Best Tent Camping near McKinney, TX
Tent campsites near McKinney, Texas offer several established options within a 30-minute drive of the city. Erwin Park provides secluded tent camping with sites spaced for privacy while remaining accessible. Sleep Under The Pecan Trees offers a unique natural setting on 100 acres with wildlife viewing opportunities. Sycamore Bend Park provides primitive lakeside tent camping along Lake Lewisville for those seeking water access.
Most tent campgrounds in the McKinney area feature basic amenities with varying levels of facilities. Erwin Park includes picnic tables, fire pits, and trash cans at each site, with restrooms available but no shower facilities. Sites at Sycamore Bend Park are primitive with a $20 per night fee and maximum 3-night stay limit. Campers must pack in their own water as hookups are not available at most locations. Several campgrounds require short walks from parking areas to reach the actual tent sites, particularly at Sycamore Bend where vehicles cannot access the camping area directly.
The tent camping experience around McKinney provides opportunities for outdoor recreation with several parks featuring trail networks. Erwin Park contains approximately 9 miles of trails maintained by DORBA, popular with mountain bikers but also suitable for hiking. Sites near lakes offer fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding access. Tree cover varies between locations, with Erwin Park and Sleep Under The Pecan Trees providing good shade options. Weekends tend to be busier, especially at parks with mountain biking trails. One camper noted that Erwin Park "is 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."
