Free Camping in Texas

200 sites across 6 federal and state land agencies. 0 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

National Park Service sites

14 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Amistad National Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Amistad National Recreation Area Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend National Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Thicket National Preserve
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Thicket Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blackwell School National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blue Creek
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bugbee Canyon
    Developed· Indexing
  • Castolon Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chamizal National Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chamizal National Memorial Cultural Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chimney Hollow Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chisos Basin Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing

PRIVATE sites

35 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • 277 North Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • A Place to Call Home RV Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Airport Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • All Saints Camp & Conference Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • All Tucked Inn Cabins
    Developed· Indexing
  • Armadillo Hill Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Balmorhea Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Balmorhea State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bent Tree Camping Area
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Big Oak River Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bird Island Basin Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blue Ridge Wilderness Campground
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Bois D'Arc Ridge Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bright Star Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buffalo Bayou RV Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buggy Whip Equestrian Camp Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bush Mountain Wilderness Campground
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Buzzard's Roost Group Campsite
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Camp Akiva
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Arrowmoon
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Fawcett
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Huaco Springs
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Huawni
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp La Junta for Boys
    Developed· Indexing
11 more PRIVATE sites in Texas.

State Parks sites

117 sites. State Parks camping rules →

  • Abilene — Brushy Trail Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Abilene — Cedar Grove Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Abilene — Oak Grove Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Abilene — Pecan Grove Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Abilene — Shelter Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Abilene — Wagon Circle Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Abilene State Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Atlanta — Knights Bluff North
    Developed· Indexing
  • Atlanta — Knights Bluff South
    Developed· Indexing
  • Atlanta — White Oak Ridge Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Atlanta — Wilkins Creek Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bastrop — Copperas Creek Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bastrop — Creekside Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bastrop — Deer Run Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bastrop — Piney Hill Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bastrop — Pioneer Village Cabins
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend Ranch — Agua Adentro Pens
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend Ranch — Arenosa Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend Ranch — Casa Ramon
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend Ranch — Chorro Vista
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend Ranch — Fresno Canyon
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend Ranch — Fresno Vista
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend Ranch — Grassy Banks Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend Ranch — Guale 1
    Developed· Indexing
93 more State Parks sites in Texas.

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

21 sites. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • AIRPORT BEACH SHELTER
    Developed· Indexing
  • AIRPORT PARK
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alley Creek Boat Ramp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aquilla Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bardwell Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • BEAR CREEK
    Developed· Indexing
  • Belton Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Belton Lake Archery Deer Hunt Permits
    Developed· Indexing
  • Belton Lakeview Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • BELTON LAKEVIEW PARK
    Developed· Indexing
  • Benbrook Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • BRUSHY CREEK DAY USE
    Developed· Indexing
  • Brushy Creek Day Use Pass
    Developed· Indexing
  • Brushy Creek Day Use Passes (delete this entry)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buffalo Bayou
    Developed· Indexing
  • Canyon Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cedar Breaks
    Developed· Indexing
  • CEDAR BREAKS PARK
    Developed· Indexing
  • CEDAR RIDGE (TX)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cedar Ridge Park Boat Ramp
    Developed· Indexing
  • CEDRON CREEK
    Developed· Indexing

US Forest Service sites

7 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • Black Creek Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Creek Lake Day Use Pass
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Kettle and McClellan Creek Day Use Pass
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Kettle Picnic Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Boykin Springs Camping
    Developed· Indexing
  • Boykin Springs Day Use Pass
    Developed· Indexing
  • Caney Creek Day Use Pass
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

6 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Texas

How long can you camp on public land in Texas?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Texas is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Texas have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Texas right now?
Fire restrictions in Texas change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Texas state office page and the USFS Texas forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Texas?
Dispersed camping in Texas means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. USFS national forests in Texas allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Texas?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Texas with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Texas prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Texas?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Texas when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Texas are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Texas in winter?
Winter access in Texas depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Texas often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Texas?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Texas do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Texas?
Coverage in Texas varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Texas sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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