Best Tent Camping near Newton, TX

Tent campgrounds near Newton, Texas include several primitive and established sites across the Angelina National Forest and surrounding areas. Bouton Lake Campground offers dispersed tent camping with picnic tables set around a small pond. Po-Man Outdoor Collective R&R provides more homestead-style camping with both drive-in and hike-in access for tent campers, while Hunter's Camp in the nearby Kisatchie National Forest offers free primitive tent sites.

Most tent sites in the Newton area feature basic amenities with few modern conveniences. Bouton Lake provides picnic tables under large pine trees but lacks drinking water and shower facilities. Campers should prepare for self-sufficient camping by bringing water supplies and proper waste disposal equipment. During summer months, the heat and humidity can be significant factors for tent campers, with insects abundant throughout the region. Vault toilets are available at some locations like Hunter's Camp and Enduro Complex, but amenities remain minimal. Sites typically accommodate standard tent setups on natural surfaces under forest canopy.

The tent camping experience near Newton offers genuine wilderness immersion with several secluded options. According to one visitor, "Bouton lake campground is a nice, small dispersed campground with several picnic tables on a small pretty pond with open field and large pines." Areas like Angelina at Sam Rayburn Reservoir provide lakeside tent camping with opportunities for kayaking and water activities. Fire restrictions vary by season and location, with most sites allowing campfires when conditions permit. The primitive nature of these campgrounds means campers typically find more solitude than at developed RV parks. The surrounding national forests provide extensive hiking trails accessible from tent campsites, with the Kisatchie National Forest's Hunter Camp offering "very peaceful" camping during off-seasons according to camper reports, though visitors should be prepared for insects, including mosquitoes and ticks, particularly during warmer months.

Best Tent Sites Near Newton, Texas (9)

Show More
Showing results 1-9 of 9 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Tent Camping Photos near Newton, TX

3 Photos of 9 Newton Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Newton, TX

241 Reviews of 9 Newton Campgrounds


  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 25, 2021

    Willow Oak

    Lazy Days

    Fees:  $4.00 camping per day

                $2.00 per vehicle per day

    Limit:  up to 28 days (select sites)

    Sites:  1 RV and tent walk in sites

    409-625-1940

    No water or electric.  Drinking water, portable toilets, picnic table, trash, fire pit, water views, boat ramp and parking area.  This campground is set on the shores of the Toledo Bend Reservoir close to Hemphill.  The reservoir is 185,000 acres and provides a great outdoor vacation.  The fee is suspended at this time.  The road in is in good shape and travels through the pine forest.

    LNT

    BTYFI

    AIS

    Travel safe

  • Debbie J.
    Mar. 23, 2021

    COE Sam Rayburn Reservoir Twin Dikes Park

    Beautiful Setting, Average Sites

    There are only 43 sites at this park, but most have no hookups. Only 9 full hookups, which is what I prefer if staying more than a couple days. The FHU sites are really close together and not private at all. Our picnic table and fire ring were at our neighbors sewer connection. The water and electric sites are more spacious and private, but some were a long way from the restrooms. There are many beautiful sites at waterfront, but that is all dry camping.

    The sites are all paved, and all seem pretty sloped, so make sure you have levelers. All picnic tables have shade covers, and most sites have good shade. The grounds are well kept and the park very quiet and tidy. If you like to fish, there are plenty of spots for shore fishing. There is also a boat ramp. The lake is clean and beautiful, also huge.

    There is only one hiking trail, but it is not paved and seemed a bit overgrown so we did not hike it for fear of encountering a snake.

    This is a nice park, but not a “do over” for us because of the lack of space and privacy at the full hookup sites. Also you can hear some road noise at times, which is really a distraction, especially if you are a person who enjoys the peacefulness of a nature setting.

  • John H.
    Jul. 31, 2020

    Martin Dies, Jr. State Park Campground

    Tall Trees, Open Waters, Tired Trails

    Tent Camped 9JUN20- 1 night

    TO BE FAIR, this was RIGHT after everyone reopened and things were all weird. There was no one to check in with and the whole time we were there we never saw any park personnel. The park was MAYBE 25% camped, but might have been less than that. Sites were huge and well treed, no pads but good drainage, which was a blessing because it POURED overnight.

    Site 334 was on the water with great trees and soft ground to camp on. Our closest neighbor was 500 feet away, and they were the only other one on our loop.

    The park was empty and quiet with no canoes or anything available due to COVID.

    The bathrooms were older and pretty clean, but not overly tended to.

    The trails were a little rough and needed a lot of rotted wood replaced on the bridges and benches. Tons of birds and wildlife to see.

    Brought my dog but not a lot of good places for him to get in the water.

    It was the first time I had camped in 10 years, so this was the perfect place for a shakeout camp.

  • A
    Apr. 1, 2021

    COE Sam Rayburn Reservoir Twin Dikes Park

    Beautiful Sunsets

    Beautiful campground. Stayed in last loop camp 36. Was too close to 35. Not much privacy. Wish I would have chose 43, drive down the hill a bit to unload, had its own private beach. The last loop 35-43 is primitive campsites. Still has bathrooms though with flush toilets. Each loop has flush toilets, the first 2 loops has shower houses. Didnt check the water temp. Have my own hot water privacy shower. Dogs must be on leash. Quiet tim 10pm to 6am. Cute couple in matching shirts comes around on golf cart several times a day checking on guest. First 2 loops are for electric amps for RVs. But the primitive loop still has water hook ups as well. There is a dump station. And must Reserve Online only! No cash, cards, checks accepted on site. Boat dock is $5 a day with a credit card machine as soon as you go through gate. The gates do not lock at night. Was there for 2 weeks March 2021. Many fireflies,, which was like a fairytale,, through the forest and down by lake.. cell service was good for Verizon, Sprint, and Tmobile. Kinda slow but worked. Fire rings, and tables at each site. The primitive loop had no tent pads, just set up where you like. I paid $7 because I get half off with my American is Beautiful/interagency pass which is available online for $80 annually. Saves me %50 @ most parks. Price is $14 a night for the primitive loop. And goes up to like $40 depending on amp. They have 3 shelters, which is just a box with windows and electricity for $38 a night in the first loop. All sites are basically on the water, some are too close to one another, some are very private. Gotta look at the park map online. Only 1 walking trail with 2 benches through the walk. Very short, not much to see, kinda muddy. Trail ends at a picnic table by the water. There is a short cut if you follow the path to the boat ramps so you don't have to turn around and walk back out. No wildlife messed with our food out side. No coons. Saw red cardinals, blue Jay's, woodpeckers, white tailed deer, bunnies was about it. There are some fat dark brown squirrels tho. If you come out gates for gas/ice/food make a left. Twice the ice 16lbs for$2 is a mile on your right. As is food and ⛽ and doughnuts 🍩 😋. Being next to a major road and the giant trucks and boats driving through to get down by the dock kinda killed the forest, fireflies, lake, sunset ambiance for me a little. Very windy up on the primitive loop, mind you its a peninsula 30ft above the lake!

  • Trevor H.
    Oct. 25, 2020

    Ebenezer Park

    Decent

    There aren't many sites for basic tent camping here, maybe 10-15 tent sites, and the rest are equestrian. It's a pretty tidy looking campground. There is a park host that is usually hanging around if you need something. We ended up being neighbors with a large group that was using their fire like a bonfire so we let the park host know about it. Probably won't come back unless in off season. But it's good enough

  • Napunani
    Dec. 6, 2020

    COE Sam Rayburn Reservoir Twin Dikes Park

    Weirdly Spaced FHU Sites

    We camped in Loop A during the week of Thanksgiving 2020 by making reservations 134 days prior to arriving. Very friendly volunteer gate attendants, but not sure when they work the gate as we tried to find them twice in one day and no one around and no info on how to contact/find someone, even tho there are four different campsites marked“attendant”. Overall, very quiet campground the week of Thanksgiving except for the highway noise from Highway 255, which was loud! Nine site FHU loop where sites are crammed together, weirdly and poorly laid out and spaced. No vegetation between sites so no privacy here what-so-ever! We could hear everyone’s conversations, even some that were inside their RV! Back-in site 12 was a tricky challenge to get into due to the terrain. First a dip before a narrow entrance over drainage ditch pipe, then a steep grade which almost had us scrapping the asphalt as we saw evidence of many that had previously. The narrow asphalt parking pad is deteriorating on the utility hook up side leaving a 6-8 inch drop off, so not very forgiving! Most asphalt site pads in this loop are in poor condition. Site 12 was not level side-to-side. Site 12 also has two wooden enclosures(wooden fence) that house utility panel boxes. At first, we thought we had our own outhouse! There is a slight view of the lake from Site 12. Recreation.gov states this site is"full shade", which we disagree. Our concrete picnic table on a concrete pad was fairly close to the parking pad. Our site also included a rotting shelter over the table, a rotting wooden bar-height prep table(aka fish cleaning table), a wooden lantern pole and a metal fire pit with a grilling grate that was one big tripping hazard due to the concrete slab the pit was placed on was broken up and huge hunks of concrete displaced around the metal fire pit. What a mess. Toilet/shower facility just for this campground loop fairly clean, but not serviced every day(during the week). Tent sites are along the lake in Loop A. There is a significant drop-off down to the water’s edge. Evidence of tent campsites that had been washed out/destroyed in recent flooding. Not a good stargazing location due to other close by campers with numerous outdoor lights burning all night! Super friendly squirrels that ate from our hands. No other wildlife sighting during our 4 night stay the week of Thanksgiving. Sam Rayburn Lake is beautiful. Park has a boat ramp and a large ramp parking area. No firewood for sale in this park. A bait shop, Valero fuel station, liquor store and a couple restaurants within a 5-minute drive of the Park entrance. Jasper has a Tractor Supply and a small Walmart. Lufkin has most chain restaurants, Lowes, Super Walmart, etc. Two bars AT&T signal

  • A
    Feb. 25, 2021

    Boykin Springs Recreation Area

    Spillway from Lake to Springfield fed creeks!

    Beautiful place! Host Jerry is cool guy, loads of information. Rides around once a night around sunset on his golf cart to see if everyone is okay. Been here 5 times. Sawmill trail is very cool. 2.5 miles to the old sawmill and 2.5 miles back out. Loads of deer here. Many interlacing creeks. Water from down under pumps into creek which you may see by the 3 bridges. Fire pits, grills, huge tent pads, lantern post, and giant picin tables are at each campsite. Very spaced apart. Lots of privacy. 1 vault toilet which is super clean, and a bathhouse in center of park. Showers are luke warm at best. Verizon works well here, sprint sucks. Never really busy here. Its $10 a day to camp, but I have the America is Beautiful interagency pass for $80 annually, saves me 50% off, so I only pay $5 a day! Decent roads in and out, barley any pot holes. Dogs must be on leash, rangers come by once a day to check. No reservations here, first come first serve. Many trees for hammock and I did kayak on the small lake for fun. Fished for days, caught nothing. Woodpeckers are here! As many other bird species. Loads of 🍄. All different kinds, bought a book to identify them! Store is a bit far about 8 miles east. They got a water filter and ice house to fill 5 gallon jugs and 16lbs of ice for $2.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 16, 2020

    Indian Mounds Recreation Area

    Quiet place to camp

    Indian Mounds Campground is located in East Texas near the Texas-Louisiana border in the Sabine National Forest. It is a quiet and peaceful location to camp.

    RV and tent campsites come with a fire ring, a picnic table, and potable water. Good views of the lake and situated in forest area. Nearby hiking, biking, swimming, and fishing. Not many campers in campground and that made for a great stay!

  • Debbie J.
    Mar. 25, 2021

    COE Sam Rayburn Reservoir Twin Dikes Park

    Pretty Setting but Tight FHU Sites

    There are only around 9 full hookup sites and they are very close together in the group camping section. Very little privacy. All waterfront sites are nice and big, but no utilities. One section of the campground has a lot of private RV sites but only water and electric. There are 3 restrooms but only one has shower facilities. The group camp restrooms do not have showers even though the campground map indicates showers.

    The sites with utilities are paved, and most slope, so need those levelers. All sites have fire rings and covered picnic tables.

    Beautiful lake views and a boat ramp. Good fishing from shore. Lots of woods and birds. We saw a couple of eagles.


Guide to Newton

Tent camping around Newton, Texas offers wilderness experiences within the rich pine forests of East Texas. Located near the Texas-Louisiana border, the area receives approximately 55 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush vegetation and abundant wildlife habitat. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can drop below freezing, making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons.

What to do

Hiking trails exploration: The Kisatchie National Forest near Hunters Camp offers extensive trail systems for day hikes. According to Conrad V., "There's a hiking trail nearby, stating no motorized vehicles, but you can mountain bike, hike and ride horses."

Fishing opportunities: Many camping areas provide lake access for anglers. The ANGELINA Sam Rayburn Reservoir Area offers excellent water activities. Bonnie C. notes, "The lake was fun to kayak on. It was raining so not many people were there."

Off-road adventures: Enduro Complex provides dedicated OHV trails for motorsports enthusiasts. Paula W. mentions, "There are miles and miles of trails attached to this campground. OHV, horse or hiking. Beautiful area, just don't forget sunscreen, water, bug and tick repellant. The trails are very well marked."

What campers like

Peaceful off-season camping: Many tent campers near Newton appreciate the solitude during non-hunting seasons. Danny H. reports about Hunter's Camp, "My wife and I camped here just before Memorial Day and had the entire campsite to ourselves. I imagine during hunting season this camp is quite busy, however we found it very peaceful in the off months."

Lakeside settings: Several campsites feature water views that add to the camping experience. Rick H. describes Bouton Lake Campground as having "room for more parking without tables. On a small pretty pond. Open field, large pines."

Free camping options: Budget-conscious tent campers appreciate no-fee sites in the area. Conrad V. states about Hunter's Camp, "Can't beat free. The Hunter Camp is situated just off range road. You're surrounded by wilderness. The only amenities are a vault toilet."

What you should know

Insect preparation essential: The humid East Texas climate supports abundant insect populations, especially in warmer months. Danny H. advises, "Because of its location so deep in the woods mosquitoes, horseflies, and yellow flies were in abundance. Using a therma cell was perfect at keeping them at bay."

Limited facilities: Most tent camping near Newton is primitive with minimal amenities. Paula W. describes Enduro Complex as "dispersed camping with a pavilion and vault toilets available. No water, must pack it in."

Water supply planning: Nearly all tent sites in the area lack potable water. Monte W. notes about his Bouton Lake experience, "It was a bit of a drive on a dirt road but the road wasn't too bad. There were a couple of sites along the lake with picnic tables."

Tips for camping with families

Activity options for children: Some campgrounds offer features that appeal to younger campers. Bonnie C. mentions that at ANGELINA Sam Rayburn area, "Roads are paved, kids can roam, lots of trails and some playgrounds. The showers aren't bad either."

Wildlife education opportunities: The diverse ecosystems around Newton provide chances to observe and learn about native species. Visitors should bring field guides to identify local plants and animals while remaining cautious of the abundant spider population that Bonnie C. warns about: "Spiders galore here, fair warning."

Weather preparedness: East Texas experiences rapid weather changes, particularly in spring and fall. Monte W. shares about camping at Bouton Lake Campground, "It was July when I was there so it was pretty uncomfortable as far as temperature and it started to rain. Nobody else was there when I stayed."

Tips from RVers

Access considerations: Some forest roads leading to tent sites may challenge larger vehicles. Monte W. notes about Bouton Lake, "It was a bit of a drive on a dirt road but the road wasn't too bad."

Supply planning: The remote nature of camping near Newton requires careful preparation. Conrad V. advises about Po-Man Outdoor Collective R&R, "Bring your fishing gear, ATVs & horses! This property is maintained much like public lands, no campground feel here."

Seasonal awareness: Military training activities sometimes occur near certain camping areas. Conrad V. mentions, "Fort Polk is close enough for supplies, check your gate schedules. Marines were utilizing the ranges in the area, and a couple officers came through the hunter camp just exploring."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Newton, TX is Po-Man Outdoor Collective R&R with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Newton, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.