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Tent Camping near Wharton, TX

7 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    The Wharton area provides several tent camping options along the Colorado River and nearby coastal regions. Hollywood Bottom Park offers free primitive tent camping with 4 first-come, first-served sites designed primarily for river users. Located on the Colorado River, this park serves as a rest stop for kayakers and canoeists with the next river access point 18 miles downstream. Other tent camping options include Carl Park near Palacios and Chamber Park near Bay City, which are established campgrounds serving tent campers in the broader region surrounding Wharton.

    Most tent campgrounds in this area offer minimal amenities, with facilities varying significantly between locations. Hollywood Bottom Park provides picnic tables and grills at each site but lacks drinking water, toilets, and trash service. The camping surface consists primarily of soft sand, making it suitable for tent setup. Chamber Park offers drinking water, toilets, and picnic tables, providing slightly more services for tent campers. West Moring Dock County Park and Carl Park both have toilets and drinking water available but lack other amenities such as trash removal or shower facilities. Campers should be prepared with their own supplies, especially water if staying at locations like Oyster Lake County Park which lacks basic services.

    Tent camping in the Wharton region often centers around water recreation opportunities. Sites at Hollywood Bottom Park provide direct access to the Colorado River for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. The sandy terrain makes for comfortable tent placement and creates opportunities for shell collecting. Coastal parks like Chamber Park and West Moring Dock County Park give tent campers access to bay activities and fishing. One camper noted that Hollywood Bottom Park is a "great rest stop while on the Colorado River" with "very soft sand and great shell spot." Privacy and atmosphere vary between sites, with some areas potentially attracting local gatherings, particularly on weekends.

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    Best Tent Campgrounds near Wharton (7)

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      1. Hollywood Bottom Park

      3.0(1)11mi from WhartonTents
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      2. Houston West RV Park

      4.0(6)34mi from WhartonRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Easy drive to see the Johnson Space Center."

      "Nice mini lake and walking trail"

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      3. Matagorda Beach Dispersed Camping

      4.5(2)50mi from WhartonTents

      "It’s the Gulf, so the water is yeah…but lots of shells if you are into that, and even surfing back down near beach entrance."

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      4. Carl Park

      Be the first to review36mi from WhartonTents
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      5. West Moring Dock County Park

      Be the first to review47mi from WhartonTents

      6. Chamber Park

      Be the first to review48mi from WhartonTents

      7. Oyster Lake County Park

      Be the first to review48mi from WhartonTents
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    View all 7 campgrounds

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wharton, TX

    2 Photos of 7 Wharton Campgrounds

    Tent Camping Reviews near Wharton, TX

    197 Reviews of 7 Wharton Campgrounds

    • Napunani
      Mar. 14, 2022

      Matagorda Bay Nature Park

      Parking Lot Camping Along the Colorado River

      Reserved 68 nights prior to arriving. Campground had 78% occupancy during our 3 night stay. 

      PROS Able to clearly hear the ocean roar from all campground 59 FHU sites 

      Campsite concrete pad level and in good condition 

      Park roadways good condition with no speed bumps and easy to maneuver 

      Lantern pole at some sites 

      Some sites have two sewer connections 

      Picnic table located on oversized concrete pad 

      Combo lock on toilet/shower entrance doors 

      Toilet/shower facility very nice

      Laundromat on site with 3 washers and 3 dryers.$4.25 

      Wood campfire allowed in off-ground fire pit with screen cover you provide and placed away from any grass 

      Fairly good dark sky viewing as campground street lights are limited 

      2 large wooden Colorado River fishing piers which are lighted from dusk to dawn 

      Putt-putt golf$10 

      Bagged ice machine across road from Park 

      2 bars VERIZON signal 

      CONS 

      Toilet/shower door combination changed during our stay and was not notified and had no access until we tracked down park personnel 

      Dog poop in the mens handicap stall Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday so obviously no one monitoring toilet facility

      $6 reservation fee for self made on-line reservation 

      10 campsites were reutilized to build elevated beach cabanas 

      Park quiet hours not enforced 

      No park officials or host cruising patrolling campground

      No entrance gate locked overnight. Lots of fishermen cruising through campground

      No shade what so ever. Some sites had a pergola over their concrete picnic table; Our site had no table covering. Brisk ocean"breezes", made it impossible to deploy our trailer awning

      No privacy from any other campsite

      Sites fairly close to each other

      No campsite campfire pits

      No on-site firewood sales

      Concrete picnic table unmovable No ocean"view" from any of the campsites

      No camp store in Park. Closest H‑E‑B, Walmart and Tractor Supply in Bay City. No grocery stores in Matagorda but there is a Dollar General store. Park WIFI poor; could only connect at toilet/shower facility

      No playground, basketball or tennis courts

      No pool or splash pad

    • Napunani
      Jan. 24, 2022

      Texana Park & Campground

      Watch for Gators!

      Reserved 89 days prior to arriving. 

      PRO 

      Extremely nice park registration staff.

      Registration info was available outside of gatehouse upon arrival.

      Security gate that closes during overnight hours.

      Quiet except for Hwy 111 traffic noise.

      Campsites along lake with wide open view of lake. VERY NICE.

      Nice space between campsites with brush between some sites for privacy

      Clean and well stocked toilet/shower facility.

      Dark sky friendly.

      Brand new Nature Center!

      Campsite with picnic table, lantern pole and fire ring.

      Campsite 125 partially shade

      $35/night camping fee

      CON

      $3.50 transaction fee Former Texas State Park so most campsites are short in length.

      We saw numerous 25ft and bigger rigs struggling to back into sites and then the front of their rig was right on roadway.

      Campsite 125 uneven side-to-side.

      Alligators in lake!

      2 bars AT&T.

      No Park WiFi.

    • Napunani
      Dec. 13, 2022

      Brazos Bend State Park Campground

      Beautiful

      This would be a 5 star if there was sewer hookup 

      PROS 

      No fee to make my own on-line reservations

      Park security gate closed overnight hours 

      Good space between sites 

      Grass mowed in each site 

      Extra wide campground roadway 

      Quiet during our weeknight stay 

      Wooden and metal picnic table on concrete slab 

      Pedestal BBQ grill 

      Metal firering (no cooking grate) 

      Clean, climate controlled toilet/shower facility. 

      Ample supply of TP, and hand soap but hand dryer didn’t work and no paper towels. Campfire wood for sale via honor system in the campground 

      Regular ranger patrol through campground

      Lots of dumpsters throughout the campground

      .85 miles round trip from site 114 to closest toilet/shower facility 

      2 bars T-MOBILE 

      CONS 

      No discount for a one night stay 

      Aggressive raccoons 

      Site 114 not level 

      No lantern pole in campsite 

      Site picnic table is anchored to concrete slab and not moveable 

      No WiFi

    • Stephen & Theresa B.
      Jul. 18, 2021

      Stephen F. Austin State Park Campground

      Pleasant Texas State Park

      We had a really nice relaxing stay at Stephen F Austin State Park near San Filepe, Texas. Great little state park easily accessed from I-10. The 38 RV sites are all asphalt pad pull throughs with 30/15 amp electric, water and sewer complete with concrete pad for table, fire pit, lantern and all well spaced for plenty of privacy...big rig friendly. They have an additional 39 tent only sites with water and 25 primitive. Screened shelters are reservable for tent camping with 20 amp electric and water plus one rustic cabin with amenities. There is a$5 daily entrance fee in addition to camping fees. The bathhouse facilities are brand new. It's a small park but they do have five miles of trails for hiking/biking with views of the Brazos River. We enjoyed the wildlife; deer strolling in the campground every morning and evening, birds, rabbits, frogs, turtles, a bobcat and numerous owls. They have a Nature Center; however it was not open during our visit. The park office has a small store with sundries and park souvenirs. The nearby San Felipe de Austin State His­toric Site tells the story of early settlers to Texas and is worth a visit. We made a run to the nearby town of Sealy to do a much needed laundry stop...small community with grocery, dining and fuel to meet most needs. GPS 29.811982-96.108059 l(979) 885-3613 l Park Road 38 San Felipe, TX 77473

    • H
      Sep. 29, 2016

      Camp Mohawk County Park

      County park by Houston

      Nice wooded campground with a lot of camping and recreation options.Lots of day use activity. Shady camp sites! Nice basic tent camping with clean facilities. Came here to enjoy the wildlife refuges nearby so didn’t use the park too much, but it’s nice for what it is.

    • Red S.
      Apr. 22, 2025

      Brazos Bend State Park Campground

      Excellent campground.

      This is an excellent campground. In my opinion, the camper pads are really nice. Long and wide can accommodate small or large campers and motorhomes. They are fire rings picnic tables. There's firewood for sale, lots of wildlife sightings. I got 5G network with T-MOBILE service and excellent television reception. The bathrooms and showers are really clean.

    • steven B.
      Nov. 4, 2024

      Stephen F. Austin State Park Campground

      Mid week camping

      The pull through site was nice with plenty of shade. The site are far enough apart so you don’t feel you are in top of your neighbors. There was a fire ban at the time of our visit so we weren’t able to enjoy the fire pit. The near by visitor center was interesting.

    • Eby H.
      Jul. 23, 2017

      Brazos Bend State Park Campground

      Ranger Review: Kameng Boots by Mishmi Takin at Brazos Bend State Park

      Campground Review

      It's incredible that I was born and raised in Houston and have lived here the past four years but haven't made it out to Brazos Bend State Park until now! A quick, 45 minute drive southwest will get you out of the concrete jungle that is the sprawling Space City metropolis and into one of the lushest, greenest parts of Texas. Brazos Bend is a "Nature Lover's Paradise" - there is abundant wildlife. There is great fishing, ample bird watching, and lots and lots of alligators (!). Lots of trails for walking, running, biking, and horseback riding. The George Observatory is a pretty amazing feature of this park (but only open Saturdays).

      We arrived at Brazos Bend on a Friday afternoon and were able to walk-in no problem. Walk-in rate is $12/day + the daily park entrance fee ($5 for adults, free for kids). I have a Texas State Parks Pass so we didn't have to pay the entrance fees (saved us $40 for two nights of camping!). Additionally there were several other great options including: Full-Site RV hook-up ($25/night), Standard Camping ($20/night, incl. water & electricity), and 14 Cabins ($80-200/night but have everything you could ever need or want).

      We did a lot of nature walks, game playing, and swimming during our two days at Brazos Bend State Park. Summer is probably not the best time to visit any park in Texas - its hot and muggy and the mosquitos are out in full force. Bring your DEET. Seriously. Despite that though, we were very pleasantly surprised by the amenities (swimming pool, screened in picnic tables, fire pits, and tent pads!)

      Product Review

      As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - this past weekend at Brazos Bend I tested out the Kameng Mid eVent Waterproof Hiking Boot by Mishmi Takin.

      These boots have got it all.

      First, these boots are hella comfortable! I was blown away how comfortable they were right out of the box. Over the years, I've owned many pairs of hiking boots and they all required a significant break-in period. Not these!

      Second, they're waterproof AND breathable. Not water resistant, like actually water proof.

      Third, the look great. All 3 color schemes are fantastic I had a tough time choosing between green, grey and orange.

      Fourth, so lightweight. These only weigh 1.5lbs so even though they are boots, they won't weigh you down.

      5/5 Would Recommend.

    • B
      Jul. 25, 2019

      Stephen F. Austin State Park Campground

      Well Equipped Campsites

      We made a reservation for a tent site and found the rate very reasonable. Sites are well equipped with water, a fire pit with grill grate, picnic table, and pole to hang food if necessary. Bathrooms and dumpster area are clean and well lit. The park hosts were very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the short trails that were accessible from the campsite. Saw deer in the camp area and enjoyed (mostly) watching the big yellow garden spiders building their webs next to the trail in the morning.

    Guide to Wharton

    Tent camping near Wharton, Texas offers access to the coastal plains where the Colorado River winds toward the Gulf of Mexico. The region features relatively flat terrain with sandy soil conditions, making tent setup easier in designated camping areas. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can drop below 40°F, requiring seasonal preparation for overnight stays.

    What to do

    River paddling adventures: The Colorado River corridor provides multiple access points for canoeists and kayakers. At Hollywood Bottom Park, campers can enjoy riverside camping with convenient water access. One visitor noted it's a "free camping geared towards river use (raft/kayak/canoe)" with sites spaced along the riverbank.

    Fishing opportunities: Both freshwater and saltwater fishing are accessible from campgrounds in the region. The sandy shores at several campsites provide good bank fishing access. Campers at Houston West RV Park appreciate the "nice, clean and stocked pond" for fishing without leaving the campground.

    Space Center exploration: Some camping areas serve as convenient bases for regional attractions. Houston West RV Park provides tent campers with "easy drive to see the Johnson Space Center" according to one reviewer who noted the campground makes a practical home base for day trips.

    What campers like

    Clean facilities: Tent campers frequently mention appreciation for well-maintained camping areas. One reviewer at Houston West RV Park highlighted the "clean and quiet" environment as a key factor in their positive experience.

    Water features: Many campsites in the Wharton region incorporate natural or man-made water features beyond just river access. A camper at West Moring Dock County Park appreciated the combination of drinking water availability and water recreation opportunities in a single location.

    Affordability: Budget-conscious campers find the Wharton area offers economical tent camping options. One visitor to Houston West RV Park stated, "Every other campground in the Houston area seems to be $55+, but with AAA discount I only paid $45 here!" showing the value even at established campgrounds.

    What you should know

    Limited amenities: Most tent sites in the region provide minimal services. Many parks lack trash removal, requiring campers to pack out all waste. At Oyster Lake County Park, there are no drinking water sources, toilets, or other basic facilities.

    Wildlife concerns: The coastal plain ecosystem presents specific challenges. One camper at Houston West RV Park warned about "a pretty severe red ant infestation everywhere, so you can't spend too long standing outside on the gravel or the grass."

    Weekend crowding: Several camping areas experience significant local traffic during weekends. Hollywood Bottom Park sometimes attracts groups of "local kids [who] have made this into a party spot" according to one reviewer who noted "authorities can get suspicious of people just camping without river use."

    Tips for camping with families

    Bug protection: The humid climate near Wharton creates ideal conditions for mosquitoes. A camper at Houston West RV Park specifically mentioned mosquitoes as "the only downside" and advised others to "bring repellant!"

    Recreational planning: Family camping trips benefit from locations with built-in activities. Chamber Park provides picnic tables, toilet facilities, and drinking water access, making it suitable for families needing basic amenities while still experiencing tent camping.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wharton, TX is Hollywood Bottom Park with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Wharton, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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