Best Tent Camping near The Colony, TX
Lakes and reservoirs surrounding The Colony, Texas provide several tent camping options within a short drive. Sycamore Bend Park on Lake Lewisville offers primitive tent campsites along the shoreline, while Little Elm Park provides designated tent-only areas with basic amenities. Erwin Park in McKinney, about 15 miles northeast, features walk-in tent sites set among wooded trails. For tent campers seeking more seclusion, Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland offers dispersed backcountry tent camping approximately 40 miles northwest of The Colony.
Most tent campgrounds in the area feature unpaved sites on natural surfaces with minimal grading. Sycamore Bend Park enforces a 3-night maximum stay limit and provides basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, though no drinking water is available on site. Black Creek Lake NF Campground offers tent-only primitive camping with an honor system payment kiosk ($2 per night in 2018, though prices may have increased). Meadowmere Park & Campground provides 36 tent sites with drinking water, fire rings, and clean restroom facilities. During summer months, rattlesnakes may be present in tall grass areas, so campers should stick to maintained paths and camping areas.
In early fall, tent campsites throughout the region offer more comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds. According to reviews, Erwin Park provides "campsites far enough apart for privacy yet close enough that you don't feel alone," though weekends can become crowded with mountain bikers using the trail system. At Sycamore Bend Park, campers note the "secluded campground feeling despite proximity to suburbs," making it popular for weekend tent camping. Sites at Black Creek Lake benefit from lake breezes and shade trees, creating pleasant conditions even during hot weather. Most primitive tent camping areas require short walks from parking areas, which helps maintain the natural setting and reduces vehicle noise at campsites.
