Glamping close to Jacksonville, Texas offers unique overnight experiences in East Texas's Piney Woods region, where 100-foot pine trees create natural shade over most campsites. The area typically maintains warmer temperatures than North Texas, with summer days often reaching above 95°F and winters rarely dropping below freezing. Most glamping sites in this area feature full hookups and concrete pads that help level RVs despite the region's gently rolling terrain.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Martin Creek Lake State Park Campground provides multiple fishing piers and lake access points. One camper noted, "We caught 7 catfish using normal nightcrawlers as bait. Fried them up for lunch the next day and they tasted like heaven!"
Hiking trails: Explore the trails at Tyler State Park Campground where you can find routes suitable for beginners. A visitor mentioned, "Lots of hiking/mountain bike trails. Day use swimming area can get crowded on the weekends but there's plenty of quieter access points."
Water activities: Rent equipment at local parks for lake adventures. According to a camper at The Boulders at Lake Tyler, "The waterfront views were beautiful and the amenities were wonderful. They had a variety of rentals available - golf carts, kayaks, and pontoon boats."
Train watching: Some campgrounds feature historic railway connections. At Rusk Depot Campground, a camper shared, "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."
What campers like
Pine tree coverage: The tall pines throughout the area provide natural shade. A camper at Music Springs described the setting: "The bathrooms and shower are clean, there's a community kitchen that has a microwave, coffee maker, and refrigerator. The whole place is decorated very nicely."
Concrete sites: Many parks feature level, concrete pads that make setup easier. A first-time RV camper at The Boulders at Lake Tyler shared, "Concrete sites made setup and leveling super easy. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful - when we mentioned it was our first trip, they guided us into our site and gave us tips on setup."
Quieter camping options: Several parks offer more secluded experiences away from highways. One camper at A-OK South RV Park noted, "The park was small, but nice. We loved waking up to see a pasture full of cows behind us. The manager was very polite."
Water views: Lakefront glamping options provide scenic settings. A visitor to The Boulders at Lake Tyler wrote, "Although the sites were close together, they all had concrete pads, full hookups, were level, and had picnic tables. Great view of Lake Tyler. Also very clean."
What you should know
Site selection considerations: Some parks have challenging layouts. At Rusk Depot Campground, one camper advised, "FHU loop roadway was difficult to maneuver due to the roadway being covered with pine needles which blended it into the non-roadway. We saw most people driving thru campsites thinking it was the road."
Maintenance varies: Park upkeep differs significantly between locations. A reviewer at Rusk Depot Campground stated, "It is not the most maintained campground, but it is a small loop with pull-in sites w/ full hookups. The bathroom didnt seem maintained much, but we have a camper, so don't have need for the bathrooms."
Noise factors: Consider potential noise sources when booking. A camper at Martin Creek Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "There's a power plant over there. Didn't know that when I booked my site."
Limited big rig access: Some parks have size restrictions. At Rusk Depot Campground, a camper noted, "Limited sites for RVs longer than 30 feet. Most sites were designed for 20 feet or smaller. Not a slide-out friendly campground as most sites were very compact."
Tips for camping with families
Look for kid-focused amenities: Jellystone Park™ Tyler offers numerous family activities. A parent shared, "The kids liked the trampoline and the hay ride around the camp!"
Consider seasonal events: Some parks offer special holiday activities. A family at Jellystone Park™ Tyler recounted, "We went with the kids and my brother in law and his family. Was able to get 2 spots side by side right by the water park. Kids loved every minute of our stay!"
Find playgrounds: Parks with play areas keep children entertained. A visitor to Martin Creek Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "Pretty cool play ground, trails to explore, covered picnic tables in the swim area, nice fishing piers. A really cool SP."
Check for swimming options: Water features provide cooling recreation. A camper at Tyler State Park Campground shared, "The lake was perfect and had a nice beach. We were able to rent kayaks and paddle boats. The hiking is not the greatest but it was easy enough for my toddler."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions matter: Big Tex Campgrounds offers spacious sites for larger rigs. A recent visitor noted, "The sites are all large and shaded with a picnic table and a fire pit. Our site was also a full hookup site as was the site of our friends that also came with us."
Check hookup specifications: Not all parks offer the same amenities. At Rusk KOA, campers appreciate the full facilities. A visitor mentioned, "Sites are level pull-through sites and most have a clear view of the playground, which gives the kids a sense of freedom."
Consider bathroom access: If traveling without onboard facilities, check bathroom conditions. At Music Springs, a camper praised, "The bathrooms and shower are clean, there's a community kitchen that has a microwave, coffee maker, and refrigerator."
Power capacity varies: Some parks may have electrical limitations. An RVer at Martin Creek Lake State Park Campground warned, "On our last night, the 30 amp breaker kept tripping without a full load. Happened twice within an hour so we scaled back our amp use under 20 just to have some heat during the night."
