The Robert Lee area offers camping opportunities in a transition zone between the Texas Hill Country and West Texas plains at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 2,000 feet. Temperatures frequently exceed 100°F in summer months, with winter nighttime lows sometimes dropping below freezing. The region's low humidity and minimal light pollution create excellent stargazing conditions at most camping areas.
What to do
Fishing access: Lake Spence Reservoir: Rough Creek Park provides boat access for fishing the reservoir. According to a visitor, "This park has maybe 10 sites. Most have tables and grills. Not really suitable for big rigs, as it is in the middle of Granbury. Ideal for tents, vans, or small campers."
Mountain biking: San Angelo State Park trails: With 50 miles of trails, this park offers diverse terrain for mountain bikers. A reviewer notes, "San Angelo good place for mountain biking, decent trails, it was so hot, that it brought some very bad thunderstorms, had some hail damage at this location, would like to be back here, but with a Mountain bike, at a cooler time of the year."
Wildlife viewing: Saturday and Wednesday mornings: San Angelo State Park rangers conduct supplemental feeding of bison and longhorn cattle herds. "We saw tons of deer, porcupines, foxes, and bison of course. There are Javelina and Longhorns, but we didn't see them this weekend," shares one camper.
What campers like
Wide open spaces: expansive site layouts: Many campsites throughout the area offer significant distance between neighbors. At Red Arroyo in San Angelo State Park, one visitor explained, "We were in the Red Arroyo loop in the south section. Sites are huge and spaced out well. Not much privacy, but that's because it's basically prairie land."
Wildlife encounters: frequent sightings: The various parks host diverse wildlife. At San Angelo State Park, a camper shared, "As you hike, you're likely to see plenty of wildlife, too. We have seen deer, owls, birds, and javelinas so far."
Night skies: minimal light pollution: Despite proximity to towns, the area offers good stargazing opportunities. A camper at Wildcat Park - Spence Reservoir noted, "stayed here for a week in mid-November. Weather: 70 for the high and mid 40s at night. There were signs for nature trail, but I didn't check it out. Beautiful views and amazing star gazing opportunities."
What you should know
Summer heat: safety considerations: The region experiences extreme temperatures that affect camping comfort. A visitor at Lake Colorado City State Park commented, "Stopped here on the way of our Texas from Austin. There were not many options so we took a risk and drove here. It was really hot in June but cooled down nicely a little before sunset."
Wind conditions: prepare accordingly: Strong winds frequently affect the area, particularly at exposed sites. One camper reported, "One thing we noticed is that when the wind gets going here it really blows hard, so be prepared to take care of anything that might need to be held down. Several times it was bad enough that we had to close our roof vent."
Water levels: reservoir fluctuations: The water levels at reservoirs can vary dramatically. According to a ranger report, "O.C. Fisher Lake is a reservoir that is emptying out and never likely to come back. A ranger told us the lake is at about 6-8% of its glory days. The place is filled with boat ramps to nowhere."
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife education opportunities: ranger programs: State parks offer educational experiences for children. A visitor at San Angelo State Park mentioned, "In addition to trails, make sure you check out the wildlife blind set up near the Red Arroyo loop."
Playground access: select campgrounds: Abilene State Park offers family-friendly recreation areas. "There is a recreation area nearby with a playground and a swimming pool. Due to the time of year, the pool was not yet open," noted one visitor.
Shade considerations: limited coverage: The desert landscape provides minimal natural shade. As one camper pointed out, "Not much shade/trees near the sites. The sites are well spaced out along the reservoir: covered tables, trash can, grills, and fire pits all for a $5 day use fee."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: site conditions vary: Many campsite pads require careful setup. At Lake Colorado City State Park, a visitor noted, "The CG roads are paved, as are the sites. The site pads themselves are concrete and most looked to be fairly level, but a few had a little bit of slope."
Road access: gate considerations: Some campgrounds have specific entry procedures. One camper at Bald Eagle Creek reported, "The only downside is that to drive into the campground you have to get out and remove a pad lock and manually open the gate."
Cell service reliability: coverage varies: While most areas have some coverage, signal strength differs across providers. A camper shared, "Cell service was pretty good for Verizon and T-Mobile. (2-3 bars consistently)."
