Best Cabin Camping near Elgin, TX

This was our very 1st RV park. It set the tone for all our spots moving forward. Clean bathrooms, clean pool/hot tub, clean laundry, well stocked store, gated community, great walking trail around a big lake and near big long horn cows. Met some big white neighbor dogs on the trail, but they kept their distance. Seems like the middle of nowhere, but it's really close to Austin, lockhart, Circuit of the America's. We stayed a week. Will stay again.

Such a nice place to park and relax! Ten dog park is huge, grounds immaculate, pool, hot tub, laundry and showers are incredibly well kept and best of all the staff!! They are hands on helpful, super social and always driving around the grounds to see how your morning is or if you could use a hand. They know your name and genuinely take an interest!

Such a refreshing pleasure!!! I would highly recommend a stay here! You’ll love it!! And it’s easy to drive in and out!

I'm always on the lookout for new campgrounds nearby my town. It's nice to have a few places to escape to for a quick day or weekend trip. I searched on thedyrt.com for campgrounds nearby and noticed a group of listings near Lake Travis in an area called Hudson Bend. I decided to check them out.

If you are looking for a short, mid or long-term place to RV camp or cabin camp near Lake Travis on the Hudson Bend penisula this might be your best option.

The facilities are modern, clean and offer many amenities. And the people that I talked to that were staying at the park seemed to be friendly and happy with their choice of facilities.

At the entrance there is an office that is open during typical business hours 9-5. Next to the office there was a small pool and courtyard. And next to the pool was a group meeting room.

The park offered a variety of options from short, mid and long-term stays. One gentleman that I met and talked to said that he was a snowbird and had stayed at the park for the past four years every summer. This appeared to be the norm.

There are RV sites that offer back-in parking and drive-through parking. There are also little multi-color cabins that can be rented. The grounds looked like they were well taken care of. There was some open green space and what appeared to be a fenced dog walking area. Each of the RV sites offered a picnic table and electric and water hookups.

The only downside to this RV park was that it was not located directly on the shore of the lake. To access the lake one must drive down the road and visit the marina. Also, the park is rather large, so some might feel there is a lack of privacy. I wouldn't say that this park has great access to nature, it is more of a modern RV park.

Overall, if you're a mid to long term vacationer you might really enjoy this site. If you're looking for access to nature, you might look elsewhere.

I actually would rate this campground 3.5 stars, because it is better than average and getting better every year.

In 2011 a forest fire swept through this park and devastated over 90% of the piney woods. The park is still recovering.

However, something that has never changed about this location is that Bastrop State Park offers multiple camping options and great opportunities for family fun.

The park has car camping, walk-in camping, RV camping and even cabin camping/glamping. One of my favorite activities when visiting this park is to drive the scenic and winding tree lined road between Bastrop State Park and nearby Buescher State Park.

There are recreational activities for kids such as a playground, swimming pool, fishing, geocaching and hiking trails. Many of the facilities underwent a remodel and now offer restrooms with modern sinks, showers and toilet stalls.

There are sections of the park where one can see the devastation cause by the forest fire. It is a humbling experience for both children and adults to see the burnt but recovering forrest. There are also sections of the park where one can still stand under some of the old growth majestic pine trees. The walk-in sites are surrounded by forrest. The RV site has some of the tallest trees still standing. One caveat about the RV site is that you can hear the auto traffic from the nearby highway.

The park office has a small store and sells camping necessities and souvenirs. The town of Bastrop is nearby where you can find supermarkets, stores and restaurants so you're never too far from supplies.

Based on my recent visit to this park, I think that it still offers a variety of camping options, family fun and possibly an eco lesson for all of us.

Living Waters on Lake Travis is a lakeside venue for romantic getaways, yoga retreats, weddings, songwriting retreats, family reunions, work retreats and glamping (glamorous camping). You can rent one structure for a personal getaway or rent them all for a group event.

I attended a special event at this venue. There are various whimsical houses, cabins, yurts and tents in which to stay. There is an open lawn for group gatherings, a covered gazebo for outdoor yoga and a boathouse for lakeside activities. In addition there are amenities such as hammocks, lawn chairs, porches and tents in which to relax. The venue offers a variety of personal services such as massage, yoga, a private chef and watercraft rental. 

Whether you would like to be active or sedentary, Living Waters on Lake Travis might meet your needs.

We stayed in one of their air-conditioned glamping cabins. It was very nice and clean and the AC stayed very cold. They have private, lockable, full bathrooms right behind the cabins. The place is very pretty and the staff friendly. We loved tubing and kayaking the San Marcos River! It’s a great getaway!

This state park is a little outside of Austin near the airport. The park stays busy and it’s easy to see why– it’s really nice with waterfalls you can check out in the park and it isn’t far from the airport. We had a great stay here and will definitely check it out again if in the area. Although– watch the branches if you are in a bigger rig– we watched a guy hit one and mess up his roof. Also, if you will be camping in Texas State Parks a bit be sure to get the annual Texas State Parks pass– it will end up saving you a lot of money! Also, we went to a nearby market to buy what we thought was salsa(see pictures)– it definitely wasn’t and it was sooo spicy!!

Pace Bend is one of my most favorite places to camp in Texas.

Not far from the old (and new!) Backyard (a great place to see live music in the live oak capital of Texas), Pace Bend is a quick drive away. A perfect spot to pitch a bunch of tents, jump off cliffs, swim and barbeque. Maybe 45 minutes from downtown Austin (without traffic).

I won't lie the cliff diving kinda freaks me out. Be careful is all I'm saying!

There are several primitive campsites throughout the park with picnic tables, grills and toilets. Additionally there are 20 RV hook-up type sites that offer running water, electricity, restrooms and showers.

I made the drive out after a UT game with three 17 year old boys. Only the bunkhouse was available, a funky wooden cabin with two bunk beds and a bathroom with a view of the lake. The guys tossed a football, hung out by the lake and forgot that there was no television in our cabin. Actually the one thing we noticed most about the bunkhouse was how comfy the beds were!! The bedspread looked like a sleeping bag but was the perfect weight and comfort. And, the mattress was just right—all of us talked about the great night’s sleep we had. The photos or even our first impression of the beds did not do them justice—they were more comfortable than a four star hotel!! You will need to bring extra snacks or food to throw on the grill. Or, you can drive to get something off the main road—about 20 minutes away.

This is not a campground this is an adventure park that has a campground. They have everything from primitive dispersed tent camping to RV site hook ups all the way up to a $600 per night cabin. They have excellent off road trails for stock trucks up to rock crawling rigs. They have a basic general store near the tent camping area that is decently stocked (yet overpriced) and they have food trucks that are sometimes open sometimes aren’t. The bathrooms are maintained and spacious enough that they don’t feel over crowded. They also have a shooting range on site so if you want the true Texas Hill Country experience you should check out HFAP. Be respectful on the trails not only to other people but also by not tearing up the trails themselves.

Located On Onion Creek, 15 minutes from downtown Austin, Park is a 70 year old park that was at one time McKinney Ranch. Two waterfalls , one is the upper Falls and the other lower falls, with trails throughout. The old homestead trail has the original stone ranch house. Numerous rock walls . Fishing , camping, swimming and hiking. There are 86 campsites , 5 cabins, large meeting/dinning hall, and outdoor theater. A variety of wildlife also.

This campground is located a short distance away from the city of Austin, Texas. The park is managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). At the entrance there is an office where you can pay your admission fee and it has a small store where you can pick up supplies. If you arrive late, there is an after hour station to pay your fee which accepts cash or a credit card.

This park has car and RV campsites. There are no primitive sites. There is a campground called the Lake Bastrop North Shore Park located 15 minutes away with primitive sites.

The campsites are all very similar. There is an area to park your car and it will fit a small or midsize RV. There are water and electrical hook-ups which make it very convenient. There are typically plenty of trees for shade. Each site has a picnic table for dining, a grill for outdoor cooking, a pole to hang food or trash and there is a fire ring for a campfire. Of course they also have pad sites where you can place a tent. The pad sites will fit anywhere from a two man tent up to an eight man tent. In addition to the campsites there are a number of small cabins which can hold up to four people. The cabins have some basic amenities and the restrooms are nearby. Most of the campsites and cabins are only a short walk to the lake shore where you can catch a sweet view of Lake Bastrop.

There is limited hiking with one trail that runs along the lakeshore for about 6 miles. The main attraction of this park is living the lake life. Near the campsites one can launch a canoe or kayak. But there is also a boat ramp and boat dock where you can launch larger sized watercraft. If you don’t have your own watercraft you can rent a canoe or kayak from the office and pick it up near the boat dock. It is possible to fish from a boat or the shore. There are a number of community spaces which are great for picnicking. There is a sand volleyball court. And there’s a special area of the lake that has been roped-off and is designated for swimming.

I think that the only possible downside about this park might be that there are always lots of families and energetic kids running around. If you’re seeking peace and quiet this might not be your place. If you are seeking some fun activities, this place is great.

I think that the Lake Bastrop South Shore Park is a 5 star campground for all of the facilities, amenities and considering that the staff are friendly.

Type of Park: State Park 

Check In: 2 pm Check Out: 12 pm

🚻 Restrooms

🚿 Showers

💩 Dump Station

🔎 Munzees and Geocaches in the Park

🚶🏻‍♀️ Trails for walking and biking🚲

🌊 Onion Creek was very low at this time

🏚 Cabins

🚧 Gates are closed and locked from 10 pm(code given at check in)

👩🏻‍💼 Staff was friendly

📋 Site#80, Big Cedar Camping Area

🔙 Back In

🅿 Site Pad: asphalt, long enough for trailer and tow vehicle

💧 Water- high enough for filter to hang down

⚡ Max amp: 30

🔥 Fire Ring w/Grate(but a burn ban was on) 

Picnic Table: metal with wood tops, concrete base 

Wooded on the back end of the site. You can see the neighbors on either side through the trees.

🌳 Good shade on most of the site

👎🏻 Cons: 

No sewer(but most State Park sites don’t have it) 

Regular cost per night$20+$6 daily fee+$10 for extra vehicle 

Discounts: Texas State Parks Pass. Daily fees waived, half off second night 

My Total Cost💲52 

In the Area: 

The campground is in south Austin, but it doesn’t feel like it’s in an urban area. City close with the feel of being out in nature. LOTS to do very close. Dining, dancing, bars, water sports, bats, shopping, State Capitol and more.

More info at https://www.denisevajdak.com/2022/06/mckinney-falls-and-dancing.html