Dog-friendly bell tents in Wright Patman Lake
This lakeside retreat affords plenty of ways to escape the crowds.
- Wright Patman Lake
Popular camping styles for Wright Patman Lake
Dog-friendly bell tents in Wright Patman Lake guide
Overview
Within easy reach of Atlanta, Texarkana, and New Boston, Wright Patman Lake is the perfect spot for lake camping. With more than 170 miles of lakeshore, you’ll find endless spots to launch your boat or kayak, fish for white bass and crappie, or dive in for a swim. Campgrounds dot the north shore, where you’ll find spacious RV sites, many with electric hookups, while south shore campgrounds are at Piney Point, Rocky Point Park, and Atlanta State Park. Summer is peak season, but it’s worth timing your camping trip for spring, for the best fishing, or autumn to enjoy fall foliage hikes around the lake.
Where to go
East Dallas Lakes
West of Wright Patman Lake, I-30 runs through the small towns of Mt Pleasant and Sulphur Springs, all the way to Dallas. Lake lovers will find plenty of scenic stopovers on route—head to Cooper Lake State Park to hike, bike, or horseback ride around Jim Chapman Lake or enjoy birding and fishing at Lake Bob Sandlin State Park. To the south, the pine-fringed Lake O’ The Pines is well stocked with bass, catfish, and crappie.
Texas Pineywoods
Lush woodlands and sparkling lakes provide the backdrop for outdoor adventures in eastern Texas’ Piney Woods. Whether you prefer ziplining through the forest, backcountry camping in the wilderness, or hopping between small towns and civil war sites, there are endless options for campers. For the ultimate back-to-nature experience, the Davy Crockett, Angelina, and Sabine national forests provide miles of hiking trails and primitive camping.
Arkansas
To the north, the Red River carves its way along the Texas-Arkansas border, while the twin city of Texarkana sprawls across both states. If you’re heading over the border, Millwood Lake should be the first stop on your itinerary—there’s great birding and fishing at Millwood State Park on the south shore, along with RV and tent campsites.
