Top 5 Places to Camp in Texas
One of the best parts of living in a state as big as Texas is the wide variety of natural beauty to choose from. If you drive far enough, you can find mountains, deserts, tropics, beaches, plains, swamps, and even the Texas Piney Woods. Whatever your style, Texas offers tons of beautiful natural views to choose from.
If you’re new to Texas camping and are wondering where to start in choosing your next camping destination, we’re here for you! The Glamp Queens have compiled a few of our favorite places in Texas to help you out.
Big Bend National Park: The trip down to Big Bend is one to experience in and of itself. Located on the border of Mexico and Texas, Big Bend offers an arid landscape with access to breathtaking panoramic views and mountain trails. The park was established in 1944 and is located in the Chihuahuan Desert. The Chisos Mountains are located inside the park and create a beautiful mountain range for either hikers or onlookers to admire. At the southern edge of the park, the murky waters of the Rio Grande River divide the lands between the U.S. and Mexico of which the park encompases about 118 miles of the natural boundary. With the semi-arid climate, more than 1,200 species of plants and over 600 species of animals can be found. Make sure to stop off at Terlingua, which was nicknamed the “Texas Ghost Town” for reasons you’ll be sure to realize upon arrival.
Caddo Lake State Park: Head out east to find this lush landscape that sits on one of the only natural lakes in Texas. Take a kayak to enjoy the swamps and gorgeous cypress trees hanging with Spanish moss. You may even spot an alligator! The lake has a history dating back to the 1800s when Spain governed part of Texas over the creation of a border between the Spanish territory and Louisisana. This border dispute resulted in the lake becoming neutral territory between the countries which grew to be a popular destination for outlaws and escaped slaves for many years.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park: Up north in the panhandle of Texas sit the Palo Duro Canyon. As the 2nd largest canyon in the U.S., you’ll be sure to find some beautiful and dramatic natural features. The famous painter, Georgia O’Keeffe even found this landscape inspiring and made several paintings of the Palo Duro Canyon between 1916 - 1918. O’Keeffe described the canyon as “a burning, seething cauldron, filled with dramatic light and color.” This canyon has continued to inspire many artists and musicians including the American composer, Samuel Jones, who wrote the Symphony No. 3 called “Palo Duro Canyon” in 1992.
Padre Island National Seashore: Located in the Gulf of Mexico near Corpus Christi, this protected seashore is part of a group of islands stretching down the shoreline of Texas. This seashore is one of the longest barrier islands in the world to remain undeveloped and stretches 65.5 miles long. As a fantastic place for windsurfing, birdwatching, swimming, and admiring the sea turtles in the area, this is a great place for beach camping. Just be sure to bring enough water and keep in mind that most of the park is primitive camping and four-wheel-drive vehicles are required to access certain parts of the seashore.
El Cosmico in Marfa, TX: We couldn’t be the Glamp Queens without mentioning this iconic glamping destination out in the high desert plains of Marfa, TX. A great stop on your way down to Big Bend, this unique destination has become known as an art Mecca for many travelers since the 1970s. With a wide range of glamped out shelters to choose from, you’re invited to stay in anything from tepees, yurts, safari tents, or trailers. If you’re looking for something a little different with lots of opportunity to admire local artists, this is the place for you!
Where Are You Headed?
Share your adventures with us! We want to know where you’re headed for your camping/glamping excursions! And if you already have a favorite destination that’s not included on this list, let us know!
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