Best Tent Camping near Jacksboro, TX

A few times a year, the City of Jacksboro opens its arms to an influx of campers and schools from around the state eager to see one of the unique reinactments at the historic location of Fort Richardson.

While you can visit during other times of the year, these times make for some of the most popular and thus most busy camping experiences.

7 different types of campsites are available including group sites, equestrian sites, full hook up and primitive sites for RV and tent campers. Sites range from $10-$25 depending on the area and amenities.

For someone like myself who prefers primitive tent camping or less amenities I found $10 tent sites were about a 3/4 mile hike in and $20 limited amenity campsites were my best options. The benefits to the $20 North Loop site was pretty obvious in restrooms and typical state park fire rings and picnic tables. Primitive sites include only fire rings and because of their remote location in warmer months can be more of a questionable location as taller grass can Harbor more snakes, specifically in this area Rattlesnakes and Copperheads.

These fees were in addition to standard park admission which is $3 per day for adults. All of these fees are due upon entrance at the entry station where you will be greeted by a park ranger and given a map.

While there is a lake, hiking and areas for horseback riding my focus upon my visit was one of the reinactments events held near Christmas. “Ghosts of Christmas Past” is an event set to showcase the period of the fort days and tell the story of how soldiers spent the time, what it might have been like on those cold winter nights and create a vision of fort life. It was a great educational visit and a great way to see a bit more of the State Park.

With this being a short drive for me from my home, I find this campsite and full facilities to be very exciting to return for other events. Well maintained and with friendly staff it is well worth the trip.

Absolutely no tent camping. Read this.... NO TENT camping.

This is another one that is great to take the kids to. Water to play in, trails that are easy to navigate and the option to tent camp or use a shelter. The rock gorge near the lake is a wonderful place to explore. There are miles of trails and plenty to see.

We have been camping here for about 35 years.  Started out tent camping and now prefer a RV.  Love this park.  Many of the campsites are directly on the water, the wind coming off the water will keep you cool in the summer.  We camp here year round.  We camp to relax and this is great place for this.

Tent camped at site 104. Good amount of space on this site, but do your research. Some of the sites there are fairly small. Sites are spaced out well. Clean restrooms and showers. Saw a few deer and could hear coyotes in the distance at night. There is rock climbing and a small swim beach on the other side of the lake and lots of places to go fishing. The trails are very rocky and not always easy to navigate, but there is so much there to explore.

Tent camping areas in all 5 with shelters, grill, and picnic tables, many waterside. Public Area 4 and 6 have RV pads (which they do charge $10 to use in the Summer) with shelters, grill, and picnic tables, and many are waterside. Public Area 5 has grass pull thru RV parking. All 5 have bathroom facilities with running water and flush toilets. We parked at #5, also known as Bug Beach and we had the place to ourselves, with the exception of a herd of deer late afternoon. Beautiful scenery and exceptionally clean campground facilities.

As a kid we would come out here several times a year. We would boat, float, cliff jump, cookout, and enjoy each other's company. Twenty years later we are still enjoying these traditions.

If you like primitive, tent sites, cabins, or RV sites, there are plenty of options.

You should check out Hell's Gate while you are here.

There are also a few hike and bike trails, but this is mainly a park for boating and fishing.

Tent sites are walk-in to the other side of the end of the lake, and can be pretty rickety with loose rocks getting there. Was good practice for backpacking, since parking is closeby, but not very convenient. P008 is probably the only site suitable for hammock camping. Everything else is flat and exposed, next to the shore.

We were woken up by loud boats trolling the shore and men shouting around midnight both nights we were there, and could hear conversations from the RV area.

Very well kept area. Two restrooms. Each little camp site has its own picnic table and grill. On a Monday night there was only one person using the lake for fishing and one person camping in the shaded part. There is a little slide. Not very private at most of the tent sites. Although, I did see a fire ring out alone in the grass on the other side of the parking lot but it was in direct sun with no trees or shade nearby. There were two men working on the site. Its also pretty close (12 minute drive) the trails over at the lbj grasslands spot which is where we were staying for the night. We just popped over to black creek lake to check out the day usage and restrooms.

I have seen this place a million times living in the community nearby and never thought to check to see if they all tent campers. I was shocked to find out they do accommodate them so I passed through and checked out the grounds and wanted to let people know it exists!

There are two entries at the front of the property each easily accessed from the highway. Though they are gravel they are easy to navigate but do hold a little water in the rain. As you drive into the camp there are 4 main rows of camping, mostly in use by RVs however they do also accommodate tent campers. These sites can be picked up nightly or for more long term use so many people at this park have called this their home for a bit. Despite obvious signs of the long term dwellers, the grounds are clean and well maintained and don't look cluttered like some long term campgrounds will begin to look.

The site offers nice restrooms with showers, a bbq for general use, a rec room perfect for having your breakfast or dinner or perhaps a game of cards with friends and has connections for RVs up to 50 amp as well as a dump station.

For the tent camper sites are wide enough to be comfortable to move around and have scattered picnic tables. The tent camping sites are located on a grassy area next to the pond so they are not squished between big rigs and have a bit more privacy.

This site might not look as elaborate as some, but it more than makes up for the few things you do not have by its friendly staff and on site mechanic.

TIPS:

• Call in advance if looking for an RV site, they do have several spaces available but during certain times of the year they do fill up as they are centrally located to many things.

• Check out the LBJ Grasslands which are nearby when visiting this location, a great get away for some outdoor activities.

I know I am a bit biased because I do only tent camping. But I never turn away a good RV park to check out for friends or followers who ask me for advice on their travels. This one is right in my backyard so I wanted to make sure everyone knew it was out there!!

The facility itself has a lot of sites for rigs both small and large. The owners are extremely nice and are very welcoming. As a result of their great attitudes and welcoming demeanor they do have a lot of people who call this place home long term. This place has a sense of community because people are neighbors instead of just all passers through.

It offers a laundry and shower facility mid camp and a propane station just in front of the office on the road toward the community of Sunset. There is another entrance on the opposite side along the highway access road but you will have to pull all the way through the camp to get to the office.

I noticed that for the most part the grounds are even for RVs however there are a few areas where it does dip off a bit. Some of the long term campers do not maintain their rigs to the same standards as the travelers so those areas look a little less kept, but that is very similar to a lot of RV areas which offer long term stay.

There is a store very close, although the camp itself doesn't have one but everything else appears to be in place. There are not as many amenities for the kiddos although there is a small playground here.

The campground host and the easy access to the highway makes this one a good stop when passing though this area, you can easily access it from both sides and it is easy to locate on GPS.

(Photos were taken in July so it is a bit more dry than it is during most months as we have been experiencing a heat wave)

TIPS:

• Book ahead of time and take advantage of any specials they might have. They currently are offering a discount on services when you stay a month.

• Check out the proximity to the LBJ Grasslands which have hiking, fishing and boating only a short distance from the campground.

• Closest chain grocery store is about 8 miles north in Bowie or 7 miles south in Alvord so if you aren't wanting to pull in and then have to leave you might want to get your supply stop in before you arrive.

Even though a tornado touched down in the nearby small town of Jacksboro during my stay, I enjoyed this state park and all it has to offer. Thankfully no one was killed, although there was a great deal of property damage. It was humbling to see mother nature in all her fury! I was in site 35 which had water and electric (30 amp), no sewer hookups, but dump in the state park. This site backed up to Lost Creek and was set up on the rocky hillside with access to the Rumbling Spring trail right from the site. 

The campsites on this side of the creek are spaced fairly well apart with green space between them. I was spoiled for 3 days as one of only 2 campers in this section. This is when the wildlife came out. I saw deer and wild turkey every evening, an armadillo and lots of birds.

The trails are great with something for everyone. I especially enjoyed the Trailway which was well maintained crushed gravel and made for an easy ride into Jacksboro and beyond to the reservoir.  Nice points of interest along the way.

Not to be missed is the fort which offers self guided tours through the open buildings at specific times only (at the time I was there). If you don't go at the tour time, then the buildings are closed, expect for the old barracks restrooms. 

The park has a small store and there's trout fishing in the quarry lake. I'll definitely return. Shout out to the park rangers who went above and beyond during the bad weather!

Lake mineral wells state park was great for biking, hiking, swimming and fishing. We had something fun for all 6 of us. My husband and I stayed in our tent, while rest of family stayed in their RV. It has been a very rainy month in Texas so some trails were closed. The camp store was awesome.we didn’t take advantage of the kayak or canoe rentals, but the prices were reasonable. Bathrooms, while a little dated were clean and had soap!

This park was definitely out in the middle of nowhere, with a long peaceful drive full of wildlife. We made it to the park entrance, check in was quick. We arrived on a week day and they ranger informed us the camp store was closed until weekend and no firewood. Closest store with firewood was 30min away. They lake was beautiful. We were right beside the restroom and shower facilities which was great! We came to stay for one night, we had a roof top tent so the site we had was nice and would make a perfect side for a RV but for us it could’ve been wider for our ladder but we were close to the restroom which we wanted. The restrooms were clean, could use a little update, and water was warm but not hot. Lots of wildlife around! I would stay again but I don’t think it’s the best place to go for a winter camping trip. Thank you Texas state parks!

Sent me to a tent spot that had a concrete pad 3" under the soil.  No fire pit, no table, no electricity.

Been to this park a couple of different times it has rock climbing boating,fishing, trails for walking, hiking. separate camping loop for tents and also separate one for horses. We have camped there in February, in June and also October

If you are looking for a primitive site then this is the spot. If your looking for a camping area set up for tents then you can find it here. I love coming out to LBJ

We LOVE MW State Park!  The lake is awesome and great for fishing and kayaking.  We stayed at the Post Oak Campground over Valentine's Weekend 2019.  The campsites are really nice and include water, fire ring, picnic table, grill, parking for 2 vehicles, lots of trees.  Campsites on the south side of the loop back up to the lake.  There is a bathroom (no showers) at one end.  Showers are available at other campgrounds within the park.  We tucked our tent into the trees and had a very nice time.  The first night, we did hear coyotes chattering super close to our tent.  There are many trails to hike and several to ride bikes or horses on.  Staff at the park are great!  The only negative:  The Boy Scouts love this campground!  Late into our first night, 4 Boy Scout troops rolled in.  We were awakened the next morning to lots of kids yelling and 1 even playing a bugle.  By the end of the weekend, we knew all the kids names just from hearing them yell to each other.

First come first serve dispersed, lots of neighbors in a tight space in April. If you know what you're getting into, it's totally fine. We ended up leaving at midnight because of some drunk campers blasting music and pointing spotlights at tents.

Other than that, a pretty cute site. Fairly well-kept with some trails around Black Creek Lake. Great for kids - there's a playground and barefootable grassy areas. A few trees suitable for hammocking.

One week stay during the first week of December D&D south. Weather: highs in the 60s, lows in the 40s. Covered picnic tables, grills, fire pits, trash cans at most sites. Restrooms spaced throughout the park. Massive trail system throughout the area. Excellent service for school/remote work. Ideal for tents, vans, truck campers, and small trailers. No cost during May-September. No water or dump in the parks, but there are showers. There are sites directly on the water and up in the hills. Would return!

I've camped at several Texas State Parks recently. They're very nice places to camp at. Restrooms are well kept. Some are free and can stay up to 14 days.

This is mainly an RV site however they do have a few sites for tents. Tents and vans are only $20 per night with full access to amenities. RVs are $35 per night and they do make concessions for long term stay as well.

Something that sets this apart from other locations in the area is it provides a small store for those staying and also access to storage for recreational vehicles. It also has on site propane sales so if you happen to be in an RV you do not have to worry about finding supplies elsewhere.

I enjoy the pool at this stop perhaps the most. It is rare that it is busy despite also allowing non campers to for a small fee swim.

Bathrooms and showers are available in the main building however they also have a clubhouse which can be used for a fee that includes a kitchen which makes it feel like a more complete campground experience.

This is one of the most popular roadside stops in this area because of its amenities.

Tips:

• Call ahead for long term camping sites - also available are campers available to rent when available

• Each site is metered for long term campers so they will have direct feed to electricity and is pay by the month by the meter

• Store here offers a variety of household items as well as food items. If you aren't fully prepared when you arrive this store is very helpful but a little higher than marketstores

Beautiful little spot, only stayed a night. Walk right up to lake. Spots to our right had kayaks to put in right at campsite. Dump site on the way out. Spotted a Texas bobcat.

One of my favorite Texas state parks. Ve RT y nice campground on a lake. But do NOT miss the penitentary. Cliffs forming a prison below used during the civil war. Amazing rock structure with rock climbers.

We had plenty of space to spread out and relax. Rented a pontoon and saw Hell's gates worth the stop. Spent most of the time swimming and fishing from shore. This is one of the clearer lakes in Texas.

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.