We all love roasting marshmallows over a campfire—and you can often still do that while cabin camping in Gonzales. Finding a place to cabin camp in Texas is easier than ever. You're sure to find the perfect cabin rental for your Texas camping adventure.
$18 / night
Listen to Onion Creek flowing over limestone ledges and splashing into pools. Follow trails winding through the Hill Country woods. Explore the remains of an early Texas homestead and a very old rock shelter. All of this lies within Austin’s city limits at McKinney Falls State Park - what are you waiting for?
Think of the park as Austin’s backyard; we’re just 13 miles from the state capitol. Here you can camp, hike, mountain or road bike, geocache, go bouldering, and picnic. You can also fish and swim in Onion Creek.
Onion Creek can flood after rainfall. Beware of the creek’s flow; contact the park for current creek conditions. Read through our swimming safety tips before you visit.
Stay at one of 81 campsites (all with water and electric hookups). Or rent one of our six newly remodeled cabins. We also have a primitive youth camping area, for use by nonprofit-sponsored youth groups
$20 - $24 / night
Relax and enjoy life at pet-friendly, family-friendly San Marcos River Resort on the banks of the scenic San Marcos River. Discover the sense of community that comes with finding a friendly place to call your own. Choose a cabin, an RV site, a tent, or a treehouse! When you stay a night, a week, or even longer, the gracious service and outstanding amenities will make you want to stay forever.
East of Austin and a short drive past Bastrop State Park, you’ll find its sibling, Buescher. Set up camp, hike or bike under tall trees, or fish and paddle the 30-acre lake at this peaceful park.
Choose your campsite: with electricity, with water only, or primitive walk-in. We also have screened shelters and cabins without restrooms. Restrooms with showers are available throughout the park.
The Dunn and Thompson families have been in Texas real estate management for 30+ years and are excited about our newest offering, Gone Fishin' RV Park. We hope that you enjoy spending time at the park just as much as we do. Thank you so much for choosing to stay with us.
$30 - $35 / night
At Lake Bastrop North Shore Park, visitors can choose from a variety of overnight accommodations, ranging from classic campgrounds to Airstreams to safari tents. Don’t miss out, order Base Camp Deli’s curated picnic bundle right to your campsite! Recreation amenities include watercraft rentals, hike and bike trails, picnic areas and a fishing pier.
$42 - $142 / night
The Tiny T Ranch is a private WORKING RANCH ten minutes east of the Austin airport and twenty minutes from South Austin. Your host, Spike Gillespie, is a rancher, writer and artist. If you need an inside scoop on Austin, she can help you out. You’ll meet all sorts of livestock: longhorns, donkeys, mini donkeys, mini goats, sheep, chickens, potbellied pigs, dogs, cats, horses and an overly confident duck named Bill.
$30 - $100 / night
We do all the setup while you have all the fun! All Inclusive Tent Camping includes:
Overnight entry for four people and a tent setup which includes: a 14′ x 10′ tent, two cots with foam queen sized mattresses, an extension cord, a bed side table, two fans and a lantern.
Your All Inclusive Tent setup will also include a charcoal bbq pit, picnic table, electrical outlets, running water and light at your site.
*Note: Sheets, blankets and pillow are not provided, you are responsible for bringing these.
WE NOW HAVE SPACES IF YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR OWN TENT!
$49 - $369 / night
Guide
We had a fantastic time at Son’s Geronimo! Their glamping cabins are super nice and had everything we needed including AC, WiFi, full kitchen, fire pits, hammocks etc. We have a family of 6 and the setup was perfect: 2 queen beds and 2 twin beds. The property itself pretty large and has a lot of creek frontage. We kayaked, paddle paddle boarded, swam, fished and more! They also have lots of amenities: 2 pools, 2 hot tubs, volleyball court, basketball court, game room, horseshoe pits and more. We will definitely be back!
Guide
Great staff, sites are a bit tight in our section. Pool and hot tub are in need of updates
Guide
Pulled off the highway for the night and stumbled across this gem. The sites are level, and the grounds are beautiful. A bit pricey, but it’s a vacation destination, not a rest stop. Pools, hot tubs, game room, craft room, this place has it all. The staff were extremely friendly at check in and the security seems to be good. We will stop here longer on our way back north.
Guide
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.
Legend
It's sad what happened here to the trees in the fire and the lake when the dam burst, but this park is resilient. Please support it by visiting. You can now also walk the old closed golf course. There are little log cabins for rent. I used to live nearby.
LegendI 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.
Guide
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!
Traveler
nice big camp ground. they rent tubes, rafts and kayaks with shuttle service. nice clean big pool. has 58 full hookup sites also rental cabins. staff is very nice and helpful. located at bridge #3 on river road. showers and restrooms aren't bad. also free wifi and cable.
Legend
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!!
TravelerWe love this place! One great part is that the pads alternate directions, so you can camp with your friends (or with new friends) instead of with their sewer connections. They also have rules about flags so you really can get away from the pace of the world. Between the trees and the small fall crowd, it was soooo quiet. Everyone seemed to sleep in just a little. Those three tings make the whole place quite nice. The riverfront is great for lounging in the shade, and the cliff side of the river is gorgeous for staring off into space. They also have a nice pool, a clubhouse, some cabins, and more.
GuideBastrop State Park, even recovering from the 2011 Bastrop complex fire, is a jewel in the state. Wonderful Depression-era buildings and history, hiking, biking, and camping, including very good cabins and facilities for events, reunions, weddings, etc. Connects to Buecher State Park near Smithville. A great stop between Central Texas and the Piney Woods.
Legend
We came here on a day trip and were very pleased with the park. It didn’t really feel like Texas as we walked through the almost tropical looking forest. We enjoyed the lake and rented a paddle boat. We decided next trip we would rent a canoe and head up the river. The park offers camping and cabin for overnight stays.
GuideCabin staff are available as well as tent campgrounds. Trails are pretty. Beware of snakes, the poisonous kind we saw almost everyday.
GuideBeen going here for a few years never really packed . Good for kayaking. There’s a lake and flowing river. Believe San Marcos river. One cabin available for rent
Legend
Buesher State park is a great spot to take the family and relax! There is lots to do and it is a pretty good sized Texas park. They have tent, group, and RV sites, along with cabins and screened shelters alongside the lake. You cannot swim in in the lake, but they do have boat and tackle rentals at the park. It makes for a great place to fish with the family.
The park is very shaded with lots of pine trees, but a fire did wipe out a lot of the trees on the Northern side of the park towards Bastrop. So many of the longer trails are not as shaded or are still in the process of repair. I went on a trail that was about 5 miles long and it was very nice. It was moderately challenging, a little muddy, but so much to see. Beautiful wildflowers of ever color were growing and I saw about eight white tail deer. Also a great place to birdwatch and take photography.
The facilities are old, but well maintained and there is a store on site that sales snacks, wood, and souvenirs. The have a nice playground on site for the kids and the campsites are very spacious.
Also if you have the time there is a 12 mile scenic road that connects Buesher State Park with Bastrop State Park that will take you about thirty minutes. It is a twisty, hilly road that has some really great views of fields of wildflowers and tall pines. You can also see where the fire took out part of the forest and is beginning to regrow. Also Bastrop state park is a great place to visit for some challenging hikes!
Traveler
I absolutely love this place it has every type of camping ! Rv , tent no electric, tent with electric, cabins. All by the Guadalupe river. Floating, canoeing, Fishing. They even have a natural spring ! People who work here are professional and very nice. I will be coming back year after year.
LegendBastrop would be a great place for youth groups or family reunions. It has a little for everyone and is conveniently located about thirty minutes from Lockhart where you can get, in my opinion, some of the best BBQ in Texas. This state park has tent, group, RV, group cabin w/ barracks, cabins (some are wheelchair accessible), and a dining hall (also wheelchair accessible).
There is a swimming pool that is run by the local YMCA that is open during the summer, plus a huge playground that has disability swing set, which makes this park a 5 STAR for me. Some of the building were burned down in a fire six years ago and have since been replaced, so the bathroom and other facilities are brand spankin new!
There are some great fishing spots along with some of my favorite hiking trails. My favorite trail is the scenic overlook trail which starts at the top of the lookout and travels 2 miles down through wildflowers and over streams. It is a shorter trail, but it is a more challenging one. Some of the longer trails have been closed since the fire and flood, but you can connect a few of the others to make for one good one. Everything is so colorful here.
The walk-in tent sites are some of my favorites. The have a wonderful look and feel to them. Very scenic and off on their own away from noise from other campers. Also don’t forget to take the 12 mile scenic drive over to Buesher State park, it is well worth it!
LegendBuescher State Park is about 40 miles outside of Austin and a short drive from Bastrop Texas. The park is great for campers who like to fish. The 25 acre park lake offers some great shoreline and kayak or canoe fishing. You can rent a canoe or bring your own. You can use the boat launch or enter the lake from the Lakeview Campsite. The campsite have flat concrete pads for campers and RVs. The sites have good tree cover and a nice level of privacy which can be rare at state sites. They have all the facilities you need from group recreation facilities to new cabins on the lake. The campground was less than half full in June. They have a tackle loaner site and a small camp store.
TravelerLocated 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.
Legend
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.
Legend
The Mountain Breeze Campground offers a little something for everyone. There are RV campsites, Cabins and Tent camping. There are also sport activity spaces like a volleyball court and some open fields. They offer raft and tube rentals and shuttle services that will drop you upriver. Access to the river is only a short walk away. One can swim, float or fish in the Guadalupe River. There is a restaurant on the facilities, but I believe that it is only open during the summer months. The rates vary by the season with the summer season being the most busy time and the winter being the least busy time to visit. During the summer expect crowds at both the campground and using the facilities for day use.
This campground might be good for large group events because there are a variety of accommodations and amenities available. For tent campers do not expect wide open spaces and peace and quiet. The campsites are all rather tightly packed together. If you're with a large group this might be fun. If you're just trying to find a little space, this might not be for you. There are restroom facilities located centrally. The office also has a little store for basic camping supplies.
While I like that the campground offers a variety of amenities, I kind of feel that the grounds are set up like a cattle ranch - designed to herd campers through the facilities. So this campground gets high marks for facilities, but looses a point on my scale for a lack of privacy and peace and quiet.
The campground is located about 15 minutes from the town of New Braunfels where you can find grocery stores, restaurants, banks, hardware stores and other entertainment. If you're looking for Texas BBQ, check out the Rudy's or Cooper's BBQ in New Braunfels. Also located within the town is the Schlitterbahn Waterpark which is I believe the largest waterpark in the US and has an incredible amout of fun rides, slides and pools. It's a bit pricey, but it is a full day of fun for the family.
Guide
We stopped here for an overnight stop on our road trip. The staff was very helpful when we called to reserve a spot earlier in the day. The park is clean with level spots. It looks like there are a lot of people who stay for extended periods. We got a neat treat at check-in with recommendations for more treats in town. The office also has a cute shop with the basics, if you need them, and some gifts. There are also a couple of cabins available if you don't have a camper.
Legend
Pros:
• Quick check-in
• 176-acre park with 40 campsites on the south shore of Lake Bastrop.
• Level site concrete pad surrounded by crushed granite.
• Aluminum picnic table, lantern pole, BBQ grill and fire pit with cooking grill.
• Cleaned BBQ grill and fire pit upon arrival.
• Very private as the site was surrounded by heavy brush.
• Even though Spring Break and the campground was packed, it was quiet.
• Firewood is available for purchase from Park.
Cons:
• LCRA $6 on-line reservation fee.
• Long waits for toilet/shower. All are family type facilities with the toilet, sink and shower as one unit behind a lock door, so one showering person ties up a toilet. There are 8“units” for 40 campsites PLUS cabins.
• Toilets/showers could of used more frequent cleaning as they are heavily used.
Guide
We loved everything about Son’s River Ranch! The staff is great, the place was very clean and we had a blast! Our glamping cabin was nice, it was well worth the money to not to have to set up a tent and do all that work. Plus the AC kept us very cold and comfortable at night and the kitchenette had everything we needed to cook and make meals. We rented a cabana for the day too and it was fun to hang out and relax by the river and BBQ. The next day we tubed and kayaked. They have a wristband you can buy for the day that is good for unlimited kayaking and tubing, we did both! The trip took about 2 hours by tube and an hour by kayak. They have shuttles to bring you back up to River Ranch when you are done. I highly recommend this place!
RangerType 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
LegendCampsite Review:
Palmetto State Park is a tranquil campground located in Central Texas. It offers campers the chance to hike, bike, swim, paddle, fish or just lay in a hammock under the shade of trees. The park is located a few minutes drive from the towns of Gonzales and Luling. The park's most unique feature are the dwarf palmetto plants which grow throughout the forest.
When entering the park you are welcomed by a canopy of overhanging trees. At the entrance there is an office where you can pay your admission fee and shop for some basic camping necessities. There are also after-hour pay stations nearby.
At each campsite there is a parking space with water and electrical hookups, a picnic table, barbecue grill and fire pit. Most of the sites will fit small to medium sized RVs. There are plenty of shade trees around the campsites which are welcome during the summers in Texas. The restrooms are near the campsites and all of the restrooms, although somewhat dated, have sinks, flush toilets and showers.
Some of the attractions of this park include a small artesian spring, lake and the San Marcus River. There is a nice hike and bike trail which runs along the bank of the river which is flat and easy to walk or bike. There are some amazing sights and sounds while walking through the forest - from birds to insects to small mammals to plants. As previously mentioned, one of the unique features of this park are the dwarf palmetto plants that grow on the forest floor. These palmettos make you feel as if you've been transported to a tropical paradise. Paddle boat, kayak and canoe rentals are available at a concession office near the lake.
There are a number of activities to enjoy at this park, but some of the facilities could use an update. I would think that is a nice park for families with kids because of the variety of activities that can be pursued. There are no extreme features like mountains or cliffs, just a number of peaceful nooks in nature.
Before or after your stay at Palmetto State Park be sure to pass by the little town of Luling, Texas where you can eat at the City Market Café which has some of the best barbecue in Texas.
Product Review:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am offered the opportunity to test products. At this campground, I tested the Gregory Inertia 30 Hydration Backpack.
Top reasons I loved the Gregory Inertia 30 Hydration Backpack:
I hope and expect that this backpack will become my go to backpack for a variety of adventures.
TravelerThe park only has six campsites left. The rest have been converted to rentals of Airstreams or large tents for $150+ a night. There are three pretty good sites for large rigs in the interior and three camp sites facing the lake right next to each other. The trails and kayaking are great. Nice showers. I was here during the week and there were two large trailers and all the rentals were empty.
Cabin camping near Gonzales, Texas offers a unique blend of nature and comfort, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Gonzales, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Gonzales, TX is Palmetto State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Gonzales, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 38 cabin camping locations near Gonzales, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
