Galyna C.
Traveler
TravelerSouthwinds Marina on Lake
Southwinds marina Del Rio
Great camp, very quiet. Absolutely stunning lake.
Glamping near Amistad National Recreation Area, TX
1 campground with availability next weekend
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Near Amistad National Recreation Area, Laughlin AFB FamCamp houses premium glamping options including yurts and cabins with full hookups for comfortable stays. The sites provide electric hookups, water connections, sewer access, and picnic tables. Located in Del Rio, Texas, the campground maintains bathroom facilities with showers and toilets. The concrete level sites offer good spacing with short fence sections between them for privacy. All sites are reservable with options for both drive-in and walk-in access. "Nice concrete level sites. Easy access. The sites are large with short fence sections between," noted one camper after their stay.
Kickapoo Cavern State Park Campground, situated 25 miles from US-90, offers glamping accommodations with electric and water hookups in a remote setting perfect for nature immersion. The park features exceptional dark sky viewing conditions ideal for stargazing and astrophotography. Visitors can observe Mexican free-tailed bat emergences from Stuart Cave, explore the undeveloped Kickapoo Cavern on guided tours, and hike numerous trails through the Texas landscape. The campground provides clean facilities with showers, though cell service is unavailable, allowing for a complete digital detox. According to one visitor, "The sky is amazing at night! They have good hiking and allow mountain bikes on the trails. We stayed 2 nights and definitely want to go back again to experience this park."
Best Glamping Campgrounds near Amistad National Recreation Area (4)
2. Buzzard Roost RV Campground
3. Laughlin AFB FamCamp
"The sites are large with short fence sections between. My only complaint would be I was unable to contact the office to confirm availability or make a reservation."
4. Kickapoo Cavern State Park Campground
"Pros: Excellent DARK SKY campground
• Stuart Cave bat emergence nightly from a very nice viewing deck
• Small park
• Extremely quiet park during March Spring Break
• Good campsite privacy due to"
"The park staff were really nice. There are some campsites with electric and water and can accommodate an RV or camper. The rest are for tents only and just have water."
10 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $15 - $45 / night
Drive Time
- 1 hr 9 min from Eagle Pass, TX
- 2 hrs 17 min from San Angelo, TX
- 2 hrs 37 min from San Antonio, TX
- 3 hrs 17 min from Laredo, TX
Recent Glamping Photos near Amistad National Recreation Area
1 Photos of 4 Amistad National Recreation Area Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Glamping Reviews near Amistad National Recreation Area
14 Reviews of 4 Amistad National Recreation Area Campgrounds
- CCindy Y.Traveler
Kickapoo Cavern State Park Campground
Clean, quiet and remote
Very nice small campground in a fairly remote state park. The park opens Friday morning and closes Monday morning. The campground is very clean, quiet and appeared well maintained. The park staff were really nice. There are some campsites with electric and water and can accommodate an RV or camper. The rest are for tents only and just have water. Shade is sparse and it is VERY hot in the summer months. It was also very windy while we were there. There is no cell service, however the park headquarters building has wifi you can access for free and the range was pretty good. Caves in the park are home to large numbers of bats, and watching them exit in the evenings and fly back at dawn is quite a sight. There is also a really nice bird blind where staff set up a little recirculating creek to attract lots of birds. I saw several species of birds I had never seen before. The main reason we traveled here was for the very dark skies at night for star gazing and astrophotography. Unfortunately it was cloudy at night except for two hours one evening. I would like to come back but would only do it during the colder months as we were tent camping and the daytime temperatures were high 90’s F.
Chris L.
GuideLaughlin AFB FamCamp
Nice Night Stay
Nice concrete level sites. Easy access. The sites are large with short fence sections between. My only complaint would be I was unable to contact the office to confirm availability or make a reservation. With that said we showed up and there were 4 or 5 sites unoccupied.
- Laura F.
RangerKickapoo Cavern State Park Campground
Amazing experience - wonderful campground, great hiking!
This state park is really in the middle of nowhere. It has a tiny campground, with only 5 RV sites. The sites feel well spaced with trees in between them giving you privacy. They have sewer hookups at the official RV sites, and a dump station if you stay in one of the no hookup sites. The sky is amazing at night! They have good hiking and allow mountain bikes on the trails. We stayed 2 nights and definitely want to go back again to experience this park. We hiked most of the trails, but did not get to see the bats due to the time of year, and did not get to do a guided tour to the cavern so have a great reason to go back. There is no cell service so you can fully unplug and relax.
ROBERT J.GuideKickapoo Cavern State Park Campground
Hikers Beware - Easy is Relative
Preface - I am reviewing from the perspective of a tent camper. Photos really don't really capture what three days and two nights are like at a relatively large but isolated State Park. With only 15 tent sites it is sort of special. Almost like a neighborhood with everyone sharing experiences and suggestions for a good time. My grandson should be applauded for spending a weekend with an old and slow guy. After climbing to the peak of Armadillo Lookout Grandpa needed a nap. he then went on with a group to explore an undeveloped cavern. When he returned three hours later He convinced me to climb the Seargeant Memorial Trailhead and experience the"vista." Not sure what we ate for dinner but then left to watch the bats emerge from the Stuart Bat Cave for a second time. Kickapoo is a great park with all of the amenities including very clean showers and restroom facilities. It is really for hikers and those that want to see the bats emerge and explore an old cavern. Camp tent sites are well spaced and have everything except electricity. Nobody seemed to mind. Met some really nice families enjoying the outdoor
- a
agustin M.
ScoutSouthwinds Marina on Lake
Very nice set up
Was able to pull in, hook up with everything needed within reach. Clean, awesome shaded spots with picnic table and bbq pit.
Napunani
LegendKickapoo Cavern State Park Campground
Camp With the Bats
This park is a great escape to disconnect, view the DARK SKY and witness Mexican free-tailed bat emergence! Park campground is 25 miles after the turn off of US90. We stayed Friday and Saturday nights in mid-March. Few bats emerged during our stay; much better emergence in April as experienced in previous visits to Stuart Cave.
Pros:
• Excellent DARK SKY campground
• Stuart Cave bat emergence nightly from a very nice viewing deck
• Small park
• Extremely quiet park during March Spring Break
• Good campsite privacy due to good brush coverage
• Most sites had a nice distance from neighbor sites
• Clean campsite
• Picnic table in good condition, especially eating surface
• Our site had aluminum picnic table on a concrete slab under a metal shelter; not all sites had metal shelter
• Clean restroom/shower facility
• Campsite hook-ups in good condition.
• Level gravel campsite.
• Pedestal BBQ grill, fire pit with grilling grate, double hook lantern pole and aluminum picnic table at each site.
• Park roadways in good condition.
• Park Ranger patrolled campground numerous times throughout day/evening
Cons:
• No AT&T signal; no park WIFI, so completely without phone service and no public phone available for emergerncies. Had to drive outside of Park about 3 miles for AT&T signal.
• County burn ban prohibited wood campfires and ban posted on Park’s website. Park Ranger stopped by our campsite to tell us to put out our campfire, but we showed him it was a propane firebowl.
• Limited shade in campsites
• Must pack out all personally generated trash. Absolutely NO dumpsters; no garbage cans in park
• No campground host
•. No entrance gate locked at night
• One and only restroom used by entire Park, so campers and day users. Women’s restroom had 2 toilets, 2 sinks and one shower stall
• Women’s restroom lacked consistent supply of TP and wall dispenser soap• Wildlife sightings limited to squirrels and armadillos
• No park store, so come prepared with all necessary supplies as Brackettville is closest small town which is 25 miles away with only a grocery store and couple fuel stations. Ulvade and Del Rio have the typical box stores.
Rick G.LegendBuzzard Roost RV Campground
Just for One Night
We wanted a layover stop on our way to Big Bend National Park and chose this park to use a PassPort America discount. It is close to Del Rio with all the shopping, etc. you might need, but it’s target clientele isn’t transient folks. Mostly long-term stays with people working in the area. The Bar has a some loud music running on Saturday night as well. Once the “booming” stopped around midnight we were able to get a decent night sleep. To do over again, I’d pull into San Pedro Campground at Amistad National Recreation Area.
- Katie D.Guide
Buzzard Roost RV Campground
A super poor RV park with trash and rednecks living there.
Okay, this is definitely an experience to stay here. If you are looking for a luxury or even moderate RV park, don’t stay here. However if you are someone who can find the diamond in the rough...go here. The owners are super nice and there is a bar on the park that is kickin! Everyone you meet in the bar will be your best friend before you know it and you’re gonna be hugging them and Facebook friending them on your way out.
Guide to Amistad National Recreation Area
Southwinds Marina offers cabins as a glamping alternative close to Amistad National Recreation Area in Texas. The campground provides concrete sites for RVs with full hookups while cabins offer more weather protection in this desert environment where summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F. Located directly on Lake Amistad, campers have immediate access to water recreation and fishing opportunities when staying at this military and law enforcement restricted facility.
What to do
Bat viewing at Stuart Cave: At Kickapoo Cavern State Park, visitors can witness Mexican free-tailed bats emerge nightly from Stuart Cave using a handicap-accessible viewing deck. "Stuart Bat Cave. About 1 million Mexican Free-tail Bats exit the cave at sunset to search for food," notes camper Gary F., who adds that "you can also watch them return, which is quite impressive, if you get there before sunrise."
Cave exploration: Kickapoo Cavern State Park offers guided hard hat tours of the undeveloped Kickapoo Cavern. Reservations are required as tours run only once weekly. "I spelunked the pristine cavern on a different, guided trip with my family after needing to make reservations a couple months in advance," explains Jacob W., highlighting the advance planning needed.
Hiking at various difficulty levels: Trails range from moderate to challenging with limited shade. "We hiked most of the trails, but did not get to see the bats due to the time of year, and did not get to do a guided tour to the cavern," reports Laura F., who mentioned mountain biking is also permitted on the trails.
Astrophotography opportunities: The area offers exceptional dark sky viewing for star enthusiasts. Camper Cindy Y. explains, "The main reason we traveled here was for the very dark skies at night for star gazing and astrophotography. Unfortunately it was cloudy at night except for two hours one evening."
What campers like
Complete digital detox: The remote location provides a true escape from connectivity. "There is no cell service so you can fully unplug and relax," mentions Laura F. about her experience at Kickapoo Cavern, while another visitor notes you must "drive outside of Park about 3 miles for AT&T signal."
Bird watching amenities: Buzzard Roost RV Campground and surrounding areas offer opportunities to view desert bird species. At Kickapoo, "there is also a really nice bird blind where staff set up a little recirculating creek to attract lots of birds. I saw several species of birds I had never seen before," reports Cindy Y.
Lake activities: The proximity to Amistad Reservoir provides water recreation options. "Great camp, very quiet. Absolutely stunning lake," says Galyna C. about Southwinds Marina, which offers direct water access for boating and fishing.
Social atmosphere at certain locations: Some campgrounds foster community among visitors. Regarding Buzzard Roost, Katie D. shares, "There is a bar on the park that is kickin! Everyone you meet in the bar will be your best friend before you know it and you're gonna be hugging them and Facebook friending them on your way out."
What you should know
Limited access periods: Park operating schedules may be restricted. "The park opens Friday morning and closes Monday morning," cautions Cindy Y. about Kickapoo Cavern, while others note that bat viewing is seasonal, not year-round.
Climate considerations: Expect extreme heat in summer months with minimal shade. "Shade is sparse and it is VERY hot in the summer months. It was also very windy while we were there," warns Cindy Y., recommending winter visits for tent campers.
Varying site quality across locations: Campground conditions differ significantly between locations. At Laughlin AFB FamCamp, Chris L. describes "nice concrete level sites. Easy access. The sites are large with short fence sections between," while Buzzard Roost receives less favorable reviews for cleanliness and atmosphere.
Pack-out trash policies: Some campgrounds require visitors to take all garbage with them. Napunani notes, "Must pack out all personally generated trash. Absolutely NO dumpsters; no garbage cans in park" at Kickapoo Cavern.
Tips for camping with families
Pack extra supplies: Limited shopping options exist near most campsites. "Come prepared with all necessary supplies as Brackettville is closest small town which is 25 miles away with only a grocery store and couple fuel stations," advises Napunani about Kickapoo Cavern State Park.
Plan for extreme temperatures: Desert conditions demand preparation. "I would like to come back but would only do it during the colder months as we were tent camping and the daytime temperatures were high 90's F," shares Cindy Y. about her summer visit to Kickapoo Cavern State Park.
Consider trail difficulty for children: Trails marked "easy" may still be challenging. "Hikers Beware - Easy is Relative," cautions Robert J., who explains, "After climbing to the peak of Armadillo Lookout Grandpa needed a nap," suggesting trails may be too strenuous for very young children or those with mobility concerns.
Tips from RVers
Reservation difficulties: Call ahead and have backup plans. Chris L. mentions about Laughlin AFB, "My only complaint would be I was unable to contact the office to confirm availability or make a reservation. With that said we showed up and there were 4 or 5 sites unoccupied."
Strategic timing for layovers: Consider location for transit stops carefully. Rick G. advises after staying at Buzzard Roost, "To do over again, I'd pull into San Pedro Campground at Amistad National Recreation Area," suggesting better options exist for overnight stays when traveling toward Big Bend.
Hookup availability varies: Check utilities before booking glamping close to Amistad National Recreation Area. Agustin M. appreciates the Southwinds Marina setup: "Was able to pull in, hook up with everything needed within reach. Clean, awesome shaded spots with picnic table and bbq pit."
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Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Amistad National Recreation Area?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Amistad National Recreation Area is Southwinds Marina on Lake with a 4.0-star rating from 3 reviews.
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What is the best site to find glamping camping near Amistad National Recreation Area?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 glamping camping locations near Amistad National Recreation Area, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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