Video still: Gypsyonthe Rhodes
Kelly’s Pond Campground
Free, primitive camping at the end of a forest road in Sam Houston National Forest, with eight walk-in tent sites, an open lot where RVs park, a vault toilet and no hookups or water.
Sam Houston National Forest, Texas · about 11 miles west of New Waverly, at the end of Forest Road 271
Season
Free · 14-day limit
In any 30-day period; first come, first served
Elevation
About 240 ft
In the pines west of Lake Conroe
Hookups
None
No water, electric or sewer
Big rigs
Open lot
RVs park in the lot; no size limit published
Updated October 13, 2026 · Details checked against the Forest Service’s pages
Free in the forest
The Kelly’s Pond experience
Free, primitive camping at the end of a forest road in Sam Houston National Forest: eight walk-in tent sites, an open lot where RVs park, one vault toilet, and no hookups or water.
Eight walk-in sitesTent sites with a picnic table, fire ring and lantern post
Open parking lotWhere RVs park; no size limit published
Vault toiletOne; no showers
OHV trailheadSam Houston Multi-Use motorized trail
Life at camp
What campers say
The campground report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores tell a clear story: campers like the price, the privacy and the pines, and they warn about weekend dirt-bike noise and litter at the pull-offs.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers reportNot reported
Cell signal reportedAT&T 4G · T-Mobile 4G
Last reported nightly rateFree Jan 2023
As reported by Campendium users (three reviews, 2016–2023). Confirm current rules and road conditions with the Forest Service.
At the end of FS 271
Getting there
Kelly’s Pond is at the end of Forest Road 271, about 11 miles west of New Waverly via FM 1375 and FS 204. The last stretch is dirt.
From New Waverly and I-45: FM 1375 west about 11 miles, FS 204 south 1 mile, then FS 271 west 1.5 milesFrom Montgomery: FM 149 north, then FM 1375 east to FS 204
FM 1375 · FS 204 · FS 271
Set your GPS
End of Forest Road 271, Sam Houston National Forest, TX
To Stubblefield Lake*About 23 min
To New WaverlyAbout 29 min
To MontgomeryAbout 37 min
From downtown HoustonAbout 1 hr 30 min
Dirt road. Paved until the last mile or so, then dirt that’s wide and firm but dusty and rocky (2011 report). One reviewer says Apple Maps misrouted them; Google Maps worked.
RVs use the lot. The eight sites are walk-in tent sites; RVs park in the adjacent open lot. Arrive with full fresh water and empty tanks.
*Drive times are from OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around the forest
Around the forest
Stubblefield Lake and the Lone Star Hiking Trail are about 20 minutes north, and Lake Conroe and Huntsville State Park 45 minutes or so away.
Photo thanks to Alexander Hatley (CC BY 2.0)
Lake Conroe
The big reservoir north of Houston, finished in 1973, with boat ramps, marinas, fishing and lakeside restaurants.
Photo thanks to William L. Farr (CC BY 4.0)
Lone Star Hiking Trail
A 128-mile, foot-only National Recreation Trail through Sam Houston National Forest, with an easy access point at Stubblefield Lake.
Photo thanks to Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0)
Huntsville State Park
Pines around 210-acre Lake Raven, with 21 miles of trails, paddling, fishing, a nature center and CCC-built facilities.
Photo thanks to Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0)
Double Lake Recreation Area
A Sam Houston National Forest lake built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937, with swimming, fishing and a 21-mile bike trail.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
The nearest RV parks to Kelly’s Pond, by drive time.
Photo: U.S. Forest Service
Cagle Recreation Area Campground
A Forest Service campground on Lake Conroe with 47 full-hookup sites, hot showers and a boat ramp, for $30 a night.
Video still: Old Wagon Trail
Old Wagon Trail RV Park
A shady, owner-run park in Plantersville, about four minutes from the Texas Renaissance Festival gates.
Photo thanks to Magnolia Fields RV Park
Magnolia Fields RV Park & Resort
An 85-site park on 12 wooded acres east of Magnolia, with paved pads, a pond and a pavilion.
Before you go
Plan your stay
What it costs, how long you can stay, and where to get water and dump.
Our take: a free, quiet base in the pines for self-contained RVs, if you arrive with full water and empty tanks. Weekdays are best: on weekends the dirt bikes on the trail next door are loud. Treat it as primitive camping: the toilet is the only facility.
Camping feesFrom the Forest Service · checked Oct 13, 2026
CampingFree
Stay limit14 days in any 30
Camping is free, first come, first served. The same Forest Service page lists $5 per person per day for trail use and day use but also says day use is free, so confirm with the district office.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the Forest Service page or call (936) 344-6205.
Typical July afternoon
Conroe94°
Phoenix107°
Mild winters: January highs average about 62°; July runs about 94° and humid, so a shaded site helps.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and how to camp without hookups.
Open
Site types
Free, with a 14-day limit.
Open
Rates & policies
Stay limits, generators, group size and hunting season.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you go.
Open
Kelly’s Pond is a free Forest Service campground at the end of Forest Road 271 in Sam Houston National Forest. It has eight walk-in tent sites; RVs park in the adjacent open lot. There’s a vault toilet, and no water, electricity, sewer or dump station.
Best for
- Self-contained RVers who want free camping in the pines.
- Weekday stays, when it’s quiet.
- Riders: it’s a trailhead for the Sam Houston Multi-Use motorized trail.
- Hikers: Stubblefield and the Lone Star Hiking Trail are about 20 minutes north.
Consider this
- No water, electric, sewer or dump station; only a vault toilet.
- Weekend dirt-bike and OHV noise from the trailhead.
- The sites are walk-in tent sites; RVs park in the lot, and it’s the busiest free spot in the forest.
- Camping rules during hunting season (from September to February 1) aren’t clear; call the district office.
Summer in Conroe
Typical July afternoon
94°
Conroe
Conroe airport
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
13 degrees cooler than Phoenix, but humid, with nights near 72°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
Camping is free, with no reservations. There are no hookups, so plan your water and dumping before you arrive.
Camping Free
Eight walk-in sites, plus the open lot where RVs park.
Stay limit 14 daysin any 30
Set by the forest-wide occupancy order.
Water Stubblefield~4 mi north
Stubblefield per a 2011 report; Cagle has potable water.
Dump Off siteWillis
Prices from user reports; call ahead.
FeeFreeCamping; day use unclear
ReservationsNoneFirst come, first served
Stay limit14 daysIn any 30-day period
Group size8 people2 tents and 2 vehicles per site
GeneratorsOff 10 p.m.–6 a.m.Forest-wide rule
HookupsNoneNo water, electric or sewer
ToiletVault toiletOne; no showers
Hunting seasonCall firstDesignated sites only
TrashNot publishedPack it out
RoadDirt at the endCheck status before you go
Checked against the Forest Service’s Kelly’s Pond page and its forest-wide occupancy order on October 13, 2026. For trail and road status, call the district office at (936) 344-6205.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Is the road open? Call (936) 344-6205 for trail and road status.
- Can I camp here in hunting season? Forest rules limit camping to designated sites then; ask whether Kelly’s Pond counts.
- Is there a day-use fee? The Forest Service page says both $5 and free.
- Is there trash service? It isn’t published; plan to pack out your trash.
- Where’s the nearest water? Stubblefield, about 4 miles north (2011 report), or Cagle.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Free · 14-day limit
Heading into the forest?
Fill your fresh tank, empty your gray and black tanks, and arrive on a weekday for the quietest stay. Call the district office for road and trail status.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. The hero photo is a still from Gypsyonthe Rhodes’ video of the campground; the Forest Service page has no photos. The gallery shows nearby forest, not the campground: William L. Farr (CC BY-SA 4.0), William L. Farr (CC BY 4.0), William L. Farr (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Trey Perry (CC BY 3.0). Nearby-card photos via Wikimedia Commons: Alexander Hatley (Lake Conroe; CC BY 2.0), William L. Farr (Lone Star Hiking Trail; CC BY 4.0), Larry D. Moore (Lake Raven; CC BY 4.0) and Larry D. Moore (Double Lake lodge; CC BY 4.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: U.S. Forest Service, Old Wagon Trail (video still) and Magnolia Fields RV Park & Resort. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Kelly’s Pond Campground unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the Forest Service’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the Forest Service and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Kelly’s Pond Campground at fs.usda.gov or (936) 344-6205. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.