Lake Livingston, the second-largest lake in Texas at 90,000 acres, shapes the camping experience near Kennard, Texas. Located in the Piney Woods region, campsites around Kennard typically sit at elevations of 200-400 feet above sea level with humid subtropical climate conditions. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F while winter nights can drop below freezing, requiring proper gear preparation regardless of when you visit.
What to do
Water activities: Lake Livingston State Park offers numerous water-based recreation options. One visitor notes, "Love staying at Livingston. The park is very well maintained, and the trails are good. A lot of people fish the lake, but I haven't had a lot of luck - that doesn't mean anything, though."
Miniature golf: Wolf Creek Park maintains a miniature golf course that appeals to families with children. According to one camper, "Spent holiday weekend with the family. Bicycling, Swimming, Fishing, putt putt golf. The kids loved the park and the golf."
Horseback riding: Lake Livingston State Park Campground provides unique equestrian options. A camper explains, "You can have a horseback ride and steak dinner at the park for a reasonable fee and meet some interesting people. Swim in the lake, hike the trails, and kayak."
Train watching: Rusk Depot Campground offers the unusual opportunity to see trains operate on the historic Texas State Railroad. As one visitor describes, "The texas state RR train engine car came through one time in the afternoon to turn around to pull the train back to palestine...that's pretty unique and a cool thing at a campsite IMO."
What campers like
Lakefront camping: Wolf Creek Park provides direct lake access from many sites. A regular visitor states, "We've stayed here quite a few times. Love the lakefront sites. Clean bathrooms and showers. This park is closed to the general public on weekends, so even if it is filled with campers, things are usually pretty calm and quiet."
Swimming areas: Wolf Creek Park maintains a designated swimming area with safety features. A camper reports, "We tried the swimming area for the first time and we absolutely loved it. It's perfect for the kiddos and not too deep, no matter how far you go out."
Well-spaced sites: Lake Livingston State Park Campground offers camping areas with adequate privacy. According to a visitor, "The campground is heavily wooded and the campsites are well spaced. We stayed only night but would definitely consider staying here again."
Quiet setting: Rusk KOA provides a peaceful camping environment away from traffic noise. One camper noted, "This campground really has no outside noise from anywhere. It is wonderfully quiet."
What you should know
Varying maintenance levels: Rusk Depot Campground has inconsistent upkeep that affects visitor experiences. A camper reports, "This is an X-Texas State Park that really needs some overdue TLC. 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."
Seasonal considerations: Summer camping near Kennard requires preparation for heat and insects. Lake Livingston campers need to be aware of water conditions that change throughout the year.
Reservation requirements: Rusk KOA and other popular campgrounds fill quickly during holidays. Advance planning is recommended, particularly for premium sites or unique accommodations.
Wildlife awareness: Watch for snakes near water bodies. One camper at Marina Village Resort warned, "It has 3 pools a golf course a marina with store, pavilion, bath houses and restrooms, a kids pavilion as well. Big problem with snakes though so be careful when fishing."
Tips for camping with families
Splash features: Bethy Creek Resort offers water access that appeals to families with children. A camper mentioned, "Clean camping site on the Trinity with a cable 2.0 for wakeboarding. Great atmosphere and helpful staff."
Educational opportunities: Lake Livingston State Park Campground has nature programs for children of different ages. According to a visitor, "Connected to the park store they had a small educational space for young kids with a functioning beehive. The kids (ages 2-6) loved it."
Holiday activities: Rusk KOA organizes special events during holiday weekends. One regular visitor explains, "Have been camping here in the summers and both Easter & Halloween weekends and they do easter egg/candy hunts and have other events for the kids/kids at heart."
Kid-friendly amenities: Many glamping options near Kennard include playground facilities. As one Rusk KOA camper described, "Super nice staff and full Saturday breakfast (eggs/bacon/pancakes/coffee etc--extra fee, but very reasonable). Pool, jump pad, playground, trike rentals, Rock/gem mining slough, movies/events, etc."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Shirley Creek Marina & Campground offers waterfront RV sites. A satisfied camper stated, "We absolutely love this park! RV and tent sites right on the water, beach area for swimming, boat docks and ramp, etc."
Utilities reliability: Check electrical capacity at older campgrounds. One Lake Livingston camper reported, "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."
Site spacing: Many RV sites at Wolf Creek Park provide ample room between neighbors. According to a visitor, "Very clean with many nice shady campsites. Sites have water and electricity and some have sewer hookups. There's a central dump station available as well."
Connectivity considerations: Despite rural settings, some campgrounds maintain strong internet connections. One camper noted, "Campground WiFi was probably one of the best we've experienced."
