Wichita Falls sits at the southwestern edge of the Great Plains in North Texas, with elevations averaging around 950 feet above sea level. The region experiences hot summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F and mild winters, making spring and fall the prime camping seasons. Lake Arrowhead State Park and surrounding campgrounds offer opportunities for water recreation with several lakes within 30 minutes of the city.
What to do
Prairie dog watching at Lake Arrowhead: The eastern half of Lake Arrowhead State Park Campground features colonies of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs. A camper noted, "Prairie dogs inhabit the eastern half of the campground. Awesome creatures to watch for hours."
Disc golf courses: Lake Arrowhead offers a well-maintained disc golf course that runs alongside hiking trails. "They have a very nice disc golf course and the 'trails' are part of that system," reports one visitor who spent the day hiking at the park.
Water activities: The region offers multiple fishing opportunities at local lakes. At Wichita Falls RV Park, guests can enjoy fishing at the on-site pond. "The park is on the Wichita River, has lots of ducks and geese that like the pond there," according to a reviewer who spent five nights at the park.
Family activities at Jellystone: For families seeking structured recreation, scheduled activities run throughout the day. "Plenty of family activities - swimming, fishing, maze, mini golf, hayrides, archery, paintball, laser tag, crafts, animal visits, bubble pool, golf cart rentals."
What campers like
Privacy at Lake Arrowhead: Despite having 66 sites, the campground layout provides seclusion. "The campground has 66 sites but is laid out in such a way that you have a lot of privacy. The two camp circles closest to will hear it constantly," mentions a camper, referring to the sound from a nearby oil pump.
Family bathrooms: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Wichita Falls offers exceptional bathroom facilities. "Beautiful park with tons of activities and great staff," says one reviewer who appreciated the cleanliness of the facilities.
Well-maintained grounds: The upkeep of campgrounds near Wichita Falls receives consistent praise. "Our family was really pleased with this campground. The sites are paved and extremely well maintained with mowed lawns. The trail systems are super convenient," reports a Lake Arrowhead visitor.
Convenient shopping access: Rocking A RV Park in nearby Vernon offers unexpected convenience. "This RV park is right off the main thoroughfare, next to the local Walmart. There is even a path to the Walmart parking lot at the edge of the park," notes a visitor who appreciated the easy access to supplies.
What you should know
Weather considerations: Summer temperatures in Wichita Falls regularly exceed 100°F, so glamping options with air conditioning provide welcome relief. Lake Arrowhead State Park has limited shade, which affects temperature management during peak summer months.
Oil pump noise: Some campsites at Lake Arrowhead State Park experience continuous noise. "There is one pump jack (diesel powered oil pump). The two camp circles closest to will hear it constantly. If you don't mind a metronome then you will be fine," advises a camper.
Leaking shelter roofs: At Lake Arrowhead, some picnic shelters may not provide complete protection during rain. "Picnic table shelters have been rebuilt at some point. The roof for most was recycled back onto the shelter. So, when it rains the roofs leak. Making it a challenge to cook and eat."
Limited shade at Jellystone: The RV sites at Jellystone Park have minimal tree coverage. "The not so great: There's a lot of campsites and most are 'RV park' type sites with little shade," cautions a reviewer who otherwise enjoyed the activities available.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple swimming options: Moneka Park at Waurika Lake offers a quieter alternative to busier campgrounds. "I absolutely love going here to camp! There's like never anyone, there, so it's always quiet," notes a visitor who appreciated the peaceful environment for family camping.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Families can observe various animals at Lake Arrowhead. "Wildlife observed; prairie dogs, western diamond back, owls (didn't make notice of which kind but they were huge), rabbits, coyote, deer," lists a visitor who documented the diverse wildlife around their campsite.
Bring your own water recreation equipment: Lake Arrowhead State Park does not rent boats or water equipment. "You can fish, canoe, kayak or paddleboard but you need to bring your own," advises a camper who visited the park.
Scheduled activities at Jellystone: Families with children benefit from the organized entertainment options. "The good: This park has a lot to offer. Multiple pools (including a nice splash pad type area for the little kids), jumping pillows, maze, nice playground, animals, blow up obstacle course, and schedules activities like hayrides, bubbles, candy bingo, etc."
Tips from RVers
Level sites: For larger rigs, Wichita Falls RV Park offers suitable accommodations. "We were in back-in site 20, which was level, shaded and plenty wide and long enough for our 35' MH and tow car. There are a lot of pull through sites that are plenty long for big rigs and not tight together."
Concrete pad quality: At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, RV sites feature concrete pads with some minor leveling issues. "The sites are concrete pads (a little off level) with full hookups and nice grass. Would definitely come back here again," reports a camper who stayed for three nights.
Propane availability: Rocking A RV Park offers on-site propane service with delivery to your campsite. "They had propane and even came to our site to pick up," mentions a camper who appreciated this convenience during their stay.
Full hookup reliability: Wichita Falls RV Park provides dependable utilities for RVers. "They have FHU, great cable and very decent WiFi. Verizon cell service was 4G 4 bars," notes a reviewer who stayed for five nights in August 2020.
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