Located about 60 miles west of Dallas, approximately 34,000 people call Weatherford, Texas home. The city was founded in 1858 after the Texas legislature created Parker County, and it is named after Jefferson Weatherford, a senator from the Dallas area. Where to locate the city was a hotly debated topic as people suggested three locations. Finally, residents of the area headed to the voting booth, where they voted on their favorite choice, with the current location receiving the most votes.
While many see this city along Interstate 20 as a city to rush by on their way to the Metroplex, it offers many fun things and places to explore. The world's longest floating boardwalk is at Lake Weatherford. This boardwalk, which is almost a mile long, is a great place to see blooming lotus flowers in the early summer. There is a picnic pavilion near its start. The boardwalk crosses part of Lake Weatherford, which is a terrific place to fish for largemouth and white bass.
The Parker County Courthouse, which workers constructed in 1886, sits in the middle of the downtown area. Surrounding it, you will find terrific places to eat, including Zeno's on the Square, where you can get superb Italian food and wine, Shep's, where you will want to try the custom burgers and craft beers, and Fire Oak Grill, where the buttered chicken and pork medallion are scrumptious.
If you love to go antiquing, there are several options that you will not want to miss. Many of these shops host different vendors, so you can find a wide array of items.
Campgrounds Near Weatherford, Texas
There are many terrific choices in nearby campgrounds. You may want to stay at the Weatherford/ Ft. Worth West KOA Journey, which offers a dog park and seasonal swimming pool. Propane is available for sale, and there is Wi-Fi. Many of the Dallas/Arlington KOA Holiday sites have a patio, and each area offers pull-through convenience and complimentary cable and Wi-Fi. This campground features a dog park, bike rentals and a seasonal swimming pool, usually open from late May to mid-October. A third option is Fort Worth's Eagle Resort's RV Park, where you will find basic services and a large RV storage facility with covered and uncovered storage spaces. They also offer boat storage for those who want to play on Lake Weatherford and other nearby lakes.
National Parks near Weatherford, Texas
Head west on Interstate 20 for about 450 miles, and you will end up at the exit for Guadalupe Mountains National Park. This park is a fantastic place to go hiking, especially in the fall, when the maple and oak trees change colors. Many of the trails in this park are open to equestrians. This park is also excellent for a scenic drive, especially to Salt Basin Dunes, near Salt Flat, Texas. This area, which has a lower elevation than most of the park, is unique because of the large gypsum deposits. Campers will find 13 spots for RVs at Pine Springs Campground and more camping at Dog Canyon Campground. Especially in autumn, this park can become very busy, so you need to obtain timed-entry passes and campground reservations early.
Hot Springs National Park is home to Bathhouse Row. This row of businesses features spas, an art museum, a brewery and a gift store. This park is unique because the entire town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, is part of the park. People have come to this location since the late 1800s to soak in the mineral-rich waters, which some believe have healing properties. Guests can camp in the 40 campsites at Gulpha Gorge Campground for up to 14 days. This is a beautiful, wooded area near the Gulpha Gorge Amphitheater, which is an excellent spot for a picnic.
Located in far West Texas, Big Bend National Park is another terrific place for a hiking adventure as there are over 100 miles of hiking trails. If you do not mind driving on dirt roads, it is easy to explore this park from your RV as it contains over 150 miles of dirt roads. The Castolon Historic District allows you to learn more about the first settlers in this region. Guests will find three campgrounds in diverse locations at this park that covers more than 801,163 acres.
State Parks Near Weatherford, Texas
Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway is a terrific place to go bike riding along the 20-mile-long trailway. The 640-acre lake is a fabulous place to go fishing for catfish, crappie, sunfish, and largemouth bass. Boats are available to rent, or you can fish from the six fishing piers. Penitentiary Hollow offers numerous climbing routes rated 5.1 to 5.6, and it is the closest place for natural rock climbing to Dallas.
Dinosaur Valley State Park is a terrific place to see dinosaur footprints when the water level in the river is low enough. Expect to get wet as you wade in the water to see the footprints left by dinosaurs about 113 million years ago. Make a reservation to go on a horseback trail ride or explore this park's trails in a horse-drawn wagon. There are over 20 miles of hiking trails to explore. Park rangers lead programs at least twice weekly with varying themes. There are 44 campsites with electricity.
Cedar Hills State Park is about 60 miles east of Weatherford. Especially when temperatures are hot, Joe Pool Lake is a fantastic place to go swimming. You can fish in the 7,000-acre lake, and the DORA Trail is a terrific option for mountain biking. Call ahead to take a guided tour of the Penn Farm Agricultural History Center to learn more about farming in North Texas, or take a self-guided tour of this facility. There are 11 campsites at this park with electricity and water hookups.
National Sites Near Weatherford, Texas
Waco Mammoth National Monument is a great place to learn about these animals that weighed up to 20,000 pounds and stood up to 14 feet tall. This monument in Waco, Texas is where Paul Barron and Eddie Bufkin found the only evidence of a wooly mammoth nursery at this location in 1978. The interpretative center is also a great place to learn about other ice-age animals, like the western camel and the saber-toothed cat. Join a tour guide as you hike the short distance to where the men discovered the fossils. This site along the Bosque River is also a beautiful option for a picnic.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area is home to the Lake of the Arbuckles, a favorite fishing hole with many anglers looking to catch catfish, perch, bass and crappie. While there are many opportunities to fish from the shoreline, you will need a permit to launch a vessel onto this lake. During the proper seasons, as determined by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, you can hunt quail, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, dove, ducks, geese and deer with the proper permit. There are numerous campgrounds with varying hookups at this site.
The El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail is the oldest national historic trail in the United States. It runs from the Rio Grande River to the Red River through New Braunfels, Austin and Nacogdoches in Texas before ending in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Along its length are many historical sites to visit, including the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, the Spanish Governors Palace and the Stone Fort Museum.
National Forests Near Weatherford, Texas
Davy Crocket National Forest covers 160,000 acres in East Texas. The 20-mile-long Four C National Recreation Trail begins in this forest. The Piney Creek Horse Trail offers equestrians more than 50 miles of riding trails. Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area is excellent for fishing, hiking and camping. The campground offers reservable and first-come sites, with some having electrical hookups. Guests can stay for up to 28 days at this campground near Crockett, Texas.
Sam Houston National Forest covers over 163,000 acres, approximately 50 miles north of Houston. Part of the 128-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail runs through this forest. The Little Lake Creek Wilderness near Montgomery, Texas, is a fantastic place to hike under old-growth Loblolly and shortleaf pine trees. There are three campgrounds available. Cagle Campground on Lake Conroe's shores has reservable and first-come campsites. Double Lake Recreation Area Campground is on Double Lake's shores, and this 24-acre lake near Coldspring, Texas, is a terrific spot for a paddling adventure. Stubblefield Recreation Area Campground provides easy access to the Lone Star Trail. This campground on the west shore of Lake Conroe is also an excellent place for birdwatching.
Angelina National Forest covers more than 154,000 acres. Sam Rayburn Reservoir is in the center of this forest, and it is a beautiful place to go waterskiing, swimming and boating. Major fishing tournaments are often held at this location. Take a stroll to see the natural spring by following the Sawmill Hiking Trail. There are nine Boykin Springs Recreation Area campsites for campers up to 24 feet long. Additionally, there is a primitive campground in the Caney Creek Recreation Area. Numerous private campgrounds surround Sam Rayburn Reservoir, including Mill Creek Park, Farmer's Cove RV Park and Brookeland/ Lake Sam Rayburn Lake KOA.
