Looking for tent camping near Wichita Falls? Find the best information on tent camping near Wichita Falls, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Wichita Falls, Texas's most popular destinations.
One designated primitive camping area is located on the area.
Legend
For improved campground I have always found KOA to maintain a certain level of consistency so when I went on a fun trip with some friends to check out the “rumored Texas Chainsaw Massacre” community just north of Wichita Falls we wanted to check out the KOA there. Now while you are reading this and probably thinking, “WHY WOULD YOU GO THERE??” Keep in mind it is the rumored house and there is no factual proof that it actually is there, instead we found some really interesting other creepy things to go check out, because why not.
Anyway, back to the campground itself.
I was very impressed with the green space, a lot of this area was already starting to brown because of the heat, but they were still looking fresh and soft and that would make for a much better location for our tent. The site itself was just under $30, one of three options they offer which are all only about $4 in difference in pricing. We sprung for the middle option with electrical hook ups, not because we needed them but because after driving around we liked the look of that site a bit more. The deluxe sites they offered were taken but they had bbq grills and a more private tent area, this has been my favorite at several other KOA locations because of the amenities however this again was taken so that wasn’t an option.
We settled in and noticed that there were very nice amenities, the pool was amazing and perfect for a cool down on the warm day. KOA usually has this kind of amenity available as well as some outdoor activities you can enjoy like playground or sports courts. We were told they do observe quiet hours however if we wanted to swim a bit later as long as we were not loud we could do so. I would ask if this is ok before just getting out there and doing it however!!
The shower area was very close to the tent space we had selected and as often is at a KOA, one of my favorite features because they are more home like than a typical National or State Park campground. The water was warm and the pressure was very good!!
I noticed there were several what looked to be long term campers there in RVs. While I personally am not effected by this, it did make the area they were staying in a little less kept looking. They were not over by the cabins and tents however so it wasn’t that off-putting to me, but I could see how if that is an RV stayers view it could be kind of annoying.
I used the WIFI here and it worked great, sometimes the campsites are a bit to far away and thus don’t get good connection, however I was able to use wifi for typical functions, although I did not fully test it with uploading anything major.
TIPS
If you are interested in a Deluxe site book in advance there are very few and they go fast during heavy traffic seasons. Usually at this campsite there are tent sites which are walk in ready however.
Explore around the campground because they have some very interesting items if you are willing to just walk around and see them which are unique to this campground.
RangerStayed a night on my way home to the Dallas area. It’s a little bit north of Wichita Falls and Hwy 287 but well worth the effort to get there.
Legend
Campground Review:
To Check Out Lake Arrowhead State Park CLICK HERE
To See My Full VIDEO Review Of Lake Arrowhead State Park CLICK HERE
I have passed by the sign to Lake Arrowhead State Park probably hundreds of times and never stopped in. It was always intriguing, but like most places in your own backyard you tend to neglect sometimes the most obvious places to stop in for some rest and relaxation while trying to run off to the next big adventure up the road. But finally I had enough and just had to make a stop after seeing somethings online which swayed me to take the short exit off Highway 287 in North Texas.
Pulling into the park, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I have heard about this park mostly as a fishing destination, however what really brought me to the park were the Prairie Dogs. Yes, you heard me right… the Prairie Dogs. I am an animal lover, and anytime I get an opportunity to see so many cute free roaming animals, I simply cannot pass
I pulled in mid-day and was greeted by the Park Ranger who extended a map and trail map and gave me a brief understanding of the points of interest. Day use was only $4, something I felt would be totally worth the value for being able to have a day away. I mean, where else can you enjoy an entire day away for under $10?
The roads of the park are paved and wide enough for two lanes of traffic. I could easily see why boaters and RVers alike would enjoy coming out to the property based on how well maintained the roadways were. I first trolled through the campground itself to check out the three different options for camping.
I will say that of the camping options I would by far prefer the improved campsites at this campground. While primitive camping is great and I typically camp without amenities, I found that the primitive camping sites here had much higher grass and no fire rings or items which could be used for such. In this area of North Texas, the high grasses typically attract snakes, rattlesnakes specifically, so I couldn’t see myself trying to call this area home when other areas were just a few dollars more and were not only improved but also maintained at a higher standard. Price points varied from $10 for primitive camping to $22 with full hookups.
As I moved forward toward the lake a bit more the day use area was wide open with great lake views from all angles. The fishing pier and beach were along the same shoreline and because of recent rains the water levels were very high. This brought many of the critters right up to the grass including several breeds of waterfowl. And perhaps it was because of the recent rains, or perhaps it was because of the amount of in and out traffic leaving behind food, but this area was filled with Prairie Dog mounds and some very bold little furry friends.
I spent the better part of an hour grabbing some great photos of the infamous residents, the Black Tailed Prairie Dog, almost within petting distance. They were not fearful at all and instead were very curious and comical.
Leaving this area I moved on to the other side of the day use are which had a large boat ramp with plenty of parking for trailers, a basketball court, playground, picnic shelters and canoe and kayak rentals. This area seemed to be the busiest area in the park with several people out chatting after coming off the lake, some people having a late lunch under the shelters and even a family which looked like they had been swimming.
While this is not the most improved campground and facility I have seen at a Texas park and while I am sure they do have some room to work on modernizing, as a whole I would give the experience here five stars. The staff I encountered while at the park were all very friendly, the access to the lake was plentiful, the programs they offer were many and there were enough campsites to suit the needs of campers even on busy holiday weekends.
TIPS:
Product Review:
To Check Out Mountain House Products CLICK HERE
To See My Full VIDEO Review Of The Product Including A Recipe CLICK HERE
As a part of a program I belong to in conjunction with the website The Dyrt, where I serve as a Ranger, sometimes I am sent items to test along my many travels. I recently received an exciting package from Mountain House, an amazing company which provides food selections for hikers, preppers, travelers and even military usage in simplistic freeze dried form.
Information & Specs:
Shipping Information:
From the time I corresponded with Mountain House and the Dyrt to the day I received the item there was less than a week’s wait. I have previously also received items from Mountain House through other companies which sell and distribute their items, again with little to no delay on receipt.
First Impressions:
The packaging for this product was slightly different than the item I had previously ordered, a Pro-Pack version of Mountain House which is designed and packed for higher altitudes and thus is sealed much more tightly. The directions on the packaging were clear and concise and it seemed as though it would be pretty simplistic to prepare.
Field Testing:
In previous experiences with freeze-dried meals I had been a little less than excited by their flavors, many seemed flat or chalky tasting. Being that I am a texture eater as well I don't like the off putting feel of something being soggy when I eat, so I was very eager to see how Mountain House held up to the challenge, especially when it came to stew, something which typically can go pretty soggy when preparing.
At my location I wanted to test how easy the pouch would be to prepare, how far it would stretch and also how I could potentially easily incorporate it into my camping in a variety of ways. The meal itself was very easy to prepare with very little requirements for doing so. Basically I only needed a small bit of water and something to heat it to make it work, this I found to be key when I do more minimalist camping or backpacking. I prepared the meal in this way first to get an overall feel of the meal and gauge if I would respond well to the taste and texture. It was a success! After a total of less than 20 minutes to fully prepare the meal from start to finish, I was very pleased by the flavors, the perfect texture of the meat and potatoes and how the carrots and peas seemed to just melt in my mouth.
Though I often travel alone, making 2.5 servings more than enough to send me to bed in a food coma for the evening, upon occasion I do have additional people traveling with me. This made me think, what if I needed to stretch this meal a bit further because there were two people starving after a busy day? How would I do that? I put a lot of thought into options and concluded that there would be several ways you could do so.
If continuing to be on a minimalist prep you could simply take tortillas and with the added starch find a way to make the contents stretch. But what about having my full camp set up at my disposal, how then could I stretch my meal to accommodate another person? My conclusion was to prepare a delicious meat pie by adding just two ingredients (puff pastry and mushrooms). With this idea, you could of course add any items you want and make your pies as large or as small as you would like. I would also suggest peppers or onions if you really want to expand the contents without taking away from the flavors. These are all items which compliment the flavors of the pouch well.
I prepared with a single puff pastry 4 small pies and still had enough left over in the pouch that I could have made a solo meal out of that alone. By far Mountain House is one of the most diverse and flavorful providers of freeze-dried meals. No wonder around 70% of all freeze-dried meals sold in the US are Mountain House.
Rating:
If I were rating this item I would have no questions in giving it a 5 of 5. I feel like the content of this items package standing alone is enough to speak for itself as the robust flavors bring you that little sense of home while in the wilderness. It is designed for the every day camper to have something which is easy to prepare but has the ability to transform into much more than a pre-packaged meal. This item is perfect well beyond the bounds of camping however, I am most excited about adding this item to my supplies for emergencies as well in case of power outages during cold winter months of bad weather which can often leave me without power living in the country.
Do You Enjoy Traveling? Come Travel With Me On My Video Adventures: CLICK HERE
Make Sure To Check Out My Reviews On:
Legend
This campground on paper is a great idea, plenty of sites and right by the lake. That seems like a great idea, but on a recent trip to Lawton I stopped to check it out for future camping and found that paper was a bit deceiving. I was greeted by a park attendant which let me drive in and check it out. I noticed this person was here most of the day so people could arrive late and still check in accordingly.
Because of its location it is a popular spot for those wanting to launch onto the lake. I don’t have any issue with sharing space, but when people park in the road it becomes a little bit of an issue. I have a small car so if I can barely fit around these parked vehicles I know it would be near impossible for an RV or even a van.
With that being said, I looked around at the sites themselves. They are advertised for their amenities which include electrical hook ups (various types) and water. It appeared they did indeed have these, but they did have any primitive site options for tent campers. While I do like to stay in improved sites it is nice to have the more affordable option for those which do not need or require these services. Many times when I stay in a tent, I have no reason to hook up to any of these services. In addition, there were no pad sites for tents so while they do allow tents the do not make special concessions for them in any way.
I went to check out the facilities which include showers and it seemed to be heavily used though there were not any real campers there I could find nearby. I assume this was from the traffic of those using the ramps. I did not check other restrooms to see if their quality was better than the one by the ramp area.
The setting itself was relatedly flat and though there were some trees, it didn’t seem very shady at all. I can only imagine this makes for quite the hot summer camping.
TIPS:
RangerThis KOA was a welcome relief after a long day driving through northern Texas. The wind was pretty relentless, but that's just par for the course. It was a good stopover for our journey to the northwest.
Legend
This site is well removed from civilization. I would advise not trying to stay here during summer months because it is very hot and dry but during spring or fall it is a great place to catch a sunset in solitude.
RVs and Tents are welcome however sites are harder to maneuver for rigs because of the roadways. I would recommend a tent for access with more room to spread out. There are no improvements at this facility in way of electricity. RVs are able to park on the large parking area comfortably but getting removed from the heat of the asphalt is a bit difficult at this campground.
Tents can spread out, however the ground is hard packed and so you will want to bring something to give up a little comfort instead of just laying on the ground itself. Air mattress is a great idea but you will for sure want to clear your site before you set up because of the sharp small rocks.
The grounds themselves are in need of a little TLC, the picnic tables haven’t been replaced in some time and are warped. While they can still be used they are not level at all!! Then comes the garbage! I was so upset to come here only to find it looked like someone had a big party and didn’t clean up. There were literally bags of trash scattered everywhere and one site had been tossed with the garbage can thrown toward the water when it was full. There is a large dumpster at the property because it is right next to the boat ramp and it was so full it looked like it had not been emptied in a long time. I was there on a Wednesday, I find it hard to believe that the weekend before had been so busy that it was that full, this lake isn’t that populated.
Camping here is completely free so for someone who has an off grid set up this is ideal, I would suggest staying kind of off the beaten path from the boat ramp area.
This area is known more for their fishing than swimming although you can swim, but there is no beach so you will be hopping into the water from a grassy area. There are two docks which you can fish off of however so this might be more your cup of tea.
TravelerWe happened to be driving to texas the same time as the polar vortex. Needing a spot with electricity last minute to warm up for the night, this KOA was available and everyone was so helpful. Our pipes in the van froze on the road and people talked us through what to do and even gave us directions for the next days trip. KOA all the way!
Legend
This is mainly an RV site however they do have a few sites for tents. Tents and vans are only $20 per night with full access to amenities. RVs are $35 per night and they do make concessions for long term stay as well.
Something that sets this apart from other locations in the area is it provides a small store for those staying and also access to storage for recreational vehicles. It also has on site propane sales so if you happen to be in an RV you do not have to worry about finding supplies elsewhere.
I enjoy the pool at this stop perhaps the most. It is rare that it is busy despite also allowing non campers to for a small fee swim.
Bathrooms and showers are available in the main building however they also have a clubhouse which can be used for a fee that includes a kitchen which makes it feel like a more complete campground experience.
This is one of the most popular roadside stops in this area because of its amenities.
Tips:
Call ahead for long term camping sites - also available are campers available to rent when available
Each site is metered for long term campers so they will have direct feed to electricity and is pay by the month by the meter
Store here offers a variety of household items as well as food items. If you aren't fully prepared when you arrive this store is very helpful but a little higher than marketstores
Guideoverall, this campground was a nice overnight spot on our route to Dallas. There were nice paved pull through sites and a good gravel pad surrounded by grass. There were large trees, which seem rare in this part of Texas, but they were mainly on the perimeter back in sites. The restrooms looked recently redone, but it did take a while for the hot water in the shower to warm up. Be warned that mosquitoes were pretty thick when we visited.
Legend
When I pulled into this campsite I wasn’t sure what to expect. Being on the opposite side of the earthen dam from other campsites along Lake Waurika I didn’t know what if anything would be of interest.
I noticed when pulling in this area offers a couple of hiking trails which is vastly different than the lakeside camping. Sites here were mostly shaded and more of a grassland feel. With that being said after recent rains they looked a little unkept with y’all weeds in many areas making for some questionable conditions.
I found sites at this camp both with and without hook ups. All sites looked to have large pull in slots, however the main road was pretty small so I would assume you need to be very good with your rig if it is longer to navigate into sites.
As a tent camper all these sites looked to have good prospect for placing a tent. Grass surrounding the area would make for a very padded site and with a picnic table, prep table and grill in each site when the grounds are maintained I could see this being a great spot to try.
The other negative I did see to this camp was the low laying areas seemed to hold water so many campsites were a bit saturated on the improved side of camp. Little lakes basically were everywhere. Unfortunately this side was also the area with the better restroom so to get a good spot you would have to walk a farther distance to be able to use the facilities which were cleaner.
Pricing was very fair at this location and during busier season I can only imagine they mow the area which would make it ideal for camping of any kind. But as it sits it felt kind of like a ghost town.
TIPS:
Legend
When getting ready for summer fun, one of the most simplistic adventures you can go on is a trip to the lake. We loaded up the car on a random Tuesday with intention of hitting the lake and taking some time to sleep under the stars once again as we traveled to Amon G. Carter Lake in North Texas and found Selma Park.
Nestled just outside of Bowie, TX the camping area services both the night camper and also the day use explorer. Facilities offer a boat ramp, camping, swimming pier and beach area as well as fishing areas. Public toilets are located on property that include flush toilets and public showers and throughout the facility are awnings with picnic tables for those using camp facilities. Partial hook ups are available for rvs as well making the campground assessable to adventurers of all kinds.
When we arrived friends were already at the facility and had found a location perfect for our night of camping on a peninsula jutting out into the lake. The area was well maintained and with the exception of a few broken glasses that were present the area was clear. We just made sure to steer clear of these during our stay as the pieces were to small to be picked up.
The camp host drove to our site after we began assembling our tent, as we had missed his location on the way into the facility and made sure to collect our fees for the night. Only $5 for the night on a lake front property is more than reasonable.
Our location was a short drive from the public restrooms that are centralized on the property. Bathrooms were a bit dim but overall served the purpose. Gates to through traffic closed at 10 p.m. in the attempt to keep late night traffic away from the facility and provide additional safety, which was a nice touch for those camping.
There were both shaded sites as well as those more open to the elements. Ours being on the peninsula was more open, great for lakeside views but unfortunately a bit windy at night without additional cover. Still the sites were nice and pleasant and well patrolled.
We enjoyed swimming in the lake, grilling and even a campfire by night at this location, which was not busy on the quiet Tuesday evening.
🐰🐰🐰🐰⚪️
I would give this site 4 of 5 Bunnies for its easy access, variety of campsites and overall conditions of the facilities. The only areas of improvement I could see would be additional maintenance to bathrooms including additional lighting for safety. Otherwise price point was great for a simple outing and will for sure be going back!
Legend
If you are in an RV this is the area at Nocona Lake you will want to check out. Unlike the other two campground which focus more on the tent camper this one has actual RV sites with improvements though they are not waterfront and also area a little small. Sewer and Water are available for a fee in addition to a dump station.
If you are a tent camper they do have these as well so this makes this campground the more busy of the three when it comes to holidays and nice weather.
The facility has grills and picnic tables and though they are not in the best of condition they are more recently replaced that other campgrounds and are sheltered from the hot sun with covers.
This area is the more patrolled of the campsites around the lake so you will have a lot more supervision here and less likely to encounter rogue kids trying to party.
The positives of staying here include a small fishing pier and boat ramp which is better for larger motor boats then some of the other smaller launch ramps. It is pretty clean, the trash isn’t full and is clearly picked up often. The area is very wide open so it is easy to move around in with your boat, trailer or RV.
Now to the negatives. With this being a more populated site it can fill up quickly during nice weather around holidays and with that it can be a little hectic. With this being the most busy boat ramp on public access you will have a lot of in and out traffic.
And lastly, the bathrooms, none of the public facilities are much more than a port a potty, they are a bit odd and not well maintained.
TIPS:
Legend
This is an RV only site!! As a tent camper this was more than a little upsetting to discover. However I went ahead and checked out the location to help friends who travel have a little insight.
I was not impressed by the amenities or location at all, it seemed a bit to open for comfort. There are no concessions for those looking to have a real RV park feel, in fact it is more like off grid stay. The original listing I found mentioned bathrooms, however the bathrooms there were closed and only open during the warm weather, so that was a bit deceiving. There was electricity hook up for RVs however so that seemed to at least offset the lacking other amenities.
The location is very close to area businesses but was overrun with long term oil service workers despite the 72 hour limit. Some of these guys had clearly been here much longer so the rules themselves were a bit confusing and seemed a bit disorganized.
I was told it is $15 -$20 per night and can be paid at city hall and advanced reservations can be made but are not necessary.
I personally wouldn't elect to stay at this facility without a lot of changes. It felt to open to the elements and without a functioning restroom it didn't seem to be all it was advertised.
GuideThis was an overnight stop for us on the way back from Colorado to North East Texas. Glad we drove out here, about 10 miles north of the town of Nocona. Grass had just been Mown, And we were the only ones in the Camp Ground for the night. Very peaceful and quiet. Campsite pads were a very narrow and we had to access a water connection from an adjoining campsite. Since we were the only ones there that was not a problem. Had a nice view of the lake. Probably would stop here again 
Ranger
So, the stone wall Jackson “campground” really isn’t a campground. It’s more of a park but with some cool historical reading of Stonewall Jackson. Had a cool time passing by but didn’t sleep here.
ScoutWe parked our RV here for 2 nights to go play at Kiowa casino 5 minutes away. Quiet, basic sites. Not very big. No fire rings but a stationary grill. No walking trails. We parked with a 30 amp. Nice people.
TravelerWe read that there were big trees for shade, and the pool was open 24 hours/day. It sounded lovely. When we arrived we were given a site where you could see the trees, but none nearby for shade. The neighbors had "acquired" the picnic table for our site. They had a tire and other junk stacked around their RV & the flies were horrendous. The pool hours were crossed out on the flier. The internet didn't work. I would definitely pass on this site in the future.
LegendA nice KOA right off I-44. Its far enough from the highway to not be bothered by the noise. Nice and grassy and large trees around the campground just not near the RV spots. Nice salt water pool and a little store with sundries. The cabins look very nice as well. It appears they are expanding and adding new sites and renovating as well. Playground for the kids and dog park for your pup. Expect to pay about $45 a night for an RV site. You can save 10% with your KOA membership.
TravelerClean restrooms, nice campground
GuideCampground is getting a upgrade with concrete pads, we were on gravel, EZ in and out pull throughs.Full hook up 30 and 50 amp, did our laundry there ,nice place ,close to the hwy.
RangerIf you've been to 1 KOA, you know what it's like
GuidePros: easy access from state hwy. Restrooms were very clean. This park has made pull through sites for big rigs. The lake and fishing area are great. Very quite and no artificial lights, heat place to star gaze. Love the little circles the water/electricity sites are located. Large site next side acceptable distance away. Every site has a covered shelter.
Cons: some of the sites need added gravel or black top.
I will be coming back and staying, great state park.
GuideOur family was really pleased with this campground. The sites are paved and extremely well maintained with mowed lawns. The trail systems are super convenient. Would definitely stay again!
LegendThe campground has 66 sites but is laid out in such a way that you have a lot of privacy. The sites near the water are electric only, and the inland sites are water electric. No sewer sites. Most of the sites are in smaller sections of 6 sites, in a circle with nice grass and a lot of foliage in between. Very private.
Nice covered picnic tables. Our site was close to level, only had to use leveler blocks under one wheel. The restrooms are very dated but clean, with 2 showers.
GuideThis campground is very nice. Well laid out campsites. Man-made lake.
TravelerWe actually booked online a couple weeks in advance just in case and had no issue with the check in, we fished, swam and had a great time.... there weren’t a ton of people there and everyone was friendly The campground was close enough to the water to pull the kayaks across to
TravelerPrairie dogs inhabit the eastern half of the campground. Awesome creatures to watch for hours. There are a few hiking trails that are short but are mowed. Plenty of native wild flowers to log for those who are into flowers. 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. Wildlife observed; prairie dogs, western diamond back, owls (didn’t make notice of which kind but they were huge), rabbits, coyote, deer.
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. The troubles of half way roughing it.
Wichita Falls, Texas, offers some fantastic options for tent camping enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With a variety of well-reviewed spots nearby, campers can enjoy unique amenities and activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wichita Falls, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wichita Falls, TX is Stonewall Jackson Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
Keep Exploring
