Best Tent Camping near Moody, TX
Lakes and waterways surrounding Moody, Texas provide several tent camping options within a short drive. Iron Bridge on Belton Lake offers primitive tent camping with boat-in access and basic amenities including picnic tables and vault toilets. About 20 minutes away, Russell Park near Georgetown features 27 tent-only sites with no utilities but includes amenities like sun awnings, picnic tables, and campfire pits. Cedar Creek Park Campground near Whitney, approximately 45 minutes north of Moody, provides tent campsites with water hookups and covered picnic tables in a setting with mature oak trees for shade.
Most tent campgrounds in the Moody area feature minimal amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Iron Bridge is described by visitors as "a rough site" with no electricity or water, requiring campers to bring all necessary supplies. Sites typically include dirt or gravel pads with little grading. Cedar Creek offers fire rings and water at most sites but only vault toilets and no shower facilities. Russell Park requires reservations through Recreation.gov, with check-in at 3 pm and check-out at 2 pm. Summer temperatures in this region can be extreme, making shade a critical consideration when selecting a tent campsite.
Walk-in tent sites at several locations provide a more secluded camping experience. According to reviews, Cedar Creek Park Campground remains "quiet, with lots of wildlife" even during peak seasons. One camper noted the campground is "first come, first served and free" with "big open fields and mature oak tree shade." Russell Park campsites offer access to the 26.2-mile San Gabriel River Trail, though hikers should be aware that 60% of the trail is exposed with limited shade. Iron Bridge provides primitive tent camping opportunities along the Leon River, with one regular visitor describing it as "very secluded and low volume" with "tons of hiking if you follow the road in and look for the 4x4 paths to the right."
