Texas is an amazing state and has many beautiful state parks to explore. If you are looking for a family camping trip in the Lone Star State, these 11 must-visit Texas State Parks will be perfect!
No matter what part of the state you live in, there’s bound to be a park near your home or destination that offers everything from primitive campsites with no services to RV hookups with full amenities. You can find the best Texas State Parks for camping families by reading on!
#10 Riverfront RV Park
The RV Park is situated on the banks of a beautiful river in the coastal plains region, an area of East Texas that is known for its natural beauty.
The campsites offer electric and water hookups with cable TV service as well as a private bathhouse to provide you with all the comforts of home. There are also on-site playgrounds, showers, laundry facilities, RV storage areas, and more.
The RV Park is a walk-in camping facility with no tables or grills on the grounds. However, you will find that there are many locally-owned restaurants in the immediate area for dining options and groceries are just minutes away via car.
There are cabins available for rent with one bedroom and two bathrooms, a living room, a dining area, and a kitchen. The cabins also have satellite TV service with HBO on DISH as well as free Wi-Fi to help you stay connected.
The best time to visit the park is during the month of October when the leaves are changing colors and pumpkins abound.
#9 Guadalupe River State Park
Guadalupe River State Park is located in the Texas Hill Country and is a favorite destination for camping, canoeing, fishing, and more. This location also offers the opportunity to see wildlife such as deer or turkey in their natural habitat on your journey through this beautiful park.
It has campsites with shade shelters and electrical hookups if you’re looking for a little luxury while out having fun in nature.
The park is open year-round for camping, but it’s best to bring extra blankets and warm clothing during the winter months as temperatures may get chilly. The park also has a store with basic supplies such as toiletries or snacks if you need them while on your adventures in the Texas Hill Country.
Guadalupe River State Park is best to visit from March through November. The park has a winter closure of December and January for the safety of visitors due to cold temperatures in this area.”
The Guadalupe River offers fishing spots for beginners as well as experienced fishers all year round. If you’re looking for an easy camping spot, this is the place to go.
The park also has a visitor center for those looking for some educational materials or information about the area. It’s great if you’re camping with children and want them to learn more about their surroundings. The park offers many activities aside from fishing such as canoeing, tubing, and swimming.
#8 Colorado Bend State Park
Colorado Bend State Park is a 1,400-acre park located in the Texas Hill Country, 30 miles southwest of Austin. The park is near the Colorado River and offers a variety of recreation, wildlife viewing opportunities, and scenic drives.
The campsites at this state park include both RV and tent sites with water/electric hook-ups available for an additional charge. Many of the sites can accommodate large groups and most have picnic tables and grills on-site as well.
Campers can stay on-site in one of three campgrounds: Lajitas Campground, South Llano River State Park Group Camping Area, and Pradavera Creek Primitive.
The Colorado Bend Park has many activities including camping, hiking trails, picnicking areas, and fishing. There are also educational programs for kids and a nature center.
The park offers over 70 miles of hiking trails for all levels of outdoor adventure seekers. There are several trailheads throughout the park that offer different routes so there is something for everyone in your group!
The park’s diverse wildlife includes everything from deer and foxes to armadillos! Birding is also popular at the preserve with over 300 species found in the area so bring your binoculars to spot some of our favorite feathered friends like the golden-cheeked warbler or a screech owl.
The best time to visit this Texas State Park is during spring or fall when temperatures are moderate enough for camping in tents. You’ll want to make sure you’re well-stocked on food as there are no stores or restaurants within the park, though there are some nearby.
If you’re looking for some peace and quiet while exploring nature this summer then make sure to visit this wonderful state park!
#7 Palo Duro Canyon
Palo Duro Canyon is located in the Texas Panhandle near Amarillo and offers some of the best views in all of America!
This canyon is more than 150 miles long, but its breathtaking beauty doesn’t stop there. The Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River runs through it while Palo Duro Creek flows just to one side that visitors can explore on foot or by boat.
Things to do while visiting Palo Duro Canyon:
- Hiking and exploring the canyon’s rugged terrain on foot
- Riding a horse along Palo Duro Creek Trail for more than 12 miles from one end of the park to the other
- Exploring by boat down Palo Duro Creek to see red rock cliffs, wildlife, and Native American ruins.
Palo Duro Canyon can be visited year-round but is best enjoyed from December to March when the weather is milder.
Tips for your trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park:
The park offers a variety of camping options including RV sites, primitive tent sites, and furnished cabins. It is also home to the only large group campsite in Texas State Parks that can accommodate up to 300 people.
This canyon contains many archaeological finds; visitors are encouraged not to remove any artifacts from the ground or ruin any historic structures they encounter.
#6 Lost Maples State Park
Lost Maples State Park is located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country near Kerrville and Bandera.
The park’s namesake is a stand of bigtooth maples that change colors in the fall, adding to its beauty year-round.
Lost Maples State Park offers visitors options for camping ranging from primitive tent sites with no water or electricity to RV campsites complete with hookups. Activities include hiking, fishing, and swimming.
Amenities include restrooms with showers, a visitor center, and picnic tables for day use. There is also an amphitheater that hosts concerts in the summer.
The best time to visit is in the warmest months of the year are best for camping at Lost Maples State Park. The park has a camping season that runs from May to November.
The park also offers a variety of lodging options, from rustic cabins to modern motel rooms. Lost Maples is home to the only indoor pool in all of Texas State Parks and welcomes kids with fun outdoor activities like horseback riding on weekends during spring break.
While there are many wonderful state parks near Austin, Lost Maples State Park is one of the best camping destinations for families looking to enjoy a quiet, nature-filled weekend.
If you are interested in visiting this state park, please be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks with you as there are no facilities available on site
#5 Garner State Park
Garner State Park is found in Uvalde County and is a popular spot for RV camping. The park offers 33 campsites, each with its own picnic table and fire ring. There are also some sites that offer full hookups in the form of water, electricity, sewer, and cable TV service as well. There’s even a bathhouse on site! They have a small store, too.
This park is open from April to October. During the winter months, campers can still visit and enjoy site-specific camping, but there are no water or electrical hookups available.
There are a variety of activities that you can partake in at Garner State Park including hiking trails, primitive camping sites (no water hookups), hunting, fishing, and more. The best time to visit Garner State Park is during the fall.
There are also other Texas State Parks that you should consider when looking for a camping spot, including Lost Maples State Park and Rockport Beach State Park.
Nearby restaurants and hotels that are close by to the park include the Garner Cafe, Goliad Inn, and Hotel, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Rockport-Fulton.
#4 Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Located in the Caprock Canyonlands area of the Texas Panhandle, Palo Duro Canyon State Park is situated on a very old riverbed. The park’s numerous canyons are worth exploring by foot or horseback mostly because you never know what amazing rock formations you will come across in the varied terrain.
Palo Duro Canyon Park also has a great variety of wildlife, from scorpions and lizards to coyotes and deer, that are happy to be fed by visitors.
In the activities, the list is hiking trails and horse riding trails that traverse through canyons with names like Tinaja Mesa, Black Bear Ridge, or Saddleback Trail. The park also has visitor centers where you can find out about natural and human history.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is open all year round, with camping sites available at High Plains Campground which may be occupied by groups of up to six people. A park is also a great place for day trips or short stays if you are looking for something close by in Texas as it only takes two and a half hours to get here from Dallas.
The best time to visit Palo Duro State Park is in the spring when temperatures are moderate, or fall after the summer heat has subsided but before winter cold sets in. If you want to enjoy an easy camping trip with your family, then this park should be on top of your list.
The park also has visitor centers where you can find out about the natural and human history of this beautiful place, so don’t forget to stop by when you visit!
#3 Cedar Hill State Park
Cedar Hill is one of the newer parks in Texas, and it’s located about 40 miles from downtown Dallas. Cedar Hill offers a variety of campsites from tents to RVs, but if you’re looking for something more rustic, there are tent-only sites with water spigots nearby. There are also showers available for a small fee.
Cedar Hill is the perfect adventure for campers who are interested in fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Visitors can fish at Cedar Creek Lake, hike on one of many trails, or walk to Grassy Hollow Overlook, which provides visitors with sweeping panoramic views of the Texas landscape below. There are also plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing at Cedar Hill State Park.
The Park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts with activities such as hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, and boating.
Visitors have access to restrooms with showers and water fountains throughout the park. There is also a concession stand with food and drinks available for purchase. Pets are allowed on leashes within designated areas of the park.
The best time to visit is during the winter months is when campers will see Cedar Creek Lake at its fullest level with plenty of water for outdoor recreation. Visitors should also plan their trip during warmer months so they can enjoy all that the park has to offer.
#2 Big Bend Ranch State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park is located in the Texas Hill Country, about 100 miles west of San Antonio. It is the centerpiece of a 40,000-acre ranch donated to the state in 1970.
The park includes about 50 miles of rugged hiking and mountain biking trails that lead to spectacular overlooks overlooking the vast Chihuahuan Desert. There are also inviting pools for swimming or just relaxing on hot days beside serene creeks winding through grasslands dotted with colorful wildflowers.
Big Bend Ranch State Park has one developed campground near Santa Elena Canyon offering primitive camping as well as RV hookups. The park spans over 800 square miles and it’s home to a variety of different wildlife including deer, coyotes, javelinas, mountain lions, bobcats, and armadillos.
The park is a little over an hour from El Paso and has 27 campsites available for camping. There are also 20 RV hook-ups with water, electricity, and sewage dumping station on site. The facilities include hot showers, restrooms as well as picnic tables, and grills to cook meals in the area near Rio Grande Village Campground.
The park is known for its scenic views, unique hiking trails, and abundant wildlife. Primitive camping without water or electricity is available as well at the 22 campsites of Big Bend Ranch State Park. Primitive campers may use fire rings provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to cook meals, but no open fires are allowed in the park.
The best time to visit is from March through November, but the most popular months are May and October because of more sunny days with less humidity than in other times of the year.
Lone Star Hiking Trail leads hikers on a 12-mile loop around the entire Texas State Park property before ending back at where it started along the Rio Grande River.
Along the trail, hikers will come across many different types of wildflowers and plants that are indigenous to Texas.
It’s an excellent opportunity for families to experience nature in its rawest form while taking in some breathtaking scenery at the same time.
#1 Inks Lake State Park
Inks Lake State Park is located in Burnet County and has over 20,000 acres of land for exploring. The park is popular because it’s a great place to go kayaking or hiking on the trails that are open year-round!
The best time of year to visit this park is in summer when water levels are high and you can fish from your canoe before going back to your campsite for the night.
In terms of camping, there are over 300 campsites available and they’re open year-round.
Inks Lake State Park offers many hiking opportunities including loops that range in length from three miles up to 18 miles long! Hikers will experience both typical Texas terrain as well as elevations ranging between just below 200 feet and more than 700 feet above sea level.
The trail system includes several scenic overlooks with views into the beautiful Hill Country landscape, some wetland areas with occasional waterfowl sightings, and an abundance of wildlife including deer, foxes, wild turkey, and bobcats. Activities include biking, hiking, horseback riding, and picnicking.