Bonham State Park
Bonham
903 583-5022
Website
Texas Outside Rating: 7.5

Type:  Camping - State Park

Map: Campsite Map

Reservations: Click here

Texas Outside Favorite Sites: RV sites 6 and 7 are good lake sites and 12 is a little more isolated and in the trees. Best tent tent sites are 19 and 20.

Brief Overview: 
Bonham State Park is set on the shores of a 65 acre lake just south of Bonham. This is a small park with only 21 sites set among the trees and along the shore of the lake. The terrain is heavily treed and gently rolling hills - very pretty and serene. The park is dated but well maintained and the showers and restrooms were updated in the 90’s.

Bonham State Park was built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) and as such you’ll find a lot of structures dating from when the park was originally built. The lake is stocked with catfish and fishing is ok for perch, bass, and crappie. The lake is no wake (5 MPH)and waverunners are not allowed. The park is dated but well maintained and the showers and restrooms were updated in the 90’s.

Amenities and Fun Things To Do:
Bonham State Park has 21 sites all of which have water and electric (some with 50 AMP), a picnic table, and a fire pit. Sites 1 to 14 are tent or RV sites and 15 to 21 are tent sites only. The RV sites are crushed gravel, back-in, and rather short (35 to 45 feet). A big rig will find it a little tight on maneuvering. Sites 7, 8, and 9 are the closest to the water. All of the sites are well shaded and fairly level.

Bonham also has a group tent camping area for up to 50 people as well as a group barracks area, neither of which is on the water. The group barracks area includes: 4 buildings that sleep 20; 1 building that sleeps 12 and has two half baths; and the cooks quarters in the dinning hall that sleeps 2. Total sleeping capacity is 94. The beds have mattresses and are stacking bunk style beds and you’ll need to bring your own linens and pillows Within the group barracks area you’ll find: a game room with a ping pong table, small covered pavilion with two grills and a large fire pit, restrooms and showers, TV and VCR, concrete slab with a basketball goal, and an industrial kitchen with a 49 cubic foot refrigerator, ten burner range, and two ovens. All the buildings are equipped with heating and air conditioning. To rent the group barracks area you must rent the entire facility, which would be fun for a family or social reunions or other large get together.

Bonham State Park also has 12 miles of hike and bike trails that circle the lake. The trails are single track, with a number of shorter loops, and the terrain is well treed and gently rolling. One portion of the trail is up and around White Mountain but it’s not that strenuous. It’s an enjoyable ride or walk with gentle inclines. Some of the other amenities at Bonham State Park include:

• swimming area
• 2 horseshoe pits
• sand volleyball court right next to the water
• group picnic pavilion by the lake and another that is back up the hill and among the trees
• fishing dock - no fishing license is required for fishing within the park
• half basketball court
• swing set
• boat ramp and dump station

A Typical Texas Outsider Day:

We start the day with a hearty breakfast then jump on the bikes and ride some or all of the trails and return in time for some burgers on the grill. After lunch the games begin – horseshoes, volleyball, boccie ball, washers, and/or ladder golf – intermixed with a swim in the lake to cool off. And the evening ends after a good BBQ, stories and smoores by the fire-pit, and a variety of games of cards, domino's, pictionary, and more.

The next day is more of the same and we’ll usually try to get in some golf at Bonham Country Club, Legacy Ridge, or one of the courses on the way home.

Cool Nearby Activities:
There isn’t a lot that we have found to do in nearby Bonham (2 miles north of the park) so typically we come to Bonham State Park to enjoy camping, nature, friends, and the swimming and trails. We have enjoyed a very good meal at Shumardii's Steakhouse on 121 just south of Bonham and less than 10 minutes from the State Park - they were highly recommended by all of the locals that we talked to. Shumardii's has a large selection of appetizers, soups and salads, and they serve a variety of entrees including a very good chicken fried chicken, pastas, seafood, and of course steaks all of which are Angus Beef (the top 6% of all beef chosen). Our service was excellent and very attentive. They have a full bar and prices are moderate for entrees ($10 to $24) - well worth a stop if you are out and about, crave some pasta or a steak, or don't feel like cooking.

Here are some other things to see and do in Bonham. Bonham was home to Sam Rayburn and there is a Sam Rayburn Library and Museum plus a museum in Sam’s house which includes the original furnishings (903 583-2455). The Fannin County Museum is housed in a historic 1900 T&P Railroad Depot – 903 583-9042. You can visit Ft Inglish Village which was built in 1837 and includes the fort, a stockade, broom factory, blacksmith shop, general store, and more (903 640-2228). You can visit the Bonham Chamber of Commerce website to learn more about what there is to see and do and check out their schedule of events.

If you brought your clubs, then check out this golf map to find a nearby course. If you want to fish or ski/board there are a number of small lakes nearby and Lake Texoma is only 30 minutes northwest. Check out Texas Outside's lake and camping map to find a nearby lake. Lake Bonham is six miles north of Bonham on Farm Road 898 and is open daily with camping, fishing, swimming, boating, par 3 golf, pavilion rental, campsites and water skiing on a 1,282 acre lake. For information call 903-583-8001 or 903-583-7555. Bonham Chamber of Commerce website has a brief description of each of them.

Bonham State Park
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