The Athens area offers wooded camping sites at elevations ranging from 400-500 feet with typical East Texas pine and hardwood forest cover. Summer temperatures reach the mid-90s with high humidity, while spring and fall provide more moderate conditions in the 70-80°F range. Most campgrounds remain open year-round, though water activities concentrate between April and October.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Purtis Creek State Park features a 355-acre lake known for largemouth bass fishing. The park maintains a catch and release program for all bass species. "Fun park with a lot of options for hiking, fishing and kayaking! Had an awesome primitive camp loop, RV and shelter sites looked good too!" notes a visitor to Purtis Creek State Park.
Water recreation: Coal Mine Ranch RV Park offers a small water park on site that's popular with families. "The water park kept my kids happy the entire weekend. Only drawback was not open past 5 pm but I understand why (they do private parties)," reports one camper at Coal Mine Ranch RV Park.
Hiking trails: Several parks provide hiking options ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. "The hiking trails are well maintained. There is a small lake for fishing and a swimming area," mentions a camper about the trail system at Purtis Creek State Park.
Educational opportunities: The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center sits next to Lake Athens Marina. "Next door to the Texas fresh water fishery, cool place to take the young children!" notes a visitor, making it a worthwhile side trip when staying near Athens.
What campers like
Tree cover: Shade is a significant advantage at many Athens area campgrounds during hot Texas summers. "This is a great, non-parking lot style campground. Every site is covered with trees, and though they are a bit close together you feel connected with nature," mentions a visitor to Shiloh on the Lake.
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the roomier sites at certain parks. "This is a super nice little state park. Really secluded sites with plenty of room, and great fishing piers. Perfect for boaters," reports a visitor about Purtis Creek State Park.
Concrete pads: Several RV-friendly campgrounds near Athens provide level concrete sites. "We stayed for the Fourth of July weekend. It was great! Full hookups large concrete pad. Perfection!" notes a Shiloh on the Lake visitor.
Waterfront access: Lake Athens and other water bodies provide swimming and boating opportunities. "We spent a month here. Location is wonderful. Right on a huge, nice lake. Very safe. Large field where we let our dogs off leash," describes a camper at Lake Athens Marina and RV Park.
What you should know
Site surface variations: Campsites near Athens range from concrete pads to natural ground. "The sites are sandy. We constantly fought with tracking sand in. When it rained it was a nightmare," warns one visitor about Shiloh on the Lake.
Reservations essential: Popular camping sites near Athens, Texas fill quickly, especially during holidays and summer weekends. Advanced booking is strongly recommended. "Hard to get reservations because it is so popular! If you get reservations it's kinda like winning the lottery," observes a visitor about Tyler State Park.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience road noise. "The only real drawback is how close it is to the main roads. Car noise can be heard at almost all hours," notes a visitor about Purtis Creek State Park.
Staff availability: Management presence varies between campgrounds. "No management on site, even during posted office hours. Small dumpster is always full or overflowing," reports one visitor about Coal Mine Ranch RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds offer specific features for children. "Weekend getaway. Stayed here to get away for the weekend and the park staff had activities for the kids. Very big camping spots. Will definitely come back!" shares a visitor at Purtis Creek State Park.
Water activities for children: Multiple parks provide swimming areas ideal for families. "Beautiful, great fishing, great hiking, fabulous for kids, wonderful kayaking. We had a blast," reports a visitor to Purtis Creek about their family experience.
Bathroom proximity: When tent camping with children, consider site location relative to facilities. "The bathrooms were a bit far from the campsite so definitely check your spot first if you don't have an RV," advises a Purtis Creek camper.
Educational opportunities: The Texas Log Cabin RV Park offers a more traditional camping experience. "This place I keep coming back to. It's like ol school its just simple no concrete, have common fire pit areas and they even give you the word to burn at the common area," shares a repeat visitor.
Tips from RVers
Big rig accommodation: Several campgrounds can handle larger RVs. "The sites are gravel but level. We have a 44ft triple axl fifth wheel, had plenty of room," notes a Lake Athens Marina visitor.
RV training opportunities: Athens hosts the National RV Training Academy. "We have really enjoyed our time here at Texan RV Park while attending the RV Fundamentals Course at the NRVTA. The manager, Betty made herself available to assist with any problem 24/7," reports a camper at Texan RV Park.
Site quality: Many campgrounds offer concrete pads with full hookups. "The roads and pads are all concrete with full hookups. The park is well maintained, aesthetically pleasing, and everyone is very nice," describes a visitor to Chuck's RV Resort.
Storage options: Long-term visitors appreciate additional amenities. "Clean laundry facilities, allowed all our packages/Mail. There is a community fire pit near the play ground," reports a Lake Athens Marina visitor who stayed for a month.
