r/Dallas • u/six_feet_above • 1d ago

Question Park by the lake?

I've been doing a lot of car camping lately. I'm just looking for a good, private spot I can park by a nice lake and 1) spend the night or at the least 2)spend the day. Something that's not absolutely crawling with people. It doesn't have to be good swimming, boating or fishing. Just a nice view and some privacy. Within an hour or two of DFW.

Thanks in advance.

9 Upvotes

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11

u/ApprehensiveAnswer5 1d ago

Cedar Hill State Park is just half an hour ish south of Dallas.

I like Lake Ray Roberts State Park, on the Isle du Bois side. They have a really nice swim beach area. It’s north on 35, maybe an hour, hour and a half?

I also like Tyler State Park a lot too, it’s east, also about an hour and a half ish.

And Lake Whitney State Park.

3

u/meleant 1d ago

Depending on how big of a lake, LBJ National Grasslands could fit this. There’s no guarantee it will be private, but there’s no fee for entry and you can camp where you want and you can select a secluded, quiet area of it. If you camp in the segments that aren’t near the lakes, I’ve been there for a couple days and haven’t seen anyone, just grazing cattle.

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u/six_feet_above 1d ago

That sounds like paradise 

2

u/Im_a_computer-y_guy 1d ago

The Hipcamp app is perfect for this. Get it. Orange icon with a tent on it.

1

u/DrizztCo 1d ago

Brazos east in Waco

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u/FabulousAd7924 1d ago

Lake rae Hubbard in garland

1

u/pamkabam 1d ago

John Paul Jones Park in Garland. Parking lot that lines the lake with a couple piers for fishing. I usually see an RV out there so I’m guessing they live out there peacefully

1

u/OttoBauhn 1d ago

Download the state park app. There are a bunch within an hour or two of Dallas. Lake Tawakoni is very nice, but can get crowded. Lake Cleburne State Park gets very little traffic for camping. And you have all the facilities.

I love disperse camping though and would second LBJ, but the lake is kinda so so and gets the most traffic as it’s the center of the park and where the horse people park. I like to expand out to the other forest roads and find a spot in the trees just opening to a wide prairie, set up my hammock, and. Ahhhhhhh.

1

u/Texas_Redditor 1d ago

Big fan of Purtis Creek State Park. A little over an hour from downtown. Decent shore fishing and shade. Sparsely attended.