The Vineyards Campground in Grapevine, Texas: A Review
The Vineyards Campground in Grapevine, Texas, is an excellent place for a home base while you explore the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Thanks to the campgrounds many amenities and beautiful waterfront location, it’s also a vacation destination in its own right!
We stayed here for a week during our South Carolina to Arizona road trip, and we loved every minute of it.
In fact, the Vineyards was so much fun that my kids have requested to drive all of the way back to Texas just to stay here again.
In my comprehensive Vineyards campground review below, you’ll find everything you need to know to determine if this property will work for your Grapevine, Texas, vacation.
I’m sharing details about the check-in process, available amenities, our individual campsite reviews, and more.
Hey, it’s our little Winnebago trailer right on the lake!
This post contains affiliates. If you purchase through the links, I will receive a commission at no charge to you.
Lake Grapevine Camping: What to Consider
Note: I was not paid or otherwise encouraged to stay at any of the following venues, and all stays were personally paid for. All opinions are my own based on my family’s experiences.
Given how large the Dallas-Fort Worth area is, it can be overwhelming to determine which of many campgrounds is the best place to stay for your trip.
I know that I scoured over the Trip planner at RVLife for weeks comparing travel distances, amenities, and site photos before settling on the Vineyards.
NOTE: If you’re an avid camper like we are, I highly recommend the RVLife app. The pro version has so much great information like campground reviews, at-a-glance amenities lists, a road trip tracker, and helpful navigation tips for bigger RVs and trailers.
I exclusively use it to plan our road trips as it gives me suggested stopping places for gas fill-ups based on my tank’s capacity and towing requirements, as well as keeps track of my expenditures from gas to food.
We ended up settling on the Vineyards for several reasons, which I’ve outlined in detail below, but I loved the wide range of amenities, lake views, and location to both Dallas and Fort Worth.
Grapevine, Texas, is an adorable, safe town within the larger Dallas-Fort Worth area. Just minutes from the campground is the historic downtown with restaurants and shops.
You’ll also find the Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine and Meow Wolf Grapevine. We haven’t done Meow Wolf Grapevine, but we did do the one in Santa Fe, and it was amazing!
Other Camping Options on Lake Grapevine
Lake Grapevine as the sun goes down
Lake Grapevine is a man made reservoir constructed between 1945 and 1952. Today, the lake shore spans 60 miles, and it serves as a popular location for boating, fishing, and recreation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Twin Coves Campground vs. Vineyards
Twin Coves Campground is the closest head-to-head competitor with the Vineyards, as both are owned and operated by municipalities. While the Vineyards is owned by the town of Grapevine, Twin Coves is owned by the town of Flower Mound.
Both of these campgrounds offer RV camping and are right on the lake, but they’re on opposite sides of Lake Grapevine from one another.
We chose the Vineyards over Twin Coves since the Vineyards was on the side of the lake closest to the Dallas-Fort Worth airport and several major roads (Texas 121, Texas 114, and I-635, to name a few).
While both campgrounds are beautiful, the Vineyards had more amenities for the kids. Since we were staying for a week here in the middle of a long road trip, I wanted to make sure we could have a couple of days just at the campground and not be bored.
Our camper, a Winnebago Micro Minnie 1800BH, isn’t huge, so we’re rarely sitting inside the camper just hanging out. When we have longer stays at a local, we need something for the kids to do or we all go crazy.
It was those amenities and the location that ultimately made us book at the Vineyards.
Vineyards Campground Review
Let’s look at the specifics of Vineyards Campground and how you can make the most out of your visit.
I should note here that we had 2 different campsites during our stay. We stayed here just after Memorial Day, so the family vacationers were out in full force. This high demand meant that I had to move mid-week to our second site.
Below, I’ve shared about the campground at large as well as the pros and cons of each of our spots.
Why It’s the Best Campground on Lake Grapevine
The Vineyards were a breath of fresh air for us on our month-and-a-half road trip from South Carolina to Arizona.
Just before we checked in here, we’d had to make some last minute changes to our itinerary, which resulted in a very, very long drive over 2 days to Dallas from Holbrook, Arizona.
We’d had some issues with our tow vehicle, my husband’s older Toyota Tundra, which kept having issues recognizing a connection between our key and the truck’s sensors on the ignition cylinder. (We ended up trading it in Dallas because of this issue, which left us panicked multiple times on this trip.)
The younger Camping Kiddos defending site 92
I’d originally planned to have us stop in the beautiful but incredibly remote Caprock Canyon State Park between Tucumcari, NM, and Dallas, TX, but made the last minute decision to keep the truck going with the hopes we could get it to Dallas within it quitting permanently.
All of this is to say that I really wanted to get to The Vineyards as it represented a place of safety for us in this vehicle trouble.
Thankfully, the Vineyards campground was even more than I expected, and it ended up being one of our favorite campgrounds on the entire trip.
The employees were attentive and thoughtful, the sites were clean and well manicured, and the amenities made us feel as if we were at summer camp!
Even if you’re not having major tow vehicle problems (and I hope you aren’t!), the Vineyards is an enclave of peace and quiet among the hustle and bustle of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Plus, the campground is convenient to everything you’d want to do in this area. We visited the Dallas Zoo, the American Girl Doll Store, KidZania Dallas, and the Fort Worth Cattle Drive, among other activities, and all were under 45 minutes’ drive.
Check-in Process
After those last minute itinerary changes, we booked it from the Tucumcari KOA near the NM-TX border, and spent hours driving towards Dallas.
PIN ME!
The bad luck continued as we hit both rush hour through Fort Worth AND a terrible storm system.
After wading into Grapevine, we were all ready to get situated in our new campsite.
The employees at the front office were a breath of fresh air, greeting us weary travelers with smiles and chocolate cupcakes.
The lady who checked us in was a wealth of information, even sharing nearby places where we could get a bite to eat for dinner.
Check-in was easy and quick, and we were headed to our site within 10 minutes.
As I mentioned before, we did have to move to a second campsite after the first 4 days.
In the stress of our original check-in, I was a little addled and didn’t realize that the system hadn’t automatically combined my 2 campsite requests into a single process.
So, the day we had to move campsites, I was actually at the Dallas Zoo with the kids and my dad. Thankfully, the man from the Vineyards was incredibly kind with me, and worked to find a site change that would allow us to finish our time at the zoo and not rush home.
Again, I was the one who’d messed up, so I was grateful that the employees at the Vineyards were so gracious to accommodate my stressed out brain.
The process of changing sites was equally easy. I simply stopped by the office on the way home from the zoo to let them know we were back, and they gave me our new security hangtag.
Setting Up Camp
Both campsites were on the lake, but in different sections of the campground.
In both cases, the lots were paved with little gradient.
Both were back in sites with hook-ups that were easy to find and use.
In both cases, setting up camp was incredible simple to the point that I don’t have much to say other than it worked as it should.
Individual Campsite Reviews
It was fascinating to have 2 different campsites during our stay here as the feel we got from each was different, despite them being relatively close to one another.
Both of the sites were paved with a picnic table, full hook-ups, and space for a tow vehicle.
Site A
Our first site was on Lattice Lane in site 55.
Like nearly all of the sites in the Vineyards, it was lake front. The slope between our site and the water was gentle. Later in the week, we rented paddleboards, but the kids got hungry—we paddled over to our site and ran up to the trailer to get a snack!
Our camper at site 55
The lot was wide and deep. Even though there were only a couple of trees on our lot, we still felt as if we had a good amount of privacy thanks to how far apart the campsites are.
While the views were wonderful, the only downside to Lattice Lane was when we needed to use the bath house.
Even though our trailer has a small shower, we prefer to use the bath house whenever possible as there’s more room.
Trekking up and around Lattice Lane, and then onto Domain Drive to the closest bath house wasn’t easy.
The night that we didn’t have an RV parked in the lot behind us meant that we could walk through the lot to the bath house, but when it was occupied, we had to go all the way around.
Overall, the lot was spacious with plenty of room to park our nearly 22’ trailer and tow vehicle.
Site B
The second site we stayed in for the second half of the week was site 92, which was just around the corner from site 55.
Our camper at the second site of our trip, site 92
We were on the other side of the street with a different lake view this time since Domain Drive sits out on a long, skinny piece of land that’s surrounded by water on 3 sides.
With this site, we had a pristine view across the lake to another park instead of looking at the beach and campsites in site 55.
The slope between the campsite and the water was much steeper here than at the first site, and I kept dreaming that we were going to all roll backwards into the lake at night (don’t you love some intrusive thoughts?).
Still, it’s not like we were hanging off of a cliff or anything, so I don’t know what I was so worried about.
The sites here were still spacious, but, as there weren’t any trees on this stretch, the site felt more exposed than down in the bowl of site 55.
We did have a picnic table cover in site 92, which was great for keeping the late afternoon sun off of us while we were grilling out or eating.
The bath house was a bit closer in this site as it was just on the other side of the campground’s 14 cabins.
The Vineyards Campground Overview
Overall, I can’t recommend this campground enough as it was one of the cleanest, most well kept campgrounds we’ve stayed at so far.
Plus, there was so much to do there that I shouldn’t have planned as many outside-the-park activities as I did.
We had 2 complete days of just hanging around the campground, and my kids still begged for more.
While we were there in early June, the campground was nearly full during our week long stay. We saw many families—and many extended family groups—staying there, so it seemed that the summer holidays had a lot to do with the crowds.
Even with an almost full property, the campground never felt crowded. The only other campground we’ve stayed at that I can compare this to is Lakewood Camping Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which was like night and day compared to the Vineyards.
Where Lakewood was noisy and unkept with employees who didn’t seem to care about their patrons, the Vineyards was pleasant in every way possible.
It is possible to run a large, popular campground with excellent customer service and attention to atmosphere, and the Vineyards knocks it out of the park.
Vineyards Campground Layout
When you arrive off at the Vineyards Campground, you’ll turn onto Grapevine Trail from North Dooley Street in Grapevine.
Just beyond the grapevine-themed metal gates is a small office building, where you’ll check in. Everything is well marked, and often, one of the employees will step out on the porch to check your hang tag.
The gate does close at night for safety and quiet, and you’re provided with that code at check-in.
The map of the Vineyards Campground
Once you’re past the office, you’ll wind along Grapevine Trail past 3 streets that are perpendicular to Grapevine Trail. These are some of the non-lakefront campsites, though there are 3 that directly border the lake on Vintage Drive.
Also on Vintage Drive is the playground, beach access, boat rentals, and event pavilion.
If you stay on Grapevine Trail, you’ll make a large left hand turn and get your first glimpse of the lake.
Grapevine Trail ends at a right angle to Domaine Drive, and this intersection is where you’ll find one of the bath houses and the line of cabins.
Lattice Lane serves as a cut through between Domaine Drive and Grapevine Trail, and all of these sites have partial or complete water views.
Cabins at Vineyards Campground
If you’re not camping, but you still want some fresh air and outdoor time, you should check out the Vineyards’ cabins.
There are 14 cabins, about evenly split between 1- and 2-bedroom options. These are popular and were completely sold out on the weekends that we were there.
The cabins come with porches overlooking the lake as well as dedicated parking spaces.
Cabins C1, C2, and C3
We saw several of the cabin renters who were clearly locals (or friends with locals), and who would get picked up on a boat in the lake!
The cabins are wood sided but well-kept, which makes them fit in with the upscale casual feel of the entire campground.
The Vineyards Campground Amenities and Activities
Bath Houses and Laundry
For a campsite with 93 campsites, the Vineyards surprisingly only has 2 bath houses.
The bath houses at the corner of Grapevine Trail and Lattice Lane
There’s one near the store at the intersection of Grapevine Trail and Vintage Drive, and another at the back of the campground near the cabins.
Each bath house had 3 separate bathrooms, each with their own entrance, toilet, and shower.
The bathrooms were always clean and are large enough to maneuver in, unlike some of the smaller stalls we’ve used in other campgrounds.
The only thing I didn’t like about the bath house here was the shower.
The shower head was timed, so you pressed the handle in and then got about 90 seconds of hot water.
You could press the handle as many times as necessary, but the process was still annoying.
It was particularly annoying when washing my hair. There’s nothing like blindly searching for a button on a shower wall when you’ve got shampoo in your eyes.
I haven’t seen this feature in any campground before or since. I’m sure it cuts down on their water usage, but it’s not a pleasant way to do so from the user experience side.
There’s also a laundry in each of these. I was startled to see that the washer and dryer didn’t take coins, just credit cards. It was a first on our trip.
The laundry offerings were small with only 1 washer and dryer in each bath house. I did laundry twice here, but never had to fight anyone for the machines. Either I’m good at guessing when to do laundry or they’re not heavily used.
Water sports rentals
If you’ve got a big lake at your front door, you have to make time to get out on it!
My kids love to swim, and they were a little disappointed at the Vineyards didn’t have a pool—that is until I told them that there were many ways for us to enjoy the water.
The campground has kayaks and paddleboards for rent. You pay for your rental at the office, and let them know how long you’d like the rental to run. They offer half and full day rentals.
We eventually graduated to standing up on the paddle board!
Then, you’ll meet one of the employees down at the small rental dock to get your life jackets on and board your craft.
We picked a half day rental of 2 paddleboards. It was my kids’ first time out on a paddleboard, and I think they were hooked after this experience.
There is a bit of a learning curve if you’ve never paddleboarded before, and it took us a couple of times paddling around the beach area before my daughter felt confident enough to move further into the lake.
We had a blast, paddling around the point of Domaine Drive and down into the inlet on the other side of the campground.
My 6-year-old rode on mine at first, and he eventually got brave enough to hop over to his sister’s and ride with her.
If you’re visiting and the weather is nice, I highly recommend renting the paddleboards or kayaks for a few hours. It’s a great way to see more of the lake.
Playground
Another thing that helped get my kids over the disappointment of no pool was the playground.
Located next to the beach, the playground was large enough that several kids could play on it at once and not feel cramped.
We spent several mornings and evenings on the playground, but the equipment was just too hot mid-day in the Texas heat to be fun.
Camp-style activities
Much like some of the KOA campgrounds we’ve stayed at, the Vineyards had an action packed list of activities during our week long stay.
They offered some paid activities, like t-shirt tie dyeing, while others, like listening in on a live radio broadcast from the store were more casual.
You’ll get a list of the upcoming activities, including times and locations, in your welcome packet at check-in.
Hall’s Camp Store
While there’s a grocery store not far from the entrance of the campground, sometimes you just want something quickly.
The campground store has some basic staples that you probably forget to get on your last grocery run, like mayonnaise, canned soup, s’more fixings, ramen, and peanut butter and jelly.
The prices were a bit higher than what you’d see in a grocery store, but you’re paying for convenience here.
The store also has a small selection of Vineyards campground themed souvenirs like t-shirts, cups, hats, and sweatshirts.
This is also where you’ll pay for your paddleboard and kayak rentals. If you’d like to rent a golf cart for your stay, this is where you’ll pay and pick up your rental.
And finally, the camp store offers something I’d never seen before: a 24/7 firewood vending machine. Pop your money into a selected box in the display, and you’ll get a bag of firewood in exchange.
Gated entrance
Grapevine, Texas, is a nicer suburb of Dallas with relatively low crime.
Still, the Vineyards campground has a gated entrance, which is accessible only by key code at night.
This decision cuts down on the number of people who have access to the campground, and, therefore, who is wandering around the property after dark.
The part of Grapevine that the Vineyards is in felt safe to us, but it is nice having extra safety features.
Swimming beach
The beach area is a dedicated space with imported sand and a clearly defined swim area.
Elsewhere along the shore in the campground, the grass grows up to the water’s edge. While it looks fine, it doesn’t make for the best place to hang out and soak up some sun.
You might be hundreds of miles away from an ocean, but the beach does add a bit of vacation flair to the place.
I also liked that a large section of the beach was covered with mesh panels to keep the worst of the midday sun off of beach visitors. Additionally, the campground has provided loungers for people hanging out in this area.
I loved that I didn’t have to bother bringing my own beach chair while the kids swam.
The swim area is roped off with buoy lines, and, at its deepest, the water was slightly over my head. I’m 5’7”, so I’m estimating that the lines are set to keep people from swimming out to depths of more than 7’.
Airplane watching
This last amenity isn’t one that you’ll find in the official website, but it’s one we loved.
The Dallas-Fort Worth airport is just a few miles from the Vineyards campground, so we would set up our camp chairs and watch the airplanes as they descended.
It was fun to see how many planes were queued at any given time! Did you know that Dallas-Fort Worth airport is one of the busiest in the United States? We’d often count between 10 and 15 planes in the sky at any given moment during peak times.
Even though the airport is close, you don’t get much noise from the airplanes landing.
Final Thoughts on the Vineyards Campground in Grapevine, Texas
Leave no stone unturned or unexamined!
If you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, stay here—especially if you have kids or are planning a family meet-up.
The number of things to do on site means that you’ll have to plan very little, and the activities cost little, if anything.
The size of the individual campsites are large compared to many of the sites we’ve stayed at in private campgrounds.
I’d go so far as to say these sites were the largest we’ve had so far anywhere, even when compared to the usually generous state park campsites.
It’s also the only campground I’ve been to where the camp hosts came around to the newly emptied lots and cleaned them with brooms, leaf blowers, and the like. Each lot is decorated for upcoming events: we had small American flags at our site number sign for the Memorial Day and July 4th holidays.
The bathrooms were clean, we didn’t see even a piece of garbage anywhere, and it’s clear that the employees take very good care of this place.
I don’t know when we’re cruising through Dallas again, but when we do, you’ll find us back here again!
The Vineyards is also the perfect place to start your Dallas to Arizona road trip! Head through West Texas into New Mexico and Arizona to see 3 national parks, multiple state parks, Route 66, and some incredible cities.
