Cabin rentals near Kilgore, Texas offer year-round access to the region's pine forests, lakes, and outdoor recreation. The East Texas Piney Woods region sits at approximately 350-400 feet elevation with humid subtropical climate patterns. Cabin options range from basic rustic shelters to fully furnished accommodations within a 30-minute drive of Kilgore.
What to do
Kayaking and paddling: Tyler State Park Campground features a lake perfect for water activities. "Pine forest and beautiful lake for swimming, paddel boarding (SUP), or fishing. Lots of hiking/mountain bike trails. Day use swimming area can get crowded on the weekends but there's plenty of quieter access points," notes Peter F.
Fishing from docks: The lakes near cabins provide accessible fishing spots for all skill levels. "The lake is perfect for kayaking and fishing from one of several docks. Tranquil, peaceful, clean and easy access from I-20 N. Of Tyler," shares Dianne C. about her experience at Tyler State Park.
Mountain biking: Trail systems near cabin rental areas accommodate various skill levels. "Sites are good but trails for biking and hiking are great!!" mentions Jill C. about the trails at Tyler State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Daingerfield State Park Campground offers nature observation opportunities around its lake. "Lily pads, Frog Courtin', Sunsets and Beavers. The title sums it up! Nice hiking trials. Privacy if that's your thing, it is for us and our three dogs," reports Anne P.
What campers like
Island camping: Martin Creek Lake State Park Campground offers a unique primitive camping experience. "My wife and I did our first camp at Martin Creek Lake state park the other week. It was a great smaller state park. We highly recommend their primitive camping option on the island. Remember to bring your wagon, the parking lot is a good 70 yards to the camp sites," advises Aaron K.
Fall foliage viewing: The parks showcase seasonal color changes during autumn months. "I stopped at Daingerfield State Park on my way to Arkansas... I got there after dark and left around 9am so I wasn't able to enjoy the park but it was beautiful with all the fall colors," writes Briana about her experience.
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate the maintained amenities. "Pristine clean restroom/showerhouse. Seemed recently renovated," notes a Napunani about Daingerfield State Park, while another camper mentions, "The bathrooms were one of the nicest state park bathrooms I've been in."
Swimming areas: Lake Hawkins County RV Park provides lake access with designated swimming spots. "Concrete pads, lots of shade, many with views of the lake (very clear water for the area) great little campground store with necessities. Very spacious sites!! Nice metal picnic table and fire ring. Sand beach for swimming, locals are allowed, but there is a small beach reserved for rv folks," explains Emily B.
What you should know
Reservation timing: The popularity of cabins requires advance planning. "Hard to get reservations because it is so popular! If you get reservations it's kinda like winning the lottery 😃. But it's all worth it!" explains Tammie L. about Tyler State Park.
Varying bathroom quality: Facilities differ between parks. "There's a power plant over there. Didn't know that when I booked my site. Nice short distance hiking trail, I enjoyed quite a bit. The sites were clean, well kept. The bathrooms were also clean (Always a good thing to have!)" notes Shane H. about Martin Creek Lake State Park.
Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for local wildlife around cabins. "Be careful for raccoons saw a lot of them while here!" warns Myc C. about Tyler State Park.
Site topography: Caddo Lake State Park Campground offers unique landscape features. "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," shares a reviewer.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly swimming: Jellystone Park™ Tyler offers extensive water recreation facilities. "It was great to take advantage of the water amenities available! My kids loved the splash pad/water slides (I did too!). The bouncy pillow is always a fan favorite, and we spent just as much time there as we did in the water," reports Savanah H.
Playground access: Several parks feature child-focused amenities. "The playground is one of the best I've seen at the state parks we've been to! We love our SP so close to home!" says Becca H. about Tyler State Park.
Easy hiking options: Look for trails that accommodate young explorers. "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," shares Sarah J. about Tyler State Park.
Family activities: Jellystone Park offers scheduled entertainment. "Great evening movies, lots of fun activities, and close to Tyler if you decide to venture out and get some good food, or find something to do!" mentions a reviewer about their stay.
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: Look for parks with adequate room between sites. "Roads make it easy to get around and get into your site. Most pads are concrete, very clean well kept campground. View of lake is wonderful, peaceful and huge spaces," notes Jon S. about Lake Hawkins County RV Park.
Electrical options: Many cabin rental areas also offer RV sites. "We would camp here again, not full hook ups but the staff was the best we have ever runn across. Very helpful in every aspect. Swim area, alot of trails. Quiet campground," says Peggy H. about Martin Creek Lake.
Leveling requirements: Check site conditions before booking. "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," reports a camper about Daingerfield State Park, adding "No leveling required from side-to-side."
Off-season benefits: Consider cabin stays during less crowded periods. "We came here first week of April 2021. Spring in the air, blooms all around. Very quiet but lively park, almost all the sites were occupied for the weekend," notes a camper about their experience at Daingerfield State Park.
