pack up and go

2 Dallas-Fort Worth campgrounds stake their claim on list of America's best

Spring is here. Let's go camping.

Dallas camping fanatics seeking an outdoorsy spring vacation experience need to check out Campspot's Best Campgrounds in America, which lists seven top campsites across Texas, including two in DFW.

Online private campground marketplace and booking website Campspot analyzed more than 50,000 data points across 15 different categories, including community reviews and family-friendly amenities, to determine the rankings.

Dallas-Fort Worth award-winning campgrounds
Two Dallas-Fort Worth campgrounds earned coveted spots on the list: The Vineyards Campground & Cabins in Grapevine, and Dallas Northeast Campground in Caddo Mills.

The Vineyards, which is located only 24 miles northwest from Dallas, scored No. 5 in the category for "Top Mid-Size Campgrounds." Campspot says The Vineyards is the best place for a "picturesque getaway" with its cozy cabins, a private beach, wineries, and more.

Over in Caddo Mills, which is about 40 miles northeast of Dallas, Dallas Northeast Campground won No. 3 in the "Top Campgrounds New to Campspot in 2024" ranking.

"Experience the best of both worlds at Dallas Northeast Campground, where scenic tranquility meets easy access to all the attractions of Dallas, offering 63 acres of serene landscapes, a 5-acre lake, and a range of amenities including a pool, community fire pit, outdoor grilling kitchen, catch [and] release fishing, and more, making it an amazing getaway for families and adventurers alike," Campspot wrote.

Award-winning campgrounds in the Hill Country
The No. 1 resort in the "Top Campgrounds New to Campspot in 2024" category is Summit Vacation & RV Resort in New Braunfels. The 75-acre resort is spread across the Guadalupe River, providing the ultimate riverside getaway for families. The complex also scored third place in the category for "Top Mid-Size Campgrounds."

Summit's New Braunfels neighbor, Camp Fifo Texas Hill Country, also earned two accolades in this year's awards: No. 2 in the category "Top Campgrounds for Digital Nomads," and No. 4 in the list of "Top Large Campgrounds."

"Camp Fimfo beckons families with a perfect blend of outdoor adventure and relaxation, featuring a swim-up bar, outdoor movies, water slides, and a host of amenities designed to create lasting memories for all ages," Campspot wrote.

Terraqueous RV Resort in Blanco, about 50 miles west of Austin, scored No. 2 in the category for "Top Campgrounds for Long-Term Stays." The resort was ranked highly thanks to its many opportunities for family-friendly activities, such as exploring Blanco's western Buggy Barn Museum, or the Exotic Resort Zoo in Johnson City.

The fourth and final Hill Country campground that came away with an award was Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort: Hill Country in Canyon Lake, located about 50 miles southwest of Austin. The camp scored No. 4 in the category for the "Top Campground for Waterparks."

"Enjoy amenities like the Water Zone, jumping pillow, and convenient access to the nearby Guadalupe River, Canyon Lake, and the historic district of Gruene, ensuring a memorable getaway for all ages," Campspot said.

Houston-area award-winning campgrounds
The seventh and final Texas campground that earned an award in 2024 was Rayford Crossing RV Resort in Spring, about 30 miles north of Houston. Rayford Crossing scored No. 3 in the category for "Top Campgrounds for Long-Term Stays."

The full list of winners can be found on campspot.com.

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Holiday News

DFW Airport divulges which days will be busiest during Christmas 2025

DFW Airport

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is ramping up for a busy Christmas holiday travel period, with nearly 5 million customers expected to fly to, from, and through the airport between December 18-January 6.

According to a release, passenger traffic during the holiday travel period is projected to increase about 3.2 percent compared to the Christmas 2024 season.

They recommend that travelers arrive at the airport at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights, in order to navigate through construction, congested parking areas, and your usual busy check-in and security screening areas.

Busiest travel days
Large travel crowds are expected throughout the entire winter holiday period, with the heaviest timeframes for local departing and arriving customers occurring on the weekends and in early evenings.

The airport’s roads and terminal curbs are expected to be the busiest during the following periods:

Friday, December 19-Monday, December 22
Friday, December 26-Sunday, December 28

DFW expects its busiest travel days at the start and near the end of the season, with more than 265K passengers expected both on Friday, December 19 and on Sunday, December 28.

While daily volumes are expected to be more evenly distributed than the Thanksgiving travel period, terminal curbsides are still projected to be near those levels on several days – especially during the weekends between 10 am and 6 pm.

Terminal C
Customers departing or arriving on any day of the holiday season should prepare for heavier-than-usual traffic across the airport’s roadways – especially when approaching terminals from the north – and along all terminal curbs.

Heavy traffic is also expected at Terminal C due to ongoing construction in that area. To assist with traffic flow, the airport has reconfigured traffic flow patterns through the terminal to alleviate congested areas and provide a smoother flow of traffic. Directional signage will be installed to guide traffic through the area.

Customers flying American Airlines can avoid Terminal C congestion by checking in at any terminal and taking Skylink to their gate once through security. In fact, DFW is encouraging American customers to do exactly this, based on live traffic conditions.

The quickest access into Terminals A and B is from the north. The quickest access into Terminals C, D and E is from the south.

Other time saving tips: Prebook parking through the DFW website or mobile app; and use dedicated TollTag lanes for the fastest entry and exit.

Public Transit
Public transit is an increasingly-recommended option, especially since DART opened its new Silver Line.

DART Silver Line: New service launched in October, linking Plano to Terminal B with stops in Richardson, Addison, Carrollton, and Coppell provides a faster northern route that avoids taking the train through downtown Dallas.
DART Orange Line: Connects Plano, Dallas, and Irving directly to Terminal A
Trinity Metro TEXRail: Runs from downtown Fort Worth through North Richland Hills and Grapevine to Terminal B.
TRE + TRE Link Shuttle: Connects Dallas and Fort Worth to CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, with transfers to terminals.

Transit is also a great option for travelers arriving at DFW. Customers can take transit to a station away from the airport and coordinate a pickup, which also helps reduce curbside congestion during peak periods.

Curbside and parking protocols
Curbside areas are reserved for active loading and unloading only. Customers waiting to pick up passengers are encouraged to use cell phone lots and one-hour parking inside terminal garages (available at no additional charge).

The DFW Airport mobile app, available for iOS and Android, helps travelers plan ahead and stay informed with real-time features such as live parking availability, security wait times, terminal-specific alerts, and construction updates.

Terminal A
The new right-hand access into Terminal A will open on December 19 — earlier than planned, and a blessing for holiday travelers since it removes all of the various detours currently in effect.

The northbound access into Terminal A will be opened in its final condition.

The southbound access will open in a temporary but near-complete condition, and will will be finished in January following the peak travel period.

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