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Mission Tejas State Park
Mission Tejas sits in the heart of Davy Crockett National Forest — a quiet, shaded East Texas park with a replica of the San Francisco de los Tejas mission, the first Spanish mission in Texas established in 1690. The camping is simple and affordable: a small loop of shaded sites under towering loblolly pines, with good hiking access into the surrounding national forest. It's not a destination park on the level of Garner or Enchanted Rock, but it punches above its weight for East Texas road trips, family reunions, and anyone who wants to be genuinely surrounded by forest. The Rice Family Log Home on the property is a highlight.
Getting a site at Mission Tejas State Park
Texas state parks release campsites on a rolling 5-month window at 8 a.m. Central, and Mission Tejas State Park fills up fast for weekends and holidays. Popular dates can be gone within minutes of the window opening. If your dates are already taken, the surest way to lock in a place to stay is a cabin or vacation rental nearby.
Places to stay near Mission Tejas State Park
Explore shaded forest cabins and historic pioneer homes in East Texas.
See cabins & rentals near Grapeland →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Prefer to try for a state park site? Book direct on ReserveAmerica →
Texas state parks don’t have live cancellation alerts yet — but most sold-out sites free up 1–2 weeks before the date. We’ll email you the booking playbook (exact release times, the cancellation window, how to pounce) and tell you first if live Texas alerts launch.
Get the Texas state-park booking playbook
Campsite Types
Water + Electric
$15/night*12 sites
Water and electric; picnic table, grill, restrooms with showers nearbyRV OKTent OK
Water Only
$10/night*2 sites
Water; picnic table, fire ring with grill, restrooms nearby; no electricityTent OK
Primitive Hike-in
$10/night*5 sites
No water - pack in; 0.5 to 1 mile hike from parkingTent OK
Mission Tejas State Park fills up fast — lock in a cabin nearby
Explore shaded forest cabins and historic pioneer homes in East Texas.
See cabins & rentals near Mission Tejas State Park →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Guide to Mission Tejas State Park
Best Campsites
For Families:Book the water-and-electric sites first — they have hookups, are near restrooms with showers, and go fastest
For Privacy:The primitive hike-in sites are 0.5 to 1 mile from parking and offer the most solitude (no water, pack everything in)
For RVs:The water-and-electric sites are the only ones suited for RVs and trailers; the park is small so call ahead about length limits
For Couples:The water-only sites are quieter and more tucked into the pines than the electric sites
When to Go
Spring is beautiful — dogwoods and azaleas bloom in March and April. Fall foliage peaks in November. Summers are hot and humid but the forest provides shade. Christmas and New Year's weekends fill quickly.
Tips
- →The mission replica is small but historically significant — bring kids who love Texas history
- →Davy Crockett National Forest is accessible directly from the park — bring a forest map
- →Mosquitoes can be intense in summer — bring strong repellent
- →The park is on the way between Houston and Dallas — good midpoint stop
- →Cell service is spotty — download offline maps before you go
Highlights
Replica of the 1690 San Francisco de los Tejas mission — significant Texas historySurrounded by Davy Crockett National Forest — access to miles of forest trailsRice Family Log Home from the 1830s, a well-preserved pioneer homesteadTall loblolly pines and hardwoods provide excellent shadeWildflowers in spring — dogwood, azaleas, and native wildflower meadowsBirding — Pileated woodpeckers, Red-cockaded woodpeckers, and more
Mission Tejas State Park — Frequently Asked
Is Mission Tejas State Park hard to book?+
Yes. Mission Tejas State Park is one of the more popular Texas state parks and fills up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. Spring is beautiful — dogwoods and azaleas bloom in March and April. Fall foliage peaks in November. Summers are hot and humid but the forest provides shade. Christmas and New Year's weekends fill quickly. If your dates are already full, book direct on ReserveAmerica the moment the 5-month window opens, or reserve a cabin or vacation rental nearby that you can book today.
How many campsites does Mission Tejas State Park have?+
Mission Tejas State Park has 19 campsites, including Water + Electric, Water Only, Primitive Hike-in. Sites start at $10/night plus a $4/person entrance fee.
What is the entrance fee at Mission Tejas State Park?+
The entrance fee at Mission Tejas State Park is $4 per person per day. A Texas State Parks Pass ($70/year) waives entrance fees for you and all passengers in your vehicle.
How far in advance should I book Mission Tejas State Park?+
Texas state parks open reservations exactly 5 months in advance, at 8 a.m. Central. For Mission Tejas State Park, popular weekends can sell out within minutes of the window opening, so book the instant it opens. If your dates are already full, a cabin or vacation rental near Grapeland is the quickest place to stay you can lock in today.
How can I get a last-minute campsite at Mission Tejas State Park?+
Cancellations at Mission Tejas State Park happen regularly, most often 1 to 3 weeks before the date, so it is worth checking ReserveAmerica directly for openings. If nothing is available for your dates, privately-owned cabins and vacation rentals near Grapeland are bookable today as a backup.
Parks Near Mission Tejas State Park
Cabins & vacation rentals near Mission Tejas State Park
Privately-owned cabins and rentals around Grapeland are bookable today on Vrbo.
See cabins near Grapeland →Mission Tejas State Park
Cabins near Grapeland