Tent camping near Lavon Lake, Texas ranges from lakeside tent campsites to more primitive sites with basic amenities. Erwin Park in McKinney offers several tent camping areas with picnic tables, fire pits, and restrooms. Collin Park provides lakeside tent sites, though erosion has reduced the number of available spaces in recent years.
Most tent campgrounds around Lavon Lake provide basic amenities such as picnic tables, grills, and fire rings. Erwin Park features drinking water and trash collection but lacks shower facilities. Sites at Collin Park include picnic tables, grills, and fire pits with bathrooms centrally located, though facilities may experience maintenance issues. Campers should verify fire regulations before visiting as restrictions vary by location and season. Several parks require a nominal fee, with Collin Park charging $25 per night and Sycamore Bend Park recently increasing rates from $7 to $20.
Areas farther from urban centers offer more seclusion for tent campers seeking a quieter experience. Little Elm Park provides electric hookups with $5 per tent fees and nearby stores for supplies, though it lacks shower facilities. Sycamore Bend Park features primitive tent camping along Lake Lewisville shores with good hiking trails and abundant wildlife including water fowl and deer. The park requires a short walk from parking areas to tent sites. A camper noted, "Really nice, secluded campground for being so close to suburbs. Great for hammocking, kayaking, paddle boarding." Erwin Park's 9-mile trail network attracts mountain bikers on weekends, which can create crowded conditions for tent campers seeking solitude.
"Erwin Park is a great place to visit if you're looking to spend a few days running or biking trails. Campsites are far enough apart that you have privacy yet close enough that you don't feel alone."
"I’ve had many great experiences at this park it’s a ways out of the way of the city noise. The only sound other than bird song is the occasional moo and some coyote yips in the distance"
"Electric hookups for RV generally a small area first come first serve.... 5 dollars per tent....restrooms and park lights.... stores nearby..... no showers"
"Stayed there during our trip to Texas, after visiting Big Bend. Overall, pretty good spot for RVing."
"You will be about 12 minutes away from the nearest Walmart, in case you forget some camping supplies. We had to go there to buy more carrots for the horses. (40 pounds of carrots)."
"The entire property is simply beautiful and I'd strongly recommend Dads to bring their girls and boys out to enjoy this amazing display of nature and wildlife."
from $45 - $50 / night
"The restrooms really stink, but are always clean and stocked in my experience. Max 3 night stay, no electricity, water, or showers. Nice fire rings, flag pole, and calm park."
"No access to drive to the actual site so I couldn’t use my RTT but it’s a short walk from where you park. Really nice park right on the lake, but it does get a bit crowded."
from $20 / night
"We really enjoyed this camp space. Peaceful, open, spacious and super nice management and staff. We stayed in spot 23 and although windy, I really enjoyed the scenery and quietness."
"Close to Dallas, very clean and organized camp area."
from $37 / night
from $40 - $105 / night
from $30 - $45 / night
GuideThe KOA is clean and well maintained. There is lits of space for the pull throughs. Dog park is amazing, host are friendly and kind. They are very welcoming and the store is small, but clean with a little bit of everything for everyone! We will definitely be back!
TravelerDisappointing and unnecessarily confrontational experience.
I booked and paid for a campsite at The Vineyards in my self-contained Sprinter camper van. I checked in without issue and had already spent one night there when the park manager, Lisa, approached me while I was relaxing inside my van to inform me that my vehicle was not welcome.
She stated that the city requires RVs to have hookups and be commercially manufactured. However, the campground’s published policies explicitly allow management to approve converted camper vans (and I am fully self-contained). It also allows for truck campers, which I suppose theoretically could have sewer hookups, but I assure you my custom converted Sprinter is more aesthetic than a truck camper, if that was her concern (no offense to my truck camper friends).
I also could not find the city ordinance she was referring to.
I understand that campgrounds have rules and that management has discretion to enforce them. What I don’t understand is why my reservation was accepted, why I was allowed to stay overnight, or why the situation needed to be handled so confrontationally.
When I offered to leave if they would refund my unused second night, Lisa told me it was too late for a refund and that I might as well stay.
So apparently my van was prohibited until refunding my money became the alternative.
I wasn’t causing a disturbance, requesting special accommodations, or asking to use facilities I hadn’t paid for. I was simply enjoying a campsite I’d reserved and paid for.
The campground itself is lovely, which makes the experience even more disappointing. A straightforward, respectful conversation about their policies would have been entirely reasonable. Instead, I was made to feel unwelcome at a place where I was already a paying guest.
If you’re traveling in a self-contained converted camper van, I’d strongly recommend getting written approval before booking, regardless of whether your reservation is accepted. And given that I am now reading other complaints of the staff being rude, I might avoid this spot altogether.
GuideThis is a very small campground with a central bathroom/showers up the hill from the campsites. The lake means bugs. The bathrooms were not terrible. The showers were clean-ish.
ScoutWe had a great time here. Lots of shade, privacy and great view of lake
GuideFolks want different things out of campsites. For me, it's scenic beauty, quiet for work and mental health, and nice places to take my dog. This checks all the boxes!
None of my reviews will be useful for amenities or activities because I just don't use them. I can't tell you about bathrooms, fishing, etc. I can tell you the water is very soft and feels slick or soapy even after you rinse. I have onboard reverse osmosis and wouldn't recommend drinking city water anywhere in Texas. There's too much oil production here and gas and chemicals are all over.
The staff at the gate were pleasant and said, "You must be David," when I pulled in, which was very nice and made it easy and welcoming.
Texas has many undiscovered and wonderful public lands, whether you're really camping or just working remote, watching the deer, or seeing the sunrise over a lake from your bedroom window. Get out here and come see them!
ScoutThis is a great campground. Power was good, att service is good and the grounds are very clean. The only downside is no full hookups and the dump station is outside of the gate which they lock at 10pm and don't open again until 10am. So no getting back in while locked and you can't dump except when there are lines.
TravelerCamped in site 14. Level site, beautiful view of the lake with covered concrete table. You can walk down to the lake to swim. BUT ants! Make sure you take precautions to keep them out of your rig!
GuideWe stayed at Canton I-20 RV Park as an overnight stop while traveling between the Dallas area and Monroe, Louisiana, and it couldn't have been more convenient. If you're traveling east or west on I-20, this is one of those parks that's easy to get to without wasting time driving far off the interstate. It's also close enough to Buc-ee's in Terrell to stock up on snacks, fuel, and anything else you forgot before getting back on the road. Even though we were only there for one night, the park was clean, quiet, and well maintained. Check-in was simple, the hookups worked perfectly, and we had a peaceful night's sleep before continuing our trip. I can also see why this park is so popular during Canton's famous First Monday Trade Days. It's only a short drive to the market, and the park offers amenities that would make it a great home base for vendors and shoppers alike. Between the free laundry, swimming pool, covered patio, clean showers, and all-inclusive monthly rates, it seems like an excellent place for both a quick overnight stop and an extended stay. We'll definitely keep Canton I-20 RV Park on our list anytime we're traveling I-20 through East Texas. Whether you're crossing the state, visiting First Monday Trade Days, or just looking for a quiet place to spend the night, it's hard to beat the convenience.
ScoutQuaint campground. A army core engineers park. Very nice lake view and about half the sites are on the water.
Tent camping near Lavon Lake in Texas offers a fantastic escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for a peaceful retreat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lavon Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lavon Lake is Erwin Park with a 4.1-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Lavon Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Lavon Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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