San Angelo camping areas offer diverse accommodations across semi-arid landscapes where the prairie and desert meet. Elevations range from 1,800 to 2,000 feet, creating expansive horizons and significant temperature fluctuations between day and night. Sites near O.C. Fisher Lake face persistent low water levels, with the reservoir currently at only 6-8% capacity according to park rangers.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Spring Creek Marina & RV Park provides direct lake access for anglers. "Great time and fun time but people can be loud all night," notes Daniel in his review of Spring Creek Marina & RV Park.
Wildlife viewing: San Angelo State Park's Bald Eagle Creek area offers excellent opportunities to observe native species. "If you cross the dry creek bed into the horse campground you can access the extensive network of hiking, biking, and horse riding trails. The trails are well marked," reports Laura F. of Bald Eagle Creek.
Mountain biking: The trail system throughout the park provides terrain for cyclists of various skill levels. "San Angelo good place for mountain biking, decent trails, it was so hot, that it brought some very bad thunderstorms," mentions Mic R. about the Red Arroyo area.
What campers like
Spacious sites: The camping areas provide substantial distance between neighbors. "Sites are huge and spaced out well. Not much privacy, but that's because it's basically prairie land," explains Bob M. about Red Arroyo.
Wildlife encounters: The park hosts numerous native species visible from campsites. "Lots of animals to be seen. 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 Shawn R. from Red Arroyo.
Clear 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 one visitor to the park.
What you should know
Wind conditions: Strong gusts frequently affect the region. "When we were there, it was really windy, maybe that's the norm," mentions Bob M. about his Red Arroyo stay.
Limited shower facilities: Bathroom infrastructure needs upgrading in some campgrounds. "The only real complaint was that the bathrooms are really old. They are kept clean and the showers were hot with good, modern showerheads. But in Red Arroyo, there is only one shower for women and one for men for the whole campground," reports Ari A.
Gate access procedures: Some campground areas require manual gate operation. "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," explains Laura F. about Bald Eagle Creek.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some camping loops include play equipment for children. "The sites in the Bald Eagle loop are spacious, many have covered picnic tables, a few trees, and there is a playground," notes Laura F.
Wildlife programs: Rangers conduct scheduled feeding demonstrations for the bison and longhorn herds. "On Saturday and Wednesday mornings, the rangers do supplemental feeding of the bison and longhorn cattle herds, bringing them right up to the fence for visitors to see," shares one camper.
Pool facilities: San Angelo KOA offers swimming options during hot weather. "It was super hot when we arrived and were pleased to find the crystal clear pool to cool off in. Doggies enjoyed the dog park," reports Troy L.
Tips from RVers
Site elevation: Many rv sites near San Angelo, Texas lack shade but offer level parking. "Nice and flat and level. No trees, no shade. Certainly would not want to be here in the summer," cautions Charyle C. about Red Arroyo Campground.
Wind precautions: Secure loose items and consider awning position at San Angelo camping areas. "Several times it was bad enough that we had to close our roof vent," one visitor reports about wind conditions.
Water supply issues: Water service can be interrupted during severe weather. "The family who owns and operates the campground were absolutely amazing during rolling black outs, single digit temperatures, and water being shut off due to main breaks," explains Erin A. at Spring Creek Marina & RV Park during extreme winter conditions.
