top texas campgrounds

Houston-area campground stakes a claim on new list of America's best

Spring is here. Let's go camping.

The sunny spring weather has arrived in Texas. Houstonians looking for an outdoorsy spring vacation experience should put one of these seven Texas sites named among Campspot's Best Campgrounds in America on their itinerary.

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.

The only Houston-area 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."

Campspot cites Rayford Crossing's top-tier location and its proximity to popular suburbs like The Woodlands and Conroe among its list of standout qualities.

"[Visitors] can enjoy a serene pool, fishing in the stocked pond, and nearby world-class dining and shopping at The Woodlands' Market Street, and offering daily, weekly, or extended stays with vacation rentals, spacious concrete sites, and full hookups," Campspot wrote.

The park also features luxurious amenities such as a resort-style pool and hot tub, a fitness center, a library, arcade, and much more.

Rates at Rayford Crossing begin at $67 per night, which makes it an attractive place for travelers looking for an affordable stay in the Houston region.

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.

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.

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

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Outside Ideas

New podcast provides on-the-ground news from Texas state parks

Better Outside podcast host Morgan O’Hanlon

Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

Podcast host Morgan O’Hanlon captures ambient sound from a river.

Outdoorsy Texans have a new way to keep track of conservation initiatives within Texas' parks. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will launch a new podcast, Better Outside, on May 21 on all major podcast platforms.

A press release promises that listeners will "travel the woods and waters of Texas through an array of awe-inspiring stories about conservation, recreation and the outdoors."

The podcast does mean "travel" in a literal sense, taking listeners out in the field to experience the environments firsthand. They'll have a knowledgeable guide in host Morgan O’Hanlon, who is a senior writer at Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, as well as TPWD executive director David Yoskowitz.

“People are at the core of conservation work in Texas,” said Yoskowitz in the release. “I’m excited for you to hear their voices straight from the field, so they can share why the work they do matters and the impact it makes.”

$David Yoskowitz and Morgan O\u2019Hanlon recording Better Outside podcast$ David Yoskowitz and Morgan O’Hanlon record in the studio as well as in the field.Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

Some examples of the work featured include creating a new trail across the state, touring an existing park, and restoring bighorn sheep (which were on the brink of being wiped out by 1900) in West Texas. Another episode in the Hill Country follows feral hog bounty hunters. Although well-informed listeners may already know about some of these subjects, the podcast specifically hopes to focus on hidden gems and expanding horizons.

“I love adventure sports and am excited to inspire people to try new, and sometimes scary, things,” said O’Hanlon. “In our episode on the Devils River, I took my non-outdoorsy mom on one of the state’s most feared paddling trips. You’ll hear straight from her about the challenges I put her through — and why she would do it again.”

Better Outside isn't TPWD’s first podcast. It was Under the Texas Sky, which launched in 2019 and followed similar themes, with a notable focus on culture. Some episodes followed the Indigenous history of Texas parks, cowboy poets, and chefs who are involved in sustainable farming and cooking. Under the Texas Sky stopped being made when its host, longtime Passport to Texas radio host Cecilia Nasti, retired.

The new podcast is sponsored by the Austin-based Whole Earth Provision Co., which originally opened in 1970 as a real-life manifestation of the Whole Earth Catalog, and is now a cross between a camping, home goods, and outdoorsy gift store. It operates six locations in total in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas.

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