The Liberty Hill area offers multiple camping options within 45 minutes of the city center. Most campgrounds in this region sit between 800-1,200 feet elevation, with natural features dominated by cedar, oak woodlands and limestone outcroppings. The San Gabriel River watershed provides camping opportunities ranging from basic tent sites to full-service RV parks, with primitive camping typically costing $10-25 per night.
What to do
Hiking access: Tejas Park serves as a primary trailhead for the 26-mile Goodwater Loop trail. "The Goodwater Loop goes all the way around the lake and passed through the park," notes a reviewer at Cedar Breaks Park. For more varied terrain, Pace Bend Park - Lake Travis offers "hiking and biking, so there is a lot to do."
Water activities: Lake Georgetown provides multiple access points for water recreation. "Lake Georgetown is beautiful, and the cedar groves are amazing as well," notes one camper. The swimming areas at Krause Springs include natural pools formed by waterfalls. "The rope swing and swimming holes sound perfect for a fun day trip," mentions a visitor.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated fishing areas. At Cedar Breaks Park, "the park has two lighted fishing docks" available for night fishing. Russell Park includes bank access to Lake Georgetown, with one camper noting the "trail circles Lake Georgetown and is 26.2 miles. It passes through forests, grasslands, over some small hills and across a few tributaries."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds near Liberty Hill feature larger-than-average sites. "The sites are large which means you aren't right on top of your neighbors. Lots of shade. Each site has its own shelter with picnic table, grill and fire pit," according to a Cedar Breaks Park review. Similarly at Jim Hogg - Lake Georgetown, "This is a large campground with many sites, some of which are even double sites if you're camping with friends."
Weekday solitude: While weekends bring crowds to popular areas, weekday visitors often experience significantly less traffic. As one Russell Park visitor mentioned, "During the weekdays you may not see a single person." Another camper at Jim Hogg noted, "a weekend getaway close to town," highlighting the convenience factor.
Natural swimming holes: The area's natural water features receive consistently positive mentions. Krause Springs offers "a great place for a Texas summer camp" with one visitor adding "The creek extending from the swimming area eventually leads to Lake Travis." At Pace Bend Park, campers can enjoy "cliff jumping into a lake" with "clean, cool and deep" water.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require advance booking. Jim Hogg campsites require reservations through recreation.gov, while Russell Park states "at this point, you must have a reservation to camp here." At Pedernales Falls State Park Campground, reservations are essential during peak seasons.
Terrain challenges: The landscape features limestone and occasional steep slopes. "The trail is very rugged for bikes," notes a Jim Hogg camper. At Cedar Breaks Park, "the sites along the inside are scary unlevel! Some of the big rigs were backed in and jacked up 4 feet or so in front. Saw a lady break her ankle stepping out of her camper."
Wildlife awareness: The natural setting means wildlife encounters are common. At Cedar Breaks Park, campers should "watch out for RATTLESNAKES. We saw 2." Coyotes are also frequently heard at night, with one Tejas Park visitor noting "the coyotes come out at night, but never got close to camp."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming access: For families with children, swimming options vary significantly. Pace Bend Park offers kid-friendly features: "Kids can jump off the small Cliffside or fly on the rope swing. If you like nature this is a dream spot." At Inks Lake State Park Campground, "the best swimming place is the Devil's Waterhole. There are some rocks on the far side that people climb up on to jump off of."
Beginner-friendly options: Several campgrounds cater well to novice campers. One Tejas Park visitor shared, "My 5 year old wanted to go camping for the first time. This location is close enough to be near civilization, but feels remote to get the primitive camping experience." Inks Lake State Park was described as "perfect for a weekend getaway close to town."
Family amenities: Comfort features vary widely between campgrounds. At Cedar Breaks Park, "each site has a shelter with concrete foundations" providing protection from sun and rain. Jim Hogg campsites offer "gazebos at each spot" and "the site is super clean."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: RV services range from basic to comprehensive. The Leander-NW Austin KOA provides full hookups with one visitor noting it offers "nice quiet clean well organized" facilities. At Cedar Breaks Park, "the sites all have water and electric connections" but no sewer hookups.
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger RVs. At Krause Springs, "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." Jim Hogg has "electric and water but no sewer" with a dump station at the exit gate.
Level sites: Finding level spots is crucial for comfortable RV camping. At Cedar Breaks Park, campers should select carefully as "the sites along the outside of the loop have lake views and are level." Jim Hogg offers "lots of spots on the lake" with "very clean" campground conditions.
