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Best RV Parks & Resorts near Palestine, TX

194 Reviews

Palestine, Texas offers several RV parks with full hookup options for motorhome travelers. Palestine RV Park provides water and sewer hookups with 50-amp electrical service for larger rigs. Buffalo RV Park in Oakwood, approximately 25 miles southwest of Palestine, features full hookup sites and accommodates big rigs with spacious pull-through pads. KE Bushman's Camp near Tyler maintains 96 concrete sites with water, electric, and sewer connections, while Lake Athens Marina and RV Park offers level gravel pads with full hookups about 40 miles north of Palestine. "Very nice but small. Nice concrete pads, average size for the site for a privately owned park. Great little fishing pond, but not much else to do. I would say a good weekender or awesome stop-over!"

Many RV parks in the region require advance reservations, especially during holiday weekends and fall foliage season. Most parks allow pets but enforce leash requirements and cleanup policies. Sanitary dump stations are available at KE Bushman's Camp, Lake Athens Marina, and The Fabulous Bok Vegas, though several smaller parks lack this amenity. Cell service varies throughout the area, with stronger signals near Palestine and Athens but potential dead zones in more rural locations. Seasonal amenities include showers and laundry facilities at select locations. According to one camper review, navigating into some parks requires careful attention: "BE CAREFUL around the curve! It's tight and they have an unfortunately colored post that is the same color as the grass, so hard to see."

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Best RV Sites Near Palestine, Texas (69)

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RV Park Reviews near Palestine, TX

194 Reviews of 69 Palestine Campgrounds

  • Marc T.
    May. 27, 2021

    We RV Champions

    Cool name, cool stay!

    The name drew us in, the convenience, friendly staff, large spaces and the usual amenities will bring us back.   

    A very convenient location for a base if you are looking to go to Canton Trade Days, Edom's many art festivals, Moore's Store in Ben Wheeler to see a show, shopping in Tyler or any of your East Texas adventures.

    Although near the highway and the Tyler Pounds Field Regional Airport, this rv park is surprisingly quiet and peaceful. An older park, well maintained with mature trees lining the property. A good portion of long term stay residents with smiles and waves and neat spaces.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 3, 2022

    Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area

    Nice wooded campground

    Pretty campground. Tall pine trees. Camped with our camper van along the loblolly loop. Not suitable for large rigs in this section. Level tent pads. Sites have access to the lake. Loved the tall trees. Restroom/shower rooms were very clean. See previous reviews about this. Paved roads & driveways in this section. No water & electric hookups in this section, but available in another section of the campground. Water spigot nearby for drinking water. Busy Hwy 7 is nearby; road noise from big rigs can get loud sometimes. AT&T cell/data service okay. No T-Mobile cell/data service. Would like to camp here again & explore some of the hiking trails.

  • Heather H.
    Feb. 21, 2022

    Lake Athens Marina and RV Park

    Wonderful place

    We spent a month here. We came in to attend the NRVTA and were bummed when the adjoining park was booked. So we chose Lake Athens, and what a treat! Location is wonderful. Right on a huge, nice lake. Very safe. Large field where we let our dogs off leash. Walking distance to the fishery. There is a restaurant on site with FABULOUS food. People are relaxed... not rude, or loud, don't complain about friendly dogs off leash etc. Sites are gravel but level. We have a 44ft triple axl fifth wheel, had plenty of room (we had an end site but the middle row Sites do appear tight). The permanent residents here are nice. Clean laundry facilities, allowed all our packages/Mail. There is a community fire pit near the play ground. Small area in the back with walking trails. Can't wait to return honestly. Didnt use their wifi as we have our own. We switch from Verizon to ATT, and at times signals were weak. Other times just fine. Hit or miss depending on utilization I suppose.

  • Daniel L.
    Oct. 16, 2020

    Mission Tejas State Park Campground

    Great park - small crowded camping

    Come for the hiking trails and access to local communities like Palestine, TX and 4C Trail.

    You will get to know your neighbors at this state park if you choose to camp here.

    Our party was spread out between the main campground and the Day Use area sites. We enjoyed the site we had, but our friends were camping in the main camping loop which was very crowded and cramped mid-week. Personally our site was B near the playground and the ADA trailheads. Site B is kinda magical and if you like people watching than you are in luck, there is no shortage of foot traffic near your campsite. For us it was nice and hikers, passersby were very respectful. 

    Amenities used:

    Bundled FIrewood (donations accepted, however it is free to use)

    WIFI at the visitors center is sub-dial-up speed

    Bathhouse is stall type so it is not a fully private room.

    Staff if friendly and helpful

    Sites are all on hillside, if you have an RV/camper I would rec the pull through sites. The back in sites really only work for tent camping. For Tents, the pad sizes vary so be sure to check your tent dimensions. We saw a few sites our 4 person tent wouldn't have fit onto. (Saw the same at Lake Ratcliff) 

    Personally I would recommend the campgrounds at Lake Ratcliff if you are looking for spacious camping loops. Also Lake Ratcliff's bathhouse was much nicer and more ADA friendly. Mission Tejas's high quality trails are only a 20min drive from Lake Ratcliff.

    Would've given this park a 4 star if campground hadn't been so cramped. Maybe my expectations need curbing. I will return for some winter camping later this year, possible even early spring as well. It is a great park, but if it is full, it feels crowded.

  • C
    Jun. 29, 2019

    Mission Tejas State Park Campground

    A hidden jewel in deep East Texas

    Ensconced in the deep Piney Woods of Davy Crockett National Forest lies the site of the original Franciscan Mission to the Caddo Indians. The local tribe’s word for friend was tejas (tay-hoss) meaning friend. The camping sites are all situated in the woods scattered among the hills above the Neches River Valley. They do not have sites for extremely large diesel pushers, but 32 foot trailers or RVs fit nicely.

    The location has Texas state park normal accoutrements like fire rings, tables, lantern posts, showers, bathrooms and new front office with interesting rain harvesting equipment to view. Serene and beautiful area with hiking trails of easy to moderate level of difficulty with a historic walk to the site of the original Camino Real also known as the Old San Antonio Road.

    Nearby you have historic markers every 3 miles or so on the current King’s Highway with Caddoan Indian Mounds to visit, sites of early settlers, including the original Rice Family Dog Run Cabin on site. There is a lovely lake for perch and bass fishing and playgrounds for young children.

    It is favorite park of mine to visit and I return every few years.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2024

    Big Tex Campgrounds

    Four Stars For Now

    This is a new campground that is just getting up and running. The sites are all large and shaded with a picnic table and a fire pit. Our site was also a full hookup site as was the site of our friends that also came with us. They have a camp store and a laundry mat and a couple of small hiking trails. There are several other amenities coming. The only con is they will move you. I don’t care if you picked that spot out for a specific reason (as I did) when booking, it likely won’t be your spot when you check in. I find that annoying, but that’s literally the only con. The staff was nice, park clean, and shaded sites. I did not go to the restrooms (if they even have any) to tell you how those are.

  • k
    Oct. 23, 2021

    Lookout Mountain RV Park

    Unbelievable View

    This is a small RV park right off a main highway a few miles outside of Jacksonville. The first thing you notice is the amazing view! You are able to see for miles. Denny met us when we drove up and helped us settle into our site. Full hookups with a concrete pad, very level. The laundry facility was good and free. Will definitely stay there again if in the area.

  • Napunani
    Nov. 6, 2020

    Rusk Depot Campground

    Quaint Wooded Poorly Maintained Campground

    This is an X-Texas State Park that really needs some overdue TLC.

    After making reservations over the phone 163 days prior to arriving and prepaying the entire amount, we were told at check-in there was no record of our reservation. Once we got through that confusion we were had to ask for directions to the campground. No map provided. Even with a reservation campsite are selected once you arrive and drive through the campsite. FHU loop roadway was difficult to maneuver due to the roadway being covered with pine needles which blended it into the non-roadway. We saw most people driving thru campsites thinking it was the road as the FHU loop were mostly pull-thru sites. Limited sites for RVs longer than 30 feet. Most sites were designed for 20 feet or smaller. Not a slide-out friendly campground as most sites were very compact. Minimal vegetation between sites. At our site the wooden picnic table was partially rotted. Parking pad broken up by roots so very uneven surface. The firepit ring was mostly rusted away and was completely filled with ash so our fire was on the pi ash. Sulphuric smelling water. Highway noise. On our last night, the 30 amp breaker kept tripping without a full load. Happened twice within an hour so we scaled back our amp use under 20 just to have some heat during the night. Campground WiFi was probably one of the best we’ve experienced.

    Highway noise even in our campsite the furthest from the highway.  Of course, lots of train whistles during depot operations.

  • D
    Jul. 31, 2018

    Purtis Creek State Park Campground

    Purtis Creek

    Love this park! The campsites are very clean, as are the bathrooms. The hiking trails are well maintained. There is a small lake for fishing and a swimming area. Water and 30 amp electric only, but there is a dump station available.

Guide to Palestine

RV camping near Palestine, Texas provides access to East Texas Piney Woods terrain with elevations around 500 feet above sea level. The region experiences hot summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and mild winters, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Interstate 45 and Highway 79 serve as primary access routes to most campgrounds in the area.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Coal Mine Ranch RV Park features a fishing pond on property plus access to nearby lakes. "My kids are already asking when we are coming back. The owners and staff are super friendly. The water park kept my kids happy the entire weekend," notes camper Kayla L.

Educational experiences: Texan RV Park & Campus hosts the National RV Training Academy. "I have taken all of their technical classes. 1. AC 2. Absorption friges 3. Water heater/furnaces 4. Slides and levelers 5. Solar systems install 6. Generator maintenance," reports Donald B., highlighting learning opportunities even for visitors.

Hiking trails: The area around Lookout Mountain RV Park offers scenic walking paths. "Mr. Mortis, owner/operator, is as nice and down to earth as they come. He obviously cares a great deal about the park and area, as his planting of 50,000 trees in the area will attest. He has created a beautiful park and hiking/biking trails and more," shares Marc T.

What campers like

Scenic vistas: The panoramic views from elevated camping spots receive consistent praise. "This RV park sits atop of a historic state landmark, Loves Lookout Mountain, just north of Jacksonville Texas. This park has the best view in East Texas," explains Marc T. about Lookout Mountain RV Park.

Water recreation: Lake Athens Marina and RV Park provides direct water access. "Right on a huge, nice lake. Very safe. Large field where we let our dogs off leash. Walking distance to the fishery. There is a restaurant on site with FABULOUS food," reports Heather H.

Family-friendly amenities: Many parks offer playgrounds and recreational facilities. "Nice clean gravel sites, though a little sandy & not a ton of shade. Full hookups, bath house, and a very nice little water park. They sell affordable food at the water area," reports Carrie I. about Coal Mine Ranch.

What you should know

Seasonal closures: Water features at some parks operate on limited schedules. One camper at Coal Mine Ranch notes, "Only drawback was not open past 5 pm but I understand why (they do private parties)."

Management availability: Staffing varies widely between campgrounds. "No management on site, even during posted office hours. Small dumpster is always full or overflowing. Seems like no one enforces the rules so dogs and unsupervised kids running amuck," reports Mnbear M.

Reservation requirements: KE Bushman's Camp can be difficult to contact. One camper warns, "Drove 1hr out of way tried calling but no answer. Got to park and doors locked, not open, gated... Tried calling from parking lot, voicemail this time, left message and waiting a bit with no response."

Tips for camping with families

Water activities: Coal Mine Ranch RV Park features a water park ideal for children. According to Kayla L., "The water park kept my kids happy the entire weekend... They set up a movie night on the projector. CLEAN BATHROOMS AND SHOWERS."

Pet-friendly areas: Several parks accommodate four-legged family members. "Large field where we let our dogs off leash," notes Heather H. about Lake Athens Marina and RV Park.

Educational options: The Fabulous Bok Vegas offers an interactive petting zoo that appeals to children while providing educational opportunities about animal care and farm operations.

Tips from RVers

Level sites: "Full hookups with a concrete pad, very level," reports kathy H. about Lookout Mountain RV Park, noting the importance of stable, even camping surfaces for larger motorhomes.

Extended stay considerations: "We spent a month here. We came in to attend the NRVTA and were bummed when the adjoining park was booked. So we chose Lake Athens, and what a treat!" shares Heather H., highlighting Lake Athens as suitable for longer visits.

Site selection: "We stayed in a pull through here. Nice concrete pads, average size for the site for a privately owned park," notes Emily B. about KE Bushman's Camp, emphasizing the importance of requesting specific site types when making reservations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What RV rental options are available in Palestine, Texas?

While Palestine itself has limited dedicated RV rental businesses, the surrounding area offers several options. The Fabulous Bok Vegas Texas offers RV rentals along with their camping accommodations. For more selection, nearby cities like Tyler (about 45 minutes away) have established RV rental companies with various models available. Lake Athens Marina and RV Park sometimes offers rental units for those wanting to experience lake living. Many visitors also utilize online RV rental marketplaces that connect RV owners with renters, allowing you to find rentals from private owners in the Palestine area with delivery options to your chosen campground.

Can I rent different types of campers in Palestine?

Yes, various styles of campers are available for rent in and around Palestine. From private owners through peer-to-peer rental platforms, you can find travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes of different sizes. Shiloh on the Lake offers spacious concrete pads perfect for any type of rented camper, especially for longer stays. Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area can accommodate camper vans and smaller trailers (note their Loblolly loop isn't suitable for large rigs). For those who prefer glamping experiences with minimal effort, some locations like The Fabulous Bok Vegas Texas offer pre-set accommodation options. When renting, verify the camper size is appropriate for your chosen campground, as site dimensions vary considerably throughout the region.

Where are the best RV parks near Palestine, TX?

Palestine and its surroundings offer several excellent RV parks. We RV Champions provides large spaces, friendly staff, and standard amenities in a convenient location for exploring nearby attractions like Canton Trade Days. Mission Tejas State Park Campground offers a more natural setting with sites nestled among tall pines in the Davy Crockett National Forest. Other noteworthy options include KE Bushman's Camp with concrete pads and a fishing pond, Big Tex Campgrounds featuring large shaded sites with full hookups, and Palestine RV Park offering big-rig-friendly accommodations. Most parks in the area provide full hookups, with some offering additional amenities like laundry facilities, camp stores, and recreational activities.

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