Best Tent Camping near Marlin, TX

We tent camped in a primitive spot #47. Overall the spot was nice but not very level making the best placement of our large tent a bit of a challenge. Vault toilets were clean and had hand sanitizer. The nature and hiking in this park was our favorite part. Even rented a canoe and paddled across the lake to the river. Park staff were friendly and helpful. Some primitive tent sites are right on the edge of the lake and after a big rain were very swampy. I believe all sites had partial shade and some have more privacy than others. We did spot some full hook up sites in the RV section that have good space for a tent set up and we may try that next time cause we definitely will be back.

This camp ground was great. We tent camped by the water in section 3 and had the whole site to our self. The lake was nice to canoe on and had a beautiful view of the sunset.

The bathrooms were to far to walk so we had to drive to them ever time and there were no showers so this was a negative.

If you stay on the water just plan for the wind it was blowing the whole time and really hard at some points. Also there is no shade by the water so bring a shade tent.

Last thing this is a open camp ground and we had several people late at night ride by and shine there lights in our tent.

Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPW) goes BIG with this sweet little park! In 2015, a new Visitors Center and 20-site campground were built among the remnants of the old CCC structures. Little reminders of CCC construction were visible just feet from my campsite (#17)… a portion of an old wall and BBQ pits. The campsite itself was wonderful! Plenty of spacing between neighboring sites. Freshly raked gravel, four large benches/chunks of quarried limestone, a picnic table, fire pit, pole with two hooks for hanging trash or gear, water, and electric. No specific tent site— since the whole area was level. Just a short walk along a path from my campsite to the restroom/shower facilities, which were very clean. Womens’ side had two sinks, three bathroom stalls- with one being ADA accessible, and two shower stalls, one of which was ADA accessible. The restroom had a large outdoor sink area, a little library, bike rack, and informational bulletin board. Only a few miles of hiking trails within the park, but beautifully maintained, with walking access to trail system from the campground. If you’re driving a taller/bigger vehicle, you’ll want to consider using those trail access points, rather than driving back to the small trailhead parking lots. The road leading back to the TH parking areas has an 8 ft height limit. Hiking highlights are an old CCC viewing tower, a CCC picnic table, a cave, and old washing pond. Camp hosts were cordial, and Park/Visitors Center staff were helpful and efficient with check in process. I received a call from the Park staff earlier in the morning on the day of my arrival, to let me know the entrance road from the south into the park was closed, so I’d have to access from the north, and also to let me know a county-wide burn ban was in effect, so no campfires during my stay in March 2022.

What a great park full of history! Mother Neff has a lot to offer and is just about 30 miles from Waco, TX that is known for all the Magnolia stuff! The park headquarters have a lot of information so you can figure out your trip and hit all the main attractions in one decent hike! The cave is an amazing part of history and is definitely a must-see!

Leon river runs through this park, although we are currently in a drought so it is as dry as a bone. The Tonkawa tribe lived along the river in the 1800's and many artifacts have been found along with the awesome cave they used. You can also see the wash pond and parts of the original park in the 1930's. There are lots of trees which make for some great trails and lots of shade. Plus the facilities are brand new and so nice.

The trails are quite short and you could go through the whole park in a day but it is well worth the drive to see and feel the history around you. The do have some really nice RV sites, but the tent camping is very limited and closed currently along with the cabins because of flooding. The park has been destroyed many times from the Leon River flooding and is still in the process of being cleaned up.

Also if you take a 7 mile drive down the road to The Grove, TX, you will find another beautiful piece of history. The Grove a tiny, tiny little ghost town that was established in the 1860's! If you love seeing old buildings it is definitely worth the quick drive and take some awesome pics! Some of the original buildings are still there.

I took a trip here with my son and my grandmother and it was such a fun experience. All of the main attractions were able to be seen from the main trail so my grandma was able to keep up and see the park she has memories of as a kid. She said it is much more fancy now than it was in the 60's!

We stopped here overnight on the way home from Renfest in October 2017... it was rustic, we saw a couple of wild hogs on the way to our campsite.

Like the other state parks we had been to, there was running water, tent pads & a nearby restroom. Since we were only there for one night, we didn't get a chance to explore the park.

In early March of 2020, right at the beginning of the Covid 19 Pandimic, I had the opportunity to visit Fort Parker State Park is located next to the town of Mexia Texas and sits on the banks of Fort Parker Lake. This great Texas State Park was built by the CCC starting in 1935 and finishing in 1942. The CCC Company 3807(C) that constructed the park and for recreation was an an all African American CCC Camp. Old Fort Parker was rebuilt by the CCC in preparation for a Texas Centennial Observance in 1936, the rest of the constructs were completed over 6 years. Fort Parker State Park was dedicated in May 1941. Fort Parker State Park provides an excellent location for family camping trips, great family reunions or just a fun day hiking and exploring. Come along with me as I explore Fort Parker State Park!

https://youtu.be/9JDt7QTb-Ps

Great park (first one in Texas) that has some interesting history. So well maintained. Site 007 has some great shade and a cute feral kitty that comes begging for food.

We stayed here long term for work, in our camper trailer. This is a great place, for long or short stays. All sorts of rigs, maybe not quite the place for tents. The owner is very kind. The property is well maintained. Gravel pads, with all the hook ups. It's great not having to move to drain the tanks. There is a community area called the scale house, indoor and outdoor chill spots to enjoy the scenery. A small shower/laundry house, and overflow parking for boats, extra vehicles, etc. The creek runs along side the campground, and herds of sheep roam across the creek with friendly and protective sheep dogs. You can fish in the creek and in the pond located within the sheep field. We really enjoyed this spot.

This is our go to weekend getaway. The spots are immaculate. Everything in the camping area is new. Large well developed campsites with plenty of room between. I do wish that the old area down by the river could be restored from the floods. This area is closed and in the old days it was the heart of the park. On the other hand the transition to higher land brought a very nice new visitors center and a transition from primitive campsites to very nice tent/RV sites.

It is a very small park. It was expanded in the 1930s to the minimum required to get a CCC camp.

Contrary to what this app says, they do have 20/30/50 amp outlets.

This park was extremely quiet when I was there. The spring which "never dries up" wad salt dry when I was there, the first time as far as anyone can remember. The bird activity was great, and the trails were well maintained and easy to follow. Very historic site, the first state park in Texas. Campground has level sites with full hook up.

When I arrived at this site in hopes of finding something semi-close to Salado I was pleased to find a great location with some awesome options. But with that being said it looked as through those coming before simply didn't understand the concept of Leave No Travel and instead had littered their left overs throughout the camp space.

What was even more so disturbing was that this site is not a camping site at all and is day use only, open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with camping prohibited. There are two great outdoor shelters for shade for recreation but no camping near these.

A host directed me to another site on the Stillhouse Lake, this making site #3 for me to attempt to find camping. Salado area is not Tent friendly!! Sad because there are some great areas there to enjoy including those pictured.

It’s quite a small park which makes it nice and peaceful. The campsites are spacious, clean and very well maintained. Full hook-ups and very level. Clean bathrooms and facilities. Park staff and hosts were friendly and helpful. There is not a lot to do in the general area, but having a nice quiet getaway is often a welcome experience. Nice and easily traveled hiking trails along with a nice pond area for evening wildlife viewing. There is also an old Indian cave and wash pond. One of Texas’ first and nicest state parks.

The front guardhouse/entrance is extra campy. Low light and decorated with 69 yo 74lb catch pictures. This is by far the most fisherman geared Texas State Park we have been to and it's our 12th!

The playground is nicer than expected. The tr ails are well-marked.

A quirk of this park are the neighbors. You drive by 8 plus mailboxes while inside the State Park. An abandoned home half collapsed is seen from the roadway. So that's unique.

Beautiful and generally well kept. It's an older style but they have a newer playground area next to the old one.

For a family I give this a 2. For Fisherman a 5. For everyone else a 3.