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    Camping for Christmas

    Texas parks beckon with festive events and outdoorsy escapes through the holidays

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Nov 24, 2021 | 12:01 pm
    camping holidays state parks
    Deck the tent with boughs of holly.
    Photo courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife

    If fa-la-la-ing in forest and caroling around a campfire sound way better than battling crowds at a mall or facing "out of stock" icons online, maybe you need to gift yourself an outdoorsy getaway.

    State parks around Texas have packed the holiday season with special events — specifically, 80 events at 47 parks and eight historic sites — from Thanksgiving trots to Christmas light boat tours to New Year's Eve hikes in the dark. Most events are family friendly, but some sound ideal for solo adventurers who might want to pack a tent and escape to the woods for a night or two (tipping our cap to you, retail workers).

    Reservations fill up quickly, so be sure to visit an individual park's website before you head out. And check the Holidays in the Parks page for many more fun options, pricing information, and more information.

    Dallas-Fort Worth-area parks

    Tyler State Park
    Start with the 14th Annual "Walk Off the Bird" Bird Walk, a 2.1-mile hike along the lake shore, at 9 am November 26. Bring your camera for a Fall in the Savannah fall foliage hike at 2 pm that day, or the Fall Colors Lakeshore Photography Hike at 9 am November 27. Head back December 10-11 for A Pineywoods Christmas, when you can stroll or drive through the Lakeview and Big Pine campgrounds to take in campers' elaborately decorated sites and take a Nature Wonderland Hike.

    Lake Tawakoni State Park
    Drive through or stay there and decorate your campsite with your favorite Christmas decorations to receive your second night of camping free during your stay. There will be a decorating contest, complete with awards, as well as a reading of The Night before Christmas — all part of Twinkle Tour 2021, 5-8 pm December 4.

    Daingerfield State Park
    The annual Christmas in the Park drive-thru lights tour takes place December 15-18 (times vary). Take a drive through the park lit up like Santa Land and marvel at the decorated campsites and lights. Santa himself will be there, but there'll be no picture-taking with him this year.

    Eisenhower State Park
    The second annual Light Up the Park drive-thru lights event takes place December 10-11 and will feature candy canes and DIY treats for the kiddos and a certain visitor from the North Pole.

    Cleburne State Park
    Enjoy a Pancake Breakfast with Santa, hosted by Cleburne Veterans of Foreign Wars, 9-11 am December 11.

    Cedar Hill State Park
    Explore Christmas at Penn Farm on December 11: Learn about the history and pioneers the Penn Family and the farm they built 150 years ago. The event will conclude with an evening of caroling around a campfire with sweet treats and hot chocolate.

    Lake Mineral Wells State Park
    Experience Christmas, cowboy style, at Cross Timbers Cowboy Christmas, December 11. Park ranger and cowboy poet David Owens will gather guests around the campfire for an evening of cowboy culture through songs, stories, and poems. It'll be held at the Lone Star Amphitheater.

    Dinosaur Valley State Park
    As a little twist on the New Year's Day "First Day" hikes that many parks host, Dinosaur Valley is doing a First Day Midnight Countdown Hike on New Year's Eve. The group will hike (in the dark) to the scenic overlook in the park and ring in the new year outdoors. It takes place 11 pm-1 am.

    Austin/San Antonio-area parks

    Bastrop State Park
    #OptOutside on Black Friday with a 3-4 mile guided hike, dubbed Gobble Till You Wobble, 11 am November 26. The next day at 11 am, kiddos can join "Ranger Madalyn" for a reading of the autumn-appropriate Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, then make an easy leaf-tracing craft or color and write a letter to Santa. Each day in December, follow the ornaments with clues through the park in the Fa La La Through the Forest Scavenger Hunt.

    Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site
    Attend Deck the Halls, 10 am-3 pm November 27 to explore how early Texans at the Sauer-Beckmann Farm got ready for the holidays by stringing popcorn and decorating cookies to hang on their Christmas tree; learn how to make wreaths out of local cedar and dip candles as the farm staff get ready for das Weihnachten (Christmas). Then return 5:30 pm December 19 for the 52nd Annual LBJ Tree Lighting, a holiday tradition started 52 years ago by President and Mrs. Johnson.

    Garner State Park
    Friends of Garner hosts its annual Christmas Open House, featuring cookies, old fashioned wassail, and pictures with Santa at the Visitors Center, 10 am-2 pm November 27.

    Buescher State Park
    On the Fa La La in the Forest Scavenger Hunt, you can follow the ornaments with clues through the park to secure a prize at the end, December 1-January 1.

    Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
    Christmas in the Park, 10 am-1 pm December 5, brings a holiday-themed scavenger hunt, as well as a chance to create a holiday greeting card to send to family, friends, or someone in need. Return for Campfire Carols, 6-7 pm December 11, which includes hot cocoa, stories and music with park rangers.

    Hill Country State Natural Area
    Play games, make festive crafts, listen to a Christmas story, and learn about the Hill Country at Holiday in the Hill Country, 1-4 pm December 11.

    South Llano River State Park
    At Christmas at the Ranch, 2-5 pm December 4, guests can warm up with hot chocolate and cider, listen to live entertainment, enjoy crafts and cookie decorating, and anticipate Santa's visit while taking in the twinkling lights and Christmas decorations at the historic Ranch House that now serves as Park Headquarters.

    Houston-area parks

    Brazos Bend State Park
    Holiday in the Park is an all-day affair on December 11. Events include a self-guided "Elf Hike," Christmas crafts, "Pup Parade," s'mores, and more.

    Goliad State Park & Historic Site
    Every night in December, visit the “History in Lights” exhibit and experience how lights and shadows tell the story of the historic site by walking the same path taken by Native Americans and Spanish Franciscan priests so long ago.

    Sea Rim State Park
    Santa and Mrs. Claus will ride in on an airboat, then invite visitors to join them for hot cocoa, Christmas crafts, and photo opportunities as part of A Very Marshy Christmas, 3-5 pm December 18.

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    top camping destinations

    2 Texas campgrounds made the list of best places to camp in America

    Amber Heckler
    Jun 19, 2025 | 11:46 am
    Neches Bluff Overlook
    fs.usda.gov/
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    Two Texas campground were just ranked among the best in America for 2025: Galveston's Stella Mare RV Resort in Galveston and Neches Bluff Overlook Campground in Davy Crockett National Forest.

    For its 2025 Best Places to Camp Regional Awards, campground review platform The Dyrt combed through the most highly rated and favorably reviewed campgrounds across its website. Campgrounds were sorted into six regions: Central, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, Pacific, and Southeast.

    Stella Mare RV Resort ranked No. 6 on the The Dyrt's ranking of the best campgrounds in the Central region. The coastal resort is about 300 miles south from Dallas, or about a 4.5-hour drive.

    Stella Mare offers 195 different RV sites just steps away from the beach and is pet friendly, making it an ideal summer vacation destination for families that want to spend as much time as possible near the shore. Campsite rates range between $39-$598 per night.

    Stella Mare RV ResortStella Mare is a great destination for families.Photo courtesy of The Dyrt

    Other amenities provided by the resort include high-speed Wi-Fi, 30-50-amp service, two dog parks, barbecue grills, a heated outdoor pool, splash pad, hot tub, and a 3,000-square-foot observation deck. Stella Mare also hosts weekly events such as craft activities, bingo, and more.

    In one review, a returning guest praised the resort's cleanliness and the attentive staff.

    "We have visited Stella Mare every December for 4 years now. This last winter we stayed for 2 months and really enjoyed Galveston," the reviewer said. "The campground is well maintained. The staff is super friendly. They have events for all ages multiple times a week including kid and adult only crafts, candy bar bingo, wine night, s'mores, and golf cart parades for holidays."

    Thrifty campers will enjoy staying at Neches Bluff Overlook Campground, which ranked as the No. 8 best campground in the Central Region. Neches Bluff Overlook is a free campground located in the Davy Crockett National Forest, which is about 150 miles southeast of Dallas.

    Neches Bluff is a primitive campground that only offers "minimal amenities," according to The Dyrt, which means campers will have to rely on their own preparedness if they want to spend several nights in the East Texas forest. The campground operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, and guests are welcome to pick their own site and "create [their] own adventure."

    One of the most stunning features of Neches Bluff is the panoramic views of the forest from the overlook, according to reviewer Rachel H.

    “There was a creek nearby that we hiked up and down, even found what appeared to be a natural spring feeding the creek," wrote Rachel. "We used the creek as our water supply, and the water was delicious. Lots of cool rocks, and even found a couple snail shells. 10/10 would definitely go again and explore more. The overlook is so pretty, and honestly, this place gave us the perfect camping experience."

    The top 10 best places to camp in the Central Region, according to The Dyrt, are:

    • No. 1 – The Wall, South Dakota
    • No. 2 – Scoria Pit, North Dakota
    • No. 3 – Buffalo Gap, South Dakota
    • No. 4 – Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground, North Dakota
    • No. 5 – Big Pine Campground, South Dakota
    • No. 6 – Stella Mare RV Resort, Texas
    • No. 7 – Hackberry Hollow Campground - Indian Cave State Park, Nebraska
    • No. 8 – Neches Bluff Overlook Campground - Davy Crockett National Forest, Texas
    • No. 9 – Territory Route 66 RV Park and Campgrounds, Oklahoma
    • No. 10 – Wilson State Park Campground, Kansas
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