Let me tell you about a little spot I’ve got bookmarked for my travels through North Texas. You know how it is out there, especially when you get away from the big cities. The landscape just seems to stretch on forever, a big sky overhead and mile after mile of highway hypnosis. It’s beautiful country, no doubt, but when you’re piloting a big rig and you start doing the mental math on your holding tanks, that beautiful scenery can start to feel a little… sparse. Finding a good, clean, easy to access dump station can become the main quest of your day. That’s why stumbling upon a place like Holiday Road RV Park in Caddo Mills feels like finding a true oasis in the middle of truck country. It’s not just some questionable lean to behind a gas station. This is a full blown RV park, and for a very reasonable fee, they let folks like us who are just passing through use their facilities. It’s a game changer.
Situated just a stone’s throw from US 380 and not too far from the major artery of I 30, this park is positioned perfectly. It’s about forty miles northeast of the Dallas sprawl, which makes it a brilliant strategic stop. If you’re heading east towards Arkansas or Louisiana, you can get your rig all sorted before you settle in for a long haul. Or, if you’re steeling yourself to brave the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex, it’s the perfect place to pull over, empty the tanks, top off your water, and take a deep breath before you plunge into that legendary Texas traffic. I’ve often used it as my final refresh stop before settling in for a weekend of fishing out on Lake Tawakoni. It just takes all the stress out of the equation.
Now, Caddo Mills itself isn’t going to be on any top ten lists for tourist destinations. It’s a quiet, authentic Texas town, the kind built on agriculture and community, and that’s part of its charm. But its location is what makes it an RVer’s secret weapon. You’re only about a twenty five minute drive from Lake Tawakoni State Park, a massive reservoir that’s a paradise for anyone who loves boating or fishing. The trails along the shoreline are perfect for stretching your legs after a long day in the driver’s seat. If you head the other way, you’ve got Lake Ray Hubbard, another fantastic spot for chasing bass. And for a bit of culture, you can pop over to nearby Greenville and check out the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum. It’s a fascinating place, a real tribute to one of America’s great war heroes and the agricultural history that shaped this whole region. The point is, you’re not just stopping in the middle of nowhere. You’re stopping in a place that can serve as a quiet, affordable basecamp for exploring a whole lot of what North Texas has to offer, without the headache and expense of a downtown Dallas RV park.
Using the dump station at a dedicated RV park like Holiday Road is a completely different experience than you get at a truck stop. You can tell it was designed by people who actually understand RVs. The lanes are wide, giving you plenty of room to maneuver even a big Class A with a toad. There’s no trying to squeeze past fuel pumps or dodge commercial trucks. Everything is positioned logically. The sewer inlet is right where it should be, and you’re not trying to thread your hose through a jungle gym of picnic tables and fire pits. I’ve always found the area to be clean and well maintained. They have the station clearly marked, usually near the entrance, so you’re not left driving in circles trying to find it. During business hours, there’s usually staff in the office who are friendly and happy to help. If you arrive after hours, they typically have a simple honor box system or instructions to check in with the camp host. It’s all very low stress. And because you’re in a park environment, there’s a sense of calm. You don’t feel the pressure of a long line of truckers waiting behind you. You can take your time, do the job right, and even take care of a few other chores while you’re there.
Let’s talk about those other chores, because that’s where the value of a stop like this really shines. They have both potable water and a separate non potable rinse hose at the dump station. Any seasoned RVer knows this is a huge plus. You can fill your fresh tank with clean, safe water and then use the dedicated rinse hose to clean your sewer hose and the dump station area without fear of cross contamination. It’s a simple thing, but it shows they care. They also have propane on site. This is incredibly convenient. You can top off your LPG bottles right there, ensuring you’re good to go for your fridge and water heater without having to make a separate, often more expensive, stop in a bigger city. For those of us who have been on the road for a while, the on site laundry and shower facilities are a godsend. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of emptying your black tank while a load of your dusty road clothes is washing in a real machine. It’s multitasking at its finest. They also have clean restrooms and proper trash disposal, so you can offload all that bagged trash you’ve been accumulating. It’s a full reset for your entire rig.
The listed fee of ten dollars is, frankly, a bargain. I’ve paid upwards of twenty dollars at some travel plazas for a far less pleasant experience. Here, for less than the price of a fancy coffee, you get a clean, spacious, and well equipped facility. It’s a fantastic value. Of course, it’s always a good idea to call ahead. I make this a standard practice no matter where I’m going. Prices can change, and it’s good to confirm their hours and preferred payment method. Most folks say they take cash or cards, but a quick phone call avoids any surprises.
Here are a few tips to make your visit even smoother. Definitely call first, especially on a weekend. There’s a karting complex nearby, and if they have a big event going on, the park and the local roads can get surprisingly busy. The best time to roll in for a dump is mid morning from Tuesday to Thursday. You miss the Monday morning rush of weekenders heading home and the Friday evening rush of folks heading out. As always, come prepared. Have your disposable gloves, your dedicated rinse hose, and your tank treatment chemicals ready to go. While they might sell some of these things in the park store, you never want to rely on that, especially during a holiday weekend. When you pull in, pay attention to the signs. They are very clear about directing day use traffic to the dump station, so you don’t accidentally pull into a site that’s reserved for an overnight guest. And if you’re traveling with a furry copilot, they have a nice grassy area for a quick walk, just be sure to keep them on a leash.
So, what’s my final verdict on Holiday Road RV Park? It’s a definite winner. It perfectly blends that friendly, small town Texas hospitality with the kind of full service amenities that make life on the road so much easier. The quick access to the highway, the on site propane, and the incredibly fair price make it a must stop for any RVer passing through this part of the state. It’s more than just a place to empty your tanks. It’s a place to reset, restock, and recharge before you continue your journey. Just remember to call ahead, pack your own gear, and you’ll be in and out in no time, ready for whatever the road has in store for you next.
5417 US-380, Caddo Mills, TX 75135
(469) 640-8792
Cost: $10
Category: RV park
Has Water
lamplightrv.com