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It took 20 years of development, including weathering a flood and a World War, but in 1956 the community of Huntsville, Texas, finally got their own state park. Located just 10 miles south of town, in the Sam Houston National Forest, this 2,000-acre park of pine and hardwood forest is situated around man-made Lake Raven. Today, locals and visitors alike flock to Huntsville State Park for its hiking trails, water recreation and prolific wildlife. With so many outdoor activities to choose from, a good first stop is the park’s Nature Center. Here you can get information about the local flora and fauna, including the more than 250 species of birds, plus a variety of mammals and alligators, that make the park their home.
Campers at Huntsville State Park have access to 160 tent and RV campsites in three camp areas near the shore of Lake Raven: Prairie Branch, Raven Hill and Coloneh. Full- and partial-hookup RV sites are available, and can accommodate vehicles/trailers up to 60 feet. All sites are equipped with picnic tables, grills, and lantern posts, and drinking water faucets are shared between sites; some sites are ADA accessible. Each camp area provides flush restrooms, showers, playgrounds, picnic areas near the lake, fishing piers, and boat launches. There is a dump station located in the Raven Hill camp area. The park also has two camping cabins for rent. Campsite rates range from $15–$25/night, plus park entrance fee; cabins are $60/night, plus entrance fee.
When you’re ready to play on the water, head down to the lakeshore where you can take a dip in the designated swim area, rent a canoe or kayak (or put in your own) for paddling around the lake, or cast a line for crappie, perch and largemouth bass. A shop near the Prairie Branch day-use area has groceries, ice, fishing supplies and beverages. If you’re up for some roaming or wildlife watching, pick up a trail map and birding guide and go explore more than 20 miles of multiuse paths and nature walks. From the park’s bird blind, you can scan for a variety of songbirds and waterfowl. The park also offers ranger-led nature programs, and there are Junior Ranger activities for the kids.
$15 - $500 / night
$25 / night
We have a 5 acre homestead/hobby farm that is nestled in the Sam Houston National Forest. We are off the beaten path with beautiful views, peace and quiet and farm animals! We have goats, donkeys, rabbits, a miniature cow, a miniature horse, ducks and chickens roaming our property. We just had a new addition Colt who was born on our property March 12th. He is our precious little donkey.
We are a semi primitive camping spot. Come and enjoy getting away from the city without going too far. Enjoy the beautiful star filled sky. Feed the animals at 9am and love on them all day. Have your professional pictures taken with some of the animals(additional charge). Buy some farm fresh eggs. Coming soon t-shirts will be available for purchase.
Our website is https://www.bigcity-littlefarm.com
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@bigcitylittlefarm2230/about.
Keep coming back and Follow us on IG https://www.instagram.com/bigcity\_littlefarm/
Whether you’re looking for breathtaking brushes with nature or good old-fashioned fun, Cleveland, Texas has you covered. This part of the Lone Star State boasts beautiful forests and placid lakes and ponds that provide much-needed refreshment during the summer months, as well as lovely escapes during spring and fall. In addition to its natural appeal, Cleveland offers a diverse culinary scene with plenty of cozy restaurants ideal for meeting old friends and making new ones.
https://www.tourtexas.com/destinations/cleveland-things-to-do
Cleveland is just miles from Conroe. Conroe is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Texas, United States, about 40 miles north of Houston. Conroe is the perfect blend of starry nights and city lights. And being the fastest-growing city in Texas, Conroe has so much to offer. Conroe is bordered by 22,000-acre Lake Conroe, Sam Houston National Forest, and W. Goodrich Jones State Forest, making for a veritable utopia for the outdoor lover in us all.
Aside from the outdoors, Conroe has a bustling downtown with breweries, theatres and plenty of shopping. There is also plenty of live music, which has earned Conroe the designation of Music Friendly Community by the state of Texas. Whether you are looking for an adventure or a little rest and relaxation, you will find it in Conroe. https://www.visitconroe.com/
$40 - $80 / night
There are several designated primitive campsites available. Camping during deer season is restricted to designated campsites. Check with the Area manager for specific information.
This recreation area is part of Steinhagen Lake
$20 - $30 / night
Traveler
Muddy roads out to the site which were difficult to manage in a small passenger car. Campsite itself had a spooky vibe, seemed overgrown and poorly maintained. We arrived after dark and camped in a tent but neither of us slept well. I think they had a lot of rain because even the loop around the campground had big potholes full of water. In the morning we noticed the place was trashed. It might not be bad for campers and rvs but I don’t recommend tent camping.
TravelerGreat nudist park with nice amenities. I've been there a few times during the day just to swim and I've camped once so far. There are electrical hookups available at the tent sites, which is what I had. The only downside I would say is there are no fire rings at the tent sites.
Traveler
Located on the west edge of the east Texas piney woods, this state park features excellent RV and tent camping facilities, and a beautiful network of heavily forested trails. The lake offers canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing, and affords visitors an occasional glimpse of alligators. We love this place.
Guide
This is a nice little campground and a pretty little east Texas lake. It is clean and everyone we met was friendly. The tent sites don’t have electric but include a picnic table and fire pit. We had a great visit!
Guide
Thia camp ground is owned and managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. It is well maintained and kept. The RV camp sites are plenty big and the tent sites are big enough to pitch the large multi person cabin tents. The fishing is a amazing and the store is cool.
Traveler
Tent site we stayed at was great. Well shaded and not too close to other camper sites
Scout
Used to tent camp there then finally got a TT and it was amazing! Got a premium spot, plenty of room, park rangers were nice and a constable patrolled ever so often.
Ranger
Nice place for tent camping there is no water bathrooms or electricity. Great place for being in contact with nature. If you are looking to be away from the civilization but at the same time not that far it is perfect.
GuideI took the whole family for a weekend getaway. We loved the park, it was our first time tent camping here and it did not disappoint. It has a swimming area, trails, fishing, and playgrounds. The park was very nice and clean, the showers had door! We will definitely come back.
GuideThis is our favorite local (2hous from home) park. We’ve been coming here almost every year for close to 20 years. We’ve done primitive tent camping, tent camping with power, shelter camping and just recently became glampers!😂 Site 142 in the prairie branch loop is our favorite site. It’s on the water and at the trailhead. It’s recently been designated Accessible so our last two trips we chose the shelter sites 10 and 11. These sites are also on the water and have lots of space. The showers on this side are individual rooms as opposed to the semi private (too small shower curtain) ones in the big restroom. The water is nice and hot but I suggest bringing a broom or you will be sharing with some pretty big spiders. Overall the restrooms are clean but the campgrounds are busy lately so I’m sure it’s difficult to keep up. Staff are super friendly. Firewood is on a suggested donation basis and is available most days before 5pm.
TravelerMy wife and I have been park hosts here at Martin Dies jr state park for 3 months now. We have been coming here for years. The park has around 200 rv, tent sites, and cabins ( 3 cabins have a/c ). They have trails and rent kayaks and canoes. Plenty of Wildlife like deer, raccoons, gray foxes, birds and of course gators.
Legend
Sam Houston National Forest is my absolute favorite. There is so much to do there, plus the longest foot trail in Texas (Lone Star trail) resides here. This campsite is located on the Eastern side of the forest and it very close to the Eastern Terminus of the Lone Star trail ( trailhead #15).
Double Lake is the campsite that has it all. Plus there is a lake, or two, where you can fish, boat, and swim. There are lots of bike and hiking trails, along with off roading vehicle trails. The scenery is amazing. I love to go hiking early in the morning as all of the wildlife begins to rise. The sounds and views are some of the best in the state.
The facilities are kept very clean and the staff is always to kind and helpful. Some of the trails were closed the last time I visited but the park rangers were very helpful in helping me navigate. There are tent sites, group tent sites and RV sites available to reserve, which you can easily reserve online. My favorite tent site, that I try to get every time is site # 28. It is easily accessible, off by itself, and still close enough to the bathrooms. I like it because it has quite a bit of room, lots of tree cover ( which is nice when it rains, or in the summer) and it has some character to it.
There is a ranger station at the entrance of this site, but be aware they are closed on the weekend. They have a little drop box and fill out sheet is you come on the weekends, but make sure to download a map of the trails and park beforehand, because the maps are never stocked and there likely won't be one. If you don't have one, there is usually a ranger driving around on a golf cart you can ask.
Make sure you hike the double lake trail. It is about 9 miles long with a very easy footpath, but the views and stillness of the forest make it worth it. The trailhead is between the lake and bathrooms after entering, but be aware it is also a bike trail and can get muddy after a good rail.
There is a fee to enter. If you have a National Park pass it is free and it is twenty dollars a night. Please visit this park!!
TravelerWonderful trails. Clear and well marked. Primitive (water only) tent sites on lakeshore side leave the camper hunting flat surfaces while avoiding runoff pathways. However the dip shields you from stormy winds. Be ready to share the park. Lots of day trippers enjoy this piece of bliss so close to Houston. Trails are marked for foot and bicycle travel. Birdwatchers bring your glasses and journals, you will not be disappointed.
TravelerWe went Thursday - Saturday, and will go again during the week to avoid crowds.
The check-in process is a bit troublesome if you're picky about getting a good tent site- you can't reserve specific sites ahead of time. Also, your visit will cost you more than listed on the website because they charge entrance fees for each person on top of the campsite rental. That was an unpleasant surprise.
The only other unpleasant surprise is that the campground store is closed on Thursdays. Lesson learned- bring your own Snickers!
However, the scenery, quietness, and availability of rental boats was wonderful. We camped in tent site #70, and I would grab that one again in a heartbeat. The 70's sites have water access and beautiful views, and are generous with their square footage. Plenty of trees down there to hang hammocks and clotheslines on, and more than one flat spot for tents on each site.
I normally would not devote a whole paragraph to restrooms at a state park, but I will this time. These were the CLEANEST restrooms I've ever seen at a state park, and the most updated. The stalls had modern dividers, the toilets all had clean, functional seats, the showers had separate bench areas with lots of hooks, plus normal faucets you could just turn on once (as opposed to having to push a button every minute), and the sinks also had great faucets with good pressure and reliable water temperatures. Very easy to use.
All our issues with this park were related to unexpected costs and logistics, but the park facilities were fabulous. We will definitely be back!
TravelerI’m so surprised I hadn’t been here yet, but it’s just gorgeous. Pine needles everywhere, beautiful lake. We tent camped and we weren’t too close to the people around us. Completely surrounded by huge trees. The bathroom had a lot of spiders but I’d expect that. The showers drained super slow but you just have to take a quick one. I appreciate the parking at your spot a lot. A nice cold front (and storm) came in during the night and blew out the humidity and it just got that much better. We went on the long trail in the evening and heard coyotes which was cool. We turned around though lol.
Guide
Tent camper, site #30. Deep into the piney woods and swampy outcrops of B.A. Steinhagen lake, I camped under the shade of a huge magnolia tree alongside very tall pines and oaks. Alligators are present all day and night near the water. They aren’t a nuisance. Good utility hookups, nice covered eating area, the grass all over the area is very lush and well kept. Bathrooms are okay, I didn’t use their shower because there isn’t much airflow and I probably would’ve sweat even more after taking one which would defeat the purpose. Not a whole lot of tent sites w/utilities, us tent campers are a dying breed amongst public campgrounds and it’s sad. My site was isolated on one side, RVers all along the other side. Lots of music from frogs, birds, etc. One raccoon came to sniff every night but I know not to leave any crumbs or accessible food. Dollar General and gas station are less than 2 miles outside of the park at a small blinking light intersection. Perfect !
GuideTent camped 23JUN20, 1 night
I love Huntsville SP. It’s my “home park”. So many great memories of family and scout camping here, all the way back to my youth. The tall trees and lake make for a “summer camp” feel.
It literally rained every second I was in camp except for a little while when I was loading out. For the most part it was a quiet heavy rain that I enjoyed from my covered hammock!
I always forget there are alligators there, but they don’t seem to care too much about people. It is a bit disconcerting to be standing on the fishing peer 2 feet over the water and look down to see one just chilling under your feet.
Site 139 was large, had complete shade coverage and was right off the trail. It also had the unfortunate attribute of being at the bottom of the hill and kind of where all the water from everywhere seemed to be headed. Not a problem unless it’s raining a lot. Fortunately I realized this and set up my tent on the end of the parking space. Have you ever driven a tent stake into asphalt with a hatchet? Good times.
The bathrooms were clean and updated. The fishing was non existent due to the rain and I’ll go back soon to hike.
Did I mention that it rained? A lot?
GuideTent Camped 9JUN20- 1 night
TO BE FAIR, this was RIGHT after everyone reopened and things were all weird. There was no one to check in with and the whole time we were there we never saw any park personnel. The park was MAYBE 25% camped, but might have been less than that. Sites were huge and well treed, no pads but good drainage, which was a blessing because it POURED overnight.
Site 334 was on the water with great trees and soft ground to camp on. Our closest neighbor was 500 feet away, and they were the only other one on our loop.
The park was empty and quiet with no canoes or anything available due to COVID.
The bathrooms were older and pretty clean, but not overly tended to.
The trails were a little rough and needed a lot of rotted wood replaced on the bridges and benches. Tons of birds and wildlife to see.
Brought my dog but not a lot of good places for him to get in the water.
It was the first time I had camped in 10 years, so this was the perfect place for a shakeout camp.
GuideLake Livingston State Park is one of our regular visits. During the school year it is hard to head out on a Friday, drive 2-3 hours and then setup in the dark for a weekend camping trip. Lake Livingston is just over an hour from our house and has lots to offer. They recently rebuilt one of the camping loops to where now this is one of the few state parks in Texas that have Full Hookups. Not all loops have Full Hookups but a couple do.
Like most state parks in Texas the sites here are large and offer a lot of shade. Each site will have a table and a fire ring. There are tons of hiking trails and geocaches throughout the park. It is also close to shops in town so that if you forget something you are only about 15 minutes from a Walmart. There is a shop on site that has most of the essentials.
Guide
Lake Livingston is a beautiful area and a nice campground! We had a blast staying here!
RangerThis KOA Holiday was a good place for a weekend camping outing. It’s right on Lake Livingston, so many sites have lake views. The sites are very close together, typical KOA style.
ScoutHidden gem of campground with very large sites, good distance between them and right on Lake Livingston.
This campground has plenty of shaded sites with plenty of space for walking pets, riding bicycles or just fishing.
GuideLove staying at Livingston. It is close enough to Houston that we can have a quick get away, but still be away from things that you can enjoy. 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 🤣
Guide
We were greeted by a camp host who provided us with a map and a few local directions. She even provided a handout for obtaining inspection, registration & licensing for our Texas residency. We investigated this issue before embarking on this journey but weren’t told we’d need social security cards in order to get a driver’s license. For those looking for residency, bring a current license, and passport with your Social Security card.
As for the Escapees campground, The sites are large, either grass or gravel and offer full hookups which we appreciate being it’s Aug. - warm & humid. Most of the residents we’ve met are like us, full timers but here for years or months. Many live in what are similar to park models. Most are friendly and tend to be our age (64)or older. For members, there is a Care Center that we haven’t been able to visit due to Covid.
The sounds of cicadas are much like a cacophony of lumberjacks. I love the sound.
Livingston lake is huge but we haven’t had the time to visit. Would be a refreshing change in this heat. There is a clean pool here at the park.
ScoutThis campground is probably one of the best in the area. It's clean, well maintained with excellent restrooms that are well lit and spotless. The boat launch is in great condition with plenty of parking. The camp store is well stocked and operated by the nicest of people. Slushes and Pickles all day! You've got all the amenities for RVs, lots of picnic tables and the campsites are well spaced out with fire pits electricity including 30 amp along with water. Lake Livingston is great for fishing and they have a designated safe swim area. Overall this is a very safe, very clean and family-oriented campground. Highly Recommend.
LegendWe arrived 151 days after making our on-line reservations for the very busy Memorial Day weekend in Piney Shore Loop campground. This was our fourth camping adventure at Lake Livingston State Park in the Piney Shore Loop.
Pros EXTREMELY quiet during the Memorial Day weekend. Even tho not backed up to
lake, nice view of lake from Site#55. Double concrete pad as it is an accessible campsite. Very level concrete pad; no need to do any type of leveling. Nice early morning shade onto Site#55 Very good privacy from neighbor Site#54 and Site behind#48 Park ranger drive-thru about every four hours Restroom/showers good working condition, clean, ample hand soap and toilet paper. Recently paved park roads very nice upgrade Mosquitoes were drawn to those who strung lots of lights throughout their site, so many did not use those lights which resulted in good dark conditions for night sky viewing. 1-2 bars AT&T cell service. Lowes, Walmart and small HEB close by n the town of Livingston Cons. Campers requiring mobility assistance may find this campsite very challenging, even tho it does have a double wide concrete pad. Site#55 labeled as accessible but is very accessible unfriendly as it is not close to campground toilet shower facilities, fire ring is up a gravel hill on driver side of camper. Piney Shore Loop sewer hook up required 20 feet of stinky slinky. No privacy from Site#56. No privacy from the campground road. Picnic table in mud hole nearly the size of the table and very unleveled with one end higher than the other end. Unable to move picnic table as it is chained to concrete pylon. Picnic table not wheelchair accessible. No afternoon-to-evening shade what-so-ever. Site#56 campers permitted their dog to run without a leash. No park WIFI
ScoutWe stayed in a tent at site 124. It was crazy windy when we were setting up our tent. This part of the park was really windy for two of the three days, but we still had a great time. Typical, nice Texas State Park. Nice sites. Enjoyed the hiking on wide trails. They did not rent canoes or kayaks because of the winds.
Tent camping near Livingston, Texas offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from private farms to public parks, there's something for everyone.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Livingston, TX is Huntsville State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 71 reviews.
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