Lake Whitney, Texas provides RV camping options within 20 miles of downtown, serving as a popular destination between Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin. The area features rolling hills and limestone cliffs alongside a 35-mile reservoir formed by damming the Brazo River. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F while spring and fall offer milder conditions with occasional thunderstorms.
What to do
Fishing access: Thousand Trails Lake Whitney offers shoreline fishing opportunities. "I had to walk about 1/2 mile to get to the water! It was so worth it! Got there just in time to go fishing while there were Sand Bass schooling! I ended up catching 15 and could have caught more but it was getting dark," reports one visitor at Thousand Trails Lake Whitney.
River exploration: Access the Paluxy River directly from Dinosaur Valley RV Park with no state park entry required. "Guests of DVRVP can access the river by following a small trail at one corner of the park by the entrance of DVSP. Our family spent a whole day in the river a minute walk from our camper," notes a camper.
Hiking trails: Walking paths vary in maintenance quality across campgrounds. "They show they have many walking trails but they are not well marked," mentions a Thousand Trails Lake Whitney visitor, while Dinosaur Valley RV Park offers direct state park access for more established trails.
What campers like
Peaceful atmosphere: Many campgrounds provide quiet settings despite proximity to highways. "The park is very quiet the weekend we visited but the basketball court and pool(s) looked very nice," notes a visitor to Thousand Trails Lake Whitney.
Family amenities: North Crest RV Park receives high marks for cleanliness and attention to detail. "The bathhouse is amazing with two full baths in total privacy. Can be used as family baths," states one camper.
Space between sites: Site configurations vary between parks. Flat Creek RV Resort offers "Sites seemed to be spread nicely to have the sense of community but not being too close to form crowding. Each space is separated by a grassy area which accommodates a picnic table and has enough room for a little stretching room."
What you should know
Road conditions: Interior roads at several campgrounds require careful driving. "The road in and around campsites is in various states of disrepair. Lots of potholes and pavement breaks make it rough hauling an expensive rig in and out of the park," reports a Blue Sky I-35 RV Park visitor.
Reservation systems: Policies differ significantly between parks. Thousand Trails operates first-come, first-serve while most others accept reservations. "It is first come first serve so no reserving sites even if you have a group. We were kind of disappointed our group of 4 campers couldn't get spots together."
Site leveling requirements: Terrain varies across campgrounds. "Some sites are uneven but most are ok," notes one camper, while another at Flat Creek RV Resort mentions "It is a gravel site, so we did have to do some leveling when we got there."
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Whitney area campgrounds offer varying water amenities for children. Whitney Rose RV Park includes "spacious and well-maintained RV sites" with "a fantastic dog park that our furry companion thoroughly enjoyed."
Kid-friendly activities: Scheduled events keep younger campers engaged at certain parks. "DVRVP staff hosts several family friendly activities for guests throughout the day, everyday," notes a visitor to Dinosaur Valley RV Park, which also features "a playground, swimming pool, hot tub, fire pit and plenty of green space for kids to roam and explore."
Nearby attractions: Plan day trips to surrounding points of interest. "Dinosaur World is literally across the street (easily walkable) and Dinosaur Valley State Park is an easy drive (make reservations online though). Fossil Rim is about 15 min away," advises one camper.
Tips from RVers
Hookup configurations: Clifton RV Park provides full-service sites with practical setup. "Water, Sewer, Elec hookups were very convenient and easy. A few OTA channels were very good, no cable. WIFI requires password and was good. ATT signal was good."
Overnight stopping points: Several parks accommodate late arrivals when traveling through. "They were the only park to take our late call to stop for the night and the night watchman was extremely helpful. The sites were level cement pads," notes a Blue Sky I-35 visitor.
Site selection strategy: For better noise reduction, consider location within the park. "If you want less road noise try parking in the back away from the highway," suggests one camper regarding Blue Sky I-35 RV Park, which features "30amp, water and sewer" connections.
