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Best Tent Camping near Gainesville, TX

462 Reviews

Public lands surrounding Gainesville, Texas offer several tent camping options within an hour's drive. The Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland provides both established and dispersed tent camping opportunities about 30 miles southwest of Gainesville. Black Creek Lake NF Campground in Decatur offers tent-only primitive camping with 14 official sites, while Tadra Point Trailhead & Campground in Alvord provides year-round tent camping access. For those willing to travel slightly farther, Cross Timbers Texoma Hiking Trail features primitive tent campsites accessible by foot.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Black Creek Lake operates on an honor system with a self-pay kiosk that accepts cash only, with sites including fire rings and picnic tables for $2 per night. Tadra Point requires a $10 per car fee and offers non-flushing toilets but no potable water. Campers should bring their own drinking water to most locations, as well as insect repellent to combat mosquitoes that are particularly active during warmer months. A ground tarp is recommended at several sites to protect tent floors from burrs and rough terrain. Cell service can be limited throughout the grasslands, making offline navigation important.

The primitive tent camping experience varies by location and season. At Black Creek Lake, midweek visits offer more solitude, with one camper noting that "lake breeze and shade made it pleasant" even during hot weather. The LBJ Grassland dispersed camping areas provide more secluded backcountry tent camping opportunities, though visitors should be prepared for wildlife encounters including deer and occasionally wild hogs. Sycamore Bend Park, though farther south near Lewisville, offers walk-in tent sites along Lake Lewisville with a 3-night maximum stay. Erwin Park in McKinney provides tent campsites with more amenities including drinking water and toilets, though weekend mountain bikers can create a busier atmosphere on the trails.

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Best Tent Sites Near Gainesville, Texas (18)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Gainesville, TX

11 Photos of 18 Gainesville Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Gainesville, TX

462 Reviews of 18 Gainesville Campgrounds

  • j
    Jan. 3, 2022

    Hickory Creek - Lewisville Lake

    Spacious campground near town

    Lewisville TX Hickory Creek Park COE on Lewisville Lake Open year round. Just over 100 paved sites most with lakeviews. Also have primitive walk in sites by lake. May 1 to Sept 30 14 day max stay other times can extend 14 more days!Be ware that gate closes from 10pm to 6am and there is no code access! Sites are w/e and all have new 50 amp. Grills and fire rings along with covered picnic tables. Modern bathhouse with large shower stalls. Nice boat ramp and boat trailer parking. There are several nature and walking trails as well as paved roads for bike riding. I have Verizon and was able to call and text but not use internet in camp. Town is short 5 minutes away. There's restaurants, shopping and theater close by.

  • Kellyn L.
    Jun. 21, 2020

    Lakeside (OK)

    Rained out but nice area

    We reserved in area D (tent camping no electric) for 2 nights. We got in the first night around 8 and it was pouring rain. So we did not stay the night. We returned early the next morning and were able to set up camp. They have concrete picnic tables, fire rings and the area we were in had a bathhouse. Stalls had a toilet, sink and shower area. The sites were pretty close together. Our neighbors were very friendly but I like having a little more space. Overall it was a good time. Just not as secluded as we are used to and the rain kind of put a damper on things.

  • S
    Jan. 21, 2022

    Isle du Bois Campsites — Ray Roberts Lake State Park

    Great venue for first camping trip in four decades

    68 year-old solo camper getting ready to travel around the country, car/tent camping primarily. Haven't really camped since 1973, so I drove out to Lake Ray Roberts for a one-night trial for some new gear and knock off the rust. 

    This was a terrific choice – Hawthorn Area #9, wooded area, 4th on the path from the Hawthorn parking lot to the other nine campsites on this loop (150 steps from campsite to car and restrooms, a little over 100 yards). As most (maybe all) of the campsites here, this was walk-in to the campsite from a common parking lot.

    I walked around the rest of this loop and the adjoining one (16-40). Each campsite had a tent pad, picnic table, fire pit and lantern post. Mine was one of the more private in that I couldn't see another picnic table. However, with the trees and in some places tall grass, I would rate most of the sites as private. 

    The next morning there were about half-dozen deer roaming around the area between my camp and the parking lot. There was only one other car in the parking lot overnight and they camped in one of the other areas. One of the lots (I think it was #13) actually had lake front. Others had views of the water. 

    Depending on exact location you could see the dam and except for a few hours of the deepest night you could faintly hear the drone of road noise. But the near-full moon lit the area so well I walked to my car about 4:30 in the morning without a light and could see very well – it was really nice and bright. 

    The Isle du Bois unit is at the far southeast corner of the lake, near the eastern end of the dam. The Hawthorn area is one of the first sites from the entrance, maybe a 5-minute drive.

  • Ray & Terri F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 2, 2021

    Isle du Bois Campsites — Ray Roberts Lake State Park

    This is a big camping area, lots of campsites near the lake

    The campground is nice and well maintained and sites are fairly well spaced with lots of grass, trees and open areas. The park staff were very friendly and helpful. We were in site 78 for 5 days. Only a few of the sites in the Deer Ridge campground loop looked level, fortunately ours was one of them, but we saw one 5th wheel with the wheels on one side off of the ground by several inches and one Class A whose front wheels were 8-10 inches off the ground. AT&T coverage was fairly good here, generally between 1-3 Bars of LTE service, with speeds up to 4.5 MB/s. There is no WiFi, cable or sewer hookup and the dump station can get a little busy around checkout time. Restrooms and showers were clean and the shower was nice and hot. 

    If you don’t already have one, you do have to purchase a Texas State Parks Pass for$70, which did add considerably to the cost of our stay. 

    There are quite a few trails in the area.

  • Ray & Terri F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 26, 2023

    Isle du Bois Campsites — Ray Roberts Lake State Park

    This is a fairly big camping area, lots of campsites near the lake

    The campground is nice and well maintained and sites are well spaced with lots of grass, trees and/or open areas. The park staff were very friendly and helpful. This was our second stay in site 78, this time for 4 days in late March. There is no WiFi, cable or sewer hookup at the camp sites and the dump station can get a little busy around checkout time and is a goodly distance from the CG if you plan to use a portable waste cart. Restrooms and showers were clean and the shower was nice and hot. There is a nice paved 2.25 mile trail through the CG and the surrounding area.

    AT&T coverage was not as good as the last time we stayed here a couple of yeas ago, with generally 1 Bar of 5G service and speeds up to 1 MB/s. We had an unobstructed view of the sky and so we were able to receive all 3 SW Dish satellites and good Starlink coverage with speeds between 2.5 and 4 MB/s. We didn’t try to load any OTA channels. 

    You do have pay a daily$7/person entrance fee or purchase a Texas State Parks Pass for$70 if you don’t already have one, which did add considerably to the cost of our stay.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2018

    Tipps Point Campground — Lake Murray State Park

    Large Open Tent Camping

    On this turn out of the Lake there are three campgrounds, this being the most Tent friendly of the three. There are spaces equipped with electrical connections or primitive sites in an open area which are comparable for tents. Both of these sites allow a wide open feel close to the shore line with plenty of room to move around comfortably.

    After entering Tipp’s point you first find the day use pavilion and vault toilets. Just beyond that on the left is parking for the open tent area which has scattered grills and a couple of community picnic tables set in the open area. This is ideal for groups that are larger or just the person who wants to dry camp.

    to the right are a group of non-primitive sites for RVs and tents. While these are closer together they are not as cluttered feeling as the sites at both the cover or elephant rock. Beyond this point are more RV sites, a shower house and playground.

    This campground when I visited was the least used of the three on this turn out. While there were probably a dozen or so campers in the firSt part of the section if was very wide open feeling. The water levels were pretty high and had encroached upon some of the sites near the shower house while higher level sites remained safe.

    TIPS:

    • If staying in this section in the open camping tent area you might want to bring a fold out table. There are only a couple in this area for group use and to eliminate having to share better safe than sorry.
    • Bring shower shoes. this should be a given but the showers here aren’t terrible but aren’t something you would want to be barefoot in
  • R
    Nov. 27, 2020

    Hidden Cove Park & Marina

    Not just for camping!

    Clean and spacious RV sites in two areas, about 100 total and several with water view. Open and tree covered sites in both. Cabins also available, again several with water views. Two designated tent camping areas separate from RVs. Dry storage and dump station on property as well. The park offers open activity areas and covered picnic tables by the water. A 3-lane boat ramp to Lewisville Lake, rental paddle boarding, full marina, and swimming area. Seasonal restaurant with indoor & outdoor eating areas. Privately owned so there is an entry fee, but 2 or 3 levels of yearly membership passes available saves a lot! Currently upgrading to full hookup for all RV sites and wifi.

  • Taylin B.
    Jun. 1, 2023

    Sycamore Bend Park

    Great PRIMATIVE stay.

    The price has gone up from $7 to $20, but that’s about average it seems now. The restrooms really stink, but are always clean and stocked in my experience. Max 3 night stay, no electricity, water, or showers. Nice fire rings, flag pole, and calm park.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2018

    Black Creek Lake NF Campground

    Improved Camping With Boat Ramp Access

    There are two areas at Black Creek Lake that you can camp: this side, the improved side with amenities, and the back side, which does not have any amenities.

    Typically you will find those wanting to camp on this side and those wanting to fish off the shore on the other side which has a gated entrance which is not always open.

    This campground has restrooms and a gravel drive to access the grounds. You will find a small playground and picnic tables at this site as well as a public boat launch. A lot of people, depending the on the lakes level will also use this side for swimming.

    This site is tent only primitive camping with an honor system at the kiosk for payment. $2 per nIght includes a fIre rIng and pIcnIc table at 14 official sites.

    When I have been to thIs locatIon I have noticed a lot of small john boats launchIng especially durIng sprIng. There are birds, squirrels, raccoons and opossums which roam the grounds so I woukd advise against leaving food within reach at night.

    During summer rattlesnakes are around in taller grass so avoid unmaintained areas. Most areas are well kept however there are outlying areas and some primitive trails which I would avoid during these times.

    As a part of the LBJ Grasslands you will occasionally see someone patrolling the area however it is not as often as a National Park.

    A unique marker of LBJ Grasslands is the green gates you will see, if you are entering this area you will notice the green gates and many times cattle guards if you are thinking you are entering this area but do not see one of these you are more than likely in the wrong area and because cell signal can be a little iffy out here this is a great way to have a landmark without access to online directions.

    TIPS:

    • Bring your own firewood for fire rings. Though there is plenty of downed wood in the area, sometimes it is not easy to break down and can be a bit difficult to keep inside the rings when to large. Better safe than sorry when it comes to wildfires.
    • Bug Spray is a must!! For some reason there are HUGE mosquitos so make sure to remember your spray otherwise you will itching all night.
    • Pack A Tarp.- I usually don't endorse needing a tarp to lay below your tent, but during certain times of year small burrs can be out in this area and a tarp can keep these from poking into your tent base and make for a more comfortable stay.
    • Bring cash because the kiosk does not accept cards it is a cash only system with no ATM within 10 miles.

Guide to Gainesville

Tent camping near Gainesville, Texas, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts, from serene lakeside spots to rugged trails. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several options to explore.

Local Activities for Tent Campers

Tent Camping Prices and Amenities

  • Tent camping at Black Creek Lake NF Campground typically costs around $2 per night, featuring picnic tables and fire rings.
  • At Willafa Woods, you can enjoy a primitive camping experience with no fees, though amenities are limited.
  • For a more developed site, Little Elm Park offers tent camping for about $5 per night, complete with restrooms and nearby stores.

Features That Enhance Your Camping Experience

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Gainesville, TX is Hickory Creek with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near Gainesville, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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