Navarro Mills Lake and nearby Bardwell Lake form the heart of glamping in Fairfield, Texas, where campsites sit between 423 and 450 feet above sea level. The region experiences hot summers with temperatures regularly reaching the 90s, making water activities particularly appealing. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, but most camping facilities remain open year-round with varying levels of amenities.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: COE Navarro Mills Reservoir Oak Park offers excellent fishing access with a pier specially designed for anglers. "This park is a quiet park with well separated spaces and lots of lake access. Fishing is the prevalent activity here and there is a nice pier for just that," notes camper B H.
Water recreation: Family water activities extend beyond the lake at Coal Mine Ranch RV Park which features a water park. "Nice clean gravel sites, though a little sandy & not a ton of shade. Full hookups, bath house, and a very nice little water park. They sell affordable food at the water area," reports Carrie I.
Walking paths: While formal hiking trails are limited, several parks offer pleasant walking paths. At High View, campers can walk along the lakeshore. One visitor mentioned, "We stayed in campsite 29 which is kind of elevated a bit and we had a great view of the lake. Even tho it rained quite a bit we still enjoyed ourselves."
What campers like
Secluded sites: Many glamping options near Fairfield offer privacy between camping spots. "This park is a quiet park with well separated spaces and lots of lake access," notes a visitor to COE Navarro Mills Reservoir Oak Park.
Waterfront views: The elevated camping areas provide scenic lake vistas. A camper at Highview Park shared, "Great views, clean sites, however there's very limited shade." Another visitor added, "Plenty of room to stretch out. Lots of room to walk the dog."
Swimming areas: Clean beaches and swimming zones make summer camping enjoyable. At COE Bardwell Lake Mott Park, a visitor noted, "Clean lake.no broken glass.mowed grass.we love going out there and cooking.swimming.hicking.camping."
What you should know
Ant problems: Argentine ants can be problematic at some sites, particularly during warmer months. A camper noted, "Spaces are close, water pressure is very low, grass was tall when we got there but it was cut while we were here. Ants are bad, Argentine ants are very bad because there small once there in your car you just take them everywhere."
Tent restrictions: Some locations limit tent camping on weekends. At Oak Cove Marina, a visitor reported, "My husband and I went to this site to scope it out for a weekend family camping trip. We drove all over the park and could not find a designated area for tents... He then informed us they do not allow tents during the weekend."
Late arrival issues: Check park gate closing times before planning late arrivals. One camper at Highview Park wrote, "When we arrived at 11pm the gates were locked with no one in site. Was supposed to be a one night stopover with a morning swim. Ended up at the rest stop instead."
Tips for camping with families
Water park access: Wolf Creek - Navarro Mills Reservoir offers family-friendly water activities. "This is a great little lake and campground, especially for fishing and boating... There is also a roped off designated swimming area with a small beach," according to Jennifer B.
Playground availability: Several parks feature children's play areas. "Marina was closed and several lots needed mowing but beauty of lake made up for it. Great swimming area with beach area and large children play area," notes Karen A. about Liberty Hill Park.
Plan additional activities: Some families recommend bringing extra entertainment. One camper shared, "My husband had a blast fishing there with his buddies and we had a good boat ride but there wasn't a whole lot for our kid to do. We managed though and we do plan on going back, but we will definitely be bringing more activities for our children."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many RV sites in the area require leveling equipment. At Mott Park, a reviewer noted, "Our site #29 was nice and shady and panoramic view of lake. We have a class a so never checked restrooms. I base my review rating on the beauty of the view."
Size restrictions: Large RVs may find some parks challenging. A visitor commented, "The park sites are beautiful. The lake is beautiful. The signage and routing are substandard. Very confusing and the turns are extremely tight. I do not recommend people with motorhome over 40 feet come here."
Utility connections: RV hookup locations vary by site. One camper at Oak Navarro Mills Lake pointed out, "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."
