Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Wills Point, TX

This park is close to highway and great for overnight stay. The park has pull through full site hookups. The park has a pond that is the center of the entire campground. The park has two dog parks available as well for those traveling with pets.

Two things I loved:

1. Close to highway quick stay
2. The pond nice view with ducklings

One thing I didn’t love: Really close to others for extended stays.

Came here because I am going to the Tech Acabemy down the road in Athens. I love the amenities here (pool, Pavillion, gas grilles, dog park and wash, pond, pickleball, other games walking trail, etc.). There are some really friendly people here. You should check it out.

Stayed here 5 nights waiting for our property to be ready. Called into the office like we have every morning and was told"sorry you have to leave we reserved your spot." ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!!! Who does this??? No notice, didn't say anything all week. But sure took our money! Poop all over the grass. The dog park is nasty! They give you all the rules, very strick. LOUD, the highway is right here. Unprofessional!!!!! Never again!!!!!

This is the real outdoors..tents.horses.fires..the real camping in texas

Stayed for about a month. Very nice and the staff is friendly. Has laundry facilities, 30/50 amp hookups, water, sewer, back-ins and pull-throughs. Has a nice pond and pet friendly.

I should mention that my husband is from Canada. He was very unenthusiastic about camping in Texas. Well Tyler State Park made him change his mind! He LOVED the large trees, said it was the closest he'd felt to home in quite some time. We love the variety of types of sites they offer. Lake front, group, hike in, cabin, they have something for everyone! Only downfall is they book so quickly.

This is my favorite state park in Texas! Lots of options for all kinds of campers. For camping, lots of different sites available for RVs/Campers, Tents, etc. some along the lake, some in the woods, and also cabins and shelters available! Hiking options vary from a nature stroll, to some more serious up-downs through the hills on the outskirts of the campground. Bring your friends, family, and pets, there is truly something for everyone here, even kayak and canoe rentals at the lake!

We have really enjoyed our stay here. The campground in late November is about 2/3 full with plenty of space between sites. There are some seasonal campers but there’s still many more available sites and all are great. The non RV area is not occupied and feels abandoned. The activity/community building in that area is closed indefinitely. That could be why no one is there to tent camp because there are no bathrooms nearby. But it’s an area you can retreat to for quiet solitude. We have a view of the water and wildlife across the road with no sites to impede our view. This campground has several loops that follows the little branches of the lake. There are trails that accommodate bikes, and lots of activities for families and adults in separate areas. It has all the qualities of a COE with proximity to water, trails, bathroom and laundry facilities with the additional bonus of two separate pool areas and indoor facilities for events, games, TV, or community activities that they have regularly. There are playgrounds, mini golf, ping pong, corn hole, etc. This place is really huge and spread out. Oh, also a driving range in the center. Dallas is over an hour away. So for other things to do beyond the campground you will have to drive a bit. But there’s good places to eat in Wills Point and Terrell.

There is no fee to camp in this area. No reservations are necessary.

Camp sites are not marked, the county park is basically an open field that is somewhat wooded and permits camping. You can show up and set up camp anywhere you would like. There are flushing toilets, picnic tables, and boat loading areas on both sides of the dam. The grounds do not have actual fire pits, generally people build them as desired. There is phone service but no electric or water hookups. The area is easy to access but there are not any signs that indicate you have arrived where you can camp, mostly locals come out during the summer months. Pets are welcome.

It being August in Texas, we rented a limited use cabin with air conditioning. It also has a mini frig and a microwave inside. It has a queen size bed for which campers need to bring their own pillows and bed linens. The frig was super cold, and the AC worked well. There was a wood table with four chairs. The table was really sticky, so I recommend bringing something you can use as a table cloth. There are only six of these cabins, and they have a four bathroom building at the end of the cul de sac. No tents or pets are allowed at the cabin sites. Each has fire pit and water outside cabin

The park has a very small lake with canoe, kayak, paddle board, row boat, and paddle boat rentals. Life vests are provided with rental. It was fun! There is a good sized swimming area too. There are a number of trails of varying difficulty, some for hiking only, some for home and bike. Ranger programs offered.

The camping area is mostly occupied by long term RV campers. Many of the campers are employed in the nearby areas. Grounds offer water/electric/sewer hookups, there are also toilets available but no showers. The RV grounds are part of the city park which offers a splash pad (seasonal), large playground, pavilion, picnic areas, arboretum, and a short hiking trail (approximately one third of a mile). The RV sites are backed up by the sheriff's office/county jail the courthouse is down the road, and there is a police department across the street. This isn't to suggest that the area is dangerous, its a small town and everything is pretty much right there. Shopping and restaurants are within walking distance.

Lake Fork, a popular fishing lake is within a ten minute drive. Lake Quitman is less than ten minutes, generally this is where water sport activities occur. Pets are welcome.

Wild, yet docile horses will approach you. You can pet them and feed them by hand. Tall trees and gorgeous campsites. Donkeys hee-hawing, birds singing, and fire flies glowing. Scattered ponds throughout this 100 acre plot. Feel free to explore the nature or just chill at your campsite. Rick Parent, the friendly wolf-rescuing author and musician, will be your contact for your stay. He will have your spot mowed and ready before your arrival. He is kind, welcoming, and such a treat to visit with. There are minimal mosquitoes, so that was certainly a relief. You will be about 12 minutes away from the nearest Walmart, in case you forget some camping supplies. We had to go there to buy more carrots for the horses. (40 pounds of carrots). I highly recommend that everyone go check this place out! Share the energy of this beautiful land and always remember to pack out what you pack in.

The park was ok but not a whole lot to explore. The park had search dog training I assume while I was there. Heard barking dogs all night.

Plenty of room to stretch out. Lots of room to walk the dog. Great atmosphere

Very friendly staff. Helped us get settled in a spacious pull through site on level, hard packed, crushed stone. Really nice area to walk the dogs!

I brought my dog on a two night weekend stay and we had a blast. The campsite was well maintained and we loved all of the trails.

PROS 

Texas State Park Pass discount saving $49 

Reserved 151 days prior to arriving 

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

Big Pine site #308 very shady site 

Extra wide asphalt parking pad 

Concrete slab that locked down the wooden picnic table 

Metal fire pit with cooking grate which was cleared of ash upon our arrival 

2 hook lantern pole 

Dark sky friendly 

Trash dumpsters near the toilet/shower building 

Tyler Rose Garden features over 30,000 bushes and is open free to the public from sunrise to sunset…very beautiful and serene 

CONS 

Had to sweep for nearly an hour to clean debris from site 

No entrance gate locked overnight 

Never saw any rangers patrolling campground during our entire stay 

Dogs on leashes not enforced 

Unable to move picnic table 

Big Pine site #308 way out of being level but manageable 

Big Pine site #308 close to campground road 

Big Pine site #308 tight fit for 28 ft 

Only pine firewood for sale in Park 

No WiFi 

1 bar Verizon 5G

One of the finest parks I’ve ever been on full 50 amp hook ups all concrete pads each spot has a palm tree offices are beautiful left lots of room to run the dog very open very spacious park right now it is 500 a month including utilities

We spent a month here. We came in to attend the NRVTA and were bummed when the adjoining park was booked. So we chose Lake Athens, and what a treat! Location is wonderful. Right on a huge, nice lake. Very safe. Large field where we let our dogs off leash. Walking distance to the fishery. There is a restaurant on site with FABULOUS food. People are relaxed... not rude, or loud, don't complain about friendly dogs off leash etc. Sites are gravel but level. We have a 44ft triple axl fifth wheel, had plenty of room (we had an end site but the middle row Sites do appear tight). The permanent residents here are nice. Clean laundry facilities, allowed all our packages/Mail. There is a community fire pit near the play ground. Small area in the back with walking trails. Can't wait to return honestly. Didnt use their wifi as we have our own. We switch from Verizon to ATT, and at times signals were weak. Other times just fine. Hit or miss depending on utilization I suppose.

I loved the wooded campsites that seemed to block out everyone else. It gave it such a nice feel to get you close with nature. Each site had water (as far as I could tell) and there were hot showers which is always a bonus while camping. The lake was wonderful! I took my dogs swimming and they loved it!

We were here for two months in the winter. Looks like about half the campers are here full time. No management on site, even during posted office hours. Small dumpster is always full or overflowing. Seems like no one enforces the rules so dogs and unsupervised kids running amuck. Bathrooms need to be cleaned more than once a week. Not a bad property, could be nice in the summer.

Very pretty lake views and tons of grass. My dog loved going for runs through the grass (while on her leash).

They had some showers and toilets working again when I went. Hot water was very nice! Not the cleanest bathrooms but not the worst either.

Sites had electricity, water, and covered picnic tables. Trash cans were readily available.

Gate keeper was SUPER friendly and let me know what to do if I needed assistance.

Would recommend