The Sam Houston National Forest dominates the camping landscape surrounding Montgomery, Texas, with multiple recreation areas offering varied camping experiences within a 30-minute drive. Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area provides primitive tent and small RV camping with basic amenities and direct lake access, while Cagle Recreation Area features full hookup sites with 30/50 amp service beneath mature sweetgum and sycamore trees. Lake Conroe anchors the region's camping options with several developed facilities along its shores, including Thousand Trails Lake Conroe which accommodates tent camping, RVs, and cabin rentals. Private RV resorts like 7 Bridges Luxury RV Resort and Lake Conroe-Houston North KOA cater to those seeking more amenities, creating a spectrum of camping styles from rustic forest sites to resort-style accommodations.
Summer heat significantly impacts camping comfort in the Montgomery area, with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through September. As one camper noted, "Going to camp in the middle of August is not recommended because, wow Texas heat." Many campgrounds feature shaded sites which provide critical relief during hot months. Fire bans are common during dry periods, particularly in late summer. Campers should be aware that several lakes in the area, including Lake Conroe, contain alligators. Advance reservations are essential for weekend camping, especially at state parks and during spring and fall when temperatures moderate. Most national forest campgrounds require payment of day-use or overnight fees, though some accept National Park passes for entry.
Waterfront sites consistently receive the highest ratings from visitors, particularly those with private lake access paths. According to one camper at Double Lake, "We had a lakefront site which had a private little path to the lake. The shore was good for fishing." The piney woods ecosystem creates distinctive camping environments with abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Deer sightings are common in most campgrounds, particularly at dawn and dusk. Hiking trails connect many camping areas, with the Lone Star Trail (Texas' longest footpath) accessible from several campgrounds in Sam Houston National Forest. Site spacing varies dramatically between public and private facilities, with state park and national forest campgrounds generally offering more privacy than commercial RV parks, where some visitors report sites so close "I couldn't walk between our site and the RV parked next to us."
"We stay here every time we pass through Texas. The campground is huge and offers so many great amenities. People are always super friendly."
"This is the best Thousand Trails we have been to in Texas so far! They have the best and the cleanest bathroom/showers I have ever seen. The pool is large clean and great furniture!"
$15 - $60 / night
"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 sites are spacious as in most Texas state parks, and there are many shaded sites. The waterfront sites are tiered. The upper tier is where you park your rig. "
$27 - $42 / night
"Just remember that it’s right next to a dirt bike track, so expect some revving excitement during the day. The bathroom situation? Well, let’s say the trusty portapotty does the job!"
"There aren't many sites, so it's generally quiet, though it's right next to a dirt bike track, so it can get noisy during the day."
"Not on Lake Conroe, & near a busy highway with businesses in view. Not a good place for nature or pretty views. Good place for a 1 night stay- lots of kids & families."
"We have found our Conroe home away from home. Great for kids."
$30 / night
"Sycamore loop has a boat ramp on the southern end as this park is on lake Conroe. Pros: IMO there is allot to like at this quiet park."
"Overall a nice campground on a lake. There's a 2 mile hiking loop in the campground, and you can drive a few miles to a really nice section of the Lone Star hiking trail."
"The Lone Star Hiking Trail connects at the south side of the park. The east side of the park borders Stubblefield Lake."
"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 2 mile paved hiking trial meanders around campsite and near lake. Nice sunsets in the evenings on the trail. There's a much longer trail system entrance that I'd like to checkout next time."
"The hiking trail although wasn’t very long at around 2-3 miles max were a pleasant walk in the woods and along the lake shoreline."
"This little pond is tucked back in the San Houston National Forest a few minutes off the interstate. I use this area to prepare for longer trips since it is so close to home"
"Our site neighbors partied all night long (good music though so it’s okay) and we had a hiker appear who I assume was doing the Lone Star Trail who camped just behind our campsite on a small trail off"
$65 / night
"You won't be charged anything to have packages or mail delivered to this location . If you are bringing an extra toy boat, they even have a small boat ramp and dock for you to use!"
$30 - $65 / night
"Very clean all around. Spent time at the pool that overlooks the lake and grounds. Friendly neighbors, the park seems to be at least half full timers. The lake is stocked with catfish and perch."
RangerLots of sites, but still need to make reservations way in advance, suppose due to its proximity to Houston. Very well kept park with clean facilities, and partial as well as full hookups. Close to Huntsville, so if you are needing supplies or just want to go into town and not cook you are golden. Small lake with paddle boats and good fishing. Fairly flat terrain and trails are well maintained, but not terribly scenic.
ScoutHaha! We stayed at Kelly's Pond dispersed camping. Thought wow we found paradise. It was beautiful, then dusk fell, thought nothing of the Coyotes in the background noise. The first night, Coyotes in the distance, and a cat being attacked outside of us sleeping. Second night, Coyotes in background. Third night. Coyotes in background noise until 3 am. Then they were 50 yrs from us. Thank God they are scared of crazy people screaming at them. We packed the next day.. headed to Dallas area.
ScoutWe were looking for a spot for 2 nights with full hookups and on the water, very pleased with spot 63, has a deck. The owner was very helpful, he helped me get my sway bars back on! If you stay here check out Tallent Sausage Meat market that’s next to the closest gas stations. We didn’t use any of the on-site bathrooms but the owner said they’re in the process of renovating them.
GuideStayed one week during the Freeze of Winter 2026! They communicated via email very well on the status of water. The facilities are very nice! The spots are tightly spaced together but there's plenty of room still to spread out.
GuideFree camping just down the road from Cagle Recreation Area. It is a nice spot that could serve multiple parties. There are no amenities, and a fair amount of highway noise. There are also multiple trails leaving right from the area. Not a bad option.
ScoutPeople speed through this park like it’s nascar. Dogs pooping everywhere. People slamming doors and fighting.
ScoutStaff is great. Campground very clean and close to The Woodlands!
GuideFor the most part, we love it here. There are two big fishing ponds, some beautiful bridges and walkways. There’s some swings adult swings out by the pond. There’s a pool a Jacuzzi. Our favorite part is feeding the fish. There is food down there to feed the catfish in the ponds and we love to do that that is makes our visit so much nicer here. I love the outdoors and I love wild animals and so I’m very comfortable. We’ve only met one of our neighbors. He seems to be nice enough. The ladies in the front are excellent. They have helped us and they have been very helpful and we don’t have many complaints. The only thing we could complain about is the Internet, but the price is great and the park is nice.
RangerNice campground with full hookups. Pads are not level. Water turned a brownish yellow color when filled the tank before leaving. Beautiful trails and good nature observation. Our site was a premier site close to the lake.
Sam Houston National Forest camping sites near Montgomery, Texas range from basic primitive areas to full-hookup facilities. Campgrounds sit at elevations between 200-400 feet above sea level, creating modest terrain changes through the piney woods. Campers should note that cell service varies significantly between locations, with Verizon typically providing the most reliable coverage throughout the forest campgrounds.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Conroe provides catfish and bass fishing, with multiple access points at Cagle Recreation Area. "Saw a bald eagle, which was an awesome experience. The hosts gave us some firewood to make a fire in the pit, and we got to roast some hot dogs," notes one visitor about their winter camping experience.
Hiking trails: The Lone Star Hiking Trail offers over 120 miles of connected pathways through Sam Houston National Forest with access points near several campgrounds. A camper at Kelly's Pond Campground noted, "Great place to camp along the LSHT! They have bathrooms but not much else. If you are hiking during hunting season, Kelly's Pond Road Hunter Camp is a designated primitive site!"
Kayaking and boating: Several camping areas provide direct water access, particularly for non-motorized watercraft. "Just made our third trip kayaking there, day and night. Great place for the family," reports a visitor to Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area.
Private beach areas: Triple-B RV Park offers lakeside camping with dedicated shore access. "There is a small beach and pavilion area which is perfect for small get togethers. The owners offer corn hole and kayaks to borrow," mentions one camper about the amenities.
Spacious, shaded sites: Many campers praise the ample room between sites, particularly at national forest campgrounds. One camper at Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area notes, "Super roomy sites in the woods, quiet (no RVs, yay!), and easy access to the lake. Trees for hammocks at basically every site!"
Wildlife viewing: The forest setting creates opportunities for nature observation. A visitor to Huntsville State Park shared, "I walked the dog a lot and run and road around the grounds needs to be repaved, lots of pot holes and uneven areas," while another noted the abundance of birdlife: "LOTS of birds (pine warblers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers especially) if you're into that."
Payment systems vary: Forest service campgrounds often require cash payment via drop boxes. At Buck Acres, a camper observed, "For the price, this place was amazing. Super large campsites for both tents and RVs. Not very many sites so in general it's fairly quiet though it's right next to a dirt bike track."
Water availability: Not all sites have reliable water sources. One Stubblefield Lake camper noted, "The water spigot at the sites were not working and honestly they have never really worked on my visits here but, I carry water as well so no biggie."
Bathroom conditions: Facilities vary widely between locations. "The bathroom situation? Well, let's say the trusty portapotty does the job!" noted one Buck Acres camper, while another reported about a different location, "The bathrooms were super clean and modern, easy access to the lake and dog friendly."
Consider weekday visits: Weekends can get crowded at popular spots. One visitor to Sam Houston National Forest Cagle Recreation Area shared, "It was pretty chilly in the beginning of March, but we camped during the week when all the weekenders had left, and there were only a handful of campers there. So peaceful and serene."
Verify swimming areas: Not all waterfront campgrounds permit swimming. A Cagle Recreation Area camper noted, "The only thing we wished was there was a swimming hole."
Pack extra water: Even at campgrounds with water sources, reliability can be an issue. "You may stay up to 14 days at a time here. $15 a night, if you have Americas Beautiful Pass, its half off! $7.50 a night folks!" advised a camper who also recommended bringing your own water supply.
Check site leveling: Many forest campsites require significant leveling. "Our site was really off level side to side. We have auto leveling and it wouldn't work it was so far out of level. We had to manually do it," reported one camper at Cagle Recreation Area.
Bring extended sewer hoses: At Thousand Trails Lake Conroe, hookup placements can vary. "Beware that not all sites have full hookups. For the size of the place I would have explained small convenience store but they only had ice," noted a visitor, while another camper mentioned, "Sewer hookup on some were a ways away so bring an extra hose. Mine was close but I seen others that needed 3 hoses."
Verify site size limitations: Don't assume all sites accommodate larger rigs. One camper warned, "Site 55 is NOT for RVs over 36 feet. We have a 42 ft fifth wheel and it was horrible trying to get into the spot."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Montgomery, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, Montgomery, TX offers a wide range of camping options, with 169 campgrounds and RV parks near Montgomery, TX and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Montgomery, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Montgomery, TX is Thousand Trails Lake Conroe with a 4.5-star rating from 28 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Montgomery, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Montgomery, TX.
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