7 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Rusk KOA offers comfortable glamping accommodations ranging from rustic cabins to unique teepees, each with electricity, comfortable beds, and picnic tables in a wooded setting. "This KOA is a very quiet location. Very beautiful area. Close to town. Friendly staff," noted one visitor about the serene atmosphere. The glamping options balance outdoor adventure and comfort, with most sites offering clear views of the playground for families with children. The property maintains a saltwater swimming pool and recreational facilities while keeping modern conveniences accessible.
Texas State Railroad Rusk Campground and The Boulders at Lake Tyler expand the glamping campsites near Rusk with distinctive accommodations set amid tall pine trees and waterfront views. The Boulders features luxury glamping structures with concrete pads and full hookups that overlook Lake Tyler. According to a camper, "The waterfront views were beautiful and the amenities were wonderful." Glamping guests can enjoy fishing from dedicated barges, boat rentals including kayaks and pontoon boats, and access to scenic hiking trails. The Rusk Depot area offers a unique experience where glampers can watch historic train engines pass through the campground, adding a nostalgic element to the nature retreat. Both locations provide fire pits with grill tops and picnic tables at each glamping site, creating perfect spaces for outdoor dining and evening relaxation.
"Super nice staff and full saturday breakfast (eggs/bacon/pancakes/coffee etc--extra fee, but very reasonable!)"
"This campground really has no outside noise from anywhere. It is wonderfully quiet. The office and other working staff are very friendly and informative about things to do in the area."
"The bathroom didnt seem maintained much, but we have a camper, so don't have need for the bathrooms."
"It being August in Texas, we rented a limited use cabin with air conditioning. It also has a mini frig and a microwave inside."
"PROS Texas State Park Pass discount saving $49
Reserved 151 days prior to arriving
Not charged a fee to make my own on-line reservation
Big Pine site #308 very shady site
Extra wide asphalt parking"
from $18 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Concrete sites made setup and leveling super easy. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful - when we mentioned it was our first trip, they guided us into our site and gave us tips on setup."
"Family and pet friendly. The bathrooms are nice. And the bait shop has everything you forgot at home. 10/10!!"
from $55 - $195 / night
Check Availability"This was our first experience at a Texas State Park. Overall, the park is clean and well maintained."
"They seem cob-webby from the outside but once inside, the concrete floor is smoother up the edges of the walls about 2.5’, reducing entry of insects via cracks in the joints of floor and wall."
from $15 - $85 / night
Check Availability"We loved waking up to see a pasture full of cows behind us. The manager was very polite. I would stay here again."
from $20 - $30 / night
TravelerWe have stayed here on multiple cross country trips and it's always been great for a quiet spot! It's well shaded and our ConnecTen Internet worked great here. Nice walking and very chill atmosphere with clean bath houses.
GuideStayed overnight and it was a great stay. Staff were friendly and the views were amazing.
GuideThere is a noisy power plant across the lake and I can hear it from my campsite and see the smokestacks
GuideEasy late arrival procedure. Walked the 1 mile whispering pines trail with ease. Our site was next to bathrooms/showers. They could be updated and use a good cleaning.
GuideTyler State Park is a pretty park. There are a number of hiking trails, but we were only there overnight. The lake and beach look lovely. Most of the camp sites look nice with water and electric. The bath house is clean with hot showers, but could use some paint and TLC. Sites 13, 14, and 15 were very nice especially if tent camping.
ScoutThe food truck food is not good. I got sick from eating food from there. Ted stores food in freezer without covering it up with lids. One of the park host was showing pictures. I saw the pictures and he also showed other park host. He is not a good park host. Do not ever let him borrow any money because you will never see it back. Do not put a bad review on Facebook because you will get blocked off there page. It's sad that's how they run a business.
GuideOnce again our timing was great as this state park was only about 1/4 full. Sites were level and as with most SP's, plenty of room. Nice wooded park, lots of deer and a nice island to hike on. Power plant isn't all that bad, but then again we weren't right on the water where you would be able to hear it more. Nice facilities.
TravelerFirst & foremost, This park is not well-maintained, and the camping sites are right off of the highway. The splash pad does not work, and the bath house was terribly dirty and freaked of sewage. The group sites are basically a big parking lot- zero grass space between site numbers, although there is shared grass areas along the rows. We moved site numbers within the group sites so that our kids would not be playing right beside the highway (there is a gate, however it’s still concerning), and to slightly distance ourselves from the traffic noise. Beware there is also a large wedding venue directly across the highway & our kids were woken to the sounds of fireworks at night on the weekend. There were large fire ant mounds all along the concrete, and we had to purchase fire ant killer ourselves, as well as deal with some broken glass & the trash can for our site that wasn’t emptied before our stay. I spoke with the staff member working in the office and all she could say was “i will let management know.”
As far as the good: we had 6 kids and 4 adults staying, so despite the concerns and annoyances, we still were able to relax enough and enjoy our break from the daily grind. The kids played outside all day- making walking sticks, fishing a lot, catching bugs (spotted some really neat moths, too), and making up games.
The best: the nearly-daily trains coming right through the campground for various reasons (loading new cars or taking passengers on a local trip). My son is an avid train-lover and this was the main reason we booked our stay here.
RangerWe drove from NWArkansas the end of January to purchase a conversion van in Tyler, but towed our 19-foot Coleman camper just in case the van didn't work out, at least we'd have a nice camping trip! We stayed in a pull-though space (#340) which was large enough for our Tundra, the Coleman, AND our newly acquired 2000 E-350 Sportsmobile Van.
The campsites were quiet (except for our dogs, who loved the racoons and deer...sorry!!) and well maintained. Beautiful walk around the lake to watch the sunrise. The facilities are standard state park facilities...everything worked. One toilet was a mess, but that wasn't the rangers' fault. One would think women would be more mindful of the mess they make.
Note that the gift shop isn't open on Tuesday/Wednesdays, so if you want a head badge for your walking stick, you can purchase one at the ranger station CASH ONLY. Highly recommend this park.
Rusk, Texas sits in the Piney Woods region of East Texas, characterized by dense forests of pine and hardwood trees at around 500 feet elevation. The area experiences humid subtropical climate with hot summers averaging 90°F and mild winters rarely dropping below freezing. Camping options in this region range from established campgrounds with concrete pads to primitive woodland sites where campers can hear train whistles from the Texas State Railroad.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Tyler provides accessible fishing with dedicated structures for anglers. "They offer boat ramp and docks and a fishing barge. The bait shop has a variety of supplies and snacks," notes a visitor to The Boulders at Lake Tyler.
Train watching: The historic railroad depot offers a unique camping experience with train viewings. A camper at Rusk Depot Campground shared, "The texas state RR train engine car came through one time in the afternoon to turn around to pull the train back to palestine...that's pretty unique and a cool thing at a campsite."
Hiking trails: Tyler State Park offers multiple trail systems through pine forests. "Lots of hiking/mountain bike trails. Day use swimming area can get crowded on the weekends but there's plenty of quieter access points," reports one camper who frequents Tyler State Park Campground.
Natural shade: The tall pine trees provide natural cooling during hot Texas summers. At Martin Creek Lake State Park, one visitor discovered "some unbelievably tall Loblolly Pines back on the trails - simply amazing!"
Waterfront settings: Many sites offer direct lake access with concrete pads. "We brought our Springdale Mini by Keystone to The Boulders for our first ever camping trip and could not have had a better experience. The grounds were clean and well maintained. Concrete sites made setup and leveling super easy," shared a first-time camper at Martin Creek Lake State Park Campground.
Peace and quiet: Several campgrounds offer secluded settings away from urban noise. A guest at Rusk KOA noted, "This campground really has no outside noise from anywhere. It is wonderfully quiet. The office and other working staff are very friendly and informative about things to do in the area."
Ant precautions: Some campsites report fire ant issues, especially during warmer months. A Martin Creek visitor warned, "The non-biting ants were everywhere but not to the point of insanity... they list this ant as an issue on their website."
Power plant proximity: Martin Creek Lake sits near a power station. "The noise from the power station droned constantly at a low hum but was easy to tune out," explains one camper who stayed overnight.
Maintenance varies: Not all campgrounds receive the same level of upkeep. At A-OK South RV Park, a visitor mentioned, "The park was small, but nice. We loved waking up to see a pasture full of cows behind us. The manager was very polite."
Playground visibility: Many campsites at Rusk KOA offer sight lines to the play area. "Sites are level pull-through sites and most have a clear view of the playground, which gives the kids a sense of freedom," noted a family camper.
Special events: Look for seasonal activities when glamping close to Rusk, Texas. "Have been camping here in the summers and both Easter & Halloween weekends and they do easter egg/candy hunts and have other events for the kids/kids at heart," shares a repeat visitor to Rusk KOA.
Swimming options: Several parks maintain swimming areas for children. "The lake was perfect and had a nice beach. We were able to rent kayaks and paddle boats. The hiking is not the greatest but it was easy enough for my toddler," reports a family who visited Tyler State Park.
Site selection: For larger rigs, check site specifications before booking near Rusk. "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," cautions a visitor to Rusk Depot Campground.
Pull-through logistics: Some sites require careful navigation. "Our site the wooden picnic table was partially rotted. Parking pad broken up by roots so very uneven surface," notes one RVer about their Martin Creek Lake experience.
Hookup availability: Check whether sites offer full hookups or partial services. "We took off 1 star because there pull thru sites are right on the road. We had number #17 and it was a little tricky to get into the site deep enough that your slides don't stick out into the road," advises an RVer who enjoyed glamping close to Rusk, Texas at The Boulders at Lake Tyler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Rusk, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Rusk, TX is Rusk KOA with a 4.8-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Rusk, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 glamping camping locations near Rusk, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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