Best Glamping near Karnack, TX

A Texas C.C.C. state park in east Texas on Caddo Lake. Beautiful sites and canoe rentals for the old mill pond. Tent sites, RV sites and shelters along with cabins.

Stayed at site 47. Great park. Another park that the CCC left its mark on. For a West Texas kid, Caddo feels otherworldly. Fun fishing, many big sites, decent bathrooms.

On the very last day of 2018 we found ourselves camped out at Atlanta State Park on Wright Patman lake deep in the East Texas piney woods. Just a short drive north and west of the Texas Town of Atlanta set way back in the tall pine trees Atlanta State Park is truly a beautuful place to visit with your RV. Atlanta State Park is not well suited for the mobility challenged. I was unable to get down to the waters edge in most of the public use areas and there was little else for me to do in this Texas State Park. Our visit coincided with several days of cold winter rain and that further dampened our spirits and motivated us to cut short our visit by one full day. Dont get me wrong we really enjoyed our short visit to Atlanta State Park and look forward to a return visit when the sun is shinning but on this visit is was wet and gloomy. 

Come along with us as we pay a visit to Atlanta State Park!

https://youtu.be/b-JHeYgjWx8

Unique lake ,Beautiful trees all in it.I had a electric and water site, was very nice .on site 36 I was close to a pretty new bathroom they were clean. With a Texas state park pass ,it was $15 a night. AT&T 0-1 bar

Hard to beat for $13/night (annual pass rate), hiking trails are decent, bathrooms are some of the cleanest in Texas and the staff were some of the best!

Second time through here on our way to Houston, this will always be our stop in and out of Texas! Great place, super clean, big spaces!

Very clean and well kept park. Camp sites are across the lake from a Texas Utilities generating plant and it is loud. You do get used to it but if that sort of thing bothers you I wouldn’t recommend this park.

This park seems to be a good fit for boaters and Fishermans , not the best hiking trails but there still there, little hike on the island ,is OK, and the other trails I went on did not look like they’ve been used a lot, but again the parks are just re-opening. The RV is well shaded the toilets and showers are Nice and clean. Nice two way drive-through dumpsite. Price with the Texas park pass for one night. $13 . AT&T 2-3 bars

Okay so we visited at the beginning of fall so the mosquitos were on the Down slide but if you come, bring bug spray. It should go without saying, big bits of standing water in Texas, but ya know. The big turn off for me on this park is that, despite its beauty, there is incessant road noise that you hear from every campsite. If you’re a big boater, kayaker, or fisher, maybe you won’t mind because it’s the best place to do those things, but if you’re just looking to escape the city and get away for a while, there aren’t a ton of trails here and the road noise at all hours was not cool.

This is a beautiful park which has access into the bayou. The park offers canoe rentals or bring your kayak which you can put in the “pond” and paddle around the amazing cypress trees that are draped in moss. There’s also a boat ramp in the park which has access to Caddo Lake. Sites have lots of trees. There are sites with screened in shelters if you need extra room. Make time to go to Uncertain, Texas and eat at Shady Glade Cafe for the best chicken fried steak you’ll ever eat (I highly advise splitting it). Take your kayak for some beautiful paddle trails. They are putting in new showers/bathrooms in the park that should be complete in September 2018. You won’t regret camping here among the cypress trees.

The Caddo Lake State Park is the only true natural lake in Texas. Although the story is that the lake was formed by a giant log jam. The park and lake are notable due to the Cypress trees and Spanish moss that surround much of the lake. The park has campsites with full hookups, campsites with electricity and water and campsites with just water. I visited in July and had no problem finding a campsite. There are some hiking trails, but the main recreational activities center around the lake. In the nearby small town of Uncertain there is the Johnson Bait Shop where you can rent a canoe, kayak or boat to explore the lake. Within the state park, one can fish without a fishing license. There are a few piers from which to fish or one can fish from the shore. Be aware that there is poison ivy in the area and along the shore, so learn to identify it and stay away from it.

This was our first experience at a Texas State Park. Overall, the park is clean and well maintained. There are three hiking trails that are between 1.2-1.5 mile each, so we easily accomplished all 3 with our 4 year old. There is decent spacing between camp sites. There is a nice fishing pier, boat launch, and fish cleaning station. Sites are water and electric only, dump station only. All the sites seem well shaded and a decent amount have lake views. Very relaxing trip and a great way to spend the first cool weekend of the fall season. I am only deducting one star because of the noise of the power plant across the lake from the park. While I know it’s out of the park’s control, it’s just something to be aware of. It can be heard from anywhere in the park and takes away from the natural vibes of camping in a state park.

We were eaten alive. It is to be expected that you will attract mosquitoes, but this was extreme. Nothing we did short of covering our bodies in toxic chemicals would stop them. Even then they surrounded us. We also came home with fleas, also not the end of the world, but unpleasant.

The park itself is must see for fans of the forests of East Texas. The lake is so intriguing and the history is very interesting. It is a heavily populated and used lake... I wouldn't describe it as a peaceful area. I could also do without the partisan political imagery surrounding the park. The park is large enough and the campsites are embedding into the woods.

Campsites are thankfully spread out and when were there it was maybe 35-40% capacity. Lots of privacy. Be sure to stop during the day and listen, you'll hear trees and birds. 

Park is situated among lake towns, but during the day and morning it is very quiet. evening and nights are much louder. The trails need some updating.

Amenities used:

Bathrooms need some updating, but were clean

Trails need work done

Minimal firewood available

Be smart and come prepared and you'll be wowed.

Atlanta State Park is nestled pretty far off the beaten path (nearest highway) deep in the pineywoods. It sits on the edge of Wright Patman Lake near the Texarkana region on the Texas side. Has plentiful campgrounds that are nearly maintained, two different boat ramps (both in good condition) for fishing, along with multiple swimming areas (with beaches) for folks. The major plus to this lake is that you can easily bring a boat with you when you're camping, because of the plentiful spaces at campsites and boat ramp access.

Wright Patman Lake is a decent lake, but does have a fair amount of stumps along the edges- watch for the bouyees. Fishing is good, water can get very warm in the summer which is nice for swimming.

Overall it's a beautiful park and the best park along Wright Patman Lake in my opinion. I've also been here at least two dozen times and enjoyed each experience.

I went there for 3 nights. It is a beautiful little park. It has an 80 acre lake that is really nice except there is too many lilly pads. I took my tiny camper, fishing poles and kayaks. I wish there where more campsites near the water. It is a quite little park. The campsites are nice. The restrooms are very nice. This park is very clean. The park had different activities during the day on Saturday. They had live music and a campfire that I really enjoyed. Then after that they had a dance with a free jukebox and disco lights. It was fun watching the people dance. They have a really nice fishing dock and a store to buy supplies, sueveniers and ice. They rent Kayaks, paddle boats and boards by the hour. The trails go completely around the lake and are easy and very beautiful . They have free WiFi that actually work. The sunset and night sky is amazing. The racoons are very brave and will rob you of anything they can. Do not leave ice chest out or vehicle windows down. The park is only a couple miles from town. I would say this is one of Texas hidden gems. The people that work there are very nice. You don't have to have a fishing license to fish there and that I like because I didn't have to buy an out of state fishing license. There are lots of places to eat out if you don't want to cook. There is a place called Arnold's about 7 miles from park that has really reasonable food. $4 breakfast Eggs, sausage or bacon, hash browns, and biscuit & gravy. The also have a giant hamburger, bigger than a dinner plate that can feed 4 adults for only $15. Also 2 miles from the park is a big grocery store that is very reasonable, convenience stores, ice machines, and drive in restaurants. There is a $4 per person per day park entry fee. If you are a 100% disabled veteran that fee is waived for you and 1 other person. The campsites with electric are $20 & $25. Unlike many other states Texas does not give discounts for camping if your disabled or hold an America the beautiful pass.

Another great Texas State Park. I didn't see as much security as I usually do but the whole area is clean and well kept.

The bathrooms are amazing with fully enclosed toilet/shower/changing station for family bathrooms. As someone traveling with a toddler it is a HUGE relief to lock him inside while I shower.

We tent camp and while our site was perfect (#32) others were awful. It's very common for tent pads to be placed far away from the electrical box, so that's not a big deal... but after a rain storm it was apparent that a lot of tent pads need attention. The pads are dirt and many were uneven enough that 50% were well under water. Our pad was right next to the electrical box and someone had evened it out so while it rained and rained, we were good. So if you are tent camping pay close attention to the location and evenness of your tent pad. No amount of tarps would have saved some of these sites!

The trails are good and it's a very unique location. Reminds me of South Florida!

Lastly, the Armadillo circle is right next to the road. Okay maybe not right next to but you will hear traffic all night.

Great for $15/night!

The cheapest Texas State Park for electric or electric/water campsites at only 14/night!

Spaces are spread out and loads and loads of pull through sites if that's your thing.

Bathrooms aren't great but if it isn't busy they are fine. Trails are beautiful and if you piece them together can be challenging. This park is very well maintained. I saw a few trail signs that were brand new and another trail is closed for maintenance. These are not wide, take the baby stroller kind of trails. The nature trail goes over a couple foot bridges and has a lot to see.

The beach area is okay with a few amenities. The bathrooms have 2 stalls each, 4 total again if it isn't busy they are fine. No family bathrooms in the whole place.

The sand on the beach is bad. Due to flooding and earth slides the beach front is super deep mud. If there has been even a trickle of rain on the past week you will lose your shoes the mud is so thick. Gorgeous for pictures though =)

The camp store isn't huge but they have shirts and souvenirs.

Reserved on-line 152 days prior to arrival. 

Pros 

Pristine clean restroom/showerhouse. Seemed recently renovated 

BIG PINE camping area only big rig friendly(longer than 20 ft) out of 40 FHU sites. Big Pine, Dogwood and Mountain View Campgrounds FHU so 40 FHU sites with no park dump station. 

Aluminum picnic table and fire ring with cooking grate 

Very quiet campground except for highway and train noise 

4 camp hosts 

Good night sky viewing in BIG PINE 

Good view of lake in BIG PINE 

Privacy from side neighbors 

No leveling required from side-to-side 

Asphalt parking pad heaved various places due to tree roots creating numerous tripping hazard 

Campsite utility hook-ups in good condition with no problems encountered 

Security gate that closes overnight 

No street lights in BIG PINE 

Campsite and entrance fee discount with Texas State Park Pass 

Not charged a fee to make my own on-line reservation 

CONS 

Most FHU sites (other than BIG PINE) are extremely short in length. Barely room for single axle TT, so need to review site details carefully 

Site 8 had an extreme amount of above ground roots causing tripping hazard

Picnic table approx 50 feet from Site 8 parking pad

Highway and train noise

BIG PINE sites barely off campground road, so therefore no privacy from campers across the road

Restroom/shower facility not heated

No lantern pole

No wildlife sightings

No park Wifi

1 bar AT&T in BIG PINE

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.)

For folks that went camping in the 70s, 80s, 90s with your coleman lanterns, coleman fuel stoves, and actually camped in tents (as intended)... Daingerfield State Park is the place to be. It gives you the classic nostalgic feeling of camping. Its nestled in the thick pineywoods of northeast Texas - the towering pine trees, lakeside cabins and crystal clear lake all combined bring back memories of a person's childhood. Being in this park makes you feel like that picture perfect family on the packaging of camping products. It is a beautiful park with plentiful trails for mountain biking and hiking. There are multiple campgrounds allowing for large RVs/campers and tent camping. Bathrooms are always clean and the staff is polite and helpful. Fishing is good in this large spring-fed clear water lake - although motorized boats are not allowed, kayaks, canoes and paddle boats are permitted and available to rent as well. The park store is small but has most of your camping basics such as drinks, snacks and tshirts, etc.

All of the campsites have fire rings and the park sells firewood at a fair price and permits ground fires if the county is not under a burn ban. The park also hosts a healthy amount of events such as dances, Halloween in the park, and Christmas in the park.

The town of Daingerfield is a neat little town - only a 5-10 minutes from the park, it provides multiple fast food options, a Brookshires supermarket, gas stations and perhaps the most famous location in Daingetfield - the Morris Movie Theatre. (Cash only $1.50 tickets on the newest movie releases, two auditorium building, great snacks and best of all it is a family run operation. Nightly showings which makes it a perfect place to visit if you're camping at the park for a few days)

Stargazing is also great at DSP.. the park is far enough away from bigger cities which allows for darker skies.

This is defintely one of my favorite parks to go to and in the year I've lived in this area, we've probably gone to DSP at least two dozen times or more. Do make reservations ahead of time, as this park is largely popular and fills up quickly on summer days (day use) and weekend nights (camping).

I highly recommend this park and hope you and your family make long last memories.

I have taken my son camping here several times. Great small park. The big attraction here is the lake, which looks like something straight out of a Louisiana swamp movie. Huge old cypress trees with Spanish moss hanging from the limbs. The park rents canoes or there is a boat ramp to launch your own boat. The lake is very shallow and navigation can be tricky if you don't pay attention. I recommend a compass & getting the lake map from one of the bait shops near the park. With those, it's pretty straightforward. There are guided tours of the lake by vendors outside the park that are worthwhile. The nearby historic town of Jefferson is worth a visit also. Lots of history, Jefferson was a major supply point & gateway city to the West prior to the Civil War.

I just visited the park for the first time since the renovations have been completed. The park was closed for three months, re-opening in December 2018. Many people consider Caddo State Park to be the nicest park in the system.

It's really nice. There a some sites directly on the water. There are also really nice full hookup sites for RV's that are pull-through.

Local news story on the renovations:

http://www.ksla.com/2019/01/17/caddo-lake-state-park-reopen-after-renovations/

We totally lucked out getting a spot at Caddo lake on a holiday weekend during the pandemic. Normally we tent camp, but went with the kids and grandkids who have an RV. We were glad we were in the RV as it rained quite a bit. The campground is gorgeous with all the trees and Spanish moss and swamps. The bathrooms are really nice, great showers and spacious. The trails are well marked, the park roads make for good biking (no bike riding on the trails) and the fishing piers are nice. Even though the canoe rental was closed, there are rentals a short distance away. During the pandemic, we think every other site was blocked off, it was nice not to have a super crowded park, but will sure be glad when this is over!

When we called to make our reservation there was only one spot left and it was at the Mill Pond camping area. I was a little hesitant because this area is water hook up only. However, it is the only camping area in the park with water view. So, we sprung for a generator and reserved the spot. On arrival, we were surprised to find that there were plenty of open spots even after being told several times there were not. My assumption was that this had to do with Covid 19 and limited capacity regulations. Nevertheless, the Mill Pond camping area is the way to go. Easy access to the pond and breathtaking views made this my favorite camping location so far. It also could have been the swampy nature reviving my Louisiana roots. Other pros to Caddo State Lake park were the very long scenic hiking trails that included beautiful rock stairs, canoeing through the pond out into the bay, adorable cabins, and wildlife. We spotted a deer, paddle fish, and a baby gator! About four miles from the park is a National Wildlife Refuge with walking trails and auto-tour route. There are several canoe trails on Caddo Lake. I strongly suggest putting in at Crip's Camp to explore the"Old Folks Playground" paddle trail for some very unique scenery.

Check out our entire trip highlights here  https://champagneondeck.com

Very well maintained park with easy access to all areas.  Newer restroom new Woodpecker hollow ground entrance is highly recommended for those needing a shower.  Due to Covid, park is currently NOT renting watercraft.  Family Dollar very close and recommenced for any items needed..including food, beer, water, etc. Finding a way to get on the water a must! Beautiful park and we will be back!

Nice place but not free like advertised. 10$ to camp still isn’t bad but I decided to move along an find a free location

The park is nice but if you tent camp you will hear traffic noise all night long. Each car seemed to take forever to go by and within minutes there was another. It’s worth the visit to go out on the lake. The trees in the water are beautiful and eerie at the same time. There’s a great little restaurant on the water  in Uncertain. I think it’s called The Riverbend Restaurant. Worst ticks I’ve ever experienced!!