ajikan

Hi everyone,
This is my first time posting here so please bear with me. I'm looking for a nice area with lots of trees and nature. I will be going with my boyfriend so I'm trying to find a place that's quiet and not too crowded. We'll be tent camping and don't really need a lot of facilities. I live in the DFW area, so anywhere within three hours or so would be good. I was thinking maybe east texas or south oklahoma. Any advice that can be given would be greatly appreciated.

Motorman355

The tricky part is the quiet part. As you might have read on some of the other posts, state parks are still busy on the weekends. You might have better luck finding seclusion in national forests and grasslands. http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas/ I have never camp in them before so maybe someone else can post some information.

For nature, I like to head to Caddo Lake State Park. It's a whole other world from metroplex. It's three hours east of Dallas. A must is a patoon boatride through the bayou. There is a guide who operates out of the concessions in the park. $10.00 per person the last time I went. Worth every penny. The guide was very knowledgeable of everything that slithers, swims or flys in the bayou. Dont' forget your binnaculars. Call the park headquarters to get the telephone of the consessions store for trips.

Not as far, is the Tyler State Park. Very beautiful and has lots of tent sites.

Motorman355

ajikan

Thanks for the advice. I'll check both those places out.

Turn Key

Hi and welcome aboard. Hope we can furnish what your looking for.

If your headed out on the weekend, "quiet" is the tricky bit as "Motorman355" stated. About the only state park that might fit within 3 hours is Meridian SP. Depending on where in North Texas your at, it could be right at the extreme of your limit. Very nice park and doesn't get the usage that a lot of our other parks do.

If you could go the greater distance, my number one choice for what your looking for would be South Llano River SP in the southwestern end of the Texas Hill Country. Tends to get an older crowd with few of the kiddos that can be a bit disturbing. Extensive "birding" and deer watching are the order of the day in this park. Great place! Have been there twice for extended vacations and will return again.

Here's a couple of sites:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f...arks/meridian/

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f...h_llano_river/

Now, if you can go during the week like DW and I do, that changes things and I have a whole lot more suggestions. Just let me know either by posting here or by PM. No matter what, I hope you have a great time and as always,

Happy Camping!

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MissionCamper

I've also considered the LBJ Grasslands (as Motorman posted) near Decatur for a little solitude. If you go, be sure to post again and tell us how it went.

ajikan

Thanks for all the advice. I think we might go and check out the Tyler SP. I'll post again and let you know how it was.

toejam

Black Creek Lake is out of the way, primitive and quiet. Nice hiking trails there:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas/recrea...ackcreek.shtml

One of my favorite places to camp with my wife is Juniper Point on the quiet end of Lake Texoma:

http://ra2.reserveamerica.com/campgr...&parkCode=junp

MissionCamper

Thanks for the tip...and the links.

Texastrooper

If you are looking for lots of trees that I can recommend Daingerfield. Almost all of Texas SP can be packed on the weekend, but Daingerfield is small. Not to many campsites and can be quiet during off-season. And a small very clear lake and no power boats!!!
I also love quite campgrounds. I don't mind the "noise" fom the neighbors. But I don't like the noise from too much traffic and power boats.
You can rent or bring your own canoe. I love it. About 3 hours east of Dallas.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f.../daingerfield/

Another small park is Bonham. Only about 20 camp sites. Small lake. No power boats.

Another campground I came across about 2 years ago is along the Talimena Scenic Drive in SE Oklahoma. Maybe about 4-5 hours from the DFW area.
http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2485/
http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/
There is a nice campground on the Oklahoma side. I did not camp there but checked it out. It looked really nice. Lots of forest, great views ...
http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/a...r_winding.html

One more comment to the LBJ grass lands. We have been there a few times. Group camping. The valley view camping area is nice. No facilities. Just some primitive but clean rest rooms. No electricity and you have to bring your own water. And very, very quiet.
The campsite is shaded but otherwise there is not too much forest. More grasslands like the name says.
But it is nice. Lots of hiking and biking trails.

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tinneyr

I just want to echo how nice Caddo Lake is. We rented a canoe and headed up the river and then into the swamp. It is a spectacular area to see the plants and birds, moss hanging everywhere and even alligators. It feels like you've left civilization behind and have entered another world.