TEXAS FREE CAMPGROUNDS

Dear Reader: We are updating these listings now (April-May, 2004). The listings on this page now are in many cases outdated. We except to have our updated directory posted by June, 2004.

Rest areas: Stays of one night are permited for RVers at Texas state picnic areas and rest areas.

Wal-Mart stores. Unless posted, RVers may spend the night for free in any Wal-Mart parking lot. For a list of Wal-Mart stores that do not permit free overnight stays, click here.

Abilene
Seebee City Park has free camping with a three day limit. Ask for directions in town. -- THE EDITOR

Andrews
The Chamber of Commerce has a free campground with hookups at prairie dog town with a three day limit. It's a nice campground in a friendly town. -- L.YOUNG

Brownfield
There is a free campground with water and electric in the city park. Brownfield is 40 miles southwest of Lubbock on US 62/82. -- D. & B. BASS

Canyon
Canyon, just south of Amarillo on I-27, has a nice campground for $5 a night (honor system). It's on the North end of town within easy walking distance of the University, Wal-Mart, a grocery store and restaurants. Train tracks nearby can be a little noisy, but kids love to watch the trains. -- D. & B. BASS

Corpus Christi
On the southbound side of Highway 37 (exit 16) coming into the Corpus Christi area is Labonte Park, a Corpus Christi city park, which is right on the Nueces River. Since IH-37 is a main highway for Winter Texans, this park is used a lot. There is a visitor center and a restroom area, but no hookups. It's great for overnight. -- NO NAME GIVEN

Crosbyton
Check out the city park here. They have a free RV campground right on the main street through town that's clean and convenient. I slept on the ground there on recent trip mainly because the campgrounds around nearby Lubbock were nearly $20 for a tent site! -- A. MILLER

Dumas
Want to let you know there is a nice gravel (no grass) lot with electric hookups west of Dumas on Highway 87. It is alongside Texoma City Park. There is water and dump station available. It is city owned and there is no charge. Dumas is in north Texas in the Amarillo area. This is a real convenient and clean park. -- VINCE (no last name given)

Sept. 2000 Update: Reader Jerry Proffer wrote that the park only has about 12 spaces with electricity and water, and perhaps another 6-8 spaces without hookups for other RVs.

Oct. 2000: Reader Nora Kelton Henderson wrote that the campground "holds a lot more than 12 rigs" and has a donation box at the dump. "We stay there every year on our way to Colorado. You need to arrive by 2 pm as it usually fills up early."

Falcon Heights
A campsite at Falcon County Park, just one mile from Falcon Dam and Falcon State Park, is free the first night and $1.25 per day afterwards or $35 a month. There's no electric, but water, and a dump at the State Park. Any size rig. -- SKP DOUG

Floydada
The first two nights are free at Floydada's Wayne Russell RV Park. After that it's $5 per night, five nights maximum. There are 8 spaces with water and electic and a dump station. The park is located on US 70 (1st Street) at the north end of town (at Taft Street), on the west side of the road. -- J. CROSSLEY

Gainesville
The outlet mall on north end of town has an RV area. They might charge, but no one collected from me. If you are Northbound on I-45 and miss the mall, look for the Indian Bingo place on right just into Oklahoma. -- THE FRIZZ

Gatesville
Faunt Leroy Park. 7th street S, two blocks south of the courthouse. On the Leon River. Eight sites, water, electric, and dump station. First 2 days free, 14 day limit. Picnic tables, dumpster, guard light, and some shade trees. There is a sign on the main highway, at the courthouse, pointing to the park. A popular walking area for local residents. -- George Ballinger

Haskell
Last year I stayed at Haskell City Park, which is very nice with full hook-ups (30 & 50 amp), pull through sites, and lots of big trees. The first night is free, then it's $9 a night. But, it's on the honor system and I doubt if anyone would ever come to collect unless you stayed several days. -- J. IVY

RJ Belanger added: The restrooms were in poor shape, but if you're self-contained, you don't have to use them. Other than that, the sites were nice enough and were all well-shaded by trees, and it was peaceful the night we stayed since there was no ballgame at the adjacent field. Public tennis courts on the other side of the camping area did not cause any bothersome noise.

Another reader added in July, 2000, that the park had been recently upgraded.

Hereford
Five RV sites with water and electricity are available for up to a 24-hour stay at the Hereford Aquatic Center. A dump station is nearby. The park has a pond, walking track and YMCA. -- CITY OF HERFORD

Junction
Exit 456 on I-10 and go south to Schreiner City Park where camping is free for up to 3 days. The campground is very nice with many trees and is next to Lake Junction. -- A. AND L. MERRY

Lake Whitney
The Corps of Engineers has four day use areas (Kimball Bend Park, Steeles Creek Park, Walling Bend Park, Cedar Creek Park) that permit up to 14 days of free camping per 30 day period (tent or RV). All have boat ramps and chemical toilets but no electrical or water hook ups and no dump stations. The parks are patrolled by rangers and sheriffs deputies. Dumpsters are provided. -- O. McKEEL (9-00)

La Mesa
Forest Park City park offers up to three days of free camping with electric hookups available for a fee. The park is a half mile south of U.S. 180 on Texas Route 137 -- W. MURRAY

Levelland
There's a city-owned RV park on U.S. 385 on the south side of town with seven sites with water and electric and/or electric. You can stay up to four days in a one month period. Very clean and attractive -- GYPSY JOURNAL

Littlefield
Waylon Jennings RV Park offers water and 30 amp electric with a dump station. Littlefield is about about 30 miles northwest of Lubbock on US-84. The city park is named in honor of Western Country Singer Waylon Jennings who was born in Littlefield. There is no charge to stay, although there is a box for contributions. Don't expect much in Littlefield. Other than fast food places, the very few restaurants were all closed on the Sunday night we were there. -- D. LOW

Livingston
I stayed the Pump and Handle Truck Stop on the west end of town, and it worked out well . Dave B.

Odessa
Exit 116, I-20 (US 385), Grant Ave. Go five miles north on US 385 to just past 42nd to the county fairgrounds. Take a left, go about a block. Several of the light poles have outlets. It might not be enough power for AC or an electric heater, but you would have lights. Restaurants and stores are close by. -- THE FRIZZ

Padre Island (near Corpus Christi)
You can camp free at Padre Island National Seashore. There is no time limit and the water and dump are free. The only cost is an annual $20 fee. A lot of people stay the entire winter on the beach. For more information see http://www.nps.gov/pais/camping.htm. -- J. WEBSTER

Pampa
There is a free campground here.Turn north on Route 70 off Route 60 and go about one block, and it 's on the right next to the railroad tracks and a city park. Water, electric, toilets and a dump station are available with a three day limit. -- TERRY P (8-00)

Port Aransas
A six dollar annual permit that can be obtained at the City Hall or local convenience stores. With this you can camp on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico. There are no hook-ups, but there's water, and no limit on long you can camp. Trash cans are every hundred yards or so. Police patrol the area. A fee dump station is at the county park at the north end of the island. -- J MATTER

Sept, 2000: An update on Port Aransas: "As of Nov., 99, stays on the beach are limited to three nights; you can go away for a week and come back for another three days. The water and dump cost $2. A few times in Nov/Dec when I was there, the tide came right up to the dunes and swamped us." --SUE

San Angelo
Spring Creek City Park, on Fisherman's Road (off of Knickerbocker) on the way to the airport, offers free camping -- NO NAME GIVEN

Silverton
The City Park on the south side of state highway 86 has two electric only hookups. There is no charge. An employee at the First State Bank of Silverton told me about them. -- J. CROSSLEY (8-00)

Slaton
There is free camping at Slaton's city park with water and electric hookups. The limit is 3 days. -- C BAXLEY

Wichita Falls
The City RV Park has water and electricity, about 25 spaces and can accommodate rigs up to about 35 feet. There's an honor system toll box. Last year a space was $6.  -- G. PROFF

OTHER FREE CAMPING. Texas has many, many inexpensive free or inexpensive campgrounds, most on National Forest or other public lands. Most require a bit of a drive, but often not too far offf the beaten path. Don Wright's Guide To Free Campgrounds lists more than 400 such free campgrounds. If you plan to spend any time camping in Oregon and are on a budget, this guide is essential.