Experience great camping near Houston for the whole family.
There’s no better way to experience the Lone Star State than camping there. From East Texas to the Gulf Coast, forest landscapes to state parks, camping near Houston is full of beautiful places for a night under the stars. Camping, to me, is a great way to explore nature and relax.
All Kinds of Great Camping Near Houston, TX
It’s no secret that I prefer to camp in a cabin with amenities, not in a tent in the middle of nowhere or at a park. Many people assume when I say “camping,” they think it’s in a tent. I haven’t camped in a tent yet – I’m going to (one of these days), but I like my amenities. But for now, I’ll leave tent camping to my Boy Scout.
We’ve got a list of the best campsites in the area, whether you’re looking for tent, cabin, or RV camping. You’ll want to put your phones away, turn off all wifi, and make a fire —it’s that simple.
While camping near Houston, you may well want to find fun things to do in the big city of Houston. There’s a lot!
Brazos Valley In Navasota, TX
Someone had a brilliant idea to place 40 tiny cabins on wheels in the deep woods of the Brazos Valley in Navasota, TX. It’s 1 hour southeast of Houston and about three hours from Dallas. This tiny cabin is part of Postcard Cabins (formerly Getaway), where we stayed a few years ago. They are small (tiny) but with modern amenities, including a bathroom with a shower, a mini-refrigerator, nice comfy queen beds, and a tiny kitchen – everything like home, but smaller. And they are dog-friendly. For a small fee, you can bring your dog(s).
The Brazos Valley near Houston is the perfect place for camping because it’s quiet, has many walking trails, and is a short drive to Texas’s famous ice cream!
Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham
We took a few side trips, including the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham, TX, about 40 minutes from our camping area. Getaway did their homework before placing their small cabins in Texas. This time, it’s not too far from $1 a scoop of ice cream!
You can’t come out this way without visiting the home of Blue Bell Ice Cream. Getting a scoop of ice cream was on our list of things to do on our camping adventure.
Besides selling ice cream for only $1 a scoop (and no tax), they had the most adorable little boutique full of Blue Bell souvenirs, a museum about the history of Blue Bell, and we watched old commercials that brought back memories from years ago. Brody’s main goal was to order an ice cream he’d never tried. I’m sorry I didn’t get a picture of his tongue after eating Blue Monster Ice Cream!
Barrington Living History Farm
Also, in the area of Navasota and Brenham, there is a farm that depicts years gone by. We saw workers picking cotton. They also let us pick cotton. We asked questions about oxen, cotton, vegetables, and everything farm-related. They even let us pick tomatoes and pears to take home. But Brody and I ate the tomatoes and cooked the pears at home after selecting them.
Brazos Bend State Park
Brazos Bend State Park is an excellent place to camp. It has a lot of activities to do, including fishing and renting cabins. There are also showers at Brazos Bend State Park, so you don’t have to go home dirty from camping —priorities!
Lone Star Lakes RV Park & Campground
Just under a 30-minute drive from Houston in New Caney, Texas, is another great option offering tent camping sites and cabins, along with full-hookup RV spots. It has a small lake called Lake Redmond – fishing is free, but swimming is not allowed, but there is a pool on the premises.
Sam Houston National Park
Sam Houston National Park is just north of Conroe, about an hour’s drive from downtown Houston. The park covers over 800 acres of land and is a popular destination for camping, hiking, and bird watching, as well as offering over 40 miles of hiking trails that all ages can enjoy.
Tent camping is allowed anywhere except during hunting season. During this time, all visitors are required to camp in designated camping areas. Campgrounds are available with facilities, too.
Camping At Lake Conroe
One of the best ways to experience Lake Conroe is by camping on its shores—Head to Thousand Trails at Lake Conroe for RV camping, cabin, and tent camping. Not only is Lake Conroe there to enjoy, but there is also an outdoor pool and many indoor and outdoor activities for kids and families to participate in.
Sea Rim State Park
Sea Rim State Park is a 4,141-acre state park in southeast Texas, located on the Gulf of Mexico, south of Port Arthur. Plenty of campgrounds here include tents and RV hookups with water/electricity hookups available. Sea Rim is a popular destination for birding, with over 200 species of birds spotted in its coastal dune habitat. It also has trails that are great for hiking or biking. The park allows dogs on leashes and has several designated pet areas.
Travel Tip: You’ll want to bring bug spray because mosquitoes can get pretty bad during certain times of the year, depending on where exactly you decide to set up camp!
There are plenty of places to camp near Houston. Some are free, and some are paid. Some are close to Houston, and some are further away (but still within driving distance). If you want to camp in the desert, Texas has those options, too!
We hope this article has given you some ideas for your next camping trip. We’re sure that no matter where you go in Texas, there will be plenty of things to see and do!
Powderhorn Ranch is a 17,000-acre property about 2 hours from Houston that will soon begin a new life as a state park, though not in a hurry.
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