Camping sites near Texarkana, Texas provide visitors with access to Wright Patman Lake and several Corps of Engineers managed properties that offer both waterfront and wooded experiences. The region sits within the piney woods ecological zone at approximately 300 feet elevation, creating a humid subtropical climate with hot summers reaching 90-100°F and mild winters. Most campgrounds near Texarkana remain accessible year-round, though lake levels can fluctuate seasonally affecting water access points.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Clear Spring, anglers can enjoy Wright Patman Lake with convenient access. "The location on Wright Patman lake is awesome. Many of the sites are lakefront, others are in shaded loops within a 2 min walk of the lake shore," notes Dale Y.
Hiking trails: Atlanta State Park offers maintained trails of varying difficulty. "The trails are beautiful and if you piece them together can be challenging. These are not wide, take the baby stroller kind of trails. The nature trail goes over a couple foot bridges and has a lot to see," shares Amie M.
Swimming and water recreation: Millwood State Park Campground features lake swimming areas with designated beaches. A camper mentions, "The lake is BEAUTIFUL, we saw an alligator (I was quite excited about that)," though they also note "No fishing off the pier."
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds support wildlife observation. At Rocky Point, campers report "Friendly deer and squirrels and nice short hiking trails," according to Natalie S., making it ideal for nature enthusiasts.
What campers like
Lakefront camping options: Many campers appreciate sites with water views. "We were in site B5... This site was not very level but we had great views of the lake out the front and side of our MH. It had a grill with table, picnic table and a fire ring," shares Jan S. about Rocky Point.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds generally maintain good standards. "This campground is exceptionally well managed. The facilities are basic, with bathhouses throughout, centrally located dumpsters, walking trails, and grounds workers constantly working," reports a Clear Spring visitor.
Spacious sites: Piney Point offers room between campsites. "Exterior sites are larger than the interior," notes Cayelea R., while another camper explains, "Exterior sites have more space between them than interior sites."
Pond fishing: Forest Lake RV Park provides fishing opportunities beyond the main lake. One visitor described "beautiful grounds with a fishing pond" though they also mentioned nearby train noise as a downside.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds require advance planning. At Clear Spring, a camper cautions, "Remember to book in advance online! They won't let you in without an online reservation and cell coverage is minimal."
Cell service limitations: Signal strength varies widely across the region. At Millwood State Park Campground, one camper emphatically reports "ATT cell service SUUUUCKS here. I repeat, it suuuuuucks lol!"
Environmental considerations: Some campgrounds have specific conditions to note. "The smell that was mentioned is a thing, but we only noticed it at night. Must be the lake," comments a Clear Spring visitor.
Traffic noise: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds. At Millwood State Park, "The highway runs right by the pull through site so the road noise can be loud at times. I recommend staying by the lake if you don't need a pull through site."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Texarkana RV Park & Event Center offers recreational facilities for children. "They have a gated entrance for extra security. The park has nice amenities such as pool, playground, laundry, restrooms, dog run, and park-like setting with duck pond," reports Jeff & Steff's Excellent Adventure.
Safety features: Some properties offer added security measures. "They have a gated campground. Code provided if you arrive after 6 pm. Easy to find your way through," notes JZ W. about Rocky Point.
Kid-friendly water access: Atlanta State Park provides beach areas for families. "Great spot to get away with only 2ish hours of driving from Dallas. The park is meticulously maintained with several hiking trails, minimally busy on the lake. Great for sup/kayaking!!" according to Jennifer C.
Bug preparation: Insect activity varies seasonally. "I would recommend bringing a citronella candle there were a lot of bugs at night. It could have also been because we went in August," suggests Jackie F. about Atlanta State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: RVers should check pad conditions. At Texarkana KOA, "Sites are gravel and very level, did not have to use our automatic levelers, impressed," shares Mary T.
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have tighter navigation. At Texarkana RV Park & Event Center, "We drove in this time with a longer rental unit with a trailer attached and found ourselves in a couple of tough turns trying to get to our spot. Wider lanes and intersections would be appreciated."
Full hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited at some properties. At Rocky Point, "We were in site B5 (one of 15 sites out of 124 that have FHU)," notes Jan S., indicating the importance of reserving these premium sites early.
Seasonal pest management: Campers report varying insect activity. "Ants can be bad during summer & fall," warns Louann C. about Clear Springs, suggesting RVers bring appropriate treatments.
