San Angelo camping areas feature an arid, semi-desert environment where prairie and desert converge. Average summer temperatures exceed 100°F during peak season with overnight lows in the 70s. Many campgrounds provide covered picnic tables due to the limited natural shade in this open terrain.
What to do
Trail exploration: San Angelo State Park offers 50 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. "We enjoyed our stay as there are many hiking trails and wildlife viewing. Not very far from the park is the city, in case you forgot something or need ice," reports Bob M.
Wildlife viewing: Bald Eagle Creek provides opportunities to observe native species. "I didn't get to do much exploring because I went to San Angelo to pick up something on Monday morning and thought I would use this trip to test out some gear," notes Darrin R., who camped there in January.
Water activities: Lake Nasworthy offers fishing and boating options. A camper at Spring Creek Marina & RV Park commented, "Enyoy the beauty of the lake, sunsets amazing. Nice place for waking and biking."
What campers like
Open spaces: The prairie landscape provides unobstructed views. "We boondocked in a primitive site with our 36' RV. Clean, covered picnic table, plenty hiking and biking trails. If you can enjoy the desert, you will love this place!" shares Ty M. about Bald Eagle.
Wildlife encounters: Multiple campers mention seeing native animals. Shawn R. at Red Arroyo reported, "It was still hot out, but lots of animals to be seen. We saw tons of deer, porcupines, foxes, and bison of course."
Night skies: The open terrain allows for stargazing despite some light pollution. "The night sky is decent because it's so wide open, unfortunately, it's not as dark as we had hoped because of the lights from nearby San Angelo," notes Ari A.
What you should know
Wind conditions: Strong winds are common in this area. "While we were there, it was really windy, maybe that's the norm," states Bob M. from Red Arroyo. Another camper noted, "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."
Limited shade: The prairie landscape means little natural protection. A visitor to Middle Concho Park noted, "No showers or power. Does have public restrooms. Bring hammock, has plenty o trees," though most areas have minimal tree cover.
Gate access: Some camping areas require manual gate entry. Laura F. mentioned, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Dog-friendly campgrounds near San Angelo: Most local camping areas welcome pets. At San Angelo KOA, "Doggies enjoyed the dog park," according to Troy L., who visited during summer.
Wildlife interactions: Children often enjoy watching local animals. Ron V. at Spring Creek Marina & RV Park shared, "Very clean, quiet campground. My daughter loved feeding the deer. We look forward to returning soon!"
Pool access: During hot months, swimming facilities provide relief from the heat. A camper at San Angelo KOA mentioned, "It was super hot when we arrived and were pleased to find the crystal clear pool to cool off in."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: Many campgrounds provide adequate distance between sites. At Goodfellow AFB Recreation Area, "pull through sites are first come, first served with no reservations. You can reserve some back ins," explains Dennis S.
Level sites: RVers appreciate properly graded parking. Gordon D. at Red Arroyo noted, "Flat camp sites. No problem getting thru park with 41ft 5th wheel."
Utility connections: Various power options exist across local campgrounds. At Concho Pearl RV Estates, "Lots were spacious and everything was great for us. The park is located about 4-5 miles from everything, which was fine with us," according to Erich H.
