Lake Buchanan and Inks Lake define the camping terrain near Kingsland, Texas with juniper, oak and cedar trees dotting the landscape. Campgrounds range in elevation from 800 to 1,100 feet above sea level, creating varied terrain for hiking and exploration. Water levels in the lakes fluctuate seasonally, affecting accessibility to some shoreline camping areas and boat launches.
What to do
Explore natural caves: Colorado Bend State Park offers cave exploration opportunities about 45 minutes from Kingsland. "Cave exploring. Nothing else needs to be said. So much fun. Over came fear of daddy long legs, and little creepy crawlers," shares Andrea P. about South Area — Colorado Bend State Park Campground.
Try disc golf: Big Chief RV Resort maintains a disc golf course on their property. A camper noted, "We greatly enjoyed their Disc golf course. Close to Inks Lake State Park where we would have stayed but glad we ended up here!" The course winds through the property and offers a recreational alternative to water activities.
Night sky viewing: Canyon of the Eagles offers professional astronomy programs. "They have a professional observatory with two telescopes and an astronomer giving lessons. We are now considering trying to plan a stargazing sleepover," writes Stephanie B. about Canyon of the Eagles Lodge & Nature Park.
Off-road adventures: For those seeking more rugged activities, Hidden Falls Adventure Park provides extensive trail systems. "With over 2200 acres of full size offroad trails there is surely something there for every vehicle and skill level. From mild stock level all the way to extreme rock crawling," notes Chad L.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Many campgrounds offer well-separated campsites. At Inks Lake, Brian V. mentions that "Some of the campsites can be a little rocky or have odd elevation," but at Big Chief RV Resort, campers appreciate that "Most sites had a nice distance from neighbor sites" and "Crushed granite surrounds the site parking pad so no muddy mess after rain."
Clean facilities: Big Chief RV Resort receives consistent praise for maintenance. One reviewer noted, "Extremely clean restrooms/shower facility" and "Heated restrooms/shower facility (we camped the week after Christmas)." Visitors also mention the "clean campsite except for the trash in the fire pit."
Variety of accommodation options: Pedernales Falls offers diverse camping experiences. Kaitlyn M. reports, "The camp ground is wonderful. Very spread out and wooded for privacy between the campsites. Hook ups for both water and electricity, if needed. Extremely dog friendly!" Many campgrounds offer both primitive sites and full hookups.
Water activities: Pedernales Falls State Park provides unique river experiences. Emily M. describes, "Lots of hiking trails here. Good swimming. The falls are pretty. You can walk upriver from the falls, bouldering for quite a long way."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Popular campsites fill quickly, especially during holidays. "This is a beautiful park with tons of activities and things to do... Great place for families, or couples looking for a quick getaway," notes Jim P. about Inks Lake State Park. Booking months in advance is recommended.
Variable cell service: Connectivity differs by campground. At Colorado Bend State Park, Larry D. warns, "Forget about cell service. Curiously enough, I had WiFi because my RV spot was closest to the office. But neither my son nor I had cell service for some miles before arriving."
Light pollution concerns: Some campgrounds have excessive lighting. At Black Rock Park, a camper reported, "NOT A DARK SKY FRIENDLY CAMPGROUND! Numerous street lights throughout this camping loop and unfortunately we had one directly across from our site #11 which lit up our site like daylight!"
Access challenges: Several campgrounds have limited entrances. James S. notes about Colorado Bend: "Getting to this park takes a while, going through lots of back roads. Once you get to the park, you have to drive miles in to get to the headquarters."
Tips for camping with families
Accessible swimming areas: Inks Lake State Park Campground offers family-friendly water features. Jennifer J. recommends, "Grab a kayak and paddle up and down Inks Lake. Set up your tent near hiking trails and lake access. Take a jump off the cliffs at Devil's Waterhole."
Educational programs: Canyon of the Eagles provides nature education. "The naturalist on staff gave fishing lessons to the kids, had a craft for them to do and talked about the native flowers," mentions Stephanie B. These activities help children connect with the environment while learning.
Site selection matters: Choose camp areas based on proximity to facilities. Ernest G. suggests at Inks Lake, "Great shade and easy walk 2 minute walk to facilities. On a horseshoe loop with privacy from other sites." Sites near bathrooms but not on main roads work best for families with young children.
Kid-friendly hiking trails: Trails vary in difficulty across parks. Chris H. shares, "We were on a small loop that allowed our kids (8 and 6) to have some room to roam, and we were just a 50 yard walk from the fishing dock."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds require equipment to level RVs. At Black Rock Park, campers note that "Good condition asphalt site parking pad was uneven side-to-side as we noticed nearly all sites in that condition with all requiring leveling."
Low-hanging branches: Watch for tree clearance issues. At Krause Springs, Brandi W. cautions, "My only warning is low hanging trees everywhere. I couldn't imagine trying to navigate the campground in a 5th wheel or class A. You could do some rooftop damage."
Buddy sites available: Some parks offer sites designed for camping with friends. Tim M. shares, "We were in a buddy site which is a plus for any campground" at Big Chief RV Resort. These configurations allow RVs to face each other with a shared common area.
Multiple sewer hookups: At Big Chief RV Resort, campers appreciate that "Most sites had 2 sewer hookups," offering flexibility in positioning your RV for optimal views while maintaining full connections.
