Camping near Lewisville Lake

Lewisville Lake campsites sit within a suburban setting of north Texas, surrounded by multiple municipalities of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Seasonal water levels fluctuate significantly, with spring months often seeing higher water that can impact shoreline access at certain campgrounds. The lake spans over 29,000 acres with 233 miles of shoreline, creating numerous cove areas popular for overnight camping.

What to do

Kayaking and paddling access: Pilot Knoll Park offers calm water areas in protected coves perfect for beginners. "We stayed in spot#5 right at the end of the cove. Calm water, large lot land area and clean, easy access to walk right into the lake to swim, and space to dock your boat make the cove side of the park an excellent score," notes a camper at Pilot Knoll Park Campground.

Hiking options: Ray Roberts Lake State Park provides trail systems connecting camping areas. A visitor explained, "The primitive sites in the Hawthorne campgrounds are spaced a good distance apart and really give you a feel of isolation. Sites on the perimeter all have lake access where you can pull a boat up. We have car camped on a few occasions here and each time we saw plenty of deer around camp." Isle du Bois Campsites offers additional hiking opportunities just north of Lewisville Lake.

Swimming areas: Many lakeside campgrounds maintain designated swimming spots. At Twin Coves Park, "There are a few places to swim, but none of them shaded. Saw lots of paddle boards and kayaks along with the boats," according to a tent camper. Twin Coves Park also offers kayak rentals for exploring the cove.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Willow Grove Park receives consistent praise for site separation. A reviewer notes, "Beautiful place and a lot of space between sites." Another camper describes the experience: "Super beautiful, clean, modern campsite. The wifi is not very reliable. The bathrooms and showers work, and are clean (other than the bugs obviously)."

Waterfront accessibility: Many campers prioritize direct water access at Hickory Creek. "We hopped over for a one night trip and had a blast! Our site was right off the water with a fun view (at night) of the lake Lewisville bridge. Sites were large enough for us (tent campers) without feeling too close to our rv/camper neighbors!" shares a family camper.

Wildlife viewing: The suburban setting surprisingly supports diverse wildlife. At Hickory Creek, a camper describes: "This definitely isn't wilderness and as another reviewer pointed out, the campground can be noisy. It's located adjacent to I-35, just west of the Lake Lewisville bridge, so there's traffic noise depending on how close you're camped to the road."

What you should know

Gate restrictions: Several campgrounds implement evening closures. At Lake Park Campground, a visitor warns: "Front gate get locked at 11pm. If you don't make it, you have to park outside and walk in."

Traffic patterns: Being close to urban areas means vehicle flow can impact quietness. At Willow Grove Park, a camper mentioned, "No 5 stars because anybody can access in and out at anytime, that makes it not very quite do to traffic driving around."

Security considerations: The suburban setting presents unique challenges. One solo female traveler at Willow Grove noted: "The park is technically closed at 10pm but there's no gate and technically anyone can drive in any time. I saw the police drive through often, but it still didn't feel as secure as other campsites I've been to."

Tips for camping with families

Playground facilities: Multiple campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Hidden Cove Park & Marina, "The day use area on the lake was quite busy, but the 'beach' gave the kids a great way to cool off and burn off some energy."

Cabin options: For families wanting more comfort, several sites offer cabin rentals. The Vineyards Campground provides high-quality accommodations: "Check-in was very easy, sites were very clean and well maintained, playground was amazing with an awesome 'roller-coaster' swing that the teenagers even loved."

Wildlife interactions: Children often enjoy the wildlife encounters. One parent at Hickory Creek shared, "Our 5 & 4 year old boys loved running around, throwing rocks in the lake, and the park host dropped by and gave them a frisbee to play with!"

Tips from RVers

Hookup positioning: Be prepared for some challenges with utility connections. At Lake Park Campground, a visitor warned: "Connections for water and electric aren't in best spots but able to reach. They offer extension cords."

Parking regulations: Several campgrounds enforce strict parking rules. "They are strict about parking; I got woken up around 1:30am by local police because I parked in an area I wasn't allowed to and also forgot to print a permit to put on my dash," reports a camper at Willow Grove Park.

Dump station locations: Not all sites offer sewer hookups at individual sites. A new RVer at Hickory Creek noted: "The only 'negative' I found is that the sewage hook up is not at the actual site. There are dump stations in different places. It was a bit nerve wrecking to use the dump station while people waited behind me."