Best Cabin Camping near Hallettsville, TX

Reserved 89 days prior to arriving. 

PRO 

Extremely nice park registration staff.

Registration info was available outside of gatehouse upon arrival.

Security gate that closes during overnight hours.

Quiet except for Hwy 111 traffic noise.

Campsites along lake with wide open view of lake. VERY NICE.

Nice space between campsites with brush between some sites for privacy

Clean and well stocked toilet/shower facility.

Dark sky friendly.

Brand new Nature Center!

Campsite with picnic table, lantern pole and fire ring.

Campsite 125 partially shade

$35/night camping fee

CON

$3.50 transaction fee Former Texas State Park so most campsites are short in length.

We saw numerous 25ft and bigger rigs struggling to back into sites and then the front of their rig was right on roadway.

Campsite 125 uneven side-to-side.

Alligators in lake!

2 bars AT&T.

No Park WiFi.

The tent camping spots in this somewhat small state were spacious. They had both a grill and a fire pit, picnic table, water spigot, and a "lantern hook" (a giant pipe thing like for a basketball hoop, but with a little hook sticking out of it. Each site is supposed to accommodate 2 cars, but about half of them only had parking for 1. Fortunately we got there early and were able to switch. Try to be nice to the camp hosts, they're volunteers and when I got grumpy at the one who told us we couldn't park with our wheels hanging off the pad, I thought she might cry.

The website doesn't get updated easily, so ignore any reports of tubing. There are no tube rentals there and no convenient, nearby tubing put-ins/take-outs. Don't try to tube the Zedler Mill Paddling Trail. The water is super slow and full of logs and if you suck at tubing it could take you 10 hours.

Campsite 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:

1. Size: The pack is 30 liters and is useful for day hikes, weekend adventures or carry-on airline travel.
2. Features: The pack has well thought-out organization with a large main compartment, a mid-sized compartment, a top stash pocket, stretch mesh front and side pockets and a flexible suspension. Also, there are a number of attachment loops for attaching tools, poles, solar chargers or other gear.
3. Technology: The new 3D hydration bladder is a breeze to fill, empty and clean. It has an tactile grip handle and rubberized fill top which make opening and closing easy. When cleaning or drying out the bladder, the sidewalls of the bladder maintain an open shape which allows easy access and evaporation of any residual water.
4. Quality: All of the materials are of high quality. I expect that the backpack will last many years. This is important for a day use backpack which will see regular duty under a variety of conditions. It is also important for backpacking, because no one wants a gear failure while in the backcountry.

I hope and expect that this backpack will become my go to backpack for a variety of adventures.

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!

First time there and was really impressed with this campground. The slots are a great price and big sites, most have a metal pavilion over the picnic table, which was convenient. Sites are very level, wide and deep. All the sites have great views of the lake and even if you aren’t on a lake front, there is plenty of access to the lake all around the grounds. Paved roads which was great for bikes or even electric scooters. Wooded trails and lots of wildlife. Lots of deer all over the grounds in the evening variety of birds. The campground sites on a giant peninsula, which gives so much shoreline, which is managed by the Army Corp. of Engineers, so it’s well maintained and undeveloped. Multiple boat ramps and sites that are on the shoreline, which have a shallow bank, so you can Anchor your boat right off the bank and have walk up access to your campsite and boat. Wild Bills is right across the street, which has all the little things you may have forgot to bring or ability to restock on some beverages and snacks. It’s a 10-15 min bike ride from your campsite or a 5 min drive. Very convenient. Bryan, Tx is only 25 mins away and has a Super Walmart with Curbside service if you need to grab something more specific or a larger grocery order. Quick and easy. College Station was about 45mins away and it’s all easy driving.

It can get pretty windy if you book a slot down lower at the tip of the peninsula, but they will let you swap spaces whenever you want to if there is something available. The campsite up the hill are pretty protected from the wind, so regardless of the wind they have options if it’s more than what you want to deal with. Definitely my place to camp when visiting Somerville. They also let me check-in early when the previous camper left early, so I really appreciated that as well.