Texas Campgrounds Landed on National Ranking List
Four sites in Texas were included among 136 campgrounds analyzed for scenery, amenities, and overall visitor experience.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Camping
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Four Texas campgrounds have been recognized in a national study that analyzed over 111,000 Google reviews. While no site from the state reached the top 25, several locations achieved high marks for cleanliness and quiet.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights popular outdoor destinations across the state, including sites within Big Bend National Park and Padre Island National Seashore. This assessment provides campers with a data-driven look at how Texas facilities compare against other parks nationwide.
Chisos Basin Campground reached No. 29, followed by Malaquite at No. 33, Live Oak Ridge at No. 42, and Rio Grande Village at No. 51. Researchers scored these sites based on cleanliness, facilities, and other visitor metrics.
The players
National Park Service
This federal agency manages national parks, monuments, and other conservation properties across the United States.
Chisos Basin Campground
This facility is located within the Chisos Basin of Big Bend National Park and offers access to various hiking trails.
The details
The analysis evaluated campgrounds on criteria including scenery, activities, and insect presence. Notably, the Rio Grande Village Campground was identified as the seventh-buggiest site in the country.
Timeline
The analysis was published in September 2026.
A closure of Chisos Basin Campground was originally slated to start in May 2026.
Roadmap
The cancellation of the Chisos Basin construction project reflects the broader impact of rising costs and design complications on the National Park Service's facility management and maintenance backlog. This decision underscores the difficulty of maintaining aging park infrastructure amidst shifting economic constraints.
Visitors to Chisos Basin Campground can continue to utilize the site as planned following the cancellation of a scheduled two-year closure. Campers may want to account for the identified bug levels when planning future trips to the Rio Grande Village area.
The takeaway
Travelers can use these rankings to better anticipate the amenities and environment at various Texas outdoor destinations. Researching specific site characteristics like bug prevalence can help ensure a more comfortable and prepared camping experience.
Further reading
Explore more outdoor opportunities and travel tips on our Camping page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chron.
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