I've got a group interested in doing a camping trip soon (before it gets too hot) within 1-2 hours of Dallas. What are the best parks for such a trip? We're undecided on tents vs cabins or both. Any advice or thoughts on that would be helpful too.

I remember seeing a DFW camping thread a while back but my search keeps timing out now.

http://mobile.texags.com/Forums/37/Topics/1614710
http://mobile.texags.com/Forums/37/Topics/1616168
http://mobile.texags.com/Forums/34/Topics/1967254
http://mobile.texags.com/Forums/37/Topics/1794055

If these aren't mentioned in the above threads I recommend:

Ray Roberts State Park
Eisenhower State Park
Cooper Lake State Park
Mineral Wells State Park
Anywhere on Possum Kingdom
Beavers Bend is totally worth the extra hour or so of driving

Ray Roberts State Park...45 minutes north

Lake Murray State Park..Ardmore, OK...1.5 hours north.

There are at least 10 state parks within a 2 hour drive of Dallas, all of which are great for tent camping. We prefer Ray Roberts - Johnson Branch Unit and Dinosaur Valley. Beaver's Bend is probably the only place with cabins within a reasonable distance, also very nice.

+1 for Lake Murray. Clear water, sandy beaches, trees and usually not as crowded as local state parks.

Another ray Roberts vote.

The "cabins" at Cooper Lake are incredible ... They're really more like vacation houses. As far as tent or trailer camping goes, I recommend Ray Roberts and Mineral Wells State Park, personally.

From Frisco, beavers bend is only about 2 1/2 hours away. I just started going about 2 years ago and it has been great. I go to fly fish with my buds, canoe the lower river with my wife, or just go with the wife and dog during the winter to just get away. can't beat it.

Thanks

I'll make a list of this and try some out. Thanks!

If it's a large group, we've rented cabins at Deer Creek Lodge up near Ardmore, OK. It's right next to Turner Falls. I'm guessing they're probably all booked by now though.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 3/28/2012 2:59p).]