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Kelly's Pond Campground

5 ReviewsAdd Review
SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

Hiking the Lone Star Trail gives campers a natural reason to stop at Kelly's Pond Campground, which sits within Sam Houston National Forest and serves as a trailhead-adjacent base with access to the pond itself and surrounding forest trails. The campground is a short distance off the interstate, making it a practical overnight stop for both through-hikers and campers staging multi-day trips into the national forest. Picnic tables are available at the established sites, and a pond nearby provides a water source for those who filter their own.

Amenities here are minimal. Reviewers note a compost toilet on-site, and conditions at the campsites can vary, with at least one visitor finding the grass overgrown enough to camp on the parking area instead. The campground draws a mix of hikers, ATV riders, and weekend groups, and noise from neighboring campers or off-road vehicles is a realistic possibility. Travis L. describes it as "very nice and mostly quiet, a few ATVs as to be expected."

Pricing has been reported at $5 per person per day on a first-come, first-served basis, though rates may have changed. The campground allows pets and has electric hookups, making it accessible to RV campers as well as tent campers. Hunters should note that Kelly's Pond Road Hunter Camp is a designated primitive site at mile 14.3 on the Lone Star Hiking Trail during hunting season. Campers wanting more developed facilities nearby can look at Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area, roughly 3.6 miles to the northeast.

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Map & DirectionsKelly's Pond Campground is located in Texas near Montgomery

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

From New Waverly follow FM 1375 West approximately 11 miles, turn south on FS Road 204 for 1 mile, and turn west on FS Road 271 for 1.5 miles.

Coordinates

30.51130021 N
95.66160036 W

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Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
    Verified by 4 users
    Last on 7/24/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 8 users
    Last on 7/24/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 6 users
    Last on 7/24/26

Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
    Verified by 4 users
    Last on 7/24/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 8 users
    Last on 7/24/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 6 users
    Last on 7/24/26

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Drive Time

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Reviews5 Camper Reviews - Kelly's Pond Campground

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4.0

out of 5

5 Reviews

A basic campground popular with Lone Star Trail hikers featuring compost toilets but no water access. Noise from dirt bikers and late-night partiers can impact the experience, though the $5 per person pricing offers good value.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile
Reviewed Mar. 31, 2026

Very nice

Very nice and mostly quiet, a few atvs as to be expected.

SiteJust before the gate.
Month of VisitMarch
Reviewed Jan. 5, 2021

Not the best site for non-motor vehicle users

We didn’t actually camp on the campgrounds themselves as they were quite full of dirt bikers and being two young women we didn’t feel comfortable. We camped along Kelly’s Pond Rd leading up to the campgrounds and had a nice night. Our site neighbors partied all night long (good music though so it’s okay) and we had a hiker appear who I assume was doing the Lone Star Trail who camped just behind our campsite on a small trail off the road. Overall nice site but I will probably find a different area to camp in next time I visit Sam Houston.

  • Review photo of Kelly's Pond Campground by Alexandra , January 5, 2021
Reviewed Oct. 1, 2018

LSHT

Great place to camp along the LSHT! They have bathrooms but not much else. If you are hiking during hunting season, Kelly's Pond Road Hunter Camp is a designated primitive site!!! It is located at mile 14.3 on the Lone Star Hiking Trail, plus an extra 1.2 miles to the East for Kelly's Pond with bathrooms, if you are hiking from Western Terminus to Eastern Terminus.

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed May. 11, 2018

Free Camping and OHV parking for National Forest

Looking for a single, free spot to camp for a few days? This little pond is tucked back in the San Houston National Forest a few minutes off the interstate. I use this area to prepare for longer trips since it is so close to home

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Kelly's Pond Campground by Brock G., May 11, 2018
  • Review photo of Kelly's Pond Campground by Brock G., May 11, 2018
Reviewed May. 31, 2017

A good stopping point on the trail

Stopped at Kelly's Pond when hiking the Lone Star Trail. It is a pretty basic camping ground.

There is a compost toilet, but no water. There is a pond near by if you want to filter water though.

The grass was pretty high when I was there, so we camped on what is really the parking lot. At the real campsites, there were picnic tables.

Campsites are first come, first serve and cost 5$ per person per day.

As well as the Lone Star Trail, there are many other trails in that area that you can check out

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Kelly's Pond Campground by Brian V., May 31, 2017
  • Review photo of Kelly's Pond Campground by Brian V., May 31, 2017
  • Review photo of Kelly's Pond Campground by Brian V., May 31, 2017
  • (5) View All
Showing results 1-5 of 5 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kelly's Pond Campground located and how do I get there?

Kelly's Pond Campground is located in Sam Houston National Forest, just a few minutes off the interstate. It's positioned along the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) at approximately mile 14.3 of the trail, plus an additional 1.2 miles east to reach the pond area with facilities. The campground is accessed via Kelly's Pond Road. While somewhat tucked away in the forest, it's relatively easy to reach by vehicle and serves as a convenient stopping point for hikers on the LSHT.

What amenities and facilities are available at Kelly's Pond Campground?

Kelly's Pond Campground offers basic, primitive facilities. There are compost toilets/bathrooms on site, but no running water is available. The pond nearby can be used as a water source if you have proper filtration equipment. The campground is fairly minimal with limited developed facilities. It's essentially a primitive site with just enough amenities for basic camping needs. The grass can sometimes be high in the camping areas.

Is Kelly's Pond Campground located in Sam Houston National Forest?

Yes, Kelly's Pond Campground is definitely located within Sam Houston National Forest. It's situated along the Lone Star Hiking Trail that runs through the forest, making it a popular stop for hikers exploring this wilderness area. The campground provides a free camping option within the national forest boundaries.

Is there public hunting access near Kelly's Pond Campground?

Yes, there is public hunting access near Kelly's Pond Campground. During hunting season, Kelly's Pond Road Hunter Camp serves as a designated primitive site for hunters. This makes it important for hikers and campers to be aware of hunting activity, especially during hunting season, and take appropriate safety precautions when visiting. The area functions as both a hiking destination and hunting grounds depending on the season.

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