River, stream, or creek bell tents near Dallas

Dallas sits about 30 miles east of its neighbor city Fort Worth, making the DFW area one of the most densely populated in Texas. Fortunately, the area offers multiple options for quickly getting back to nature. Cedar Hill State Park makes for a quick, refreshing escape from urban sprawl. Head about 25 minutes southwest of Dallas to reach this oasis. The park features 350 developed campsites, about half with full hookups. If fishing is your thing, cast bait in the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake. No fishing license is required to angle for the largemouth bass, catfish and crappie that call the lake home. Loyd Park is on the opposite side of Joe Pool Lake from Cedar Hill. This park is a bit smaller and more forested than Cedar Lake. Rent a cabin for six and enjoy a beautiful lakeside view from your porch. There's also a 40-person meeting room cabin here, excellent for large group outings. The weather in the Dallas area varies greatly by season, so pack accordingly! It's very hot and humid from June through September. Highs are commonly in the mid-90s. On the flip side, high temperatures rarely get above 60 from December to February. Spring hits the sweet spot, with March, April and May highs usually landing in the 70s.