Tent camping near Sherman, Texas centers around Lake Texoma and surrounding natural areas, with options ranging from drive-up tent campsites to primitive backcountry sites. Erwin Park in McKinney provides tent campsites with amenities like drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables. For more secluded tent-only camping experiences, Cross Timbers Texoma Hiking Trail offers primitive tent sites accessible via hike-in or walk-in trails. Hickory Creek in nearby Oklahoma provides dispersed tent camping opportunities with boat-in and hike-in access for those seeking more remote experiences.
Most tent campgrounds in the Sherman area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Erwin Park offers both drive-up and walk-in tent sites with toilets and drinking water available, though no shower facilities exist. Cross Timbers primitive tent sites permit fires and allow pets but provide no electric hookups or water sources. Campers should prepare for potentially muddy conditions during wet seasons, especially at dispersed sites. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, making spring and fall the most comfortable seasons for tent camping in this region. Basic facilities like toilets are available at most established campgrounds, but primitive sites require self-sufficiency.
The tent camping around Sherman features diverse landscapes from lakeside settings to wooded areas. According to reviews, Erwin Park provides "campsites far enough apart that you have privacy yet close enough that you don't feel alone," making it suitable for both solitary and social tent campers. The park's extensive trail network attracts mountain bikers, which can create crowded conditions on weekends. At Hickory Creek's primitive tent camping areas, one visitor noted, "The night skies here are vast on a clear night and you will hear a lot of animals moving around this area," recommending campers bring headlamps as "there is no outdoor lighting whatsoever." Wildlife encounters are common at backcountry tent sites, with deer and smaller animals frequently observed, requiring proper food storage practices.
"Erwin Park is a great place to visit if you're looking to spend a few days running or biking trails. Campsites are far enough apart that you have privacy yet close enough that you don't feel alone."
"I’ve had many great experiences at this park it’s a ways out of the way of the city noise. The only sound other than bird song is the occasional moo and some coyote yips in the distance"
from $119 - $129 / night
"There is around 80 campsites nestled in the woods along the bank of this beautiful clear river. It is primitive camping. There is no electric, water faucets, picnic tables, or grills."
"Camping stops are spaced out very well. It is primitive camping. There is no electricity and there are some bathrooms but very few which doesn’t bother me bc I don’t use them anyways."
GuideThe KOA is clean and well maintained. There is lits of space for the pull throughs. Dog park is amazing, host are friendly and kind. They are very welcoming and the store is small, but clean with a little bit of everything for everyone! We will definitely be back!
TravelerSuper easy in and out. Pretty much every amenity that you would want at a very modern campground.
TravelerRed River RV Resort (Deluxe) in Thackerville OK is a hot mess to be polite. The entire campground is covered with goathead sand burrs. It's impossible to go outside and enjoy any part of the campground. If you do go out you have to be very careful not to bring any of the sand burrs into the camper. The property owner / management knows of the campground issues but they're not doing anything to fix the issues. The pool and hot tub are disgusting, both have green slimy water with leaves, dirt and whatever else blew into it. The community room is locked and you have to ask at the office to get access. The community room has multiple TV's but none if them turn on so whats point in having them. On the good side it has two nice pool tables so its has some purpose. The gym area is packed with equipment but looks more like a storage locker than a gym.The campground has a good laundry room and okay WIFI. The showers are okay, older facilty but it all works. It has a fenced dog park but again It's covered with sand burrs so its unuseable. There's several empty/abandonded campers through out the campground. We went down the street to the local public park, sadly the park is unuseable as well due to the sand burrs being everywhere. It appears sand burrs are a bigger issue in the area and just not only at the campground. The campsites have full hook ups, some of the sewer hose tubes have caps while others don't. The neighboring campsite sewer connection didnt have a sewer cap and it has a huge wolf spider living in it.... we had planned to stay the full 14 days but leaving early due to the 8 billion sand burrs. Our dog is unable to walk in the grass, dirt, pavement without a paw full of sand burrs. I'm very disappointed C2C thinks this is a deluxe campground, I would be embarrassed to be in any way connected to it. There's other campgrounds in the area that have similar nightly cost ($40 - $50) if I was to pay outside of the C2C members rate with useable grass yards, clean useable swimming pools and community rooms. This could be an amazing campground if someone would fix the issues. As it stands now I would avoid this campground at all costs.
GuideThis is a very small campground with a central bathroom/showers up the hill from the campsites. The lake means bugs. The bathrooms were not terrible. The showers were clean-ish.
ScoutWe had a great time here. Lots of shade, privacy and great view of lake
GuideFolks want different things out of campsites. For me, it's scenic beauty, quiet for work and mental health, and nice places to take my dog. This checks all the boxes!
None of my reviews will be useful for amenities or activities because I just don't use them. I can't tell you about bathrooms, fishing, etc. I can tell you the water is very soft and feels slick or soapy even after you rinse. I have onboard reverse osmosis and wouldn't recommend drinking city water anywhere in Texas. There's too much oil production here and gas and chemicals are all over.
The staff at the gate were pleasant and said, "You must be David," when I pulled in, which was very nice and made it easy and welcoming.
Texas has many undiscovered and wonderful public lands, whether you're really camping or just working remote, watching the deer, or seeing the sunrise over a lake from your bedroom window. Get out here and come see them!
LegendGot here after Labor day weekend and mostly all to ourselves.
ScoutThis is a great campground. Power was good, att service is good and the grounds are very clean. The only downside is no full hookups and the dump station is outside of the gate which they lock at 10pm and don't open again until 10am. So no getting back in while locked and you can't dump except when there are lines.
TravelerCamped in site 14. Level site, beautiful view of the lake with covered concrete table. You can walk down to the lake to swim. BUT ants! Make sure you take precautions to keep them out of your rig!
Tent camping options near Sherman, Texas primarily center around Lake Texoma, with campsites spread across both Texas and Oklahoma sides of the lake. The region features post oak and blackjack oak forests with elevations ranging from 600 to 800 feet. Summer thunderstorms can develop rapidly between May and September, with lightning risks requiring campers to have weather contingency plans.
Biking trails access: Erwin Park offers approximately 9 miles of maintained mountain biking trails that attract riders throughout the region. The trails are managed by DORBA (Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association) and follow a directional system where "runners, hikers, walkers go one direction and bikes go the opposite," according to James_TrueZoneCoaching.
Wildlife observation: Big Mineral Camp at Lake Texoma provides opportunities for spotting native wildlife. The area supports diverse ecosystems where deer populations are common. Hickory Creek in Oklahoma offers more remote wildlife viewing, with one camper noting, "There are large populations of deer and other smaller animals. You will want to watch out for wild hogs which migrate through the area at times."
Night sky viewing: Clear nights at Hickory Creek primitive camping areas offer excellent stargazing opportunities without light pollution interference. A visitor described the experience: "The night skies here are vast on a clear night and you will hear a lot of animals moving around this area."
Natural quiet: The relative isolation at some sites provides a break from urban noise. At Erwin Park, a camper noted it's "a ways out of the way of the city noise. The only sound other than bird song is the occasional moo and some coyote yips in the distance."
Site spacing: The arrangement of campsites at several locations offers balance between privacy and community. A reviewer at Erwin Park mentioned, "Campsites are far enough apart that you have privacy yet close enough that you don't feel alone."
Quick accessibility: For urban dwellers seeking convenient nature escapes, some campgrounds provide surprisingly quick access. One camper described Erwin Park as "a great getaway that feels like you're far from home but only a few min away for us. When you want a spur of the moment trip it's a great place to go."
Limited facilities: Most primitive sites require complete self-sufficiency. At Cross Timbers Texoma Hiking Trail, campers must bring all necessary supplies as the area offers fires-allowed camping but no facilities. Even at more developed sites, amenities can be basic with one Erwin Park visitor noting, "The only thing I would change is the bathroom facilities, there are no doors at all!"
Weather preparation: The Sherman area experiences temperature extremes with minimal shelter options at most sites. Flash flooding can affect trails and low-lying areas after rainfall, particularly at primitive sites like Hickory Creek where a camper warned, "This area can get very muddy."
Food storage requirements: Wildlife activity necessitates proper food management. At Hickory Creek, a reviewer advised, "Do not leave food out at your camp because of the amount of wild animals in the area or you will be overrun by morning."
Beginner-friendly options: Willow Springs at Lake Texoma offers family-appropriate camping with one visitor describing it as "a nice rv hook up great family place." This provides an accessible entry point for families new to outdoor recreation.
Sheltered picnic areas: Group facilities at some locations provide weather protection for family gatherings. Erwin Park features "a great pavilion at the group site if you can get it," allowing families to gather regardless of weather conditions.
Safety considerations: Weekend trail congestion requires additional supervision of children at dual-use sites. A regular visitor to Erwin Park cautioned, "It gets pretty busy on the weekends with bikers so if you're on foot keep your eyes and ears open to avoid being in the middle of a pileup."
Limited hookup availability: Most sites around Sherman provide minimal RV amenities. At Texoma Marina & Resort, campers should verify hookup availability before arrival as facilities vary seasonally.
Accessibility challenges: Many primitive camping areas require high-clearance vehicles or alternative transportation. At Hickory Creek, a camper suggested, "Consider an ATV, this area can get very muddy and an ATV can be very helpful if you are trying to explore very deep into the area."
Lighting needs: The absence of ambient light at most campgrounds necessitates bringing additional illumination. An experienced camper at Hickory Creek recommended, "Bring a headlamp or lantern because there is no outdoor lighting whatsoever."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sherman, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sherman, TX is Erwin Park with a 4.1-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Sherman, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near Sherman, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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