The best camping near Sheldon Lake State Park

Located just 15 miles from downtown Houston, the 2,800-acre park is made up of Sheldon Lake and an environmental learning center. The lake is ideal for fishing, small boats, and wildlife viewing, while the learning center offers 28 naturalized ponds, nature trails, fishing decks, demonstration gardens, and a pond center showcasing alternative energy and green building techniques. A range of nature and ecology programs are available to students and groups, while an 82-foot tall observation tower offers panoramic views of the wetland, woodland, and restored prairie landscape of the park, along with views of downtown Houston and the San Jacinto Monument. There are no campgrounds at the park, though private camping options are available nearby.

The park is open year-round, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve (from noon), and Christmas Day. Spring, summer, and fall are the busy seasons at the park. It’s best to make reservations ahead of time to guarantee entry. From April through September, the park offers extended hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Visit in the summer to see lotus flowers and water lilies in blossom. Winter is the best time to spot bald eagles and osprey, while heron and egret rookeries can be found from March through June.

• It’s free to enter the park and all programs are free of charge.
• All facilities and trails at the learning center are ADA-accessible. The observation tower has a solar-powered elevator.
• Licenses are required to fish in Sheldon Lake. Two ponds offer free catch-and-release family fishing for kids with adults. Fishing poles and bait are available.
• Boats can launch at the south boat ramp, but cannot exceed headway speed while on the lake.
• Bring binoculars for birdwatching and wildlife spotting. There are alligators and snakes in the park