Fairfield Lake State Park
Summer camping in the Texas heat
We wanted to see if we could withstand camping in the heat if the site was shaded and by the water. And the answer is yes. It was quite nice, even with 90-degree days. It cooled off in the evenings, and we slept well with a small tent fan.
Site: 36 (Springfield Loop)
Site type: Water only
Date visited: June 2021
Distance to site: Parking along a paved half-circle driveway only a few steps from the campsite that can hold about three cars
Distance to bathroom: Within walking distance, but a little bit of a longer walk with a slight incline
Bathroom: Toilets and showers are old but clean
Site features: Picnic table, fire ring with grill, standing grill near the picnic table, lantern hook
Park activities: Hiking trails (see our hike)
Recommended: Yes
4 out of 5 stars — Enjoyable park, even in the summer. This site is well shaded and within a short walk to the lake.
Site notes:
- Site 36 has enough room for two four-person tents.
- This site is semi-private, sharing only one side with another campsite, but that campsite is within view. Trees and the lake separate it from other sites. Because this site is at the end of the loop, it is a little farther away from the bathroom.
- The campsite is mostly flat, and there are no tent pads.
- A potable water spigot is located on the site, and the dumpster is a short walk across the street.
- You can’t see the lake directly from the campsite. There’s a little path behind the site that leads to the water.
- Trees shade the picnic table in the summer, and there are other shady spots for chairs.
Animal sightings at campsite: Deer, raccoons, beaver, spiders, cardinal, other birds, dragonflies, fireflies
Warnings:
- Google Maps drops out before you actually get to the park, and there is no cell signal once inside the park.
- There were a lot of ants and spiders at the campsite when we visited. The ants didn’t bother anything, but the spiders spun webs near the picnic table, starting at dusk. Needless to say, be careful not to walk into them.
- Fairfield Lake State Park no longer offered canoe and kayak rentals when we visited, so call to see if the rental site is back up and running before booking your trip.
Recommendations:
- Most of the water only sites around site 36 are all nice and seem like good spots to camp.
For more information, see the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website.
Park address:
123 State Park Road 64
Fairfield, TX 75840
All videos and images © Suzannah Alexander and Jerry Albano