Spring break quiet getaway - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

Element · 02-12-2008, 12:18 PM

Weather has been too nice! I NEED to go camping!
I'm afraid of heading to the beaches or around the Austin, San Antonio areas during spring break.
Looking for something quiet...private campgrounds ok, for SUV camping, and it needs to be a weekend.
Prefer something NE of Houston.
What do you think?
Is there such a place this time of year?

almitra · 02-12-2008, 01:07 PM

I'm going to Caddo Lake SP for spring break myself. Great tours of the primordial looking caddo lake via a real steam paddle boat ship, swamp tours, etc. I can't wait. It's around Marshall area.

ploddinTod · 02-12-2008, 03:19 PM

I've never been there but a co-worker told me of a place outside of Cleveland (Romayor) called Chain-O-Lakes. Do a google of it. Very kid friendly....swimming, nature trails, horseback riding, fishing, etc. It is privately owned but I'm not sure if they have a campground......lodge and log cabin accommodations.

Element · 02-12-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploddinTod

I've never been there but a co-worker told me of a place outside of Cleveland (Romayor) called Chain-O-Lakes. Do a google of it. Very kid friendly....swimming, nature trails, horseback riding, fishing, etc. It is privately owned but I'm not sure if they have a campground......lodge and log cabin accommodations.

I've had 2 friends recommend Chain-O-Lakes, both said it had been awhile since they'd been.
We made a trip up there, and found the place very unpleasant. The sites were small and crowded, and we had to move twice after they told us to just pick any unused spot, then they drove by after we had set up, said "uh, sorry not that one, it's reserved". After the second time, we packed up and asked for our money back then drove to Alabama Coushatti.
I also checked on the horses, and they were very dirty and did not look healthy.

Troop198 · 02-12-2008, 03:51 PM

Our friends like Martin Dies SP near Jasper
it may be farther than you want to go. They also like
Sam Houston National Forest (Stubblefield rec area) (near Conroe, Willis)

deafdave3 · 02-12-2008, 05:49 PM

I was also about to recommend Sam Houston National Forest.

happybooker1 · 02-12-2008, 08:57 PM

Cagle Recreation Area -- Sam Houston National Forest. 2 quiet loops, right on Lake Conroe (if you boat/fish), lots of trees, hiking/biking concrete trails.

Spring Creek Park in Tomball. 8 FHU RV sites, separate place for tents, playgrounds, quiet (10 min. from Tomball which has nice quaint old town shops), fishing creek. FREE sites -- just call to reserve.

I've seen good reviews for Castaways RV Park on Lake Conroe. Haven't been personally though.

Bastrop SP in Bastrop (yeah I know NW instead of NE). Nice quiet park, lots of trees, hiking/biking, close to Austin if you want to visit there.

Element · 02-12-2008, 09:30 PM

I looked up Stubblefield Rec area. It did look promising. Has anyone ever been to Village Creek State Park? I think it's going to be a toss between the two.
Thanks

Element · 02-12-2008, 09:42 PM

It looks like you can't make a reservation at Stubblefield. Is it pretty popular, would my chances be good if I just "chanced" it? I guess I could try the neighboring camp areas if it's full.

Mean Machine · 02-12-2008, 09:58 PM

Mission Tejas State Park is small, quiet, has a nice hiking trail, and a nice little fishing lake.

It's just north of Crockett on Hiway 21.

We really like it. Might be our favorite in the state. I'm almost hesitant to mention it, for fear of it finally being noticed. But it is fantastic!!!

natureboyhays · 02-12-2008, 10:20 PM

I second what MM said about Mission Tejas...a nice, small, quiet park in a beautiful setting. I've also been to Village Creek SP twice, and I loved it. However, that was before it took a direct hit from hurricane Rita, which tore it up pretty badly from what I've read online. I'm sure it will recover with time. The scenery (mix of pine woods & swamp/bayous) is (was?) great. I was only there for day trips, so can't vouch for the quality of the camping sites, though from driving by, I think they were typical state park sites (a bit close together but ok). I do recall they also had walk-in tent camping areas. You might check on TPWD's web site. Lake Houston park (formerly state park now run by city of Houston) is nice for hiking & walk-in/primitive camping, and they also have cabins, but prob not much to offer for RV/SUV camping.

natureboyhays · 02-14-2008, 12:40 AM

I thought of one other "PS" to add to my previous comments. In addition to the campgrounds others have mentioned in Sam Houston Natl Forest (Cagle & Stubblefield), another one I would recommend is Double Lake campground, which is just outside the town of Coldspring . From Houston, you can go up 59 to Cleveland and there is a back road (cant remember the hwy #) or you can go up 45 to New Waverly (between Conroe & Huntsville) & take Hwy 150 east about 25 miles or so. Happy camping

ploddinTod · 02-14-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natureboyhays

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]I thought of one other "PS" to add to my previous comments. In addition to the campgrounds others have mentioned in Sam Houston Natl Forest (Cagle & Stubblefield), another one I would recommend is Double Lake campground, which is just outside the town of Coldspring . From Houston, you can go up 59 to Cleveland and there is a back road (cant remember the hwy #)

That road is FM2025.

boze_man · 02-16-2008, 02:29 PM

spring break is tuf...couple years ago we tried and everything was booked solid cuz almost all the schools were off the same week..i spoke with a few park rangers etc and they said it would be pretty quiet the weeks before and after...sad that the one week ya can go it is booked solid...they should try to stagger the breaks...dunno if they changed it at all...we gonna try to go back country big bend, outta state, or go way down PINS...good luck

Element · 02-24-2008, 11:29 PM

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the information. We decided on Stubblefield Lake and really had a good time.
We got in Friday evening and got a water site just before dark. By Saturday afternoon the park had filled. The host said he had 2 spots open.
I did want to add, that you cannot buy wood there, but you can pick it up off the ground. It had rained for 3 days so we had to deal with wet wood, but it wasn't so bad.