Camping near Bend, Texas centers around the Colorado River flowing through limestone canyons with elevations ranging from 900-1,200 feet. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F with little shade in many camping areas, while spring brings wildflower displays across the surrounding hills. Winter camping offers mild daytime temperatures in the 60s with cold nights that can drop below freezing.
What to do
Kayaking and fishing opportunities: The Colorado River provides excellent water recreation options near Sulphur Springs Camp. "Located minutes from Burnet and Lampasas. Highly wooded and secluded with great hill country views," notes one visitor at Texas Hill Country Camping. At Grelle - Lake Travis, campers enjoy water activities with unique natural features: "As you walk into the lake you will find pockets of cooler water spouting up. It's kinda like stepping into a refrigerator but underwater."
Wildlife viewing: Animal sightings are common throughout the area. "Saw some bald eagles, reptiles, fish, turtles, heard coyotes howling at night, and saw tracks of some larger animals," reports a camper at Sulphur Springs Camp. Deer are frequently spotted at Fort Mason City Park where "a family of deers seem to visit every evening! That was a lovely surprise for us!"
Hiking trails: Several properties offer walking paths through varied terrain. At Grelle - Lake Travis, "Gorgeous trails with no end to photo ops. A pups happy place!" While at Krause Springs, "There's a trail that goes along the creek for awhile, past the second waterfall and some nifty formations on the cliffs."
What campers like
Natural springs: The area's spring-fed swimming areas are highly rated. At Krause Springs, "The main falls starts by flowing into a topside traditional pool down to a natural pool below. There's a small cave behind it." Another camper notes, "We walked around the property and were stunned at how beautiful the waterfall and spring swimming area were."
Digital disconnection: Many campers appreciate the lack of cell service. At Sulphur Springs Camp, "Down in the canyon there is no cell service so you can break away from the modern world." This creates an environment where visitors can fully disconnect, though some glamping sites near Bend offer limited connectivity.
Spacious sites: Campgrounds provide well-separated sites. At Black Rock Park, "The campsites are well spaced and have full hookups and a nice table and fire ring." Camp Creek Recreation Area similarly offers "Sites are nicely spaced out. River access for boating."
What you should know
Weather considerations: The region experiences extreme heat in summer months. Bring adequate water supplies and sun protection. Winters can see temperatures below freezing overnight, so pack appropriate gear for significant temperature swings.
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult entry roads. At Sulphur Springs Camp, "Roads are very rough though so make sure you have a high clearance vehicle." Similarly, at Camp Creek, facilities are minimal: "I do think 25 bucks for a place with no running water, no electric, and no actual bathroom is expensive."
Reservation systems: Many campgrounds operate on different reservation models. At Fort Mason City Park, they use "a pay box though" while others require advance booking. For glamping close to Bend, Texas, options like On The Rocks Glamping Resort offer "Private with gated access to provide you some peace of mind."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming safety: The natural swimming areas require caution with children. At Krause Springs, "The ladder down is super wonky and the beach area extremely slippery." Parents should bring water shoes and supervise children closely around water features.
Kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds offer facilities specifically for children. Fort Mason City Park has "a rundown playground in the main park and there is a newer playground in the middle of the baseball fields. We were here for a week with a 3 year old and we stayed mostly on the property."
Night lighting: Consider campgrounds with appropriate lighting for families. Fort Mason notes, "Security wise- there are streetlights on everywhere. I don't know if they are on all night so you won't have a true 'camping' experience of star gazing but you can peek out your tent if needed."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Many glamping properties and campgrounds near Bend have restrictions on large vehicles. At Krause Springs, "My only warning is low hanging trees everywhere. I couldn't imagine trying to navigate the campground in a 5th wheel or class A. You could do some rooftop damage."
Hookup availability: RV sites vary widely in amenities. San Saba River RV Park offers "wide level concrete pad with full hookups" while Sulphur Springs Camp provides "the front part is for rv hookups, with the back road for tent/car camping."
Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven terrain at many sites. At Black Rock Park, "Good condition asphalt site parking pad was uneven side-to-side as we noticed nearly all sites in that condition with all requiring leveling."
