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Most camping near Dallas falls into two groups: lakes in the Metroplex that fill up fast, and places far enough out to feel quiet. The two hour ring west on I-20 is where the quiet starts. Our weekend escape page for Dallas and Fort Worth covers the full trip; this post compares your camping choices within about 2 hours.
Quick answer: For camping near Dallas within 2 hours, the main picks are Cedar Hill State Park, Lake Mineral Wells State Park, Dinosaur Valley State Park and Inez Spring Riverfront RV Park in Eastland. State parks run about $10 to $30 a night plus an entrance fee. Inez Spring has RV sites from $40, tent sites from about $31 and no entrance fee.
Camping near Dallas usually means a campsite you can reach in 2 hours or less from the city, for a Friday to Sunday trip without burning a vacation day. Inside one hour you get Metroplex lakes. At 1.5 to 2 hours you get the Cross Timbers country west of Fort Worth: rocky hills, rivers and much darker skies.
Fees below come from each park page, read October 11, 2026. State parks charge a daily entrance fee on top of the campsite fee. Drive times are rough estimates from downtown Dallas with no traffic.
| Campground | Drive from Dallas | Camping types and nightly fee | Entrance fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Hill State Park | about 25 minutes (est.) | Full hookup $30, electric $25, hike-in primitive $10 | Daily fee per adult |
| Lake Mineral Wells State Park | about 1.5 hours (est.) | Electric $24 to $30, water only $16, hike-in primitive $10 | Daily fee per adult |
| Dinosaur Valley State Park | about 1.5 hours (est.) | Electric $26, walk-in primitive $18, hike-in primitive $16 | Daily fee per adult |
| Inez Spring Riverfront RV Park, Eastland | about 2 hours | Full hookup RV from $40, tent from about $31, barndominium for 11 (see rates on the booking page) | None |
Each choice is good at something. Cedar Hill is closest. Lake Mineral Wells has rock climbing and a long trail. Dinosaur Valley has real dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River. Our park is the one with full hookups, a private river launch and a house for groups, right off the interstate. See our Dinosaur Valley State Park guide for fees, the park map and the best months to see the tracks.
Pick the type of site first, then the place. The right site matters more than the right park.
The Leon River runs through Inez Spring, and guests launch kayaks and canoes from our private launch. We do not rent boats, so bring your own. Lake Leon is about 10 minutes away for bigger water and fishing.
The park has more than 70 sites on 24 acres, with trails, a fire pit, a BBQ area, laundry and park Wi-Fi. Pets are welcome on sites, leashed, up to two. It is one minute off I-20 at Exit 343, so you are not driving dirt roads with a trailer at night.
Wondering about the exact miles? How far Eastland is from Dallas has the drive time table and the best times to leave. For more drive time options, our RV camping near Dallas guide sorts parks into 1, 2 and 3 hour rings.
Yes, for people who plan for cold. Winter weekends are the quietest of the year at most parks, and you often get your pick of sites. But north Texas winters are not mild every night. Hard freezes happen, and an ice storm can close roads for a day.
If you would rather have walls on a cold weekend, cabin style rentals near Dallas covers the barndominium as a warm option for families.
Some people come for a weekend and realize two hours from Dallas is a good place to live for a while. If you have a job between Fort Worth and Abilene, are between homes, or want a winter base near DFW family, our monthly RV sites are $500 for a back-in or $650 for a pull-through, plus your own metered electric at 17 cents per kWh. The deposit is $200 and refundable, and terms are month to month.
Within about 2 hours of Dallas you can camp at Cedar Hill State Park on Joe Pool Lake, Lake Mineral Wells State Park, Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, or Inez Spring Riverfront RV Park on the Leon River in Eastland. State parks add a daily entrance fee; Inez Spring does not charge one.
TPWD lists Cedar Hill full hookup sites at $30 a night and hike-in primitive sites at $10, Lake Mineral Wells electric sites at $24 to $30, and Dinosaur Valley electric sites at $26, all plus a daily entrance fee. At Inez Spring, RV sites start at $40 a night and tent sites at about $31.
Yes. Many state parks have restrooms with showers near their main loops, so check the park page for the loop you book. At Inez Spring, tent campers use the same rebuilt shower house and laundry as RV guests.
Yes. At Inez Spring the barndominium sleeps 11 in 4 bedrooms with a full kitchen and a media room for 17, so a family can come for the river and trails without any gear. See rates on the booking page.
It can be, if you plan for cold. North Texas gets hard freezes and the odd ice storm, so check the forecast, bring a sleeping bag rated well below the low, and keep a backup plan. Winter weekends are quieter, and full hookup RV sites with 30 and 50 amp power make cold nights easier.
Texas state parks allow leashed pets in most areas; check each park's rules. At Inez Spring pets are welcome on RV and tent sites, leashed, up to two per site. Pets in the barndominium are by request, so ask the office first.
Camping near Dallas does not have to mean a crowded lake loop. Two hours west you get a river, trails and a full hookup site, or a tent site, or a house for the whole family.
See open RV and tent sites on our booking page, or call (254) 629-1197 to ask about a group, a big rig or a late arrival. Inez Spring Riverfront RV Park, 10505 Interstate 20, Eastland, TX 76448, Exit 343.
