Best Tent Camping near Grapeland, TX

Tent camping options near Grapeland, Texas include several primitive sites within a short drive of town. Walnut Creek Backcountry Site offers a hike-in tent camping experience, while HFR Campsites & Retreats provides tent sites with trash collection and allows fires. For those willing to travel slightly farther, Alazan Bayou and Slay Creek both offer established tent campsites within an hour's drive of Grapeland.

Most primitive tent setups in the Grapeland area require campers to bring their own water and supplies. Alazan Bayou features picnic tables on concrete slabs, fire rings, and lantern poles but no toilets or water sources. Sites at Slay Creek are described as basic primitive campsites with vault toilets available but no drinking water or hookups. Campers need a Texas Parks Limited Use Permit, which costs approximately $12 annually, to stay at Wildlife Management Areas like Alazan Bayou. This permit also covers camping at National Forest sites.

The tent camping experience around Grapeland provides peaceful natural settings suited for outdoor enthusiasts seeking simplicity. At Alazan Bayou, walk-in tent sites are well-maintained with mowed grounds, offering a comfortable primitive experience despite limited amenities. Slay Creek initially appears basic but rewards exploration. "It has an initial appearance of being basically a parking lot, but is actually pretty cool if you venture off into the woods a bit more," noted one visitor. Several good tent campsites can be found by following the trail or road further into the wooded area. During hunting season, campers may share these areas with hunters, as many of these sites primarily serve as hunting camps with seasonal activity patterns.

Best Tent Sites Near Grapeland, Texas (7)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Grapeland, TX

6 Photos of 7 Grapeland Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Grapeland, TX

134 Reviews of 7 Grapeland Campgrounds


  • Rachel J.
    Nov. 3, 2020

    Fishermans Point Marina and Resort

    Limited tent sites

    We went to check this place out to reserve for a family camp trip. The grounds are clean and spacious. They have wonderful cabins and RV sites. The only have 5 tent sites. There are no tent pads and the sites are on a small hill. The picnic tables are limited and not every tent site has one. There are no fire rings so it’s a little unnerving building a fire on the grass. The lake and marina is wonderful and clean. They have all sorts of thing to do there. Kayak rentals, fishing charters, a cute little cafe. This is a place I would come to rent a cabin but not to tent camp!

  • Adam H.
    Jan. 10, 2019

    Neches Bluff Overlook Campground

    quiet and very primitive

    There's not much to this campground, although it is very beautiful with enormous loblolly pines. This is a primitive campsite. There's no water, no electricity, not bathrooms, etc. Just an area you can use to set up tents or hammocks. We met a nice older fella who said he comes there every day and builds a fire at dusk, stays for a little bit, then leaves.

    We bikes from the Ratcliff Recreational Area and we had to cache water.

  • David T.
    Feb. 9, 2020

    Alazan Bayou

    Good camping area

    At least 14 sites with picnic tables on concrete slabs. Fire rings and Lantern poles. Very well kept and mowed. There is a loafing barn for horses. No bathrooms or water. Would be a 5 with just water. You need a Texas parks Limited use permit. It costs as little as $12 a year. If you want to fish or hunt the price goes up a little. Can be used to stay at any National Forest or Wild Management area.

  • Heather S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 27, 2025

    Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

    Convenient. Clean enough. But underwhelmed.

    We came to tent camp and wanted to be on a lake shoreline. We stayed at #11 on Lakeside Loop.

    The positive:

    • The tent pad was nice and level and the site was very roomy (we had a tent & canopy) with tons more room to stretch out.

    • We were about 200 yards from the bathroom facilities and about 30 feet from potable water for washing up.

    • The traffic was minimal because it’s off the main road, and would have been peaceful if the group of campers at #9 had been courteous and acknowledged quiet hours.

    • We had incredible weather with a wonderful steady breeze.

    Negatives:

    • We did have a lake view, but the shoreline is so incredibly overgrown making it difficult to fish. Lots of rotted wood and brush blocks a great deal of the view and access.

    • The burn circle had a grate welded at an angle to the top, so it couldn’t really be used for building up a big fire or cooking.

    • No one drove around/checked to make sure visitors are keeping to the quiet hours, which meant we were kept awake until about 12:30 am from yelling and loud music.

    • The restrooms, while near, had not been cleaned before we arrived—toilet paper on the floors and in the shower area with lots of dead june bugs and spiders on the floor the whole weekend.

  • Missy S.
    Apr. 26, 2019

    Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

    Quier, beautiful space to relax.

    The campground is located in the Davy Crockett National Forest, with spots located around the edges of a small lake. Although we could occasionally hear noise from the highway, it was mostly peaceful and quiet. The campgrounds are spacious, with tent platforms, poles to hang trash, and large picnic tables. The bathrooms were amazingly clean and with camp hosts and park rangers on site, we always had help with anything we needed. We hiked and kayaked (with our own boats) and it was all just lovely. I would go back for sure!

  • Chantyl
    Mar. 14, 2024

    Rusk Depot Campground

    Family trip

    First & foremost, This park is not well-maintained, and the camping sites are right off of the highway. The splash pad does not work, and the bath house was terribly dirty and freaked of sewage. The group sites are basically a big parking lot- zero grass space between site numbers, although there is shared grass areas along the rows. We moved site numbers within the group sites so that our kids would not be playing right beside the highway (there is a gate, however it’s still concerning), and to slightly distance ourselves from the traffic noise. Beware there is also a large wedding venue directly across the highway & our kids were woken to the sounds of fireworks at night on the weekend. There were large fire ant mounds all along the concrete, and we had to purchase fire ant killer ourselves, as well as deal with some broken glass & the trash can for our site that wasn’t emptied before our stay. I spoke with the staff member working in the office and all she could say was “i will let management know.”

    As far as the good: we had 6 kids and 4 adults staying, so despite the concerns and annoyances, we still were able to relax enough and enjoy our break from the daily grind. The kids played outside all day- making walking sticks, fishing a lot, catching bugs (spotted some really neat moths, too), and making up games.

    The best: the nearly-daily trains coming right through the campground for various reasons (loading new cars or taking passengers on a local trip). My son is an avid train-lover and this was the main reason we booked our stay here.

  • Elliott B.
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

    Decent size campground with some extra amenties

    Well spaced out, but not huge sites (both RV hookup electric and Non "tent only") which allow you to not really spread out, but at least people aren't on top of you. Like most campgrounds you have your standard table and fire ring, but you also have access to flush toilets and showers.

    The recreation area also rents out canoes and has pretty good fishing or you can make sure of thee swimming area and the tons of trails for some short nice hikes or a long trek through the region.

  • Patrick B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2023

    Neches Bluff Overlook Campground

    Peaceful

    Very primitive and off the beaten path, our 02 Mustang was able to handle it. No site numbers just pop the tent wherever. Very quiet and beautiful.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 3, 2022

    Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

    Nice wooded campground

    Pretty campground. Tall pine trees. Camped with our camper van along the loblolly loop. Not suitable for large rigs in this section. Level tent pads. Sites have access to the lake. Loved the tall trees. Restroom/shower rooms were very clean. See previous reviews about this. Paved roads & driveways in this section. No water & electric hookups in this section, but available in another section of the campground. Water spigot nearby for drinking water. Busy Hwy 7 is nearby; road noise from big rigs can get loud sometimes. AT&T cell/data service okay. No T-Mobile cell/data service. Would like to camp here again & explore some of the hiking trails.


Guide to Grapeland

Primitive tent camping sites surround Grapeland, Texas within the East Texas Pineywoods region. The terrain consists mainly of pine and hardwood forests interspersed with creeks and small lakes. Weather patterns typically include hot, humid summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F, while winter temperatures generally remain mild with occasional freezing conditions from December through February.

What to do

Wildlife observation opportunities: Fort Boggy State Park Campground offers excellent bird watching during spring migration. "Beautiful small state park. We usually tent camp but this time we decided staying at a cabin," notes one visitor who enjoyed the park's natural surroundings.

Seasonal hunting access: Alabama Creek Wildlife Management Area provides designated hunting zones during authorized seasons. A Texas Parks Limited Use Permit is required for entry, costing approximately $12 annually. Hunting seasons vary by game type with deer season typically running from November through January.

Water activities: The small lake at Fort Boggy State Park provides fishing opportunities for bass and catfish. "We hiked the trails and went and checked out the little lake," shares a camper who visited during winter. No boat rentals available on-site, requiring visitors to bring their own equipment.

What campers like

Cabin alternatives: When weather conditions make tent camping near Grapeland challenging, Fort Boggy State Park offers cabin accommodations. "Nice, beautiful and modern cabins. Love the enclosed porch and open porch as well. The cabin was spacious enough for our family of 6," reports one visitor who normally tent camps but opted for shelter.

Solitude during non-hunting seasons: Slay Creek camping area provides quiet surroundings outside of peak hunting periods. "Quiet hunting area we enjoyed the nice and quiet area," mentions a camper who appreciated the peaceful setting. The site receives significantly less traffic during spring and summer months.

Clean facilities: Fort Boggy State Park maintains well-kept bathroom facilities near its campsites. "Wonderful bathrooms nearby," notes a winter visitor who stayed in one of the cabins. The park also features a new family restroom facility described as "nice and clean" by another camper.

What you should know

Permit requirements: Alazan Bayou requires a Texas Parks Limited Use Permit for overnight stays. "You need a Texas parks Limited use permit. It costs as little as $12 a year. If you want to fish or hunt the price goes up a little. Can be used to stay at any National Forest or Wild Management area," explains one visitor.

Limited amenities: Most tent camping near Grapeland requires self-sufficiency. Cell service ranges from spotty to non-existent at most primitive sites. Many locations lack potable water sources, requiring campers to bring sufficient water supplies for drinking, cooking, and hygiene.

Seasonal considerations: Hunting activities significantly impact campsite availability and atmosphere from November through January. "This is a fairly basic primitive hunting camp, directly next to a road, with one structure that can provide shelter," notes a visitor to Slay Creek, adding that the experience improves when you "venture off into the woods a bit more."

Tips for camping with families

Explore beyond designated areas: At Slay Creek, initial appearances can be deceiving. "I followed the road/trail in for a while. Probably a game management route, but there were a number of good spots off on the side where you can set up," suggests a camper who found better sites by exploring the area.

Consider cabin options for young children: For families new to tent camping near Grapeland, Fort Boggy State Park's cabins provide a comfortable introduction to outdoor experiences. The cabins feature enclosed porches and are located near bathroom facilities, making them suitable for families with small children.

Day trip options: When primitive camping proves too challenging, consider using Grapeland as a base for day trips. "I stopped in to use the showers, not realizing they were outdoor showers. The water was turned off, but the park looks to be very well taken care of," notes a visitor to Fort Boggy State Park who was passing through the area.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup availability: Traditional RV amenities are scarce near Grapeland. "I would give it 5 stars, but the park does not have RV sites. Cabins and primitive camping only," explains a visitor to Fort Boggy State Park Campground who typically travels by RV.

Hunt camp alternatives: Slay Creek serves primarily as a hunter's camp but accommodates overnight RV parking without hookups. "It's a Primitive camping area for Hunters during hunting season. There are no water or electrical hook-ups, but they do have two port-o-potties. Nice quiet place to overnight," shares an RVer who stayed there during hunting season.

Self-contained requirements: RVers staying at the best tent camping near Grapeland, Texas must bring all necessary supplies. Potable water, waste disposal, and electricity are unavailable at most primitive sites, requiring fully self-contained setups with sufficient capacity for planned stay duration.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Grapeland, TX is Walnut Creek Backcountry Site with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Grapeland, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.