11 Texas Camping Spots Worth Planning a Trip Around in 2026

Ready to trade city noise for river lullabies, star-packed skies, and trails that make your legs burn in the best way? Texas camping in 2025 is all about epic scenery, wide-open freedom, and unforgettable nights spent under constellations you can actually see. Whether you crave desert isolation, Hill Country swimming holes, or beach breezes, there is a campsite here calling your name.

Pack a cooler, map out a route, and let these standout spots shape your next adventure.

1. Big Bend National Park

Start with a place that makes you feel tiny in the best way. Rugged desert, chiseled canyons, and the Rio Grande carve days full of hikes and hot springs soaks. Nights are famously dark, so bring a headlamp and a wish list of constellations you rarely catch at home.

Campgrounds range from developed to primitive backcountry, each rewarding early risers with sunrises that paint the Chisos in rose and gold. Water planning matters here, and so does pacing your miles in the heat. Wrap up the day with a river float, then linger for coyotes yipping across the basin.

2. Padre Island National Seashore

Imagine falling asleep to waves and waking to pelicans cruising the tide line. Primitive beachfront camping here is simple and wild, with hard-packed sand that lets you drive miles from crowds. You will taste salt on everything and not even mind.

Check tide charts, bring recovery gear, and stake tents low against Gulf breezes. Beachcombing fills slow afternoons, then a pastel sunset steals the show. At night, the Milky Way sometimes shimmers over the surf, turning a simple camp into something cinematic.

3. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

High-country air changes everything. Camps tucked beneath Guadalupe Peak feel cooler and crisper, with switchback climbs that reward patient pacing and steady lungs. Limestone cliffs glow at sunrise, and the wind carries juniper and pinon scents you will not forget.

Trails like Devil’s Hall and McKittrick Canyon reveal geology like an open textbook. Nights are quiet, perfect for stargazing and plotting a summit push. Pack layers and lots of water, then savor the rare Texas sensation of sleeping near 8,000 feet.

4. Garner State Park

Summer here means river shoes on your feet and a tube drifting the Frio. Shade from cypress trees keeps camps cool while families swap stories under string lights. Trails climb to overlooks where the Hill Country rolls like a green quilt.

Daylight brings paddleboards, snack breaks, and maybe a classic jukebox dance at the pavilion. Evenings slow down with lazy swims and stargazing from the gravel bar. Book early, pack a hammock, and prepare for pure Texas nostalgia.

5. Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Drop into the second-largest canyon in the United States and watch the layers glow like embers. Camps sit tucked beneath red cliffs, where sunrise pours across hoodoos and mesas. Trails like Lighthouse deliver photo ops that justify every dusty mile.

Expect hot afternoons, so plan hikes early and keep water handy. Bison sometimes wander nearby, reminding you this landscape still breathes wild. After dark, stars crowd the sky, and your camp chair becomes front-row seating for the universe.

6. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Granite underfoot and sky everywhere you look. The summit view turns Fredericksburg’s Hill Country into a 360-degree panorama you will replay later.

Stargazing can be incredible on moonless nights, so bring a red-light headlamp. Mornings are cool, perfect for bouldering or exploring quieter back trails. Keep meals simple, save energy for the climb, and enjoy that moment when the rock warms beneath your boots.

7. Caddo Lake State Park

Caddo Lake State Park feels like stepping into another world, where still water mirrors towering cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. The atmosphere is quiet and otherworldly, especially in the early morning when fog curls across the bayou. Camping here puts you close to paddle trails that wind through lily pads and narrow channels, revealing turtles, herons, and occasional alligators.

The park offers both walk-in and paddle-in campsites, making it a favorite for kayakers seeking solitude. Sunsets glow amber through the moss, and nights bring a chorus of frogs and insects. If you want a Texas camping experience that feels wild, peaceful, and unforgettable, Caddo Lake delivers something unlike anywhere else in the state.

8. Davis Mountains State Park

Cooler temps and rolling peaks make this a West Texas relief. Camps perch along ridgelines with golden grasslands and big horizons. Day hikes connect to scenic overlooks, while evenings invite a quick drive to McDonald Observatory for serious stargazing.

Bring layers, a telescope if you have one, and time to linger after the star party. Wildlife wanders through camp, and sunrises feel crisp and clean. When the wind settles, you will hear nothing but your stove simmering and your thoughts quieting.

9. Lost Maples State Natural Area

Fall here is a slow-motion fireworks show. Bigtooth maples flare red and orange, framing quiet camps and limestone trails. Even outside peak color, canyons offer shade, springs, and birdsong that keeps you lingering at lunch.

Book dates early if you want prime foliage, then follow the East Trail for ridge views. Pack trekking poles for the rocky sections and treat yourself to stargazing after dinner. Morning coffee under those glowing leaves might become your favorite Texas camping memory.

10. Colorado Bend State Park

Rugged and rewarding, this park pairs backcountry solitude with spring-fed refreshment. Hike to Gorman Falls and watch delicate ferns bead with mist. Remote camps put stars within arm’s reach and keep your phone blissfully silent.

Daylight invites cave tours, river swims, and pedal-heavy rides on rocky singletrack. Bring extra water filtration and sturdy shoes for limestone ledges. After sunset, listen for owls while the river slips past like a secret.

11. South Llano River State Park

Peace lives on this riverbank. Camps spread beneath pecans and wide skies, perfect for hammocks and slow mornings. Bird blinds make it easy to spot painted buntings while the river invites a lazy paddle.

Afternoons mean floating, fishing, or wandering quiet trails. After dinner, tilt your chair back and let the Milky Way remind you why you left your notifications behind. Simple, soothing, and exactly the reset you were hoping for.