Live Oak — Garner State Park

Stayed for two November nights in the Live Oak campsite (site 328). Park was very well maintained. Bathrooms were clean albeit the one in Live Oak had no hot water. Not a big issue as the adjacent site bathroom was just as close for us. For our 22ft trailer the space was adequate, but would have been tight for a longer rig. A lot of the spaces at the various camping areas looked somewhat short, but for us it wasn’t an issue. Most sites seemed to have good shade and the trees provided nice privacy. All in all it was very peaceful, hiking trails were excellent, and the scenery is awesome.

always love this park. Toobing on the river, hiking up the trails, the crystal cave, the overlook, and mount baldy too bot! Large campsites are very well tended, and park employees are so friendly. Love this place, which is why it is so very popular. Make your reservations early!

We only stayed one night, but we didn’t want to leave. The trails range from flat ground walks to actual mountain hikes. The facilities were decent, about what you expect from a state camp ground. Staff was more than accommodating. We took our 70lb dog and 3 year old child. They both had a blast. We will return for an extended stay soon. The grounds are massive. We hiked all day Sunday and all day Monday and only completed about 1/5th of the trails. They even had putt putt golf. No complaints. Great park. Worth the drive.

Stay in the Live Oak loop. Much quieter. Easy access to the river.

We stayed in the Live Oak camping loop which has spacious sites and RV hookups. The park has great hiking with some trails basically going straight up to the tops of the surrounding hills. Be sure to check out the caves and the view from Old Baldy. We saw plenty of birds and even turkeys! The river is accessible from all parts of the campgrounds but the swimming area is at the south end near Oakmont camping area. Plenty of people were enjoying the river during our visit. The park has a gift shop, ice cream store, general store, mini golf... So really a bit of everything!

Great place to take family. The more populated areas tend to have a lot of littering around though :(

This is definitely one of the top if not our favorite park in TX. You've got to plan ahead and make reservations at peak times of the year as this is a super busy park. We really enjoy visiting g here in the fall and winter. The river is crystal clear with a tropical blueish green tint that is both cool and inviting. You have got to hike up the river and you will encounter many beautiful spots along the river banks. We found a fantastic swim hole located right at the base of a small waterfall. Be prepared for it to be potentially crowded atthe day use areas especially in the middle of the summer. The views and terrain in this region are breathtaking and like no where else in TX. It really feels like you are elsewhere. Do yourself a favor if tent camping and get a screened shelter site... if you want to be close to the day use area, stores,golf, etc.. be sure to stay in the old garner section. Overall very highly recommended. Be sure to hike up to old baldy and the crystal caves

April 4 - 6, 2019 It was very hot in April. No TV through antenna, no Verizon cell service. WiFi is available at Visitors Center. Restrooms smelled like urine. Showers, flush toilets, electric, water, dump station and laundry room. We did pay a reduced rate of $16.50 because we purchased the state pass. Two Fat Boys restaurant in Leakey, TX was excellent.

Has water activities suck has kayak rentals and canoes. I personally didn’t rent anything didn’t do anything in the water as the time of year Emmy group went, the water was very cold.

Hiking up to their peak was very nice and not too crazy difficult as well. Good place for a family trip.

Clean and huge campground. Campsite was really nice, 1 min to the river! But it’s far from everything, I don’t know if a detour it’s worth it...

this is our 7th year in a row to camp at Garner. The park gets crowded but once you're inside everyone really spreads out so it doesn't feel that way. We tent camp at the Persimmon Hill water only campground. It's quiet, spacious sites and if you get on the outside loop on the river then you have river access. Great trails in Garner to hike and the Frio river is always cold so it's a perfect place to cool down. Clean restrooms and showers, great camp store, food truck. The nightly dance in the summer is my teens' favorite thing, they've made friends all over the state. Beautiful drive and many close by drives to take as well

Great location away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Beautiful campground with trails and the river to explore. In the winter the campground can get a bit chilly due to the river. Expect to see wildlife run through your campsite as we had deer in ours. The campsites can get crowded, so book early for the same spots. There is a small store in he camp ground, though the closest fuel station and full store is a good drive from the campsites.

Garner is a popular camp site, but it also has a lot of space available, so booking a site isn't often an issue.

Old Garner (which is closest to the trails, shop and the rentals) books up the quickest and New Garner (which is further away) books up slower.

One thing to note is that when checking in, you must do so the day of arrival. Unlike other Texas State Parks, you may not check in the next morning. If you arrive after the gate is closed, you are sleeping in your car.

The campsites themselves are pretty nice. In Old Garner, you're camping mostly in a field so there isn't much privacy. In New Garner, it has more trees and you feel like you have some space from others.

All sites have water, a fire ring, and picnic tables. Some of them also have access to electricity. In Old Garner, there are shelters you can book as well.

Garner has a number of buildings to check out. The Visitor Center (which use to be the old park HQ) has some displays of CCC artifacts as well as things to buy. There is also the store where you can buy food you may have forgotten, ice, wood, and a bunch of other camp items. Lastly, there is the gift shop that has a wide range of items with the Garner name on it.

The Gift Shop building was built by the CCC and they held dances in front of the building, something they still do today.

Near the Gift Shop is the Garner Grill that serves burgers and the like. There is also a mini-putt course.

All of the buildings are in Old Garner.

The Frio river runs through Garner State Park and it is often cool and clear. People can rent kayaks or paddle boats to play. You can also float the river. The other shore of the river is private property, but people still go over there to use the rope swings.

One of the highlights of Garner is Old Mount Baldy. It is the tallest point in the park and offers a great view of the area. It is not technically part of the state park, but there is a trail up there.

Garner also has a few small caves to explore and some other smaller look-outs. The trails all start off rather steep, but eventually level off. It is important to go slow as I have had to fix up a few cut knees on the trails.

All in all, Garner is a great place for a hike, swim, or just to be out in nature.

A challenge to get into the park (hour and a half wait) and a challenge to hike the trails. Some of the steepest trails in Texas, but they are worth the views! I camped in New Garner, which is nicely laid out, fairly quiet, and about a half hour walk to Old Garner. The river is great for swimming. You can rent kayaks, paddleboats, and stand up paddle boards.

Located under 2 hours west of San Antonio, Texas, Garner State Park is a nice weekend get away with the family. The Frio River is enjoyable to relax in on an inner tube. Note, you may want to purchase your own tube in advance for $10-15 a tube or if not wanting to invest in your own you can rent them at the park. There are a variety of campsites available so take note the amenities available in each site (water, electricity, no electricity, and electrical Amp value varies) when you're choosing your site. The landscape is green, luscious trees and bushes amongst hills. You'll find hiking trails to take in as well. We noticed a lot of large groups and families while we were visiting. It seems like a campground and park that would be great for a family reunion. Reasonable nightly rates. We enjoyed our weekend stay and lounging on the Frio River.