Possum Kingdom lies in the counties of Palo Pinto, Stephens, and Young about 100 miles about 100 miles west of Ft. Worth, Texas, on the Brazos River. Spectacular forests and cliffs surround Possum Kingdom Lake. There are plenty of parks with camping and day use options.

The major roads for access to Possum Kingdom Lake are FM 1287, SH 16, SH 3253, and State Park Road. There are a bunch of twisty back roads that take you to the parks and resorts at Possum Kingdom Lake.

Possum Kingdom Lake State Parks

Possum Kingdom State Park sits on the southwest border of Possum Kingdom Lake. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages this state park. For water sports, you can swim, boat, fish, ski, scuba dive, and snorkel. You can camp, picnic, hike, bike, study nature, and geocache on land.

The Possum Kingdom State Park offers a Ranger Program for kids. Kids can borrow an explorer pack, which is a backpack full of tools to use while they explore the park. Kids can get a free Junior Ranger Activity Journal at state park headquarters and complete tasks in the journal to earn badges.

The Possum Kingdom State Park offers air-conditioned cabins and campsites. The Spanish Oaks Camping Area has 21 campsites with electricity, water hookups, picnic tables, 20/30/50-amp electricity for RVs, fire rings with grills, waist-high grills, and restrooms with showers nearby. Peak season campsites are $25 per night from March to November, and non-peak season rates are $20 a night, plus a daily entrance fee. There is a limit of eight people per campsite.

The Shady Grove Campground has 40 sites with a limit of eight people per site. In 2022, its restrooms are under repair, and they do not have hot water. These campsites have electricity, water hookups, picnic tables, 20/30/50-amp electricity for RVs, fire rings with grills, waist-high grills, and restrooms with showers. The nightly fee is $20 with a daily entrance fee.

The Lakeview and Chaparral Trail camping areas have 53 campsites with a limit of eight people per site. The Chaparral Trails Camping Loop is closed December to February. Some campsites have water, and some share water with picnic tables and restrooms nearby. These campsites are $12 per night with a daily entrance fee.

The Possum Kingdom State Park also offers ten walk-in campsites with a limit of four people per site. There is a walking distance of 50 to 150 yards to reach the walk-in sites. Restrooms are one-half mile from these campsites. They have picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern posts. They are $10 per night with a daily entrance fee.

Brazos River Authority Camping and Day Use Parks

Brazos River Authority operates and manages ten public use areas.

BRA #1: The Scenic Cove Campground has 21 campsites, a boat ramp, a courtesy dock for 23 boats, a fishing pier, parking, restrooms, camping, picnic areas with 22 tables, and a trailhead. It is free and open year round. It is located at 3401 Scenic Point Road, Graford, Texas.

BRA #2: Downtown PK, located at 1718 Park Road 36, Graford, Texas, has parking, picnic areas, limited lake access with deep water with no designated swim area, and camping areas with no amenities. It is free and open year round.

BRA #3: Public Boat Ramp, located at 1775 FM 2951, Graford, Texas, has 45 designated boat parking spots, a restroom, a courtesy dock, vehicle parking, and it is free and open year round.

BRA #4 North: North D&D, located at 2051 FM 2951, Graford, Texas, has a boat ramp, 17 designated boat parking spaces with overflow parking, restrooms with showers, a courtesy dock, a designated swim area, 70 campsites with 36 campsites that have a shelter top and slab, 45 tables, some with fire pits and grills, 6 RV/overflow parking sites, but no hookups, and playground equipment for children ages 2 to 12. Camping spots are available on a first come-first served basis. It is $10 per night with a daily entrance fee during the summer months.

BRA #4 South: South D&D, located at 2969 FM 2951, Graford, Texas, has a boat ramp, 32 designated boat parking spaces with overflow parking, restrooms, a courtesy dock, vehicle parking, 21 campsites, 14 tables, fire pits and grills, a fishing pier, and a trailhead. Camping is $10 per night, plus a daily entrance fee, and $3 per day for day use.

BRA Area #5: Bug Beach, located at 2760 Frontier Unit Road Graford, Texas, has a boat ramp, 12 designated boat parking spots, a restroom, 17 picnic tables, a designated swim area, vehicle parking, and a trailhead. The campsites have no shelter top or slab, and there are 10 tent sites with tables, and fire pits and grills. It is free and open year round.

BRA #6: Sandy Beach, located at 2291 FM 2951, Graford, Texas, is day use only from May 20 to September 5 and open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It has a boat ramp, nine designated boat parking spaces, restrooms with showers, a designated swim area, vehicle and boat trailer parking, 30 covered shelters with tables and grills, and playground equipment for children ages 2 to 12. It is free and open year round.

BRA #7: River Park, located at 200 Red Bluff Road, Graford, Texas, has a restroom, river access, a trailhead, parking, and ten tent campsites with nine tables, fire pits, and grills. It is free and open year round.

BRA #8: West Side Park, located at 5465 FM 1148, Graford, Texas, has a boat ramp, open boat parking, restrooms, a courtesy dock, a trailhead, and vehicle and boat trailer parking, with six covered shelters for camping and six tables, fire pits, and grills. It is free and open year round.

BRA #9: Observation Point, located at 301 Observation Point Road, Graford, Texas, at the Morris Sheppard Dam has a restroom and parking. It is open year round, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. It costs $3 per day for ages 13 and older. It offers a spectacular view of the southern area of Possum Kingdom Lake 150 feet above the deepest part of Possum Kingdom Lake, which is 190 feet deep.