Favorite RV spots- TX, AR, OK

[Hogfan]

Would love your favorite RV parks within 2-5 hours of Dallas/Ft. Worth!

We'd love water (lake or river), some hills, trees, and just somewhere with some natural beauty to relax and enjoy!!

Have been looking throughout Oklahoma, Arkansas, as well as Texas

Thanks!!

[FishByFly]

You just described Arkansas!

[KJRitchie]

The Texas State parks within a couple of hours of DFW have a water body, hiking trails and water/elec campsites. They are much better than any private RV park. Purchase a season pass and get a few half price discounts on campsites and it pays for the daily use fee too.

When we lived in Frisco, TX we only went to the state parks. Book in advance. Try a different one every trip.

There are some nice Federal campsites on Lake Texoma too as well as into Oklahoma. State parks there and in Arkansas.

Kelvin

[Goal15]

Ditto on what Kelvin said about state parks.

Texas (within 2-5 hours)
Cooper Lake SP just north of Sulphur Springs: Our home park and we think the best kept secret in Texas

Purtis Creek SP: Small but close to DFW

Mineral Wells SP: My parents swore by this park when they were fulltimers

Lake Bob Sandlin SP: A bit further east than Cooper but we have found that camping in NE Texas is good because we love water AND trees

Arkansas: These may push the 5 hour a wee bit but Arkansas has great SPs that are well taken care of.

DeGray Lake: Protagonist on these boards swears by it.

We have also found a great Corps of Engineers Campground at Maumelle just west of Little Rock that is open year round, right on the banks of the Arkansas River and is just the most peaceful place. We have used it as a stopover on the way to visit our son in Kentucky.... a good half way point . .. but we are going to go back to spend a week as soon as possible because it is that good.

Happy Travels

Dana

[murreywalker]

Beavers Bend State Park in OK would be a place worth looking in to.

Lots of camping options, and pretty much fulfills your wish list.

Good luck!

[AnnArborBob]

A "must see" in Texas is Palo Duro Canyon State Park (just south of Amarillo.)

http://www.palodurocanyon.com/

[J. Morgan]

Lake Maumell near Little Rock is awesome.

Highly recommend.


Superat stultitia.

[silverlabs]

Hey Hogfan. Hope you guys are doing well. Goal15 hit several of the ones we have enjoyed. One I haven't seen listed is Ouachita State Park at Lake Ouachita. We have stayed there several times over the years and love the area. We also stayed at Catherines Landing outside of Hot Springs on way to Lake Michigan last year and had a great time there too. Great facilities.

Hope this helps some and we are able to meet up at some point down the road.

Chuck

[beachbouy]

Take a look at http://www.texasairstreamharbor.com/ 35 miles from Lufkin with a beautiful waterfront on Lake Sam Rayburn in Zavalla, TX.

[phann]

Lake Dardanelle SP in Arkansas is beautiful, but a bit over your 5 hr travel radius

[Rich W]

Right there in Lewisville is Lewisville Lake Park. We spent a couple weeks there, very nice park and hosts. Rates are very reasonable, especially for seniors. It is right on the lake and has a wonderful view.

In Arkansas we stayed a night at Lake Columbia RV park, on Lake Columbia, just outside of Magnolia, AR. Also reasonable, quiet, right on the lake, newer facilities, fish cleaning station. Cash or check, no credit cards. I think it's a county park, maybe a city park.

1260 Columbia Rd 53, Waldo, AR 71770
(870) 234-0857

(address is Waldo but it's closer to Magnolia. Look for the park, there's a dump station sign maybe 50 yards down the road, that's the entrance.)

[ole81]

If you like water....checkout Dellanera RV park in Galveston.
It is right on top of the dunes.
In some sites you can sit up in bed and watch the pelicans dive into the water.

...another great site is Brazos Bend State Park. Many hiking trails, 3000 alligators... and the the largest observatory open to the public in the US.

[StreamDog]

Dinosaur SP, Glenrose, TX. Walk with the dinosaurs (or where they walked)!

[Cannonball]

Mother Neff State Park near Belton is very pretty. The area by the river still has flood damage, I believe, but the new upper section is brand new, and the campsites are huge. Be aware of where your campsite is in relation to the highway, otherwise you can get some traffic noise.

[InterBlog]

Some of it depends on your intended timing. This screen print below shows current state park closures and restrictions in Texas (website here). Posters above mentioned Brazos Bend and Dinosaur Valley... those are excellent, but they are also disaster areas right now. Red means totally closed, yellow means significant restrictions, most of them due to flooding.

[MikeandCarol]

Originally Posted by Cannonball

Mother Neff State Park near Belton is very pretty. The area by the river still has flood damage, I believe, but the new upper section is brand new, and the campsites are huge. Be aware of where your campsite is in relation to the highway, otherwise you can get some traffic noise.

We recently stayed at Mother Neff State Park and have to agree, sites are big and new. Recommended.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Goal15

DeGray Lake: Protagonist on these boards swears by it.

Yes, I do. I'd swear by just about any other Arkansas state parks as well, but DeGray was my first Arkansas State Park, and that's one reason it's my favorite.

Close to Dallas, you've got Eisenhower State Park, on the south shore of Lake Texoma. Part of the hiking trail runs along the edge of a cliff overlooking the lake, and has gorgeous views. On the Oklahoma side you've got Lake Texoma State Park.

Heading east from Dallas, you've got a couple of Louisiana State Parks right off of I-20. Lake Claiborne State Park near Monroe is beautiful. Not too far away from Lake Claiborne is Lincoln Parish Park near Ruston, which is a hidden gem. I wasn't too impressed with Lake Bistineau State Park near Bossier City, though.

Also in Louisiana within your driving range is North Toledo Bend State Park, and just at the edge of your 5-hour driving range is Chicot State Park near Ville Platte, LA, home of the Louisiana State Arboretum.

In Oklahoma, you've got Keystone State Park, not too far from my alma mater, Oklahoma State University. Nearby is Lake Carl Blackwell, the lake owned by OSU, which has no less than nine campgrounds around its rim.

[2fromtexas]

Tyler SP is very pretty and some have full hookups. Farther away Goose Island and Palmetto SP. Try to do Palo Duro in spring or early fall. Just got back from there it was just beautiful but very hot.

[phoenix491]

Looks like everyone has hit on the main ones ... Just to add my 2 cents, here are our favorites, in no particular order:

Mineral Wells State Park: When we lived near downtown Fort Worth, I could leave work on a Friday, hitch up, and be set up and sipping a beer at Mineral Wells in less than an hour. Beautiful trees, hills, cliffs, and a small lake -- it has it all.

Glen Rose State Park: Also close, also scenic ... plus, dinosaurs.

Possum Kingdom State Park: Big, beautiful lake, although the area has been hit hard by wildfires in the past. Still one of my favorites.

Ray Roberts State Park: Close to the Metroplex, but far enough away that you feel like you're out of town. Plus, a nice lake and lots of trees.

Lake Murray [OK state park]: Nice, but always seems to be jam-packed. There are some nice spots beside the lake, as well.

Ouachita State Park [AR]: Beautiful scenery, but a bit of a hike from the Dallas area.

Beaver's Bend [OK]: Gorgeous scenery, fly fishing -- highly recommended. Also about five hours from the Metroplex, but worth it.

We're definitely fans of state parks, vs. RV parks ... This weekend, however, we're headed to an RV park on the beach in Galveston. If anyone sees a '65 Globetrotter headed south on 45, give us a honk and a wave!

[mimiandrews]

Inks Lake State Park.