camp.tx
This is a primitive patch of land near the road near Terlingua, Texas, and Big Bend National Park. Land owner is supposedly okay for public use according to online source. This rocky patch of desert is little more than a place to sleep if you're in the vicinity to visit the local attractions. There are some small fire rings scattered about so there is potential to settle in for a few days if you so desire. Moderately flat. Recommended. Satisfactory cell service.

camp.tx
An exquisite free campground next to the Colorado River near Marble Falls, Texas. Most sites are equipped with fire rings and picnic tables. There are a number of beautiful, grassy sites suitable for vehicle-supported camping, and the rest are walk-in tent camping. Clean, safe, with vault toilets. Despite being free, you can tell the campground is loved and is well cared for. Not much to explore in the surrounding area. Strongly recommended. Excellent cell service.

camp.tx
This is a maintained campground near the Rio Grande River offering excellent access to Boquillas, Mexico. There is a negligible nightly fee to use the campground, and it is equipped with picnic tables, potable water, food storage lockers, rest rooms, showers, and a general store with gas. Up to two vehicles per site. Located in Big Bend National Park that is filled with adventure and exploration. Suitable for ground tents. No fires. Javelina are abundant. Area is grassy with some trees offering shade. Recommended. No cell service.

Roadside picnic area near Marfa, Texas. Ground tents not allowed. This is a suitable place to spend the night if you're in a vehicle-based sleeping platform. No campfires. Not a campground. This is the Marfa Lights observation area. The Marfa Lights are vehicle headlights visible on a distant mountain, but it's fun to pretend that they're atmospheric anomalies. Be prepared for a small crowd and social experience between sunset and 11 PM. It's a non-conventional place to spend a few nights, but was a mostly positive experience. Sort of recommended. Good cell service.

Located in Caddo Grasslands in northern Texas, this is a serene, free campsite in wildlife management area. Not far from pavement but still reasonably secluded near the end of a spur. Felt safe here, and had the location all to myself. Clean and mostly coniferous. Not much to explore, but some hiking and outdoor activity in the area. Room for a few vehicle-supported campers. Recommended. Good cell service.

Remote, primitive campsite, "Robber's Roost," located in Big Bend National Park. This campsite is in the middle of the desert surround by mountains on the horizon. It is very private. It consists of a few flat areas for tent camping and can accommodate two or three overland vehicles. It is clean and nicely cared for. Four-wheel drive access. There is a storage locker to protect food from wildlife. Big Bend is spectacular and filled with adventure. Very peaceful. Back-country camping permit with reservation required. Highly recommended. No cell service.

This is a maintained campground in the Chisos Basin area of Big Bend National Park. This is probably the most popular public camping area in the park. There is a negligible nightly fee. It is equipped with picnic tables, shelters, lockers, rest rooms, and potable water. Surrounded by beautiful scenery and mountains. Expect this campground to be full during peak times. Big Bend is an amazing wilderness area worthy of exploration. Due to the scenery it is worth staying at despite the high concentration of people. Suitable for ground tents and one or two overland vehicles. Recommended. Poor cell service.

The Flying-J truck stop. Camped in parking lot near a few RVs that were parked for the night. Not a desirable destination. Noisy. However, felt safe due to the number of cars, RVs, and trucks that were there doing the same thing. Superb facility. Shower. Laundry. Tacky t-shirts for sale. Recommended if you simply need to sleep on the road. Good cell service.

Free dispersed camping in a wildlife management area located in the Caddo Grasslands of northern Texas. This is a primitive, spacious fenced-in area. Accessible from dirt road, not far from pavement. It's mostly grassy with some tree coverage, and with fire rings scattered throughout. Short walk to lake. Room for numerous vehicle-supported campers. Popular location next to lake, so other campers likely. Not much to explore, but nice area for outdoor recreation. Recommended. Good cell service.

Inexpensive campground next to picturesque Coffee Mill Lake in Caddo Grasslands of north Texas. Costs $4 per night. Insert money into slot. Has boat ramp, vault toilets. A dozen or so plots with picnic tables and fire rings. Vehicles must stay on pavement or gravel. Although it works for overland-style camping, it's better suited for ground tents. Not much to explore, but good area for picnicking and outdoor recreation. Expect a lot of human activity in fair weather, and possible disruptive behavior. Your experience may vary. Good cell service.

This is a noisy, roadside picnic area for viewing the Marfa Mystery Lights. It is just a paved flat area with a restroom and a large patio. Not a proper campsite. Tons of vehicles and sometimes a train. It sounds horrible, but droves of people come out to see the Mystery Lights. Travelers from all over the world. You will get horrible sleep, but its a wonderful social experience and that is what you should go for. Between lovely towns of Alpine and Marfa. Good cell service. Room for multiple vehicles. Recommended.

Found this site with help of local knowledge so keep secret. Land use is uncertain here, so be cognizant of that. This is an access road for a hiking trail on the border of Big Bend National Park. This section of road has a few flat spots and fire rings that are very obviously frequently used. Beautiful red boulders at the base of the mountain. Good cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles at this particular spot, but neighboring spots more spacious. Petroglyphs nearby. Close to Terlingua and National Park. Strongly recommended.

A fee campsite in Big Bend Ranch State Park. Very remote off of a long, scenic, primitive road, surrounded by desert and mountains. Has fire ring, picnic table, with rustic shelter. No cell service. Enough room for two vehicles. You might not see another soul during your stay. Tons of adventure and exploration in this beautiful area. Reservations recommended during busy season. Beware summer heat. Site named Rincon 1. Strongly recommended.

A wonderful free campsite in a designated camping area on the shore of the Brazos River in Possum Kingdom. Hilltop wooded setting with great view of water down below. Close to boat ramp and boating opportunities. Picnic table with brick shelter, fire ring, trash cans, vault toilet. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Great cell service. Recommended.

A fee campground at a Texas State Park. This is a relatively low traffic campsite in the equestrian area of Mineral Wells. Wooded hilltop setting. Enough room for single vehicle. Parallel parking style. Picnic table, fire ring, restrooms nearby with nice showers. Lake nearby with recreation opportunities. Great cell service. Reservations required, and other campers in the vicinity.

A fee campground at a Texas State Park. This campsite is along a wash in a wooded valley surrounded by rocky hills. Some cell service. Enough room for single vehicle in paved spur. Fire ring. Picnic table. Short distance from restroom with awesome showers. Good for two or three ground tents. Reservations required, and many other campers in the vicinity.

A fee campground at a Texas State Park. This campsite is a paved spur next to some really beautiful sand dunes at Monahans Sandhills. Enough room for single vehicle. There is a picnic table and a shelter, and water and electrical hook-ups. Nearby bathroom with showers and trash cans. Very busy with other campers and picnickers. No privacy. Surrounded by RVs. Reservations required, and many other campers in the vicinity.

On the shore of Lake Conroe in Houston National Forest. Forested area along dirt road with spanish moss and lush flora. Beautiful setting. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Good cell service. While this is a primitive experience this is a popular spot for local campers and fishermen. Some trash, but not overwhelming. Recommended.

Camping on the beach in Port Aransas, Texas. Inexpensive $12 permit required, valid for remainder of calendar year. Trash cans. Porta-johns. Clean beach with ample room for numerous vehicles. Very popular destination, so you will be surrounded by other campers. Still a pleasing experience with soothing sound of the surf. Good cell service. Recommended.

Beach camping by the jetty at the southern tip of Padre Island National Seashore. Soft sand here, above high tide on uneven ground. Though it is easy to level. Primitive. Some cell service. Enough room for a few vehicles. Though it is at the end of a 60 mile beach drive will likely encounter other visitors and campers, but very few. Be wary of tide. Enjoyed a campfire. Strongly recommended.

A grassy primitive clearing along a dirt forest road in Houston National Forest. This road was lined with clearings and campsites which were all very busy on Easter weekend. While this was a good safe night sleep in a lovely forest it was not a destination campsite. Campfire remnants. Some cell service. This area is worth exploring, but site itself is not recommended.

A fee campground in Colorado Bend State Park only a short distance from the river. Picnic table shelters, fire rings, composting toilets, running water. This is a grassy valley in a wooded area. Hiking nearby, and lots of wildlife. I freed a trash panda from a dumpster. While there are some lovely features in this state park, the camping experience was mediocre. No cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site.

A fee campground outside of El Paso, Texas, in Franklin Mountains State Park. The state park and its visitor center are really very nice. This is a small RV site in a paved parking space with no hookups, poor privacy, and a picnic table. We were just passing through so we did not see more of what the park offers, but it is definitely a good safe place to spend the night in a mountainous desert setting. The park is gated after hours. Vault toilets nearby. Some cell service.