The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near Waco, TX

356 Reviews

Tent campsites near Waco, Texas range from primitive backcountry sites to established campgrounds with basic amenities. Cedar Creek Park Campground at Lake Whitney offers tent camping with picnic tables, drinking water, and toilet facilities, while Iron Bridge at Belton Lake provides a more rustic experience with vault toilets but no water hookups. Paradise Acres and Hackberry Hills offer additional tent-specific options in the surrounding area.

Most tent campgrounds in the Waco vicinity have limited amenities and typically operate on a seasonal or year-round basis. Cedar Creek Park features water hookups and picnic tables, but many sites like Hackberry Hills and Paradise Acres lack drinking water and electrical connections. Drive-in and walk-in access is common, with several campgrounds like Lawley Land and Paradise Acres allowing fires and providing firewood. According to one visitor, "Cedar Creek has campsites to your right and left once you reach the water - at least 27 of them. Quiet. Spaced out. Most had grill and water access." Vault toilets are available at some locations, while others have no toilet facilities.

The tent camping experience around Waco features varied terrain and settings. Locations like Cedar Creek Park Campground offer clean sites with mature oak tree shade and lake access. One camper noted that Cedar Creek provides "big open fields and mature oak tree shade with water at most sites and fire rings next to covered picnic tables." Paradise Acres receives positive reviews for stargazing opportunities, with visitors describing it as "very quiet" with "great views." Iron Bridge offers a more secluded experience along the river with fishing opportunities, though several reviewers mention maintenance issues. For those seeking a truly primitive backcountry tent camping experience, Lawley Land allows campers to enjoy a more wilderness-oriented setting with minimal infrastructure but greater freedom for activities.

Map showing campgrounds near Waco, TexasExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Waco, Texas (11)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 11 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Waco Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Waco, TX

2 Photos of 11 Waco Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Waco, TX

356 Reviews of 11 Waco Campgrounds

  • Napunani
    Nov. 18, 2021

    Oak Park Campground

    Landscape Timber at Fire Ring Created Trip Hazard

    Reserved on-line 184 days prior to arrival. 

    Pros Site in large oak tree grove, so heavily shaded 

    Campground night sky friendly with good dark sky viewing NO STREET LIGHTS in campground., but toilet facilities had exterior lighting 

    Crushed granite surrounding site and bordered with landscaping timbers 

    Metal roof shelter over concrete slab where picnic table is located 

    Metal picnic table 

    Cooking grill on metal fire ring 

    Campground mostly quiet except for Hwy 31 traffic noise 

    Friendly camp host 

    Security gate closed nightly 

    Not charged a fee to make my own on-line reservation 

    Campsite discount with America the Beautiful Pass 

    Cons 

    Entrance gate not manned upon arrival at 2pm Tuesday so had to go back around after unhitched 

    Our site 14 was not marked. Most sites have site number on site picnic table. Even those are tough to see in the daylight and impossible to see in darkness. Absolutely no roadside site number posts 

    Campsite 14 entrance driveway was 90 degree angle to park road with a steep ditch on opposite side of road. T

    rees close on both sides tight to site 14 driveway. Made back in challenging, but not impossible. 

    Campsite 14 entrance/driveway 10% grade from park road 

    Campsite 14 not level side to side 

    Site fire ring was up against landscaping timber preventing space for chairs 

    Landscaping timbers trip hazard at fire ring

    Fire ring should be relocated to side or back of site to facilitate safe movement around it Fire ring was completely filled with ash upon arrival No privacy from other campsites Shower/toilet facility near playground had padlock on mens entrance, so males were using the womens restroom. This facility in extremely poor condition and desperately needs renovation. 

    No campsite lantern pole 

    No park Wifi 2

     bars AT&T 

    Never saw any park rangers or park security driving through campground 

    Wildlife sightings of grey squirrels and two dozen buzzards that constantly circled over campground

  • K
    Apr. 25, 2021

    Fort Parker State Park Campground

    Peaceful place

    We tent camped in a primitive spot #47. Overall the spot was nice but not very level making the best placement of our large tent a bit of a challenge. Vault toilets were clean and had hand sanitizer. The nature and hiking in this park was our favorite part. Even rented a canoe and paddled across the lake to the river. Park staff were friendly and helpful. Some primitive tent sites are right on the edge of the lake and after a big rain were very swampy. I believe all sites had partial shade and some have more privacy than others. We did spot some full hook up sites in the RV section that have good space for a tent set up and we may try that next time cause we definitely will be back.

  • Heather P.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 18, 2018

    Meridian State Park Campground

    beautiful lake views

    We camped at site 31 which is a primitive tent only site. The sites are HUGE!!! tons of space between you and the next site. Sites are level and easy to find a spot to pitch your tent.

    Set up a camp chair, bust out your fishing gear and kick back and relax while watching the amazing sunset over Lake Meridian.

  • Napunani
    Apr. 19, 2022

    Airport Park - Waco Lake

    Lots of Aircraft Noise - Bring Ear Plugs!

    Pros 

    Not charged a fee to make my own on-line reservation 

    Friendly gate attendant 

    Level asphalt site surrounded by crushed granite 

    Grass neatly mowed throughout campground 

    Large aluminum picnic table that is moveable from site concrete pad

    BBQ grill, metal fire pit and lantern pole 

    Night sky friendly. No street lights 

    Spacious-space between each site but no privacy due to lack of vegetation 

    Very quiet Sunday thru Wednesday nights except for Waco airport aircraft approach and Space X rocket testing 

    Entrance gate locked 10pm-6am. Exit only permitted 

    Clean toilets and showers 

    Plenty of TP in restrooms 

    Trash can in toilet/shower facility 

    Sufficient trash dumpsters throughout park 

    Deer sightings at Park entrance only 

    2 LTE Verizon bars signal 

    Cons 

    Exterior restroom doors desperately need repaired. Have to move rock away from door to gain access. 

    Sewer connection at rear of parking pad. Bring the looooong stinky slinky! 

    Waco airport aircraft departing/arriving as early as 6am and as late as 11pm. One night we counted aircraft performing touch and go manuvers 42 times. Approach was directly over our campsite. 

    No patrolling host or ranger 

    No soap or hand towels in toilet facility 

    No playground, basketball or tennis or volleyball courts 

    No lake swimming area 

    No park WIFI 

    No hiking trails

  • Napunani
    Mar. 24, 2021

    Airport Park - Waco Lake

    Filthy women’s restroom

    This park is a short drive to all of Waco attractions including the famous Silos. We stayed Friday and Saturday nights. 

    Pros:

    • Very friendly gate attendant

    • Extremely quiet park except for arriving/departing aircraft at Waco Regional Airport

    • Great view of the lake as trees/shrubs are minimal

    • Clean campsite

    • Very clean campfire pit

    • Most sites had a nice distance from neighbor sites

    • Crushed granite surrounds the site’s asphalt parking pad so no muddy mess after rain

    • Pedestal BBQ grill, fire pit with grilling grate and aluminum picnic table at each site

    • Some sites had aluminum roof pavilion over picnic table

    • Some sites had lantern pole

    • Park roadways in good condition

    • Entrance gate locked at 10pm

    • Plenty of TP in women’s restroom

    • 4 bar signal AT&T 

    Cons:

    • Filthy women’s restroom. Human feces on floor. Two of the three stalls locked for days. One remaining stall the door would not close and latch. Sign posted on door that restrooms were cleaned Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, but the human feces were on the floor Friday night, Saturday all day and Sunday morning. Exterior door would not close completely.

    • No water to sinks in women’s restroom

    • No soap dispenser and no hand dryer in women’s restroom

    • Men’s restroom door locked Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning

    • Exterior door to one shower room was unable to be closed

    • Extremely low water pressure to campsite

    • No site privacy due to minimal trees/brush throughout the park

    • Low hanging tree branches over roadway and campsite pad

    • Our campsite pedestal BBQ grill was extremely corroded

    • No wildlife sightings- not even a squirrel

    • NOT A DARK SKY FRIENDLY CAMPGROUND! Boat launch lights across the cove lit up most of the campground. Large lights on the toilet/shower building that made it nearly as bright as daylight!

  • Napunani
    Dec. 13, 2022

    COE Navarro Mills Reservoir Oak Park

    Clean-up on Site #11

    Pros 

    Discount with National Park pass 

    Shady

    Quiet 

    Dark sky friendly

    Nice metal roof cover over concrete picnic table 

    Saw park ranger drive thru during daylight 

    2 bars T-MOBILE 

    Successful streaming with T-MOBILE hotspot device 

    Cons 

    So day #2 without any TP in men’s restroom.  Went to front gate to report it and was told they would call it into the Army Corps of Engineers as gate volunteers have no stock of TP on hand.  Never saw any TP before leaving on third day

    Toilet facility #1 women’s had raw sewage throughout deep enough to cover your foot. Site 11 has electrical hook up at rear on the door side of the camper 

    Site 11 water connection is centered at the rear of the parking pad. 

    Site 11 unlevel. 

    Numerous piles of charcoal ash throughout site 11 campsite not in the fire pit. 

    Concrete picnic table needs degreased as surface has lots of large greasy stain 

    Site numbers are painted on the concrete picnic table so extremely difficult to see in the dark. 

    No WIFI

  • Napunani
    Jun. 9, 2023

    Mother Neff State Park Campground

    Texas First State Park

    PROS 

    Saved $24.50 with Texas State Park Pass 

    No fee charged for making on-line reservations 

    Got a call the morning of arrival from park headquarters confirming my arrival 

    Site 3 was immaculate upon arrival, even the crushed gravel raked. 

    Site 3 level 

    Site 3 has aluminum picnic table, metal firepit with cooking grate and 2 hook lantern pole all in good condition 

    Site 3 afternoon shade 

    Campground loop toilet/shower facility immaculate 

    30 minute drive to Waco attractions

    2 bar T MOBILE 

    CONS 

    20 total campsites but 2 are used for camp hosts 

    Picnic table chained to ground so not moveable and it was 30 ft from camper 

    Lots of road noise from TX236 

    One toilet/shower facility for the entire park for both day users and 20 campsites 

    Men’s toilet had urinal and toilets out of service during our 3 night stay 

    Toilet/shower facility not climate controlled 

    Lots of feral cats throughout campground 

    No fire wood for sale in park 

    No WIFI

  • Josie J.
    Dec. 9, 2020

    Airport Park - Waco Lake

    A nice near spot to camp

    This Is a great area to camp near Waco without having to travel far. Just 5 minutes outside the Waco City limits, these grounds have a lot of hook up spots without feeling too crowded. Its also a great place to tent camp, or use one of a few cabins that are available. Nearly every camp site is a  stones throw from the water. Great Swimming and fishing. There are a number of places to pull your boat up to shore. There is a play ground, but its only near a few sites and quite a distance from most sites. But for older kids with bikes, it's a fun ride. There are deer and rabbits and birds and squirrels. Its a nice little spot that is laid out to feel big.

  • Sean B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 7, 2025

    Cedar Creek Park Campground

    Beautiful clean and free

    Only a small amount of campsites, big open fields and mature oak tree shade. Water at most and firerings are provided next to covered picnic tables. Quiet, lots of wildlife, has boat ramp and dock as well as large shelter house with bbq for days use by larger groups. First come first served and free. No showers and only a vault toilet.

Guide to Waco

Tent campsites near Waco, Texas are situated in the central Texas prairie landscape, with elevations ranging from 400-700 feet above sea level. The region experiences hot summers with temperatures often exceeding 95°F from June through September, while spring and fall offer milder camping conditions. Winter camping is feasible with typical lows around 35-40°F, though occasional cold fronts can bring freezing temperatures.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Lake Limestone Public Use Area #3 provides bank fishing access with picnic tables and basic toilet facilities, making it suitable for day trips or overnight tent camping with proper preparations.

Target practice: Lawley Land allows visitors to shoot firearms in designated areas away from camping zones. As one camper noted, "You can pop off fire work here or shoot off guns. My kids had a great time" while enjoying a wilderness experience at this primitive campsite.

Hiking trails: Iron Bridge offers rugged hiking options beyond the main camping area. A regular visitor explains, "Tons of hiking if you follow the road in and look for the 4x4 paths to the right. No fee admission." These unmaintained trails provide opportunities for amateur archaeology, as the same reviewer mentions, "Lots of arrowheads laying around if your lucky to spot one."

Swimming: Several lakefront campgrounds permit swimming in designated areas during warmer months. One camper at Cedar Creek Park Campground mentioned "the lake is a super clean rock bottom one," making it ideal for summer cooling off.

What campers like

Stargazing conditions: Paradise Acres receives high marks for its night sky views, with one visitor specifically mentioning they "loved looking up at the stars" and described the experience as "very quite and loved looking up at the stars!"

Wildlife viewing: The tent camping areas around Waco support diverse wildlife. Cedar Creek Park Campground has "quiet, lots of wildlife" according to one reviewer who appreciated the natural setting.

Affordability: Several campsites near Waco operate with minimal or no fees. Cedar Creek Park Campground is described by a camper as "Beautiful clean and free" with the added benefit of "first come first served" availability.

Privacy between sites: Owl Creek provides spacious camping with good separation between sites. A regular visitor recommends you can "relax under a shade have a campfire roast marshmallows and wieners" in relative seclusion from other campers.

What you should know

Weather considerations: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F at Waco area campgrounds from June through September, requiring adequate shade and water supplies. Spring camping (March-May) offers more moderate temperatures but increased storm potential.

Reservation policies: Most primitive tent sites operate on first-come, first-served basis. Some locations like Hackberry Hills require advance reservations, while others such as Cedar Creek Park Campground are strictly first-come, first-served.

Water availability: Water access varies significantly. A Cedar Creek visitor notes, "Most had grill and water access," while most primitive sites like Lawley Land have no drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supply.

Security concerns: Some campgrounds experience security issues during certain periods. As one Iron Bridge visitor cautions, "This place has gone down hill. There is a bad element that hangs out here. I would not recommend this place at all. It's sad too, because it was a nice place."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Waco, TX?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Waco, TX is Hackberry Hills with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Waco, TX?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Waco, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring