Top Camping Sites Near Houston

The Daily Meal Staff|Sept. 13, 2014 7:00 am EST

Houston, Texas is a large city overflowing with concrete and high-rise buildings. Business is the lifeblood of the area, but everyone needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and get in touch with the great outdoors. Several state and county parks can be found throughout the area and many of them are less than a one-hour drive from the city and its suburbs. Here are five nearby places to pitch a tent, park an RV and enjoy a day of family camping.

Brazos Bend State Park
21901 FM 762 Rd
Needville, TX 77461
(979) 553-5102
www.tpwd.tx.us

A popular place for horseback riding, fishing, hiking and camping, Brazos Bend is a scenic piece of nature just a short drive southwest of downtown Houston. The park has six small lakes and is known for its alligator population and other wildlife. It also houses the George Observatory, a place where you and the kids can gaze at the stars through large telescopes. Brazos Bend State Park has multiple campsites, some of which include water and electricity for RV campers and trailers. The park is only a short drive from Houston, but campers often feel like they have traveled far and wide, as the natural look and feel of the park is light years away from the concrete of the nearby metropolis.

Double Lake Campground
301 FM 2025
Coldspring, TX 77331
(936) 653-3448
www.camprrm.com

Located within the Sam Houston National Forest, Double Lake Campground is a great place for camping, picnicking, fishing and hiking. The campground has family camping sites and even special camping sites for the disabled. Double Lake is small, but very natural and safe for swimming and other activities. Probably the greatest attraction at Double Lake campground is the surrounding National Forest, which overflows with deer, rabbits, frogs and other wildlife. Take a short hike through the woods, cast your fishing pole and return back to your campsite for an evening of peace and quiet at Double Lake Campground, a nature lover's paradise.

Lake Houston Wilderness Park
25840 Farm-To-Market Rd. 1485
New Caney TX 77357
(281) 354-6881
www.houstontx.gov

With nearly 5,000 acres of wooded parkland, Lake Houston Wilderness Park is a great place to experience majestic trees, cool running streams and individual solitude. It is the only park operated by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department that offers overnight camping and it's also one of the closest functioning campsites to the city of Houston. Campers can select from many options such as lakeside tent platforms, screen shelters and walk-in campsites. Lake Houston Wilderness Park even rents lodges and lakeside cabins to those who want to experience nature, but prefer more conventional living arrangements. A short, 30-minute drive from downtown is all it takes to reach Lake Houston Wilderness Park, one of the most natural places available within such a short distance from the city.

Huntsville State Park
565 Park Road 40 West
Huntsville, TX 77340
(936) 295-5644
www.tpwd.tx.us

Drive about an hour straight north of downtown Houston on I-45 and you will arrive at Huntsville State Park, another park located within Sam Houston National Forest. Like most other state parks, Huntsville State Park presents nature lovers with a host of activities, among them picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming, horseback riding and camping. Raven Lake, surrounded by trees, is one of the highlights of this approximately 2,000-acre state park and is popular with those who enjoy water activities. Visitors can rent a canoe and paddle on the water before pitching a tent at one of the 160 campsites. Screened shelters are available and there are some air-conditioned cabins for those who love nature, but prefer to stay cool.

Stephen F. Austin State Park
Park Road 38
San Felipe, TX 77473
(979) 885-3613
www.tpwd.tx.us/state-parks

San Felipe, Texas is home to Stephen F. Austin State Park, a park named for one of the great leaders who helped settle the state of Texas. The park is located on the banks of the Brazos River and offers a small slice of quiet and solitude. Most visitors to Stephen F. Austin State Park come here for hiking and biking, and the park has several miles of trails that take visitors along scenic paths with riverside views. The park has traditional campsites for tents and RVs, plus screened shelters, a dining hall and a group lodge. Park rangers often lead the hikes on the walking trails and many Houston-area residents take advantage of the summer camps for elementary school age youth. The natural beauty, varied amenities and added services make Stephen F. Austin State Park one of the best places for a nature escape close to Houston.

Bryan Carey is a Houston, Texas resident with an avid interest in restaurants, dining, breweries, wineries, festivals, cultural events, museums, theatre, concerts, and other forms of entertainment. He has been writing about entertainment, travel, and related topics for more than fifteen years and has thousands of articles to his credit. His work can be found at Examiner.com.