Day Trips & Camping Spots Near Palestine, TX
Day Trips & Camping Spots Near Palestine, TX
Day Trips & Camping Spots Near Palestine, TX
Summer is here and what better way to spend it than a last minute day trip or a weekend camping trip! I’m ready for some hot dogs, s’mores and outdoor fun and it got me thinking that a list of cool campsites and day trip spots might be useful for someone other than me! Pack the coolers and hit the road for some weekend fun! This is by no means an extensive list, there are literally 100’s of campsites near us. Check out this list of campsites–all within 3 hours (or less) of Palestine (in no particular order):
Lake Palestine – it’s not far and it’s fun! – 30 mins from Palestine
- Lake Palestine Resort – Cabin rentals, boat rentals and full RV hookups on Lake Palestine. The grill has great food and the patio overlooking the lake is one of my favorite places to watch the sunset with a cold beer on a summer night! I have never camped here but I do love the sunsets on the grill. This is right off of Hwy 155, so it does get crowded in the summer. There is usually live music on the patio on weekend evenings also.
- JB’s Lakefront Camping – Haven’t camped here, but the waterfront camping looks great and is probably far less crowded than some of the other campsites right on the highway. Definitely have RV spots, but check availability for tent camping.
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grab some dinner and a bucke of beer and enjoy the sunset over lake palestine resort. AHHMAZING!
Salmon Lake Park- Grapeland, Texas
The most underrated camping around! My whole family LOVES Salmon Lake. Awesome swimming pond, cool old buildings and cars to poke around. Very unique park. Salmon Lake Park is a unique private recreational vehicle park in Grapeland, Texas. It is famous for its bluegrass festival. They offer Cabins rentals, RV, and tent camping year round. They host family and school reunions, parties, car shows, and festivals.
Richland Chambers- about 1 hour ish from Palestine!
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Sunset Cove Marina, Rv Park and Grill– on the richland-chambers reservoir in corsicana,texas.Large lots, Full hook ups, Grill, Convenience store, Live Bait, Tackle, 3 lane boat ramp
Stillwater RV Resort– Winona, TX
The fanciest camping ever–lazy river, adult pool with swim-up bar…need I say more? We “camped” with a group here and had a blast.
Big Thicket Adventure – Enjoy the unspoiled Neches River!
The Big Thicket area is about 3 hours away, so it’s best if you spend at least one night (you’ll want to spend more, though.) EastTex Canoes Offers guided canoe tours, canoe rental and more on the wild Neches River–from day trips to primitive camping excursions. This is on my bucket list, I need to plan this! 😉 or…Pick your poison with primitive tent camping or cabin rentals at Indian Springs Campground.
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Canoe the Neches! Photo Via Trinity University
Jellystone Park Tyler –
best to take the kiddos. lots of activities–including pool, jumping pillow, mini golf,golf cart rentals (with golf cart trails) etc.
Paddle Trip at Texas’ #1 Paddle Trail – Village Creek
This is best suited for a weekend or a long weekend, as its a tad too far to be worth it for just a day trip (about 3 hours away). Village Creek is an official Texas Paddling Trail. Get away from the people and enjoy a day (or longer!) with mother nature. Serenity is what you will find and you will find yourself hooked on Village Creek. Choose your own adventure – from 2 to 8 hour paddles from Big Thicket Outfitters. Paddle to an amazing swimming hole or to your personal primitive sandbar campsite….or if you aren’t a camper, you can always rent a cabin at Village Creek State Park instead!
Texas State Railroad Campground in Rusk
The Grounds offer picnic tables, grills, fire rings, laundry facility and WiFi! There are separate showers and restrooms on-site, a water splash pad, nature trails and a campground office complete with sundries and firewood for purchase. The 15-acre Cherokee Lake is where fishermen find various fish, including crappie, catfish, striped bass, sauger, walleye, smallmouth bass, bluegill and largemouth bass. Whether they are casting, spinning or flying fish, chances of getting a bite are good! Onsite, travelers may look forward to historical sightseeing. For the history buff, there are plenty of other historic sites, several green spaces for nature walks and scenic viewing, and of course, visitors may expect great local eateries and bars to enjoy.
Rusk KOA – Fun for the Whole Family and Only 30 minutes away!
Bring your swimsuits, sunscreen and hotdogs and enjoy a fun weekend in your own neck of the woods. Cabins, teepees! RV and tent sites available. The campsite is well maintained with a salt water pool, playground and fun for all. Reservations can be made online.
Mission Tejas State Park – Grapeland, TX
This is a small park but is big on awesome. Great for a day trip or to camp for the weekend. Campsites with water and electricity are just $13/night or daily entrance fees are $2/adult and kids 12 and under are Free. Talk about cheap entertainment! Enjoy fishing (you can rent fishing poles there) and excellent hiking and the 1828 Rice Family Log Home that is open for tours.
The Log Cabin at Mission Tejas State Park– just walk right in and explore! This was from a trip in 2011.
Tejas Timber Trailhead at Mission Tejas SP. (photo also from our 2011 visit)
Fairfield Lake State Park – Fairfield, TX
*Note: this park is in danger of closing as of 2023–check website for current availability** It is definitely worth a mention because it is so close to Palestine. Find info here. Per the park’s website, activities include camping, backpacking, hiking, horseback riding on approximately 15 miles of day-use equestrian trails, nature study, bird watching, boating on a 2,400-acre lake, water skiing, jet skiing, fishing, and lake swimming in a large, buoyed sandy area.
Crockett Family Resort on Houston County Lake – Crockett, TX
An all-in-one family paradise with cabins and RV/tent camping options. Activities include: Boating, volleyball, horseshoes, paddleboats, mini golf, marina and dock, 2 acre activity park, bass fishing, swimming pool, lake swimming and more. Find all information and pricing here.
Sunset over Houston County Lake at Crockett Family Resort. Photo via Crockett Resort
Purtis Creek State Park – Eustace, TX – A great day trip from Palestine!
It’s only about an hour away, so go out for the day with the family and rent a paddleboat or canoe to really experience Purtis Creek. Camping is available if you decide you’d like to make it a weekend! The water level is higher now, so it will be much more beautiful than it has in the last few years. If you have time while you’re in the area, definitely check out the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, TX–it is really neat! Bring your fishing poles on this trip.
Purtis Creek State Park Fishing Pier. Image via Texas State Parks
Tyler State Park – Tyler, TX
An hour away and worth every minute! Great for a day trip or to spend a relaxing weekend. Tyler State Park has a beautiful 64-acre spring-fed lake and you can also enjoy great hiking, camping and try your hand at geocaching! The park also offers cabins for $60/night. Spend the day on the Whispering Pines Nature Trail , fishing off the dock (you do not need a fishing license in a State Park and you can borrow poles from the park), swim in the lake, rent a canoe or paddleboat, or just read a book and enjoy the serenity at your campsite. This is a gem right in our Piney Woods backyard!
Swim at Lake Tyler at Tyler State Park! Image via Texas State Parks.
Martin Dies Jr. State Park – Canoeing and Gators!
This is my favorite state park in Texas and a much better kept secret than Caddo Lake SP (no diss to Caddo, at all! this is just less crowded). It’s about 3 hours away in Jasper, TX. Don’t let the weird park name fool you…it is awesome. Rent a canoe and paddle around looking at the wildlife–you WILL undoubtedly see gators. It’s a little freaky when in the canoe…but so awesome. I would probably not swim here, but there are swimming areas..I hope they are roped off haha! Lots of hiking, birding, stargazing, etc. Many campsites located right on the water. For more info, click here.
This is me in front of the sign when you enter Martin Dies Jr State Park…lol don’t feed them!
I took MANY photos during our canoe trip…gorgeous scenery! I didn’t get any gator shots, unfortunately. I was too worried the canoe would tip me into the gator water! haha!
Dock near Canoe rental at Martin Dies. Notice the thick lilly pad growth in the water. I wonder how thick the lilly pads are with all the rain this year…
Enjoy your Summer! 🙂
Where will you go? Where have you gone? All I know is, it’s time for me to ADVENTURE IT! If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them– Leave a comment below and I will include it! Have fun and go be outside!
