Searching for the best camping near Sam Houston National Forest, TX? Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Sam Houston National Forest, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Sam Houston National Forest camping trip.
$15 - $60 / night
"Huntsville State Park has over 20 miles of trails to explore along with a pretty great lake to fish, paddle or swim. Fish for crappie, perch, catfish, or bass."
"The check-in process is a bit troublesome if you're picky about getting a good tent site- you can't reserve specific sites ahead of time."
"Only 1 other group was across the lake. Lots of spots to space out even if it was crowded. Easy hike in, could have used a wagon for extra stuff."
"Nights got a little chilly by 4-5 am The map to get there is straightforward, just use Google to drive to the gate then walk down the access road."
$40 - $80 / night
"Just outside of Houston, Texas, the Big City Little Farm is a great spot to camp and enjoy a serene getaway while having the opportunity to check out the city in a quick day trip. "
"There was plenty of space and a beautiful night sky. We can play geometry dash scratch here. The cozy fire was perfect for s’mores."
$25 / night
"There are hiking trails nearby and a little bakery next door. Would definitely recommend swinging by if you’re in the area. Don’t forget to ask if there are any fresh yard eggs available!"
LegendYou’ll find Huntsville State Park six miles southwest of Huntsville, TX in Walker County in the Sam Houston National Forest. Huntsville State Park has over 20 miles of trails to explore along with a pretty great lake to fish, paddle or swim. Fish for crappie, perch, catfish, or bass. Lake Raven also has a boat ramp, fishing piers, and fish cleaning stations. Bring your own canoe or rent one from the little supply store. The supply store also has miscellaneous supplies and bait for purchase.
Campsites are spaced modestly except those in the full hookup loop. If you are looking for full hookups, book in advanced as those are in high demand at this location. All sites have a two-day minimum on Friday and Saturday.
Available sites:
LegendPros
Senior pass discount
Quick check-in( in fact, we were still backing into our site) by camp host who delivered vehicle pass
Asphalt parking pad surrounded by grass
Non moveable metal frame wooden picnic table on an oversized concrete slab
Metal fire ring with cooking grate
Lantern pole
Shady site #4
Spacious area between campsites
Quiet
Good night sky viewing as there are no street lights in park and shower/toilet facility had minimum lighting
Cons
Campers ignore basic rules/courtesy such as keeping dogs on leash and letting children run thru everyone’s campsites
Entrance gate unmanned (closed) 24/7) so lots of“drive-by” gawkers in the campground Non campers consistently showered in the campground showers facility
Gates to campground not locked overnight
TP not available in women's restroom SWEETGUM most of the 2 nights of our stay
No security drive-throughs by park staff
Unlevel parking pad Site #4
No privacy from any other campers as there is absolutely no brush/vegetation between sites
No firewood for sale in park
Non-climate controlled shower/toilet building, but did have a box fan sitting on the floor running, but he was a sweat box in that facility!
Site picnic table at the rear of the site and it was anchored to the concrete pad
No WiFi
1 bar Verizon
ScoutThere are 29 campsites which include a tent pad, picnic table, and a trash pole. Water is available throighout the camp ground. The campground has two public bath houses with hot showers. It is well maintained by volunteer hosts working with the Sam Houston National Forest. The Lone Star Hiking Trail connects at the south side of the park. The east side of the park borders Stubblefield Lake. The adjacent Sam Houston National Foredt offers hunting, Trails for ATV, horse back. and motorcyle use. There no RV hook ups. Spaces will accomodate RV up tp 20 Ft in length, but they must be self contained. No reservations are allowed; first come only.
LegendThese are some great tent/trailer (small RV) only sites with no hookups (both deterring the giant RVs). You have nice open sites with pads under the tree cover with your standard table and fire ring but you then also have access to potable drinking water and flush restrooms and actually some showers. Easy access to the lake and lots of trails.
TravelerWonderful camp grounds nestled in Sam Houston National Forest. Old school drop box style. First come, first serve. Make sure you have cash. Water access throughout the sites, each camp site has table, fire ring with a cooking grate and tent pad. Clean bathrooms with jot showers on timers. Access to an inlet of Lake Conroe. Hiking trails. Not much breeze due to the thick forest, so perfect for fall and spring camping.
LegendSam Houston National Forest is my absolute favorite. There is so much to do there, plus the longest foot trail in Texas (Lone Star trail) resides here. This campsite is located on the Eastern side of the forest and it very close to the Eastern Terminus of the Lone Star trail ( trailhead #15).
Double Lake is the campsite that has it all. Plus there is a lake, or two, where you can fish, boat, and swim. There are lots of bike and hiking trails, along with off roading vehicle trails. The scenery is amazing. I love to go hiking early in the morning as all of the wildlife begins to rise. The sounds and views are some of the best in the state.
The facilities are kept very clean and the staff is always to kind and helpful. Some of the trails were closed the last time I visited but the park rangers were very helpful in helping me navigate. There are tent sites, group tent sites and RV sites available to reserve, which you can easily reserve online. My favorite tent site, that I try to get every time is site # 28. It is easily accessible, off by itself, and still close enough to the bathrooms. I like it because it has quite a bit of room, lots of tree cover ( which is nice when it rains, or in the summer) and it has some character to it.
There is a ranger station at the entrance of this site, but be aware they are closed on the weekend. They have a little drop box and fill out sheet is you come on the weekends, but make sure to download a map of the trails and park beforehand, because the maps are never stocked and there likely won't be one. If you don't have one, there is usually a ranger driving around on a golf cart you can ask.
Make sure you hike the double lake trail. It is about 9 miles long with a very easy footpath, but the views and stillness of the forest make it worth it. The trailhead is between the lake and bathrooms after entering, but be aware it is also a bike trail and can get muddy after a good rail.
There is a fee to enter. If you have a National Park pass it is free and it is twenty dollars a night. Please visit this park!!
LegendDouble Lake Recreation Area is located in the Sam Houston National Forest. We stayed at a primitive site with water and bathrooms conveniently located nearby. Most of the campers were quiet here. Seemed like more a family crowd.
Fishing, hiking, paddling, and mountain biking galore! Several trails including a paved trail go around the lake. Dogs are allowed in the park and on the trails. Dogs must be leashed at all times and are not allowed on the beach.
ScoutMy wife, son, and I arrived around 9pm on a Saturday because two other Sam Houston National Forest campgrounds we intended to stay at were already full. Since it was after hours we were skeptical that we would actually find a spot out of the 5 available but thankfully there was 1 spot left #2, in between two other campers who had obviously been there all day. Water on site for each camper, and electricity, two benches around a firepit, and a picnic table. We arrived after hours and were not given a bathroom code so that was an issue and not ideal, but all else was ok. We left by 9am.
LegendJust finished another camping trip to Cagle Recreation Area in the Sam Houston National forest. It was pretty chilly in the beginning of March, but we camped during the week when all the weekenders had left, and there were only a handful of campers there. So peaceful and serene. Lots of clearly marked trails to hike. The campsites are so spacious, with full hookups. Our site was sloped a bit so had to use 9 leveling blocks. All sites have asphalt pads and are kept clean. The hosts gave us some firewood to make a fire in the pit, and we got to roast some hot dogs. Camped in Sycamore Loop, which is the campground loop closest to the boat ramp. Great views of Lake Conroe, and I'm told there is great fishing here. We walked miles and miles on the trails and just enjoyed the beauty. Saw a bald eagle, which was an awesome experience. The bathhouse was cleaned daily and was always well stocked. Sites are very large, so social distancing is no problem. Cagle is one of my favorite places to camp!
Tent camping near Sam Houston National Forest in Texas offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of amenities and activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sam Houston National Forest is Huntsville State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 69 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Sam Houston National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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