W
Wayne 
Traveler
TravelerWinstar RV Park
Super easy in and out. Pretty much every amenity that you would want at a very modern campground.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Gainesville, TX
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Johnson Branch Campsites at Ray Roberts Lake State Park accepts pets across all accommodation types including tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping options. Winstar RV Park maintains well-manicured pet exercise areas with designated waste stations throughout the grounds. Both parks enforce standard leash policies, requiring dogs to be restrained when outside designated off-leash areas. Full hookup sites at Lake Point RV Resort provide pet owners with spacious concrete pads and patios where dogs can rest in the shade. Many campgrounds in the area feature wide walking paths ideal for daily pet exercise, though shade can be limited during summer months. The facilities at these locations are consistently clean, with regular maintenance of pet waste stations.
Several trails around Ray Roberts Lake provide excellent walking opportunities for pets and their owners. Old Towne RV Ranch offers complimentary ice for campers and maintains pet-friendly grounds with easy access from main routes. Most campgrounds in the region have no breed restrictions but limit pets to 2-3 per site. The wide, concrete pads at Winstar RV Park provide ample space for pet containment options like exercise pens or tie-outs. Local veterinary services can be found in Gainesville, approximately 15 minutes from most camping locations. Water pressure varies between parks, with some campers noting Red River Ranch RV Resort's pressure is somewhat lower than others in the area. Temperature considerations are important when camping with pets in this region, as summer heat can be intense with limited natural shade at newer facilities.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Gainesville (150)
1. Winstar RV Park
"everything about the place was clean, Pet friendly, spacious sites, restrooms/showers well maintained. Friendly staff, will definitely stay again."
"Just near the entrance(1/4 mile) is a Sonic, which was very convenient during Covid days."
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability2. Old Towne Rv Ranch
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability3. Lake Point RV Resort
"The dog park was perfect for my dog on a hot day! I wish there were more mature trees for shade but that’s the only thing I can think of that I would change! Also note there is no wifi in RV area."
"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 Availability4. All Inn RV Park
6. Sanger - Denton North KOA
"Nice playground for kids and dog park. The only reason I gave it 4 out of 5 stars is the feeling that we were parked in an RV storage lot rather than a campground."
"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."
7. 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."
8. 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 Availability9. Thousand Trails Lake Texoma
"One big issue with this park is the distance to the actual lake itself."
"When you first drive into the park, to the left they are in the process of building an entire new section and it looks nice. I wish they would do some upkeep on the rest of the park as well."
10. Star Trails RV Park
"Star Trails is a cozy little RV park just north of Whitesboro, TX. Full hookups with good wifi. Clean and quiet. Nice little pool, walking trails and fishing pond."
from $32 / night
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 Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Gainesville, TX
59 Photos of 150 Gainesville Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Winstar RV ParkM
Old Towne Rv RanchC
King RV Park
Lake Point RV ResortS
RV Texoma
Paradise on Lake Texoma
Juniper Point
Buzzards Roost — Lake Murray State Park
Rock Tower — Lake Murray State Park
Tipps Point Campground — Lake Murray State Park
Martin's Landing Campground — Lake Murray State ParkS
Cedar Grove Campground — Lake Murray State ParkL
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Gainesville, TX
593 Reviews of 150 Gainesville Campgrounds
Michelle C.TravelerThe Vineyards Campground & Cabins
Disappointing and unnecessarily confrontational experience.
I booked and paid for a campsite at The Vineyards in my self-contained Sprinter camper van. I checked in without issue and had already spent one night there when the park manager, Lisa, approached me while I was relaxing inside my van to inform me that my vehicle was not welcome.
She stated that the city requires RVs to have hookups and be commercially manufactured. However, the campground’s published policies explicitly allow management to approve converted camper vans (and I am fully self-contained). It also allows for truck campers, which I suppose theoretically could have sewer hookups, but I assure you my custom converted Sprinter is more aesthetic than a truck camper, if that was her concern (no offense to my truck camper friends).
I also could not find the city ordinance she was referring to.
I understand that campgrounds have rules and that management has discretion to enforce them. What I don’t understand is why my reservation was accepted, why I was allowed to stay overnight, or why the situation needed to be handled so confrontationally.
When I offered to leave if they would refund my unused second night, Lisa told me it was too late for a refund and that I might as well stay.
So apparently my van was prohibited until refunding my money became the alternative.
I wasn’t causing a disturbance, requesting special accommodations, or asking to use facilities I hadn’t paid for. I was simply enjoying a campsite I’d reserved and paid for.
The campground itself is lovely, which makes the experience even more disappointing. A straightforward, respectful conversation about their policies would have been entirely reasonable. Instead, I was made to feel unwelcome at a place where I was already a paying guest.
If you’re traveling in a self-contained converted camper van, I’d strongly recommend getting written approval before booking, regardless of whether your reservation is accepted. And given that I am now reading other complaints of the staff being rude, I might avoid this spot altogether.
- Curtis L.Traveler
Red River Ranch RV Resort
Red River RV Resort (Deluxe) in Thackerville OK is a hot mess to be polite. The entire campground is covered with goathead sand burrs. It's impossible to go outside and enjoy any part of the campground. If you do go out you have to be very careful not to bring any of the sand burrs into the camper. The property owner / management knows of the campground issues but they're not doing anything to fix the issues. The pool and hot tub are disgusting, both have green slimy water with leaves, dirt and whatever else blew into it. The community room is locked and you have to ask at the office to get access. The community room has multiple TV's but none if them turn on so whats point in having them. On the good side it has two nice pool tables so its has some purpose. The gym area is packed with equipment but looks more like a storage locker than a gym.The campground has a good laundry room and okay WIFI. The showers are okay, older facilty but it all works. It has a fenced dog park but again It's covered with sand burrs so its unuseable. There's several empty/abandonded campers through out the campground. We went down the street to the local public park, sadly the park is unuseable as well due to the sand burrs being everywhere. It appears sand burrs are a bigger issue in the area and just not only at the campground. The campsites have full hook ups, some of the sewer hose tubes have caps while others don't. The neighboring campsite sewer connection didnt have a sewer cap and it has a huge wolf spider living in it.... we had planned to stay the full 14 days but leaving early due to the 8 billion sand burrs. Our dog is unable to walk in the grass, dirt, pavement without a paw full of sand burrs. I'm very disappointed C2C thinks this is a deluxe campground, I would be embarrassed to be in any way connected to it. There's other campgrounds in the area that have similar nightly cost ($40 - $50) if I was to pay outside of the C2C members rate with useable grass yards, clean useable swimming pools and community rooms. This could be an amazing campground if someone would fix the issues. As it stands now I would avoid this campground at all costs.
- WWendy J.
ScoutHickory Creek COE Campground
Great place!
We had a great time here. Lots of shade, privacy and great view of lake
- David B.
GuideIsle du Bois Campsites — Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Beautiful and quiet. Widely spaced sites in loops, but challenging to back in.
Folks want different things out of campsites. For me, it's scenic beauty, quiet for work and mental health, and nice places to take my dog. This checks all the boxes!
None of my reviews will be useful for amenities or activities because I just don't use them. I can't tell you about bathrooms, fishing, etc. I can tell you the water is very soft and feels slick or soapy even after you rinse. I have onboard reverse osmosis and wouldn't recommend drinking city water anywhere in Texas. There's too much oil production here and gas and chemicals are all over.
The staff at the gate were pleasant and said, "You must be David," when I pulled in, which was very nice and made it easy and welcoming.
Texas has many undiscovered and wonderful public lands, whether you're really camping or just working remote, watching the deer, or seeing the sunrise over a lake from your bedroom window. Get out here and come see them!
Andy M.
LegendPreston Bend - Lake Texoma
Great view out on the peninsula.
Got here after Labor day weekend and mostly all to ourselves.
carilyne H.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
- SShannon H.Scout
Platter 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.Guide
LBJ 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.
Guide to Gainesville
Camping near Gainesville, Texas offers year-round options with summer temperatures often exceeding 95°F and winter lows around 30°F. Located in North Texas, the area features rolling hills with limestone outcroppings and is situated near the Oklahoma border. Most campgrounds are within 500-800 feet elevation with limited natural shade at newer facilities.
What to do
Hiking trails at Ray Roberts Lake: Isle du Bois Campsites at Ray Roberts Lake State Park offers multiple trail options ranging from short walks to longer hikes. "Scenic trails vary in distance but are easy to connect for longer hikes – or walk the shoreline for a nice lakeside view. Lots to explore and see here!" according to Gretchen N.
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk provide the best opportunities to see local wildlife. "We have car camped on a few occasions here and each time we saw plenty of deer around camp," notes Matt S. about his experiences at Isle du Bois.
Fishing from bank or dock: Multiple shoreline access points allow fishing without a boat. At Eisenhower State Park, visitors appreciate the combination of activities: "Great fishing on beautiful Lake Texoma. Bathrooms are always clean. Fellow campers are very friendly," writes Susan F.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Johnson Branch Campsites offers campsites designed with natural buffers. According to Joyce L., "The sites are cut in a way that gives you privacy. The sites are fairly close together but the grass makes it feel like you have your own little oasis."
Level concrete pads: Winstar RV Park receives praise for its site construction. James R. notes, "Wide roads and cement pads. Large pavilion next to outdoor basketball court and playground. Good water pressure and multiple sewage hookups per pad."
Lake access options: Eisenhower State Park provides varied water access points. "Cool beach with caves. New food trailer with great food. Great fishing on beautiful Lake Texoma," writes Susan F. The park sits higher above the water with specific access trails.
Maintained green spaces: Sites like Winstar RV Park feature well-kept grounds. Mark B. shares, "It's right next to the golf course so Bermuda grass is perfectly capped and lush. Sites are really big with large patio level and concrete pads."
What you should know
Summer heat considerations: With limited shade at some parks, summer camping requires planning. At Eisenhower State Park, a reviewer notes, "In the summer it gets very hot," though the hiking trails remain a draw throughout the year.
Facility differences between parks: Bathroom and shower quality varies. At Lake Point RV Resort, "The bathrooms/showers are very clean," according to Stephanie P., while other parks may have more basic facilities.
Reservation requirements: Peak times require advance booking, especially weekends from March through October. "We arrived late but were met by the owners with smiles on their faces. They were very helpful and got us checked in quickly," reports Stephanie P. about Lake Point RV Resort.
Walk-in distance for tent sites: Some primitive sites require carrying gear from parking areas. Christopher L. explains, "The trail path to the campsites is further than indicated or implied on the website, which isn't a problem if you're packed light, but if you're car camping with heavy equipment you will be surprised how far it is."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Look for sites near play areas to minimize walking for children. Suzanne S. says Winstar RV Park has "a great covered picnic area, horseshoe pit, basketball court and play area."
Swimming options: Thousand Trails Lake Texoma offers pool access when open. "There are multiple pools and the water appeared clear from a distance," notes Matthew, though he adds that "with COVID restrictions most were still unused" during his visit.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Deer sightings are common at Ray Roberts Lake. Tony C. shares, "Deer will approach your campsite and you're likely to see all kinds of wildlife. A gem of a getaway!"
Pet exercise considerations: Walking paths vary between parks, with some offering dedicated pet areas. Taylor V. from Winstar RV Park reports, "Husband and I stayed here over the weekend and it did not disappoint. The staff was great, all the facilities were clean and grounds well kept."
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Site layouts affect connection ease. At Old Towne RV Ranch, David T. found "pad was level and hookups well placed," making setup straightforward even for late arrivals.
Water pressure variations: Some parks experience fluctuations in water service. Will and Lucinda B. note at Winstar RV Park: "Water was great pressure. The only negative, for me, at least, was that this is SOFT water. I have never been a fan of soft water."
Cell and WiFi coverage: Connectivity differs between campgrounds. According to Will and Lucinda B., "The campground Wifi is very good, better than most any other place I've visited, in an RV or otherwise. We were never blocked for too much usage."
Free amenities: Some parks offer unexpected perks. David T. appreciated that at Old Towne RV Ranch, "free ice was a nice bonus!" after their arrival, showing how small touches can improve the camping experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Gainesville, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Gainesville, TX is Winstar RV Park with a 4.5-star rating from 11 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
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TheDyrt.com has all 150 dog-friendly camping locations near Gainesville, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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