Map showing campground location near Waco, Texas

Camper submitted image from Tradinghouse Lake Park Camping

Tradinghouse Lake Park Camping

Free camping at Tradinghouse Lake Park provides lakefront sites with covered picnic tables and vault toilets. Managed by McLennan County, this drive-in campground sits along Tradinghouse Reservoir about 20 minutes from Waco. The park allows self-contained RVs and tent camping with no hookups or potable water available.

Sites face the lake directly, giving campers immediate water access for swimming and fishing. Tamra J. notes "lovely wildlife to watch… egrets, herons, etc" along with fish jumping from the water. The flat parking areas accommodate big rigs, though vault toilets may require a walk from some sites. Cell service reaches the campground.

October through spring sees lighter crowds, with some campers finding themselves alone at the park. The location can be tricky to locate initially - dropping a pin on the lake's southern corner and following the shoreline helps navigation. For additional camping options in the region, campers can explore campgrounds near Waco for sites with full hookups.

Bring your own water and plan for primitive conditions, as the nearest facilities lie outside the park boundaries.

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Map & DirectionsTradinghouse Lake Park Camping is located in Texas near Waco

Public Campground

Coordinates

31.55006788828817 N
96.96174741579374 W

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Access

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

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites

Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
WiFi
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.

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Contact

General Info

Drive Time

22 min from Waco, TX
1 hr 1 min from Killeen, TX
1 hr 22 min from College Station, TX
1 hr 30 min from Dallas, TX

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Reviews9 Camper Reviews - Tradinghouse Lake Park Camping

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out of 5

9 Reviews

Guests commonly noted the lakefront sites with beautiful views and quiet atmosphere. Free camping with covered picnic tables but no hookups, bathrooms, or water available on-site.

Virginia E.

Scout

Reviewed Mar. 24, 2026

Quiet and free

I stayed one night and felt safe. There are vault toilets, but not close to where I camped, so it’s probably best to be self contained. There are covered picnic tables and trash cans at each site.

Month of VisitMarch

Joey B.

Guide

Reviewed Feb. 11, 2025

As described

GPS coordinates were spot on.

Month of VisitFebruary

Rick M.

Ranger

Reviewed Jul. 14, 2024

Also called McLennan County Park

It threw me off when I saw the name difference, but yes, McLennan County Park is the same place as Tradinghouse. I saw on a website that camping wasn't allowed, but this is said it is. I called the McLennan County Sheriff and they said, "Yeah, people camp there all the time." So that's awesome. Free to camp, too, and now I have a place to stay to ping pong between here and Whitney every 14 days.

Month of VisitJuly

Mark W.

Scout

Reviewed Apr. 7, 2024

Nice!

Beautiful area for an overnight stay the day before Eclipse 2024.

Sitepark where you wish

Month of VisitApril

David S.

Traveler

Reviewed Mar. 14, 2023

It was ok.

It’s a great spot to camp for a few days. Only issue I had was that there was a sheriff that decided to bother us by driving through our camp every day. We were at the end part so it was a tiny loop around just the camp we were staying at so there was zero reason to go through. Was here 5 nights. No bathrooms outside the park that’s close by. No potable water.

Month of VisitMarch

Tamra J.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 23, 2022

Wonderful peace by the lake

Lovely wildlife to watch… egrets, herons, etc. Nice and flat parking, covered picnic tables, hardly anyone here in October!!! Easy to find with the Google coordinates! This is the 2nd time being here this month! (We see many others fishing… and I’ve seen large fish jumping 3/4 out of the lake!)

SitePark 1B Hall Drive - Near the 6th covered picnic table on the right

Month of VisitOctober

(7) View All

Tamra J.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 15, 2022

Quiet and easy to find! Fantastic!

Quiet and lovely! Very easy to find with the Google Coordinates given 31.550811, -96.961614 Beautiful lake to relax by!

SiteNearest toilets

Month of VisitOctober

(4) View All

Shelly

Scout

Reviewed Apr. 20, 2022

Quiet picnic sites/ overnight camping on the water

Great find 20 minutes outside of Waco. Quiet, in the country. Picnic sights on water. Hard to find on google maps so drop a pin on southern corner of lake and drive along lake until you see entrance.

SiteTradingHouse Creek Resevoir

Month of VisitApril

Nancy B.

Ranger

Reviewed Nov. 4, 2021

Nice lakefront spot

We arrived in November and were the only ones here. The spots are lake front with covered picnic tables. No hook ups available. View was amazing.

Month of VisitNovember

Frequently Asked Questions

What fishing opportunities are available at Tradinghouse Lake?

Tradinghouse Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities with reports of large fish jumping three-quarters out of the water. The lake is popular among anglers, with many visitors frequently seen fishing along its shores. While specific fish species aren't detailed, the lake appears to support a healthy fish population. The lakefront camping spots provide convenient access for fishing directly from your campsite. The quiet, natural setting enhances the fishing experience, particularly during less crowded months like October.

What camping facilities and amenities are offered at TP&L Lake?

TP&L Lake (Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir) offers primitive camping with no hookups available. The campground features lakefront spots with covered picnic tables and flat parking areas. The setting is quiet and natural, making it ideal for those seeking a peaceful outdoor experience. Camping is permitted despite some conflicting information online, as confirmed by the McLennan County Sheriff. The area is known for its beautiful views and abundant wildlife, including egrets and herons. Facilities are minimal, so campers should come prepared for a more rustic experience. The campground is especially uncrowded during fall months.

Where is Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir located and how do I get there?

Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir (also known as McLennan County Park) is located approximately 20 minutes outside of Waco, Texas. The most reliable way to find it is by using GPS coordinates: 31.550811, -96.961614, which will take you directly to the entrance. The location can be tricky to find on standard maps, so visitors recommend driving along the southern corner of the lake until you see the entrance. Some navigation apps may show it under different names, including McLennan County Park, which is the same location as Tradinghouse.

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Map & DirectionsTradinghouse Lake Park Camping is located in Texas near Waco

Coordinates

Connectivity

Connectivity

Access

Site Types

Features

For Campers

For Vehicles

FREE established camping

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

Contact

Drive Time

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What fishing opportunities are available at Tradinghouse Lake?

What camping facilities and amenities are offered at TP&L Lake?

Where is Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir located and how do I get there?