We just went to Lake Livingston again and had a good time. Problem is they are pretty flooded and hercules loop was closed along with several campsites inhabitable. Are their any recommendations for another park that is within a two hour drive that you really like. I read the sites but that does not help much. 4951
Lake Houston Park is no longer a state park.  Not sure what they have.There is Wolf Creek Park run by Trinity River Authority   http://www.trinityra.org/wolf-creek-park.htmLake Somerville has some nice parks, we stayed at Rock Creek the last few times.  http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/somerville/  around two hours.For a beach there is Quintana  http://www.brazoria-county.com/parks/Quintana/index.html It is right about 2 hours. 4951
Lake Livingston had alot of pets when we were there. Some very good set up for pets. Some owners used a tether to a tree which I am not keen about. Some used the toddler gates and made a round circle for the smaller pets. The larger ones were either in crates or leashed to the owners chair. One couple even brought a dog run.I stayed in the pin oak area which is my least favorite since it is so crowded. I prefer Hercules loop which I will use next week, After that I am thinking maybr Gardner State park. 4951
I've never been to lake Houston park so I decided to get some photos of my dog there yesterday since someone on here or KU said it as great for pics. I mapped it on my phone and it led me to the entrance at 1485. Apparently there is a building you have to go in and register first to use the park, and pay a fee? I was like "f that I'm out!" 4951
Watch the videos, they show a lot of what the parks offer. Also there is a TPWD TV show on channel 8.http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/videos/ 4951
Brazos Bend state park is great, its only a hour and half down 288 and its a wonderful park but no place for kiddos do swim as it has alligators. Quintana county beach is great too, past Lake Jackson but only about a hour and half, Wolf Creek is on Lake Livingston too past cleveland on 59. also Corp of Engineers has great parks on Lake Sommerville and there is also two state parks there. Need any other suggestions let me know, we camp all the time and have for 10 years. 4951