance reservations are strongly recommended as lakefront sites fill quickly.
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw for the Gainesville area, with several lakes providing recreational opportunities. Ray Roberts Lake State Park receives consistently positive reviews for its spacious sites and lake access. According to one camper, "The campground is nice and well maintained and sites are well spaced with lots of grass, trees and/or open areas." For those seeking more primitive experiences, the LBJ National Grasslands northwest of Gainesville offers dispersed camping options with fewer amenities but greater privacy. Visitors to the grasslands should be prepared for self-sufficient camping with no facilities. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the region, with deer, waterfowl, and other native species commonly spotted at dawn and dusk.
Best Campgrounds near Gainesville (214)
1. Isle du Bois Campsites — Ray Roberts Lake State Park
"In the hot month of July 2020 I loaded up Little Red and headed out to spend several days camping at the Isle Du Bois Unit of Ray Roberts Lake."
"68 year-old solo camper getting ready to travel around the country, car/tent camping primarily."
from $15 - $60 / night
Check Availability2. Winstar RV Park
"Just near the entrance(1/4 mile) is a Sonic, which was very convenient during Covid days."
"There isn’t much shade as it is located adjacent to the casino grounds or on the casino grounds. Has a nice pool and many amenities. We ate in the casino both nights at Toby Keith’s. I Love this bar."
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability3. Johnson Branch Campsites — Ray Roberts Lake State Park
"One of the more expensive Texas state parks. Standard electric at 25/night. Large bathrooms and lots of trash bins. Actual pay phones (who knew those still existed?)"
"Couldn't see the parking lot due to brush, but it was a very short walk and that was nice."
from $15 - $60 / night
Check Availability4. Old Towne Rv Ranch
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability5. Lake Point RV Resort
"I cannot speak highly enough of Lake Point RV Resort. We stayed for nearly a year, and moved out to pursue some amazing opportunities."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability6. All Inn RV Park
7. Sanger - Denton North KOA
"It is directly behind the McClain's in Sanger. Our site was a full service, pull through, partially shaded site that was reserved by the dealership for new owners."
8. 4G Ranch at Tipps Lake
"solitaire](https://solitaireio.com) Peaceful lakeside camping spot for a quiet getaway. The site felt calm and spacious, and it was great for relaxing and fishing by the lake."
"For starters it is reserved on Hipcamp search 4G Ranch at Lake Tipps, it’s in Cooke County, TX. This isn’t a place you can hook up water and power. They do have a well that services all of the sites."
9. King RV Park
"If you're stopping in Oklahoma, visiting the Texas Panhandle like I was (Pro tip: King RV Park is an easy one day drive to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which is nothing short of spectacular!)"
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 32 min from Sherman, TX
- 1 hr 6 min from Dallas, TX
- 1 hr 15 min from Wichita Falls, TX
- 2 hrs 3 min from Lawton, OK
Recent Camping Photos near Gainesville, TX
132 Photos of 214 Gainesville Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Johnson Branch Campsites — Ray Roberts Lake State Parkc
Isle du Bois Campsites — Ray Roberts Lake State Parkc
5 Mile Camp Primitive Dispersed Camping
Cross Timbers Texoma Hiking Trail Primitive Campsite
Eagle’s Roost Campsite
Thousand Trails Lake Texoma
Paradise on Lake Texoma
Juniper Point
Marietta Landing Campground — Lake Murray State ParkL
Buzzards Roost — Lake Murray State Park
Tipps Point Campground — Lake Murray State Park
LBJ Lyndon B Johnson National Grasslands
Recent Reviews near Gainesville, TX
587 Reviews of 214 Gainesville Campgrounds
- SShannon H.
ScoutPlatter Flats
Platter Flats campground
Great place to camp for a few nights. Boat ramp, clean showers, Lakeview, swimming, fishing, campfires. Clean, safe place to enjoy yourself.
- DDarrell W.
GuideLBJ Grasslands Off of Forest Service Road 942
LBJ Federal Grassland
We followed down old Decatur Road and turn down for service Road 942. There are lots of open areas that are flat for you to camp out overnight. The road coming in is gravel, but in great shape. We parked in the shade and it’s quite pleasant outside.
- JJon L.Guide
Choctaw RV Park
This park is a first-class resort!
We needed an overnight spot on our way back home to Texas, and we're so glad that we picked this park! Easy on and easy off of Highway 69, and It's located right next to the Choctaw Casino complex.
Parking for registration is located right by the office, and all the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful. The road from the highway to the park is very easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate. Even though it's not too far from the main road, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 41. All the sites are concrete and appear fairly level. Our site was level side to side, and a few inches off from front to rear. There are very few shade trees for the majority of the park sites. Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was okay, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located. There is also a picnic table and a covered trash can located at each site.
Bathrooms, Showers, laundry facilities, and the pool are all located at the registration office building and are in great shape. In fact, they are the cleanest and nicest facilities that we've ever experienced at an RV park. They are on par with what you would expect at a 5-Star resort.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, OTA: there is free Wi-Fi in the park with numerous repeater towers, so each site has a fairly strong signal- we achieved 101 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up. We got AT&T 5G with 3 bars and achieved 330 Mbps down and 11.3 Mbps up. If you need clear access for satellite reception, trees will not be an issue. Also, you can pick up approximately 50 OTA stations with good HD quality reception.
Dog Park: They have a nice fenced-in park that is divided into two separate areas. They provide doggie bags and a trash can.
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website. They have a propane area where you can fill your existing tanks, exchange tanks, or even buy new tanks. They also have RV supplies and parts located in the office area.
Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. They provide free shuttle service to the Casino Complex that has plenty of restaurants and a multi-screen movie theater. The park map provides a very accurate rendition of the park. See my attached photos for more details.
Bottom line- this park is owned by the Choctaw Nation and is part of the Casino Complex. So, the RV park is maintained at an exceptional level since income from the RV park is not critical. They just want their RV guests to have a first-class experience. Even if you don't gamble or dine out, take the free shuttle over to the casino complex just to see what it offers. It's truly a Vegas-like experience. This park deserves its high rating, and I do not hesitate to recommend it!
David B.GuideKing RV Park
The new king of RV parks near Winstar
King RV Park not only sets a high standard for RV visitors to the Winstar casino area, it's a model of how American business and customer service should be conducted!
As a small business owner myself, I'm always impressed when I meet someone like Huy Ho who is not satisfied with just doing enough. He's committed to going the extra mile to make his guests feel welcome and wanted and eager to return. That's a rare quality these days and it needs to come back.
I won't spoil the story with the details of all the ways King RV Park went out of their way to help me, a first time RV driver on my first night in a park... ever! What's great about this place is that they adapt to you, and you'll leave with your own special stories of the time you spend there.
If you're planning to get an Uber from the park to the casino, try asking for a ride instead because Uber doesn't respond, even though the casino is 2 miles away. They will pick you up there and bring you back, however.
If you're stopping in Oklahoma, visiting the Texas Panhandle like I was (Pro tip: King RV Park is an easy one day drive to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which is nothing short of spectacular!), or just want to be near the world's largest casino (you can see it from your rig), don't hesitate to call Mr. Ho directly or reserve online. You'll be glad you did!
- SSonali U.Scout
By The Lake RV Park & Resort
Nice Place, Good People
I was tired, pulled in with my camper…and was pleasantly surprised. Nice new facility, and they helped me get settled in a good pull through. Good folks. I’m glad I came here.
- JJon L.Guide
Do Drop Inn RV Resort
Nice Park!
Not too far from Highway 75 and the Choctaw Resort. Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful. The road from the highway to the park is easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate. No road noise- very quiet.
First things first - be prepared for a longer-than-usual registration process. I've never had a registration process require as much information, or take as long as this one did. You will need the driver's license of every person in your party - adults and teenagers. They will scan and retain each of them. You will need to provide actual copies of the insurance policies for both your RV and your tow (or Toad) vehicle, along with the license plate numbers for all vehicles. If you are using a Good Sam's discount, make sure that you have the membership number and expiration date.
Most check-in procedures at parks take a couple of minutes, but not here. Thank goodness we were the only ones checking in, or it would have been a lengthy ordeal. So, be prepared in advance and have all of this with you to speed up the process. At first, I couldn't figure out why they required all of this information, then it dawned on me- this is predominantly a park for full-time residents, and that would be the information they'd require of people living there.
It's off the beaten path, so you're not going to get that many travelers. As we walked through the park, I noticed that close to 100% of the rigs are full-timers. In my experience, most parks that cater to full-timers are kind of sketchy and don't really appeal to travelers - not this one. This is labeled as a resort, and it probably is the nicest RV park that we've ever visited that is predominantly full-timers.
Please don't have any reservations about staying here, as you will feel welcome. We were assigned to pull-through site number 40. All the sites are concrete and appear level. Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located.
Bathrooms, Showers, and Laundry are all located on the back side of the office building and are in great shape with a keyed entry. There is great Wi-Fi in the park with repeaters near all the sites. We had AT&T 5G with 2 bars. Starlink reception was not an issue due to no large trees. Their website lists all of the amenities, and I've included photos of the park. Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. This park deserves its high rating, and I would not hesitate to recommend it- enjoy!
- LLisa A.Traveler
Ardmore Lakes RV Resort
Nice spot
Nice people, beautiful spot, pool, lake, fishing, laundry, gym. Wished it had fenced dog park, but lots of room
- Greg K.Scout
Eisenhower State Park Campground
Very fun RV camping
RV Camp sites are super nice and well spaced. Really cool fossil sites near the lake shore. Nice huge lake. And really good trails (for North East Texas).
Guide to Gainesville
The landscape surrounding Gainesville, Texas features rolling hills and several lakes within an hour's drive, making it a popular destination for anglers and water enthusiasts. The region sits at approximately 700-800 feet elevation, creating mild terrain suitable for both novice and experienced campers. Winters remain relatively mild with occasional freezes, while spring and fall offer the most comfortable camping conditions.
What to Do
Fishing opportunities: The area lakes provide excellent catfish and bass fishing. At Thousand Trails Lake Texoma, visitors can access "a nice walk to Lake Texoma which was nice" according to camper Emerson F., who enjoyed the private lake access road.
Basketball and outdoor games: Many campgrounds offer recreational amenities beyond swimming. At Winstar RV Park, guests appreciate the "large pavilion next to outdoor basketball court and playground" as mentioned by James R. The park also features "horseshoe pit, basketball court and play area" according to Suzanne S.
Hiking trails exploration: Several parks offer walking paths through wooded areas. Christopher L. notes that at Isle du Bois, "Wildlife were very quiet and the stars were bright on a clear night," making it ideal for evening nature walks.
What Campers Like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds in the region offer generously sized camping areas. At Isle du Bois Campsites, Eric R. notes, "Campsites, large and private" making it comfortable even during busy seasons.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities are consistently mentioned as a plus. Taylor V. from Johnson Branch Campsites shares, "the staff was great, all the facilities were clean and grounds well kept."
Winter camping options: Unlike many northern destinations, camping remains viable year-round. Joyce L. mentions, "at night, the temperature was quite comfortable, albeit windy" when describing her spring stay at Johnson Branch, while Eric R. notes, "There are few campers here in December" at Isle du Bois, highlighting the off-season availability.
What You Should Know
Site selection considerations: Some parks have significant differences between sites. At Johnson Branch, Chris H. advises, "The site was actually pretty nice. It had the most trees over the sites around us, to give us a 'in the woods' feel." He notes that some sites have the fire ring close to the road.
Distance to amenities: Walking distance to facilities varies widely. Joyce L. from Johnson Branch warns, "Most campsites have a lengthy walk-in distance so be prepared! Bring a cart; it'll speed things up massively."
Reservation systems: Campgrounds follow different booking procedures. Robert M. explains that Lake Texoma RV Campground is "first come/first serve sites so for a beginner that can be a bit challenging," suggesting advance planning for first-time visitors.
Water quality concerns: Water sources vary in quality. Will and Lucinda B. from Winstar RV Park note, "The only negative, for me, at least, was that this is SOFT water. I have never been a fan of soft water. In addition, we used the water a couple of times to make ice, and I didn't like the taste of it."
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground accessibility: When camping with children, proximity to play areas matters. Chris H. mentions at Johnson Branch, "we were about 1/4 mile from a little playground for the kids. The playground wasn't anything grand, but it broke up the days for the kids some, which as all parents know is a gift."
Swimming areas: Many of the best places to camp near Gainesville, Texas feature designated swimming zones. Christopher L. notes at 4G Ranch at Tipps Lake, "Fun to walk down to the lake and fish," adding that it's "definitely a place you go to disconnect and relax."
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer learning experiences for children. Sarah E. mentions, "We learned what native plants we can eat!" during her Cub Scout trip to Johnson Branch, highlighting educational activities available.
Tips from RVers
Hookup inspection: Before setting up camp, verify electrical connections. Emerson F. recommends at Lake Texoma, "The first spot I chose had a bad pedestal, so I had to pick up and choose another spot. I would definitely recommend checking the pedestal before unpacking."
Site types and layouts: Different campgrounds offer various site configurations. At Lake Point RV Resort, Stephanie P. shares, "The roads are wide (gravel) and plenty of space between sites. Ours was pull through," noting the ease of access for larger rigs.
WiFi and connectivity: Internet access varies significantly between locations. Will and Lucinda B. report that at Winstar RV Park, "The campground Wifi is very good, better than most any other place I've visited, in an RV or otherwise," which is important for those working remotely or staying connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Gainesville, TX?
What camping is available near Gainesville, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, Gainesville, TX offers a wide range of camping options, with 214 campgrounds and RV parks near Gainesville, TX and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Gainesville, TX?
Which is the most popular campground near Gainesville, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gainesville, TX is Isle du Bois Campsites — Ray Roberts Lake State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 37 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gainesville, TX?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gainesville, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Gainesville, TX.
What parks are near Gainesville, TX?
What parks are near Gainesville, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Gainesville, TX that allow camping, notably Caddo National Grassland and Lake Texoma.
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