Notable Campgrounds
- Best for lake views: Hog Wallow Campground has 50 sites—some of which are right by the lake—with picnic tables, fire rings, and full hookups.
- Best for peace and quiet: Shady Ridge Campground has spacious sites for tents and RVs away from the crowds.
- Best for backcountry hikers: Cedar Hill’s primitive campsites are reachable only on foot and lie along the Duck Pond and Talala trails.
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- You can reserve one of the park’s 350 developed campsites in advance via the Texas State Parks website.
- Campsite reservations open five months in advance, and popular sites can book up fast, especially for summer and holiday weekends. Book at least three months in advance—even earlier if you have a specific spot in mind.
- Primitive sites are first-come, first-served, and there are 30 spots up for grabs—the main gates open at 6am, so get there early to avoid disappointment.
When to Go
Cedar Hill State Park is open year-round, and there are highlights for campers in each season. Wildflowers bloom across the prairies in spring, while summer is the ideal time for swimming and water sports, and autumn and winter offer the best bird-watching opportunities. The park can get busy in summer, so make an early start to get a jump on the crowds.
Know Before You Go
- Cedar Hill State Park is located 20 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, or about a 25-minute drive away.
- Park entrance fees and overnight activity fees are required in addition to camping fees. General entrance reservations can be made up to one month in advance and are recommended, especially for summer weekends.
- Facilities in the park include restrooms, picnic benches, and a playground. You can purchase groceries, firewood, and camping supplies in Cedar Hill, a 5-minute drive away.
- Campsites all have electricity, hot showers, water, and fire rings. Some sites also have sewer hookups, and others are ADA-accessible.
Cedar Hill State Park
Escape to this tranquil lakeside retreat to fish, hike, and camp beneath the stars.
Just 30 minutes from downtown Dallas and Fort Worth, Cedar Hill State Park provides a pocket of greenery for urban campers looking to get out of town. Lush prairies, wildflower-speckled hills, and ancient cedar forests fringe the shores of the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake, where you can swim, boat, kayak, or fish for largemouth black bass, crappie, and catfish. Miles of hiking and mountain biking trails may tempt you away from the water, as will tours of the Penn Farm Agricultural History Center. Campers have five campgrounds to choose from, or you can opt to get back to nature at a walk-in primitive campsite.
Just 30 minutes from downtown Dallas and Fort Worth, Cedar Hill State Park provides a pocket of greenery for urban campers looking to get out of town. Lush prairies, wildflower-speckled hills, and ancient cedar forests fringe the shores of the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake, where you can swim, boat, kayak, or fish for largemouth black bass, crappie, and catfish. Miles of hiking and mountain biking trails may tempt you away from the water, as will tours of the Penn Farm Agricultural History Center. Campers have five campgrounds to choose from, or you can opt to get back to nature at a walk-in primitive campsite.
Activities in the park
6 campgrounds in Cedar Hill State Park
There are 30 camping spots up for grabs at Cedar Hill’s primitive campgrounds. Be prepared for just a bit of a hike; the campsites are only accessible from the Duck Pond Trail or Talala Trail, which both shoot off from South Spine Road. Fires aren’t permitted in these areas and there’s no running water, but compost toilets are available for use ne Read more...
At the farthest north end of the central part of the park sits Shady Ridge campground, which boasts 78 sites each replete with water and electric hookups. A few campsites sit close to a lakeside fishing area, while lucky site 41 has almost direct access to the Overlook Trail. ###Read more...
If you want to be close to the water, try to reserve sites 261 to 273 at Hog Wallow; they’re closest to Joe Pool Lake (not to be confused with Joe Lake Pool, which sadly enough, doesn’t actually exist). All 50 sites at this campground come with picnic tables, fire rings, and water and electric hookups. ###Read more...
Lakeview campground is a bit of a misnomer; you’re not right on the lake, like some of the sites in Cedar Hill’s other campgrounds -- but you are right next to the marina! The 71 sites here come with water, electric, and sewer hookups, along with fire rings and picnic tables. ###Read more...
Many of Coyote Crossing’s 75 campsites sit quite close to the lake, so it should be fairly easy to snag some prize camping real estate. Each site comes equipped with water and electric hookups, a picnic table and a ring of fire. Sadly Johnny Cash is not included. ###Read more...
With 81 campsites, Eagle Ford can feel a little tight. This is a camping area not a sport utility vehicle, just to make sure we’re all the same page here. Despite close quarters there’s water, electric, and sewer hookups for all, along with the standard fire rings and picnic tables. ###Read more...
Why can't I see these campgrounds when I search with dates?
Notable Campgrounds
Notable Campgrounds
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
When to Go
Cedar Hill State Park is open year-round, and there are highlights for campers in each season. Wildflowers bloom across the prairies in spring, while summer is the ideal time for swimming and water sports, and autumn and winter offer the best bird-watching opportunities. The park can get busy in summer, so make an early start to get a jump on the crowds.
Know Before You Go
Public campgrounds (book externally) —