Description

Under the umbrella shape of the Paluxy River, Sites 1 - 46 are located right in the heart of former dinosaur stomping grounds (no pun intended!) where, once upon a time, theropod and sauropod footprints were embedded in the soft limestone along the river bed. This campground is far and away the most swanky at the park, and comes equipped with water, electricity, showers, restroom facilities, parking and a dump station. There are also a few “bare bones" sites located throughout the eastern portion of the park, where you’ll have to hike anywhere from 1 - 2.5 miles to access your site. Rustic, remote, and obscured by the dense vegetation, these sites are full of natural beauty and offer lots of privacy. Just make sure to bring some extra clothes as there is a decent chance you’ll get wet traversing the river! Seriously, is there anyone who actually enjoys soggy hiking socks? A third grouping of sites in Dinosaur Valley offer an (almost) authentic Mesozoic Era experience at this primitive campground located just below Denio Creek. From this hike-in site, you’ll be just a short walk from the banks of the Paluxy River where theropod tracks were found nearly a century ago. The only luxuries provided at these sites are a fire ring and a lantern pole, so you’ll want to come prepared with just about everything!
Campsite area
Tent or RV sites
61 sites
Up to 8 guests per site
Other
No wheelchair access
Essentials
Campfires allowed
Toilet available
Pets allowed
Amenities
Potable water available
Showers available
Picnic table available

Activities

Offered near the campground.

Biking

Considered to be a mountain biking paradise for some, Dinosaur Valley State Park offers about 17 miles of challenging and diver...Read more

Fishing

When you’re not searching the riverbed for dinosaur tracks, drop your fishing line into the Paluxy River to test your skills. A...Read more

Hiking

Dinosaur Valley State Park is one of the coolest places around to hike. After all, where else can you explore more than 15 mile...Read more

Horseback riding

There’s nothing like exploring Dinosaur Valley State Park’s 100-acre South Primitive Area on horseback. Expect a wooded and sem...Read more

Swimming

Swim in a river where dinosaurs once roamed at Dinosaur Valley State Park! The Paluxy River is a lot of fun, but be sure to swi...Read more

Wildlife watching

Whether you’re on foot, horseback, or bike, Dinosaur Valley State Park offers plenty of opportunities for catching sight of the...Read more

Terrain

Natural features you'll find at Dinosaur Valley Campground.

Forest
River, stream, or...
Swimming hole
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26 Reviews

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Drop some Dinosaur Valley Campground knowledge on us.
Hipcamper Douglas
Douglas G.
recommends this listing.
April 22nd, 2019

There's some nice primitive camping here. Stay away from camping at state parks on the weekend if you enjoy being alone.

Hipcamper Christian
Christian S.
didn't provide a recommendation.
October 21st, 2018

I have camped at Dinosaur Valley several times, both backpacking into the Primative area which is well treed with lots of foxes running around, and in the tent site areas. The tent sites are a little close together but do offer trees for hammocks and shade. The hiking here is really fun for all ages, my 3 year old had a blast crossing the river and exploring the tracks, and hiking over the rocky terrain! Fossil Rim Wildlife park is also in the area which gives another great activity for all ages! Close to DFW for a get away as well!

Hipcamper Christian
Christian S.
recommends this listing.
October 3rd, 2018

Sites are a little close together, but the exploring is awesome. GREAT for kiddos!

Hipcamper Lisa
Lisa A.
didn't provide a recommendation.
August 14th, 2017

We had a great time camping at Dinosaur Valley State Park. We decided to camp in the primitive camping area which was about a mile hike to our campsite. There are so many dinosaur tracks to see! When we went it was during a drought (6months no rain!) So we didn't check the weather forecast before we left and ended up getting caught in a torrential downpour that turned into a flash flood! Fortunately, we were up on a hill so the flooding didn't really affect us. We just waited in our leaky tents until morning and packed up to leave. In the end we kinda had to be rescued by the rangers, but all-in-all we had a great time and our experience makes for a great story!

Hipcamper Lisa
Lisa A.
recommends this listing.
August 13th, 2017

It's prone to flash flooding so be sure to check the weather before you go

Hipcamper Evan
Evan A.
recommends this listing.
April 23rd, 2017

Call ahead to check the water level of the river separating the primitive area, crossing it is required.

Hipcamper Jose
Jose V.
didn't provide a recommendation.
January 22nd, 2015

This was my third time camping and first time hiking in to a primitive campsite with a backpack. Being the beginner that I am, my pack weighed in at about 50 lbs (I weigh about 150 lbs) and I still enjoyed the hike. I would consider it a relatively easy hike.

We camped in the middle of January and it did get a little cold - 28 degrees on Saturday morning. We stayed at the #3 primitive campsite. This campsite is one of the farther sites.

I did hear a lot of air traffic in the sky all throughout the night, but the night was pitch black and it was easy to get a good look at the stars.

Hipcamper Michael N.
recommends this listing.
February 3rd, 2019
Hipcamper Kara E.
recommends this listing.
January 19th, 2019
Hipcamper Doug E.
recommends this listing.
October 21st, 2018
Hipcamper Robert E.
recommends this listing.
May 25th, 2018
Hipcamper Tonya C.
recommends this listing.
May 24th, 2018
Hipcamper Scooter H.
recommends this listing.
April 30th, 2018
Hipcamper Lindsey L.
recommends this listing.
March 31st, 2018
Hipcamper Stephanie F.
recommends this listing.
November 16th, 2017
Hipcamper Paul B.
recommends this listing.
October 16th, 2017
Hipcamper Lyndsi O.
recommends this listing.
September 12th, 2017
Hipcamper Travis N.
recommends this listing.
September 10th, 2017
Hipcamper Angelica  R.
recommends this listing.
September 8th, 2017
Hipcamper John C.
recommends this listing.
August 25th, 2017
Hipcamper Cameron F.
recommends this listing.
May 22nd, 2017
Hipcamper Katie B.
recommends this listing.
May 18th, 2017
Hipcamper Emily H.
doesn't recommend this listing.
March 27th, 2017
Hipcamper R D.
recommends this listing.
March 8th, 2017
Hipcamper Tertius C.
recommends this listing.
February 11th, 2017
Hipcamper Scott J.
recommends this listing.
February 3rd, 2017
Park
Dinosaur Valley State Park
State
Texas
Country
United States
Phone Number
(254) 897-4588
Directions
View on Google Maps
Official Website
View Website
Coordinates
32.251° N, 97.813° W
$15/night
Tent Only - Hike In: 15 Sites
(Up to 8 people per site)
$25/night
Tent / RV / Trailer: 46 Sites
(Up to 8 people per site)