Just 20 minutes south of Forth Worth, North Texas Jellystone Park in Burleson, Texas is so much more than just a campground. It’s a full-fledged resort experience, complete with a water park and rentable golf carts. Never skip the golf cart!
The writer and her family were hosted.
As a full-time RV family, we have been to many RV parks. It was clear the moment our family arrived at Jellystone Park in North Texas that this was unlike any campground we have visited in the past.
The mission of Jellystone Park, which has more than 75 family-friendly locations across the U.S and Canada, is to be a family entertainment destination that everyone can enjoy.
That was certainly true for us. Once we arrived for our weekend visit, we did not have any need to leave the park. It had everything we needed from attractions to activities.
There’s so much to do, that we created this guide to the 120-acre North Texas Jellystone Park to help you plan your visit and not miss any of the fun.
SheBuysTravel Tip: This would be a great weekend getaway from Dallas, too, since it’s a short drive from the city.
Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Accommodation Options
Does your family love to camp? Or do you prefer traveling in your RV or staying in a cabin? All of these accommodations are an option for campers at North Texas Jellystone Park:
- Tent sites for tent camping
- RV sites with hookups
- One and two bedroom family cabins
- Lodging in the Pirate Ship Vacation Cabins
- Glamping options (coming soon) will include tee-pees, covered wagons and silos.
While we are an RV family, for this trip we stayed in a 2-bedroom cabin with a screened-in porch. It was conveniently located right outside the Pirate’s Cove water park, which made it the perfect location for visiting with younger kids.
My three girls were up early asking to visit the Pirates’ Cove water park. When we visited, the main Pirates’ Cove was not open (it opens after Memorial Day). However, the Little Pirates’ Cove was open and the kids had fun swimming and playing in that area of the park. You can view the Pirates’ Cove schedule here.
The kids slept in a loft, which they loved. Our room had a queen bed and a set of bunk beds. The cabin came with linens and a coffee maker but you need to bring everything else with you including utensils and dinnerware.
SheBuysTravel Tip: If you plan to RV, download our complete RV packing list. If you’re a tent camper, you’ll want our camping packing list.
RV Camping at Jellystone Park
You don’t even have to bring your own RV! Jellystone Park has several RVs already set up and available to rent during the off-season. If you’re planning to travel during the summer, consider renting an RV from RVshare. The owner will deliver the trailer, set it all up and then come back and haul it home.
It’s the very best way to test whether your family might like RV camping.
More and more families are discovering that they love the flexibility and comfort that RV travel allows them to have. You can visit GoRVing to find more information about RV travel.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Like campgrounds across the US and Canada these days, Jellystone Park was full of many RVing families. To ensure you’ll have a spot during the peak summer season, make reservations ahead of time.
Jellystone Park Attractions & Fun Activities
The #1 reason to visit the Jellystone Park is for the variety of activities and attractions that can be found in the park.
Our kids enjoy camping, but they tend to get bored after a while. That’s why this park is such a great option when camping with kids from toddlers to teens.
The list of attractions and activities the North Texas Jellystone Park offers to overnight campers is a long one. It includes:
- Laser tag
- AirPlay Zone
- Archery Tag
- 2 swimming pools
- 2 playgrounds
- Catch & release fishing
- Use of Paintball equipment
- Hay rides
- Lost Maze
- Horseshoes
- Petting zoo
- Hiking trails
- Pirates’ Cove waterpark
- Golf cart rentals
- Character meet and greets with Yogi Bear
Our family had a lot of fun in the lost maze, seeing who could make it out first. The AirPlay zone (that’s a giant pillow-shaped inflatable pad) was also a huge hit with my 8- and 10-year-old. We had a blast at the petting zoo, it was the first time our family had the chance to pet an alpaca! We enjoyed the hiking trails too, the kids loved the signs along the trails telling them which animals they could keep an eye out for.
We definitely needed more than a weekend to participate in all the activities at the park. We spoke to several families who plan week-long trips at these parks because of how entertaining they are for families.
Pirates Cove Water Park
Your family is going to want a way to escape the hot sun if you’re visiting North Texas Jellystone Park during the summer months.
Pirates Cove is a refreshing place to spend the day. This pirate-themed water park has 11 water slides and a 750-foot-long lazy river, so everyone in the family will have an option of thrill or chill! Our kids are already begging for us to return just as soon as the water park opens for the season.
If you stay in the Pirate Ship vacation cabins you’ll have a full view of Pirates’ Cove!
Download the Jellystone Park App
One of the best tips for your visit is to download the Jellystone Park app and use it during your visit. We loved that we got notifications about the activities that were taking place in the park.
On one of the nights during our visit, there was a family dance party that we joined after learning about it on the app.
You will also be notified about the character appearances because the kids will want to meet Yogi Bear!
This is a big campground, so we consulted the map feature on the app often as we were riding around on our golf cart looking for certain activities.
More Tips for Your Visit
- There is wifi inside the parks but don’t tell the kids! Disconnecting at a campsite is good for everyone.
- Plan on renting a golf cart during your visit. This 120 acre park is full of attractions you’re going to want to see but you won’t be able to cover it all on foot. Besides, riding around in a golf cart is fun. It was one of our kids’ favorite things to do. Taking a night drive in the golf cart is a must!
- Plan to do a picnic lunch during your visit. We had a beautiful picnic on one of the many picnic tables located around Lake Stafford, a small lake on the property.
- This park is pet-friendly. We loved seeing all our fellow campers with their furry friends tagging along. So don’t leave Fido at home.
- Check in was simple and easy for those towing an RV. All you do is drive up to the entry and someone meets you outside for check in. It’s that simple.
- Drive your golf cart around at sunset to catch some of the breathtaking views around the park.
- Every Jellystone Park location is independently owned and operated, so the attractions, activities and accommodations will vary at each location.
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and I’ll continue to recommend these parks to my friends with kids. We’re looking forward to planning another visit when they complete some of the new lodging options like the silos and tee-pees for glamping.
I’m also excited to visit some of the other Jellystone Parks during our future travels!
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