If you’re dreaming of waking up to the sound of gentle waves and spending your days swimming, fishing and relaxing by the water, then Texas has some incredible lakeside camping spots waiting for you!
From crystal-clear lakes surrounded by towering pine trees to hidden gems with sandy shores and peaceful views, there’s a perfect spot for every type of camper.
Whether you’re into kayaking, hiking or just chilling by the campfire, these lakeside campsites offer the best outdoor adventures.
Ready to pack your tent and hit the road?
Keep reading to discover the top lakeside camping spots in Texas that you won’t want to miss!
1. Inks Lake State Park
Inks Lake State Park, located in the heart of Texas Hill Country, about an hour from Austin, is perfect for lakeside camping with stunning views and easy water access.
The campsites by the lake offer electric hookups, picnic tables, fire rings and even shaded areas for hot Texas days.
You can fall asleep to the sound of gentle waves and wake up ready to swim, fish or kayak just steps from your tent or RV.
The park also has clean restrooms with showers, plus a camp store where you can grab firewood or forgotten essentials.
With 9 miles of hiking trails and the beautiful Devil’s Waterhole nearby, you’re in for an unforgettable camping adventure!
2. Potters Creek Park
Potters Creek Park is a fantastic lakeside camping spot on the north shore of Canyon Lake, about an hour from San Antonio.
The campsites are spacious, many right along the water, and come with picnic tables, fire pits, electric hookups and nearby restrooms with showers.
You can wake up to stunning lake views, swim or boat during the day and roast marshmallows by the fire at night.
The park also has two boat ramps and is perfect for fishing, kayaking or just lounging by the calm waters.
With plenty of shade from oak trees and wide-open spaces for stargazing, it’s a lakeside camping dream come true!
3. Lake Mineral Wells
Lake Mineral Wells is a beautiful spot located just an hour west of Fort Worth, perfect for outdoor lovers looking to unwind by the water.
The campsites here are cozy and come with picnic tables, fire rings and access to restrooms with showers, plus many spots are just steps from the lake.
You can spend your days fishing, swimming or kayaking on the calm waters, or hike the nearby Penitentiary Hollow trail for some amazing rock climbing and scenic views.
There’s also a fishing pier and boat rentals available if you want to explore the lake more.
4. Lake Tawakoni State Park
Lake Tawakoni State Park is located about an hour east of Dallas, offering some of the best waterfront camping around.
The campsites are well-equipped with picnic tables, fire rings and nearby restrooms with showers, and many spots give you direct access to the lake for fishing, swimming or boating.
Known for its massive 37,000-acre lake, it’s perfect for water activities like jet skiing or paddleboarding, and there’s even a sandy beach area for lounging.
You can also hike along five miles of wooded trails, where you might spot deer or even bald eagles!
With peaceful campsites and beautiful views of the lake, it’s a perfect spot for a weekend getaway.
5. Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park is a hidden gem in East Texas, about two hours from Dallas, offering awesome lakeside camping surrounded by lush forests.
The campsites are well-shaded and equipped with picnic tables, fire rings and nearby restrooms with showers, with some spots giving you direct access to the lake.
The 9,000-acre lake is perfect for fishing, especially if you’re after bass or catfish, and you can also swim, kayak or paddleboard in its calm waters.
There are scenic hiking and biking trails that wind through the piney woods, plus a fishing pier and boat ramp if you want to explore more of the lake.
6. Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area
Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area is a peaceful camping spot tucked away within the Sam Houston National Forest, about an hour north of Houston.
The campsites here are basic but cozy, offering picnic tables, fire rings and nearby vault toilets, with many sites sitting right along the banks of the lake.
It’s a fantastic place for kayaking or canoeing through the calm waters, and the lake is known for great fishing, especially for catfish and bass.
The area is also surrounded by beautiful pine forests, and you can explore miles of hiking trails, including a portion of the famous Lone Star Hiking Trail.
7. Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Ray Roberts Lake State Park, located just an hour north of Dallas, is the perfect place for outdoor adventures.
The campsites here are well-equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, water and electric hookups, and many are just a short walk from the lake’s edge.
The 29,000-acre lake is ideal for swimming, fishing, boating or paddleboarding, and there are even boat ramps and a marina for easy access.
If you love hiking or biking, the park also offers over 20 miles of scenic trails winding through forests and prairies.
With clear waters, sandy beaches and peaceful campsites, it’s a fantastic spot for a relaxing weekend by the lake.
8. Cedar Hill State Park
Cedar Hill State Park, located just 20 minutes from downtown Dallas, offers a perfect escape for lakeside camping on the shores of Joe Pool Lake.
The campsites are spacious, shaded and come with picnic tables, fire rings, and electric and water hookups, with many spots close to the lake for easy access.
You can spend your days swimming, boating or fishing in the clear waters, or hit the park’s hiking and biking trails that wind through scenic forests and prairies.
The park also has a sandy swimming beach and boat ramps, making it perfect for all kinds of water fun.
9. The Boulders at Lake Tyler
The Boulders at Lake Tyler is a hidden gem, located just outside of Tyler in East Texas.
This cozy campground offers well-shaded sites with picnic tables, fire rings and nearby restrooms, and many campsites have stunning views of Lake Tyler’s calm waters.
It’s a fantastic spot for fishing, swimming and boating, with boat ramps and a sandy beach area perfect for lounging by the lake.
You can explore the lake by kayak or paddleboard, or just enjoy the peaceful, wooded surroundings.
10. Eisenhower State Park
Eisenhower State Park, perched along the scenic shores of Lake Texoma, is a fantastic lakeside camping destination just an hour north of Dallas.
The campsites are equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, water and electric hookups, with some offering gorgeous views of the lake.
You can enjoy boating, swimming and fishing in the massive 89,000-acre lake, with a marina and boat ramps available for easy access.
The park also has rugged hiking and biking trails that lead to rocky bluffs and hidden coves, perfect for an adventurous day out.
11. Lake Livingston State Park
Lake Livingston State Park, located about an hour north of Houston, is a prime camping destination on one of Texas’ largest lakes.
The campsites here are well-equipped with water, electric hookups, picnic tables and fire rings, and many are just steps from the lake’s edge.
The park offers boat rentals and has several boat ramps, so you can easily explore the 90,000-acre Lake Livingston.
You can also hike or bike along scenic trails that wind through the piney woods, or just relax by the lake’s edge.
12. Cagle Recreation Area
Cagle Recreation Area, situated in the Sam Houston National Forest along the shores of Lake Conroe, is a peaceful lakeside camping spot just an hour north of Houston.
The campsites are spacious and come with water, electric hookups, picnic tables and fire rings, with many offering lovely views of the lake.
It’s an ideal spot for kayaking, fishing or boating, with boat ramps available for easy lake access.
Surrounded by towering pines, you can also explore the area’s scenic hiking and biking trails, which are perfect for spotting wildlife.
With its serene atmosphere and natural beauty, Cagle Recreation Area is a hidden gem for a laid-back camping getaway.
13. Caddo Lake State Park
Caddo Lake State Park, located in East Texas near the Louisiana border, offers a magical experience surrounded by mysterious bayous and towering cypress trees draped in Spanish moss.
The campsites come with water, electric hookups, picnic tables and fire rings, with some located right along the edge of the water, perfect for a peaceful retreat.
You can paddle through the maze of waterways by canoe or kayak, fish for bass or catfish, or explore the park’s scenic hiking trails that wind through the lush, swampy landscape.
The park even has a boat ramp if you want to venture deeper into the lake’s cypress swamps.
With its eerie, otherworldly beauty, Caddo Lake is like stepping into a totally different world for a one-of-a-kind camping adventure.
14. Jim Chapman Lake
Jim Chapman Lake, also known as Cooper Lake, is a serene camping destination in northeast Texas, about 90 minutes from Dallas.
The campsites in both the South Sulphur and Doctors Creek units are well-shaded and equipped with picnic tables, fire rings and nearby restrooms, with some offering beautiful views of the lake.
The 19,000-acre lake is perfect for fishing, boating or swimming, and the park even has boat ramps for easy water access.
You can also explore scenic hiking and horseback riding trails, or just relax on the sandy shores.
15. Possum Kingdom State Park
Possum Kingdom State Park, located about 90 miles west of Fort Worth, is a gorgeous camping spot situated along the crystal-clear waters of Possum Kingdom Lake.
The campsites come with picnic tables, fire rings, water and electric hookups, and many are right by the lake, giving you easy access to swimming, fishing and boating.
Known for its striking blue water and limestone cliffs, the lake is perfect for water activities like kayaking, paddleboarding and even scuba diving!
The park also has hiking trails with stunning views of the lake, and there’s a marina with boat rentals for added adventure.
With breathtaking sunsets and plenty of lakeside fun, Possum Kingdom is a true paradise.
16. Huntsville State Park
Huntsville State Park, located just an hour north of Houston, is a peaceful camping destination surrounded by the towering pines of Sam Houston National Forest.
The campsites are well-equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, water and electric hookups, and many sit close to the park’s tranquil Lake Raven.
You can spend your days kayaking, fishing for bass or swimming in the calm waters, with a boat ramp and rentals available for easy lake access.
The park also offers over 20 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails, where you can spot wildlife like deer and alligators!
17. Lake Somerville State Park
Lake Somerville State Park, located about halfway between Austin and Houston, is a fantastic lakeside destination with plenty of outdoor fun.
The campsites come with picnic tables, fire rings, and water and electric hookups, with many offering great views of Lake Somerville’s calm waters.
You can enjoy fishing, swimming or boating, with several boat ramps and a fishing pier for easy access.
The park also offers over 40 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails that wind through the scenic landscape.
With wide-open skies, peaceful lakeside campsites and plenty of activities, Lake Somerville State Park is a perfect spot for a relaxing weekend by the water.
18. Lake Theo Campground
Lake Theo Campground, located in Caprock Canyons State Park in the Texas Panhandle, offers a stunning lakeside camping experience surrounded by red rock cliffs and wide-open skies.
The campsites are well-equipped with water, electric hookups, picnic tables and fire rings, with some just a short walk from Lake Theo’s shores.
You can spend your days swimming, fishing for bass or paddling in the clear lake, with breathtaking canyon views all around.
The park also offers miles of scenic hiking and biking trails, including routes to spot the famous bison herd that roams the area.
With its unique canyon setting and peaceful lakeside atmosphere, Lake Theo Campground is a one-of-a-kind destination!
Related Posts
