Ray Roberts Lake State Park offers primitive camping with sites ranging from lakeside locations to more secluded spots in the woods. The Hawthorne camping area features well-spaced primitive sites requiring a half-mile walk from parking, creating a sense of isolation while maintaining access to facilities. Campgrounds around Lake Lewisville provide additional options with varying levels of amenities and accessibility. The region experiences hot summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through September, making early morning or evening activities preferable during peak season.
What to do
Mountain biking at Erwin Park: Located in McKinney, this park offers approximately 9 miles of maintained trails with varying difficulty levels. "The trail network is about 9 miles and maintained by DORBA, these trails flood easily after rain so check the DORBA website before making the trip. The trails are straight forward and not super technical," notes James from Erwin Park.
Lakeside swimming: The swimming areas at Ray Roberts Lake provide relief from summer heat with designated swimming zones. "There is also a fantastic beach swim area for day use or to visit while your camping. Nice sand and roped off swimming areas with large playgrounds," according to Matt S. who camped at Isle du Bois.
Fishing in coves: Johnson Branch at Ray Roberts Lake offers multiple fishing spots in protected coves. "If you're a fisherman there's easy access to a couple of coves that look like they would be great fishing spots," writes Grace B. who stayed at Johnson Branch.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings and evenings provide opportunities to spot deer and other wildlife. "We have car camped on a few occasions here and each time we saw plenty of deer around camp," notes a camper at Isle du Bois, while another mentions "Deer will approach your campsite and you're likely to see all kinds of wildlife."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Campers consistently mention the generous spacing between sites at several dog-friendly campgrounds near Savannah. "The car camp sites: They have a variety of sites that can be tucked into the trees or more in the open when bordering the lake," explains Matt S. about Hickory Creek. "A lot of space between sites, well level and paved, family oriented, very quiet, beautiful lake and tree sites," notes Reynolds O.
Lakefront access: Many campsites offer direct water access for swimming and fishing. "Sites on the perimeter all have lake access where you can pull a boat up," mentions a camper at Isle du Bois. Another camper at Willow Grove Park shares, "The lake was warm and there was a little 'beach' for swimming - I would recommend water shoes and floaties!"
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and showers are frequently mentioned in reviews. "The bathrooms are clean, signal is great for Verizon and T-mobile," notes Joyce L. about Willow Grove Park. At Johnson Branch, Robert H. states, "Bath and showers are very clean and warm it is cold today 38 Degrees."
Stargazing opportunities: Clear nights offer excellent stargazing at more remote sites. "Wildlife were very quiet and the stars were bright on a clear night," reports Christopher L. who camped at Isle du Bois.
What you should know
Limited site access: Some primitive sites require significant walking from parking areas. "The trail path to the campsites is further than indicated or implied on the website, which isn't a problem if you're packed light, but if you're car camping with heavy equipment you will be surprised how far it is," warns Christopher L. about Isle du Bois.
Weather considerations: The region experiences rapid weather changes including severe storms. "Got hit by two really bad lightning and thunderstorms and had to sit in my car for a while during the worst of it (certain parts had tornados and hail)," reports Joyce L. about her stay at Willow Grove.
Security concerns: Some parks lack controlled access points. "Anybody can access in and out at anytime, that makes it not very quiet due to traffic driving around," notes Reynolds O. about Willow Grove Park. Another camper mentions, "The park is technically closed at 10pm but there's no gate and technically anyone can drive in any time."
Noise factors: Proximity to urban areas means some noise intrusion. At Hickory Creek, Susan L. notes: "It's located adjacent to I-35, just west of the Lake Lewisville bridge, so there's traffic noise depending on how close you're camped to the road."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Savannah offer playgrounds for children. "There is a park with slides and swings. The lake was warm and there was a little 'beach' for swimming," writes Summer A. about Willow Grove Park. At Hickory Creek, Monica C. reports "There is no playground that we could find, even though I read online that they had one," so call ahead to confirm.
Site selection for privacy: Choose sites away from main pathways for more family privacy. Joshua M. from Hickory Creek - Lewisville Lake recommends: "Sites were large enough for us (tent campers) without feeling too close to our rv/camper neighbors! Our 5 & 4 year old boys loved running around, throwing rocks in the lake."
Water safety gear: Pack water shoes for lake swimming due to natural lake conditions. "Bring shoes though! Lots of little prickers in the grass down by the lake," warns K7 from Isle du Bois.
Pack for walking distance: If staying at primitive sites, bring a cart for transporting gear. Joyce L. advises: "Most campsites have a lengthy walk-in distance so be prepared! Bring a cart; it'll speed things up massively."
Tips from RVers
Level sites with good hookups: RV sites in the area generally offer reliable utilities. "The electric was recently upgraded after the flooding this year. So there's 50 amp available now too. I camped at site 39 and it was an asphalt/gravel pad and fairly level. Water pressure was good," reports Susan L. about Hickory Creek.
Water pressure considerations: Be prepared for strong water flow at some parks. Chris P. notes about Pilot Knoll Park: "I found the water pressure too strong for my class b as the pressure caused a link under my sink. Convinced me to purchase my own water pressure resistor gauge."
Back-in sites with space: Most RV sites require backing in but provide adequate room. "The sites are fairly spacious, especially compared to other RV resorts. Big rig friendly with many different style spots to choose from," reports Christina H. about The Retreat at Shady Creek.
Dump station locations: Not all parks have sewer hookups at individual sites. Luis from Hickory Creek notes: "The sewage hook up is not at the actual site. There are dump stations in different places."
Ranger
