Campsites near Canyon Lake, Texas sit between 909-1,085 feet elevation in the Texas Hill Country. The area features exposed limestone formations, juniper woodlands, and access to the Guadalupe River's clear waters. Camping options range from primitive riverside sites to full-service RV parks with lake or river access, though water levels can fluctuate seasonally.
What to do
River floating: Check water conditions first. At Lazy L & L Campground, "They offer river floating from a nearby tube rental place that will come pick you up and drop you back off at the camp ground," notes Garrison H. The campground has on-site tube rentals and shuttle service to the Guadalupe River.
Fishing: Bring your own gear. The pond at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort: Canyon Lake is "stocked full with bass and bluegill and you can catch 10 fish in 10 minutes," according to Tripler S. Canyon Lake itself has multiple fishing spots accessible from Potters Creek Park.
Paddle sports: Launch from riverside campgrounds. At Rio Guadalupe Resort, "The river access is overlooking a canyon wall, with ducks and deer roaming and a huge yard of grass all the way down to the waters edge. White lights illuminate it at night. The water was slow moving so we paddle boarded upstream about a mile," says Becky B.
Hiking: Explore lesser-used trails. Guadalupe River State Park has "a series of trails for hiking, biking and even horseback riding. A full map is provided at the front gate... But something also to consider when looking at this map is the trail system located across the road from what most consider to be the park. This section is less populated with hikers," advises Crystal C.
What campers like
River access points: Some require hiking. At Rio Guadalupe Resort & RV Park, "There is no safe river access. You must hike down to river but soo worth it when u make it down," explains kelly T. Many campgrounds have private water access for swimming and cooling off.
Quiet camping loops: Reserve strategically. At Blanco State Park Campground, campers recommend choosing "campsites on the #20 side of the campground for less traffic noise," suggests Mylie A. Sites with more shade trees also provide better sound buffering.
Clear water swimming: Morning is best. "A great place to take a quick swim and get out of the Texas heat. Be sure to bring your dog! Awesome views and friendly people," mentions Carrie J. about Guadalupe River State Park. The shallow areas are ideal for families, while deeper sections accommodate fishing and floating.
Campsite privacy: Tree coverage varies. "The sites along the lake front do not have trees for shade but the ones in the back row have nice trees," notes Laura F. about Potters Creek Park. Sites with more separation tend to fill quickly during peak summer months.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Book well ahead for weekends. "This park is very popular and quickly fills up on weekend, if you are planning a trip make sure you book well in advance to ensure you will have a site," warns Crystal C. about visiting Guadalupe River RV Park and Campgrounds.
River conditions: Check before arrival. "The river's flow is directly effected by the amount of rainfall. If you are planning a trip pull up the weather to make sure it will not make for unsafe conditions," advises Crystal C. Summer water levels can be lower, especially during drought years.
Trail closures: Verify accessibility. "When I visited, the recent downpour had forced closure of all trails and also this campsite as a part of the conservation effort for keeping the natural lands," reports Crystal C. about Guadalupe River State Park. Closures can happen quickly after heavy rainfall.
Campground layout: Can be tight for large rigs. "The roads getting in and out of the place have restrictions and the trees hang very low on the narrow roads. Not meant for more than double axle," cautions C&J F. about Lazy L & L Campground. Some older campgrounds have narrower roads.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Multi-age entertainment. Mystic Quarry offers "plenty to do from the pool, bocce, and a music venue," notes Tim M. The campground provides structured activities for various age groups throughout peak season.
Wildlife viewing: Early morning is best. "Small deer herds would move through the park each evening. Many of the campers feed them corn and they know the sounds and come running out of the hills," observes Laura H. about Summit Vacation Resort.
Swimming options: Separate from fishing areas. "They have a large pool area with cafe and snacks," mentions Laura H. about Summit Vacation Resort, providing alternatives to river swimming. Most campgrounds have designated swimming areas away from fishing spots.
Weather preparation: Shade is essential. "The sites in the improved camping loops, came standard with electricity and water connections," notes Crystal C. about Guadalupe River State Park. "Camp sites each provide a large picnic table and lantern hook in addition to a tent pad which is constructed and elevated slightly from the ground around."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategies: Optimize outdoor space. At Summit Vacation Resort, "Sites are relatively level & gravel," says Eli D. Many campgrounds offer premium site selection for additional fees, which can be worthwhile for longer stays.
Campground connections: Verify hookup locations. "The sites were confusing as stated back in but connections were on opposite side of our pop up camper making stretching hoses a hassle," reports kelly T. about Rio Guadalupe Resort. Bringing extra-length hoses and power cords is recommended.
Phone service: Carrier-dependent coverage. "Even the ones that say they have Wi-Fi have extremely poor Wi-Fi like not having it at all. If you have T-Mobile you should know that this campground has 5G. And 4G in certain areas," shares Red S. about Guadalupe River State Park.
Space between sites: Reserve early for privacy. "They allowed us pull thru spots side by side so we had green space between us and our doors opened towards each other," mentions Becky B. about Rio Guadalupe Resort, highlighting the importance of requesting specific site arrangements when booking.
