Best Tent Camping near Magnolia, TX

Tent camping options near Magnolia, Texas include established campgrounds within an hour's drive, with Huntsville State Park offering the most developed tent sites approximately 40 miles northeast. The area provides a mix of natural settings from the dense pine forests at Huntsville to open lakeside camping at Lake Niederhoffer, with both commercial and public camping areas.

Huntsville State Park features spacious tent campsites with varied terrain and shade coverage. Most sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and access to clean restroom facilities. According to one visitor, "Sites may need serious leveling work to be done. One site required 4 blocks on one side to level it." The park's water-only section provides more primitive camping experiences, though many sites are situated on slight slopes which can be problematic during rainfall. Tent campers should note that alligators inhabit the lake, though rangers monitor their activity closely.

For those seeking more secluded tent camping, Lake Niederhoffer Campsite offers free primitive tent sites with minimal amenities but greater solitude. These walk-in sites provide a more rustic experience without restrooms or trash facilities, requiring campers to pack out all waste. Tomball RV Park, despite its name, accommodates tent campers with tent-specific sites that include water hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, and access to toilet facilities. A visitor commented that the park offers "very beautiful spacious and clean" tent sites. Big City Little Farm provides a unique tent camping experience close to Houston with six designated tent sites featuring amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, showers, and toilets, making it suitable for families seeking a farm-based camping experience while maintaining proximity to urban conveniences.

Best Tent Sites Near Magnolia, Texas (8)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Magnolia, TX

378 Reviews of 8 Magnolia Campgrounds


  • Napunani
    Jun. 22, 2022

    Cagle Recreation Area

    Quiet

    Pros 

    Senior pass discount 

    Quick check-in( in fact, we were still backing into our site) by camp host who delivered vehicle pass 

    Asphalt parking pad surrounded by grass 

    Non moveable metal frame wooden picnic table on an oversized concrete slab 

    Metal fire ring with cooking grate 

    Lantern pole 

    Shady site #4 

    Spacious area between campsites 

    Quiet 

    Good night sky viewing as there are no street lights in park and shower/toilet facility had minimum lighting 

    Cons 

    Campers ignore basic rules/courtesy such as keeping dogs on leash and letting children run thru everyone’s campsites 

    Entrance gate unmanned (closed) 24/7) so lots of“drive-by” gawkers in the campground Non campers consistently showered in the campground showers facility

    Gates to campground not locked overnight 

    TP not available in women's restroom SWEETGUM most of the 2 nights of our stay 

    No security drive-throughs by park staff 

    Unlevel parking pad Site #4 

    No privacy from any other campers as there is absolutely no brush/vegetation between sites 

    No firewood for sale in park 

    Non-climate controlled shower/toilet building, but did have a box fan sitting on the floor running, but he was a sweat box in that facility!

    Site picnic table at the rear of the site and it was anchored to the concrete pad 

    No WiFi 

    1 bar Verizon

  • Elliott B.
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area

    Great sites, great access to Lake Conroe

    These are some great tent/trailer (small RV) only sites with no hookups (both deterring the giant RVs). You have nice open sites with pads under the tree cover with your standard table and fire ring but you then also have access to potable drinking water and flush restrooms and actually some showers. Easy access to the lake and lots of trails.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2022

    Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area

    Really nice, wooded campsites

    Old campground, nicely maintained. Wooded; big pines. Two restroom/showerhouses; old, but clean. Camped for 2 nights in a camper van at site #24. It was a very large site surrounded on 3 sides by a thick forest of trees & shrubs. Private. Water faucet on site. No electric. The Lone Star Hiking Trail conveniently located in the campground. Nice hike through a thick forest. Canpground road & campsite driveways are paved. Sites have tent pads & appear pretty much level. Sites have a table, fire ring & lantern poll. The road toward the campground is paved, but broken up in places with several potholes. AT&T service is okay, but no T-Mobile service. This campground is great for tent campers, campervans, car campers & truck campers. I don't recommend this campground for large RVs.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 30, 2019

    Huntsville State Park Campground

    What you'll need to know....

    You’ll find Huntsville State Park six miles southwest of Huntsville, TX in Walker County in the Sam Houston National Forest. Huntsville State Park has over 20 miles of trails to explore along with a pretty great lake to fish, paddle or swim. Fish for crappie, perch, catfish, or bass. Lake Raven also has a boat ramp, fishing piers, and fish cleaning stations. Bring your own canoe or rent one from the little supply store. The supply store also has miscellaneous supplies and bait for purchase.

    Campsites are spaced modestly except those in the full hookup loop. If you are looking for full hookups, book in advanced as those are in high demand at this location. All sites have a two-day minimum on Friday and Saturday.

    Available sites:

    • Full hookup campsites - pull-through, picnic table, fire ring, water hookup, lantern post, restrooms & showers nearby 20/30/50-amp hookup
    • Electric sites - picnic table, fire ring, water hookup, lantern post, restrooms & showers nearby 20/30/50-amp electric hook up
    • Campsites with water - picnic table, fire ring, water hookup, lantern post, & restrooms & showers nearby
  • Denise V.
    Jul. 20, 2021

    Rocky Creek (Somerville Lake)

    Great campgound with lots of green space

    Type of Park: COE 

    Check In: 3p Check Out: 2p 

    Site#144- Back-In

    💲28 per night

    • Water

    • 20/30/50 amp- pedestal looks pretty new

    • Grill- good condition

    • Fire Ring with flip over grate

    • Metal mesh picnic table with cover, far enough away so awnings came out fully

    • Site Pad: Level, crushed granite. Slopes up at the roadside.

    👍🏻 Pros:

    • On the shore of the lake facing west

    • Trees for some shade• Covered picnic table

    • Close to restrooms/showers

    • Plenty of room between sites

    • This site is aligned perfectly. Sit at the picnic table and watch the sun go down between the trees

    • Extra parking area across from site(mostly unused and starting to grow up)

    👎🏻 Cons:

    • No sewer hookups

    • Site slopes off steep on edge of site. Watch small children

    • Some of the trees around the site have been cut down. They still show on Google maps though.

    • Watch for ants

    📝 Park Notes:

    • Gates closed and locked from 10p to 6p- can get out, but not back in

    • 2 Dump Stations- the one closest to the entry gate has you facing into the park

    • Restrooms/ Showers

    • Playground

    • 3 miles of Nature Trails

    • Boat ramp is closed- under reconstruction

    • Group shelter for rent

    • Lots of dumpsters throughout the park

    • Sites on the east side of this loop are closer together

    • 60s-90s loop was pretty full

    • There are Munzees and a Geocache here

    🐦 Wildlife:

    • Birds: Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets

    • Quite a few deer

  • Sarah M.
    Jun. 27, 2016

    Huntsville State Park Campground

    Beautiful Piney Woods Campground

    We 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!

  • A
    Feb. 10, 2021

    Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area

    Very quiet here in the Sam Houston National Forest!

    28 campsites! Not too close together either! They fixed the water spigots throughout the camp just recently. Bathrooms get cleaned daily, super clean during the week, but gets crowded on weekends. So bathrooms get kinda overused. The showers are hot! Many places have luke warm, but they turn up the heat here which is great. New host Robert is cool AF. Nice guy, doesn't bother anyone who isn't being a nuecince. Walker County has many fire bans, so check before you head out. First come first serve. No reservations. Gets overcrowded on weekends. Fishing, kayaking, the LSHT ( Lone Star Hiking Trail), all are great fun. Dogs are welcome , but forest workers come regularly, like 2xs a day drive by to check if people got them on leash. Alcohol permitted, but not publicly. Only on your site. Verizon service is great here! Sprint sucks. Att was marginally working. You may stay up to 14 days at a time here. I actually love it here, been back 5 times! $15 a night, if you have Americas Beautiful Pass, its half off! $7.50 a night folks! Pass is $80 annually online at National Forest. Just Google it.

  • Stephen & Theresa B.
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Stephen F. Austin State Park Campground

    Pleasant Texas State Park

    We had a really nice relaxing stay at Stephen F Austin State Park near San Filepe, Texas. Great little state park easily accessed from I-10. The 38 RV sites are all asphalt pad pull throughs with 30/15 amp electric, water and sewer complete with concrete pad for table, fire pit, lantern and all well spaced for plenty of privacy...big rig friendly. They have an additional 39 tent only sites with water and 25 primitive. Screened shelters are reservable for tent camping with 20 amp electric and water plus one rustic cabin with amenities. There is a$5 daily entrance fee in addition to camping fees. The bathhouse facilities are brand new. It's a small park but they do have five miles of trails for hiking/biking with views of the Brazos River. We enjoyed the wildlife; deer strolling in the campground every morning and evening, birds, rabbits, frogs, turtles, a bobcat and numerous owls. They have a Nature Center; however it was not open during our visit. The park office has a small store with sundries and park souvenirs. The nearby San Felipe de Austin State His­toric Site tells the story of early settlers to Texas and is worth a visit. We made a run to the nearby town of Sealy to do a much needed laundry stop...small community with grocery, dining and fuel to meet most needs. GPS 29.811982-96.108059 l(979) 885-3613 l Park Road 38 San Felipe, TX 77473

  • Napunani
    Nov. 18, 2021

    Cagle Recreation Area

    Night Sky Friendly

    Reserved 183 days prior to arrival. 

    PROS 

    Quiet even on Halloween weekend except for road noise from FM1375 

    Night sky friendly. NO STREET LIGHTS in Campground! 

    Two FHU Campgrounds. Sweet Gum with 19 sites and Sycamore with 28 sites. 

    Metal picnic table 

    Cooking grill on metal fire ring 

    Site level and asphault parking pad in good condition 

    Friendly camp host who came directly to site on our second day for our check-in 

    Not charged a fee to make my own on-line reservation 

    Campsite discount with America the Beautiful Pass 

    CONS 

    Campsite water hook-up sprayed water everywhere. Even tried using plumber Teflon tape that didn’t even reduce the large spray. Talked to camp host about it and he just laughed and agreed it was needing some repairs, but no one ever came by and it sprayed like that for 4 nights! We had quite a large puddle.

    Security gates are NOT closed overnight

    Extra high sided campfire ring

    No privacy from any other campsites

    Toilet/shower facility without temperature control

    4 Camp Hosts for 47 campsites. Sweet Gum Loop #11 Camp Host site packed to the max with all kinds of stuff that isn’t seen at other Camp Host sites. Definitely hording homesteaders.

    Only park amenity is boat ramp for Lake Conroe.

    No swimming is permitted.

    Never saw any park rangers or park security driving through campground Wildlife sightings of grey squirrels

    Zero to 1 bar AT&T

    No park Wifi


Guide to Magnolia

Tent campsites near Magnolia, Texas concentrate in an area spanning from Spring Creek to Lake Conroe with several options within a 30-mile radius. Camping in this region features typical East Texas Piney Woods habitat with warm temperatures year-round and high humidity during summer months. The elevation ranges from 130-200 feet above sea level with relatively flat terrain, making many sites accessible for novice campers.

What to do

Kayaking and fishing: Lake Niederhoffer offers a peaceful setting for paddling and angling. One visitor noted, "Emerald water on sunny days. Bluegill and small bass. Quiet and serene." The small lake provides an ideal environment for beginners and those seeking a relaxed paddle experience.

Swimming opportunities: Lake Niederhoffer Campsite provides natural swimming options in warmer months. A camper shared, "The lake was clear and whether or not it was a good idea, we swam in it as did all our dogs. Great temperature water." No designated swimming areas exist, so exercise appropriate caution.

Hiking trails: The Lone Star Trail system passes near several camping areas, offering day hiking options. At Huntsville State Park, one visitor commented, "There's plenty more to do at this park. If you want to stay on land, you will never exhaust the amount of trails this place has." Most trails range from easy to moderate difficulty with minimal elevation change.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate adequate spacing between tent areas. About Big City Little Farm, a reviewer mentioned, "There was plenty of space and a beautiful night sky. The cozy fire was perfect for s'mores." Site selection significantly impacts privacy levels.

Water features: Big City Little Farm and other campgrounds offer water-adjacent camping with scenic views. According to a visitor at Huntsville State Park, "We actually had our campsite in a perfect place for we could put our kayaks in and out of the water right behind our tent." Water proximity typically requires earlier reservations.

Night sky viewing: The relative distance from Houston provides better stargazing conditions. One camper at Houston West RV Park stated, "The environment is clean and quiet." Light pollution remains minimal at more remote sites like Lake Niederhoffer.

What you should know

Site leveling concerns: Many tent sites require equipment for proper tent setup. A Huntsville camper noted, "Primitive (water only) tent sites on lakeshore side leave the camper hunting flat surfaces while avoiding runoff pathways." Bring appropriate leveling gear for your tent.

Wildlife awareness: Beyond alligators mentioned in the existing description, other wildlife requires attention. A Lake Niederhoffer camper reported, "Saw an otter and a little snake. Heard a lot more than that at night, entire forest seemed to be alive, with coyotes howling, something snorting, footsteps all over the place." Food storage protocols remain essential at all sites.

Access limitations: Houston West RV Park and similar facilities have specific entry protocols. One visitor observed, "They were very accommodating when I called and gave us an easy spot up front because we were arriving after 8pm." Call ahead for late arrivals as gates may close at sunset.

Tips for camping with families

Bug protection: Insect preparation proves essential in this region. A Houston West visitor warned, "They've got a pretty severe red ant infestation everywhere, so you can't spend too long standing outside on the gravel or the grass." Pack appropriate repellents and treatments for various insects.

Accessibility factors: Consider hiking distance when selecting family sites. Regarding Lake Niederhoffer, a camper advised, "Easy hike in, could have used a wagon for extra stuff." For families with small children, choose sites with shorter approach distances or vehicle access.

Educational opportunities: Tomball RV Park and nearby camping options provide nature learning experiences. A family camper shared, "This was our first family camping trip and very beautiful spacious and clean!" Look for sites with interpretive trails or ranger programs when available.

Tips from RVers

Space Center proximity: Consider camping locations based on planned activities. An RVer at Houston West noted, "Very nice RV Campground with large dog park, laundry, and cleaned showers and toilets. Easy drive to see the Johnson Space Center." Allow 45-60 minutes driving time from Magnolia area campgrounds to Houston attractions.

Utilities reliability: Power and water concerns exist at several locations. Check recent reviews for current conditions as service reliability varies seasonally. When temperatures exceed 90°F, electrical capacity becomes particularly important for cooling equipment.

Road access considerations: Many camping areas have limited turning radius for larger vehicles. For tent campers using larger vehicles, scout parking areas before attempting access, particularly at primitive sites without developed parking pads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Magnolia, TX?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Magnolia, TX is Huntsville State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 69 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Magnolia, TX?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Magnolia, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.