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Mark S.
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ScoutRiverview RV Park
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According to YELP, October 2026, this park is CLOSED.
Tent Camping near Castell, TX
9 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Tent camping near Castell, Texas ranges from developed walk-in sites to primitive tent campsites in the surrounding Hill Country terrain. Colorado Bend State Park, located approximately 20 miles north of Castell, offers various tent-focused camping areas including the North Area primitive sites along the Colorado River and designated backpack areas like Windmill and River Backpack Areas. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, situated about 30 minutes southeast, provides both walk-in tent sites and more secluded primitive camping at Moss Lake and Walnut Springs Areas.
Most tent sites throughout the region require advance reservations, particularly at Enchanted Rock where spots routinely fill weeks ahead. Sites typically feature cleared dirt or grassy terrain with basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, though primitive areas may have only a cleared patch of ground. Fire restrictions are common during summer months when temperatures reach the upper 90s. A visitor commented that "The campsites are nestled amongst a forest with plenty of trees and shade to hang a hammock and relax," though park regulations often require specific tree-protection straps for hammocks.
The tent camping experience in this region offers distinct advantages over vehicle-based options. In Colorado Bend's primitive areas, campers have direct access to multiple hiking trails leading to features like Gorman Falls and Spicewood Springs. Tent sites near water bodies provide opportunities for fishing, swimming, and paddling, though one camper noted that "if you opt for the hike-in primitive camping, bring a wagon or pack light - that 1.5 miles isn't fun hauling gear." Many primitive sites lack running water and bathroom facilities beyond composting toilets, requiring campers to practice Leave No Trace principles. During summer, early morning or evening hikes are recommended to avoid intense midday heat, while spring offers wildflower displays and cooler temperatures for a more comfortable tent camping experience.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Castell (9)
1. Moss Lake Area — Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
"Once you walk about 20 feet, you’ll be in complete darkness without a light."
"You'll be walking on solid granite. During the summer the temperatures rise sharply and there is limited shade to rest under on the summit."
from $14 / night
Check Availability2. Walnut Springs Area — Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
"Drove 3.5hrs from Dickinson, TX with more than enough time to hike out to our camp site, set up and catch an unbelievable sunset from one of the scenic lookouts."
"Tent camping is all they offer here I believe. I went on solo weekend camp out and really enjoyed it. The grounds are nice. You are not allowed to hang anything from trees which is a bummer."
from $14 / night
Check Availability3. Grenwelge Park
"We stayed here the evening of 2/16/20 thanks to location being shared by first reviewer. Great spot as described."
4. North Area — Colorado Bend State Park Campground
"There are rivers, streams, water holes, trees, caves and plenty of hike and bike trails to explore. This park offers drive-up, walk-in, hike-in primitive and group campsites. "
"The walk-in campsites are beautiful. They are well spaced and quite close to the river. The have lattern post, a picnic bench and a fire ring."
from $13 - $35 / night
Check Availability5. Cedar Point Recreation Area
"The campsite was nice and clean with a fire ring and a charcoal grill. The water was a little low but if you plan on doing a lot of swimming, bring water shoes."
"This is a small, quiet park w/ 9 total campsites all right on the lake. Sites 1-3 are larger and more secluded while 4-9 are closer together on a peninsula."
6. River Backpack Area — Colorado Bend State Park
"If you like to hike in the back country this is an excellent park. It is secluded and once you go through the gates expect to travel around 6~7 miles to reach the campsites."
"The trail there is almost perfectly flat you could definitely bicycle in and out. It’s nice to be right on the river and out of the hustle and bustle of a main camping area."
from $10 / night
Check Availability7. Shaffer Bend Recreation Area
"The site we had was walking distance to the sandy beach of lake Travis. Great fishing and the sand carrier up so it’s a soft bedding for the evening. Lots of tree cover to help combat the sun."
"We set up at site 15 it has an awesome view of the river/lake and it’s walking distance down to the waters edge. Great spot to fish for some bass or take a dip in the water."
8. Camp Creek Recreation Area
"If you are a pro camper you should try this place no water no electricity perfect lake view beautiful sunset and star gazing Note: Site 01 and 02 are not good for camps if you have truck bed camp or roof"
"Was planning on tent camping nearby and left a day early and all the hotel room were booked. Tried finding a tent site and no luck. Found this place online and figured I'd give it a shot."
9. Bankersmith, TX
"The picturesque drive to Bankersmith, TX via old San Antonio Rd is worth the trip alone! Lovely wildflowers along the way. Once off old San Antonio the private road into the camp is crushed gravel."
from $30 / night
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Drive Time
- 1 hr 32 min from Austin, TX
- 1 hr 35 min from San Antonio, TX
- 1 hr 37 min from Killeen, TX
- 1 hr 44 min from San Angelo, TX
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Castell, TX
39 Photos of 9 Castell Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Moss Lake Area — Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Walnut Springs Area — Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Cedar Point Recreation Area
North Area — Colorado Bend State Park Campground
River Backpack Area — Colorado Bend State Park
Bankersmith, TXC
Camp Creek Recreation Area
Shaffer Bend Recreation AreaC
Junction City Park
Tent Camping Reviews near Castell, TX
505 Reviews of 9 Castell Campgrounds
- EElizabeth W.
TravelerBlack Rock Park
Very nice location on the lake. There are cottages and airstream trailers to rent in addition to the campsites. It’s a little close to the road in but that noise may disappear in the later hours.
- MMichelle M.Scout
Willie Washington Park
Small and clean. Bathrooms include showers. Was the only camper here. Six 50 amp full-RV hookups, a small pavilion, BBQ grills with picnic tables, and a playground. Would stay again
RJ S.ScoutFredericksburg RV Park
Tired of bs fees
This used to be a place we enjoyed coming to. Perfectly located, nice facilities and decent campground with level sites. What has got me twisted over the past several years are investors buying up the decent campgrounds, raising the prices and charging fee after fee after fee. And this one is no different. Site Lock-in Fee $10.00, it’s available or it isn’t. Stop the bs Admin Fee $5.00; for what? Online Booking Fee $6.75; I did all the work booking the site? Service Fee $7.40; for what, there was no service provided
Someone please create an app of just mom and pop campgrounds that don’t believe in all this BS and let’s get back to the way it used to be.
- SSteven H.Scout
Bending Oaks Ranch RV Resort
Trees
Bend oats has the best tree coverage of any other campground we have been too. Only on problem is that some sites have low hanging tree branches and not very many 50 amp hook ups. Other than that, beautiful place.
- BBillie K.
GuideInks Lake State Park Campground
What a beautiful place
Wow this was one thing f the most beautiful places I’ve been. We walked the trails. We watched the sun come up on devils back bone and it was amazing
- BBillie K.Guide
Dos Rios RV Park
Beautiful place
We stayed 3 nights there and the view was amazing. Great place to relax and soak up some sun.
- VValerie N.Traveler
North Area — Colorado Bend State Park Campground
Deciphering Campsites here and Site 19
This State Park is beautiful and worth the drive out to the middle of nowhere. This is not Lake Ray Roberts or Eisenhower where the park is a short drive off main roads. Going to this park is a commitment: and worth it. Hiking to the waterfall, mountain biking along the river, kayaking the leisurely Colorado River, it's all great. Vault toilets are clean. Just know it's a low maintenance park which they very clearly state everywhere. Trails are well maintained which is what I cared about. Nice to have a bench, ample parking and restroom at trailhead for the Falls.
Deciphering what's going on with these campsites, however, is a deal. I spent hours before I went trying to figure out what's going on, and still did not "get it right" so I thought I'd try and help out some.
First of all, in the south area, those campsites 1-15, yes, you definitely need a wagon. You park above, go down some stairs and a hill and the sites are in big meadows along the river. I'm not sure why anyone would camp there unless they didn't know, or really wanted to be on the river or had a huge group. It looks very hassle-ish to me and not worth being on the river.
Then you've got 17-21. I read reviews for 17, 18, 19 and 20 and was still unclear. Although in retrospect I did remember reading that 19 was an accessible site which should have tipped me off. I was debating between 19 and 20 and went with 19 for the reviewer who said it had good tree coverage (which it does, over the picnic table. Not the tent space btw, which is in direct sun.)
Pros to 19: you park right next to your campsite. And you're next to the showerhead and water. Cons to 19: Everyone else is also parked right next to your campsite. 19 is directly adjacent to the parking area - and showering area - for Sites 17-21. So when the big group of dads was leaving they powered up their noisy diesel trucks (to charge their phones I guess?) and left them running for 20 minutes while I'm right there in my little campsite 19, which at that point, feels like I'm basically camping in the parking lot!! :) I had bought a wagon - you don't need it here, it's basically a drive up. So, if you need an accessible site and can't get 36-39 or one of the 40s, this is an appropriate option. I am attaching photos.
17, 18, 20 and 21 are down the hill e.g. down the stairs (which are kind of next to the tent area for 19) to a different meadow than 1-15. 17 and 18 are in their own little meadow area, and 20 is nice, kind of in the middle and has some trees, and 21 over a way from 20. When I was there the group of four dads and four sons were camping in 18 and they had their cornhole, tents, it's a great site for a big group - e.g. as long as you're up for the walk down, preferably with a wagon or many hands, as they had. (Also, you potential 19 campers, visitors over the years have carved a path directly from 18 up the hill - in the photo in those bushes behind the picnic table-that goes through your campsite to the parking area - instead of using the stairs. So all of the boys did this and most of the dads, for convenience, right through my site. I didn't care that much, I've got a teen boy myself - the running trucks were more annoying- but if that's an issue for you, be warned.) 18 is right alongside the river. 17 is fine too, just more of a hike as it's a little farther then 18. If you had a group of like 15 people, 17 and 18 would be nice.
Then you have 40-47. Those are drive up sites with the advantage of a picnic table awning (all except 44, no awning.) Nice BUT be warned (which was a problem with my site, too, 19) from 4-8 PM - which is when you want to be relaxing at your campsite after a big day - you are directly in the sun, which means it is hot and it is buggy. Very hot, very very buggy.
In my opinion, if you're planning ahead, the BEST sites to camp here at this park back up to a cliff-face, 36-39. If you can snag one of those, for sure, do that, is my recommendation. In the late afternoon Texas sun, the cliffs block that sunlight and I sat over there (after the campsites had cleared out) it was breezy, shady, not hot and NOT BUGGY, I guess because of the wind blowing through because of the cliff-face. Very nice. AND drive up. So this is my take. Prime real estate here at CB is these four sites.
24-28 are like 40-47 except not drive up. You park and then take your (hopefully) wagon across a little grassy area to your site.
I cannot really say much about the river backpack sites. I was confused by the map which shows a parking area close to the sites. I did see a parking area at the end, near Grey Fox group, but I never saw any tents set up when I biked the River Trail. But mysteriously, later when I kayaked I DID see a couple tents set up, near the cliffs, along the river, so I really don't know how they got there. Maybe when the River Trail is up in the meadow (there's a section through the meadow, maybe a mile) then that's where the tents are down below on the river? But I didn't see signs from the trail there saying "this way to River Backpack sites." I'm sure I missed the signs bc clearly there's a way to get there that I did not see.
I hope this is helpful. Enjoy this beautiful mecca of wilderness in the middle of the hill country!
Oh, one final reminder although its said many places and I started with it, this really is not like most of the state parks us North Texans camp at up here where there's at least one shop not too far from the park entrance. There's nothing. Take EVERYTHING you need. The nearest civilization to the campground is a good 45-minute drive. At least. Really about an hour. (which is what makes it so nice and peaceful.) The park store has emergency stuff but that's it.
barefootnbikini P.ScoutBarefoot Fishing Camp & RV Park
Very relaxing and quiet
Very nice, quiet place, on the Colorado river. Tent camp sites have a great distance in between. Could be mowed a little better but overall very nice. Will definitely be back. T-mobile’s service was in “sos” the whole time (which we liked) but good wifi at the restroom/showers.
Guide to Castell
Tent campsites near Castell, Texas range from accessible walk-in sites to primitive backcountry areas across various parks within 30 miles of this small Hill Country community. Located at 1,150 feet elevation in Mason County, the region features limestone terrain with juniper and oak woodlands. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F between June and September, making spring and fall the optimal camping seasons.
What to do
Stargazing opportunities: At Moss Lake Area — Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, the dark skies create ideal conditions for astronomy. "We saw a ton of lizards and of course amazing Milky Way views," reports Lynn G., who recommends bringing a telescope if possible.
Spring swimming: The Spicewood Springs trail at North Area — Colorado Bend State Park Campground offers multiple water features with natural pools. "We swam in the spring and played in a small waterfall. It was a good way to cool off after a day of hiking," notes Brian V., who recommends this trail for its series of water features.
Rock climbing: Several bolted climbing routes exist at Enchanted Rock. "Great hiking and descent rock climbing. A few of the climbing spots have bolts and they are maintained," explains Blas D., highlighting the maintained climbing areas suitable for various skill levels.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: The primitive camping areas provide opportunities to observe native Texas wildlife. "There were so many animals that came to visit us at night! Owls, armadillos, raccoons, a couple wild hogs, gray foxes, deer, even saw a mountain lion," reports Nina P. from her experience at North Area in Colorado Bend State Park.
River proximity: At River Backpack Area — Colorado Bend State Park, campers appreciate the riverside location. "It's nice to be right on the river and out of the hustle and bustle of a main camping area," writes Jack P., though he cautions about raccoons investigating campsites at night.
Easy backcountry access: The Windmill Backback Area — Colorado Bend State Park offers accessible primitive camping. "This is the type of place to call and ask which site is the best because not all of them were equal," advises Lauren B., who stayed at site 8 and found it to be one of the best options in this area.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campsites fill quickly, especially during cooler months. "If you're coming for just a day hike, get there early as it can fill up fast," warns James S. about Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.
Trail conditions: Some backcountry areas have poorly maintained trails. "The trail along the way was not visible, the weeds had over grown the trail so our legs were getting cut up for such a short hike," cautions Robert G. about the River Backpack Area at Colorado Bend.
Water levels: Lake and river access points can vary seasonally. "The water was a little low but if you plan on doing a lot of swimming, bring water shoes. There are a ton of little shells that cut you everywhere they touch," notes Baylor N. about Cedar Point Recreation Area.
Tips for camping with families
Heat management: Plan activities early or late in the day during summer months. "Best time to visit is early spring or late fall when the leaves are changing and temps are cooler," suggests Gretchen N. about visits to Enchanted Rock.
Gear transport: For walk-in sites, consider how to transport your equipment. "If you opt for the hike-in primitive camping, bring a wagon or pack light - that 1.5 miles isn't fun hauling gear," advises a camper at Colorado Bend State Park.
Beach camping: Shaffer Bend Recreation Area offers sandy beach access ideal for families. "The site we had was walking distance to the sandy beach of lake Travis. Great fishing and the sand carrier up so it's a soft bedding for the evening," reports Steve L., noting the combination of water access and comfortable tent sites.
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup options: Most sites near Castell are tent-focused with minimal RV infrastructure. "Small RV and tent-dry camping," describes Robin about Shaffer Bend Recreation Area, noting it's suitable only for compact RVs without hookups.
Supply planning: Remote campgrounds require bringing all necessities. "Long ways in and out of this park and from towns so make sure you bring all you need," advises Cathy J. from North Area at Colorado Bend, mentioning the $10 cost for a bundle of wood and bag of ice at the small store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Castell, TX?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Castell, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Castell, TX is Moss Lake Area — Enchanted Rock State Natural Area with a 4.7-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Castell, TX?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Castell, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Castell, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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