Camping near Big Thicket

You’ll find a wide assortment of campgrounds and hotel/motel accommodations near the park, although there are no developed campgrounds in the national preserve itself. Travelers who want a backcountry experience can do so with a backcountry permit; to obtain one call the Visitor Information Station, Tel. 409/246-2337.

If you’re not ready to rough it to that extent, here are some other options:

Corps of Engineers Federal Campground. This campground is located on B.A. Steinhagen Lake at US190 from Woodville or Jasper or Highway 92 from Beaumont. Here you’ll have four options. Sandy Creek and Magnolia Ridge are available for a fee; these camps offer water and electricity. Campers Cove and East End are free campgrounds and offer water only. The camps are open year around and include boat ramps, fishing pier, volleyball courts, and trails. For information, call 409/429-3491.

Alabama Coushatta Indian Reservation.

This is a unique campground where you can hike, fish or swim in the day and enjoy demonstrations of traditional Native American dances during your stay as well. The campground is located between Livingston and Woodville on US 190. The park includes tent and trailer sites (with utilities) and facilities for swimming, fishing, hiking, and shopping at a convenience store. During the peak summer months, train rides, a restaurant, and a gift shop are also available. For information and directions, call 409/563-4391.

Nearby State Parks. Big Thicket is located close to four Texas state parks, all open year around.

Lake Livingston State Recreation Area, FM 3126 6 miles southwest of Livingston, Tel. 409/365-2201, offers campsites with water and electricity as well as screened shelters; facilities include showers, a boat ramp, hiking, and a store. On the B.A. Steinhagen Lake,

Martin Dies Jr. State Park, 15 miles east of Woodville on US 190 and Park Rd. 48, Tel. 409/384-5231, has campsites with water and electricity as well as screen shelters with water and electricity. Campers can hike, boat, and swim.

Sea Rim State Park, 12 miles west of Sabine Pass, Tel. 409/971-2559, has fun along miles of coastline as well as acres of marshland that include a boardwalk nature trail, boat trails into the marsh, and more. Campers can select from many sites includes beach camping and trailer sites.

Village Creek State Park, 10 miles north of Beaumont on US96 in Lumberton, Tel. 409/755-7322, is known for its birding and canoeing; camping includes tent sites and RV hookups.

For reservations at any of the Texas state parks, call the reservation center, Tel. 512/389-8900, Monday through Friday 9am-6pm. To cancel reservations, call 512/389-8910.

Private Campgrounds. The region is home to several private campgrounds including Oak Leaf Park KOA, east of Beaumont on I-10, Tel. 409/886-4082; Mill Creek RV Park, west of Silsbee, Tel. 409/385-3053; Chain-O-Lakes Campground, southwest of Romayor, Tel. 281/592-2150; and Big Sandy Campground, south of the Woodlands Trail, Tel. 409/563-2307.

Hotels and Motels. You’ll find a large selection of hotels and motels in nearby Beaumont. We highly recommend Holiday Inn Beaumont Plaza, Tel. 409/842-5995, a reasonably-priced facility that includes an on-site restaurant, gift shop, and, oh so important with those vacationing kids, an indoor swimming pool.

For more information on Beaumont’s hotels and motels, contact the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tel. 800/392-4401.