Best Glamping near Karnack, TX

This is a parish ran park that is very well maintained. Security measures are excellent. The park is shaded and all sites are either lake side or almost. There are back-in and pull-through sites. Not all of the park is FHU but they have three pull through dumps. There is a new bathhouse that is very clean and requires a code to be entered on a keypad for entry. There is a small wildlife sanctuary (zoo but no petting) and free roaming peacocks. Good fishing from the docks or by boat. The park is close to shopping, casinos, and restaurants. Love this park.

We, unfortunately, only got to spend one night here on our way through the area but enjoyed some great stargazing due to the park being quite dark.

We appreciated electric and water being at the campsite, especially for only $14 per night.

The only thing negative we noticed during our very short stay was that while the bathrooms were clean, they seemed old and small. Men and women each had just one shower stall and it was behind only a shower curtain in the main restroom area. (We were in the Wilkins Creek Loop.)

Staff was friendly and welcoming. We'd like to come back and explore the area more when we have time.

PROS 

Saved $42 With TX STATE PARK PASS 

No fee to reserve online. 

No sales tax. U

pon arriving at Site 23, we had no power at the pedestal. Called Park Headquarters and 2 park personnel were at our site in 10 minutes and resolved problem 

Site 23 level asphalt 

Site 23 partial shade 

Aluminum picnic table, 2 hook lantern pole and metal fire pit with cooking grate 

Donation firewood available 

Soap and hand dryer in toilet/shower facility 

3 bars TMOBILE when not storming 

CONS 

No overnight security gate closure 

Site 23 was 1/3 covered with poison oak and remaining living area covered with tall weeds. 

Some highway noises. 

Two PARK HOSTS occupy sites in Woodpecker Hollow. That reduces full hook up sites to 6. One of those sites were used as a temporary dump station due to out-of-service park dump station 

Woodpecker Hollow toilet/shower facility needs some deep cleaning 

11 windows in Woodpecker Hollow women’s toilet/shower and only 4 were open. Camp host said rest of windows were painted shut.  Floors were continuously wet and slippery. What a mess! This place needs a fan or two.

Most pets we saw were NOT on leash 

No privacy from surrounding campsites 

No ranger drive thru Woodpecker Hollow 

No park WIFI

This park is easily in our Top 3 in the Texas State Parks system. It's a small park, but a little slice of heaven. Towering pine trees grow right up to the waters' edge. So peaceful. Donna, my wife, will often sit and gaze over the water. 

The park is neat and tidy, and the bathrooms have always been clean. There are several picnic tables by the lake, a swim out platform, kayaks, paddleboats, a fishing pier, and a few swings on the playground. We typically visit during the week, so it's always been pretty quiet. And if you need supplies, there's a Brookshire's grocery nearby(only a few miles away). One trip, we decided to fish and grabbed bait from the Ace Hardware in town. 

We love laying in our hammocks, watching the pines sway, and listening to the birds sing. In the warmer months, we swim and splash around the floating platform. And with a fire pit at every site, s'mores are a given each night(so long as there's no burn ban). 

There's a short trail that circles the lake(about 2.5 miles). We do it EVERY trip. It's a beautiful and easy hike. Take a picnic and make your way to the CCC picnic area on the lake's other side. There will be a spot where you can enjoy your lunch, looking back across the water.(But don't let your dog grab your PB&J when you're not looking or you'll be hungry on the way back.)

The pool was closed the whole time we were there. I could understand a day, but they just kept trying to fix it themselves instead of getting a professional. We stayed here for the pool so, at$55 bucks for grass and gravel and no pool, we were not impressed. The women's toilets were new and clean, but the showers were nasty. The long-term campers were nice, but the transients were super rude, parked in your campground arrogantly, and didn't obey quiet hour rules. One camper opened and shut his truck doors over 20 times early in the morning. He was pacing around like a little kid looking for attention. You are quite a long drive from downtown and in not a good area of town either

We rolled in without a reservation which led to a wonderful interaction with the gate people. My dog came in as well to entertain them while I selected a site.

I had the pick of many because it was February. I loved the spaciousness of each site leaving a lot of room between you and your neighbors.

The bathhouse was immaculately clean. I went in expecting a typical park shower room with spiders or bugs. There were NONE. The bathhouse was heated and a welcome chance to shower in something other than a matchbox.

I really can't recommend enough.