Best Tent Camping near Salado, TX

Tent Camping Reviews near Salado, TX

441 Reviews of 16 Salado Campgrounds

• 

  Erik F.

  Guide

  Oct. 10, 2016

  Shaffer Bend Recreation Area

  Weekend Trip

  Shaffer Bend Rec. Area has a beautiful setting in the Texas Hill Country right off of Lake Travis. At the gate entrance you have wonderful landscape views. All of the camp sites are situated next to or a short walk to the water.

  The camps are clean. Most are equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. In the large camp area, some have BBQ pits with a couple big communal grill/smoker. The same area has a horse pen as well if you're an equestrian enthusiast on top of a camper. It is a primitive campground. The large camp area has a couple port-a-poties. At the gate entrance there are men's and women's rooms with running water. That's about 3 miles from the camp sites. So, be prepared to dig holes, bring your own portable toilets, or hold it.

  Considering you're on the lake, the water access is surprisingly limited. There are a few areas along the water you can walk in, but there's not a dock or boat access. I recommend sandals or water shoes since there's a fair amount of plant life along the shore. The same areas you can walk in would be good for kayaks though. The camp sites are situated along a narrow section of the lake. So, there would be plenty to explore.

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• 

  Troy W.

  Legend

  May. 6, 2018

  Tejas Park

  Tejas Park + The Goodwater Trail

  I've camped at this campground a number of times while hiking around The Goodwater Trail.

  There is a basic restroom with toilets. There is a water faucet near the Park Host's trailer. There is plenty of parking, a field with pad sites, a large open field and my favorite is the group campsite at the end of the large open field. The group campsite has a pad, but it also has plenty of trees and space to hang hammocks. It is also the more secluded of the campsites. There are fire rings at the campsites and it is possible to collect fallen wood for a fire if there is not a fire ban in effect.

  Near the group campsite and through the tree line there is a small creek. Depending on the amount of recent rain or degree of draught the creek is deep enough to go for a wade or a swim. It is also fun to just explore the area around the creek.

  The Goodwater trail is a loop trail that circles Lake Georgetown and runs about 28 miles. When backpacking the Goodwater Loop people typically start/park at either Tejas Park Trailhead, Jim Hogg Trailhead or Cedar Breaks Trailhead. If you are backpacking the loop parking and hiking are free. If you are using the park facilities just for the day, there is a day use fee.

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• 

  Troy W.

  Legend

  May. 2, 2018

  Pace Bend Park - Lake Travis

  Pace Bend Park + Lake Travis

  Pace Bend Park is conveniently located a short distance from the city of Austin and on the shores of Lake Travis. The park is managed by the Travis County Parks Department. The entrance fee is $10 per car and the campsites are all first come first served. There are almost always campsites available, but the best campsites do get taken early. On the east side of the park there is easy beach access to the lakeshore and water. On the west side of the park there are a number of coves. Access to the water is possible by scrambling over and down rocks to the waters edge. Many people cliff jump off the cove cliffs, but be sure to test the depth of the water before jumping. Many people get injured every year jumping off the cliffs. Some of the campsites have developed pads to set up your tent. Other campsites just have clearing to set up your tent. There are ample trees available for hammock hanging. Because the park is located so close to the city many people visit the park for day use. The day time crowd can be a bit overwhelming and loud at times. At night the atmosphere generally calms down a bit. Many of the campsites have picnic tables and some have grills. A few have fire rings for campfires, but the park is removing many of the rings. Depending on the time of the year and the dryness, there is often a county fire banned in the area and park. My favorite campsites are along the west side of the park and the coves (N. Gracey Cove).

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• 

  Napunani

  Legend

  Apr. 19, 2022

  Airport Park - Waco Lake

  Lots of Aircraft Noise - Bring Ear Plugs!

  Pros 

  Not charged a fee to make my own on-line reservation 

  Friendly gate attendant 

  Level asphalt site surrounded by crushed granite 

  Grass neatly mowed throughout campground 

  Large aluminum picnic table that is moveable from site concrete pad

  BBQ grill, metal fire pit and lantern pole 

  Night sky friendly. No street lights 

  Spacious-space between each site but no privacy due to lack of vegetation 

  Very quiet Sunday thru Wednesday nights except for Waco airport aircraft approach and Space X rocket testing 

  Entrance gate locked 10pm-6am. Exit only permitted 

  Clean toilets and showers 

  Plenty of TP in restrooms 

  Trash can in toilet/shower facility 

  Sufficient trash dumpsters throughout park 

  Deer sightings at Park entrance only 

  2 LTE Verizon bars signal 

  Cons 

  Exterior restroom doors desperately need repaired. Have to move rock away from door to gain access. 

  Sewer connection at rear of parking pad. Bring the looooong stinky slinky! 

  Waco airport aircraft departing/arriving as early as 6am and as late as 11pm. One night we counted aircraft performing touch and go manuvers 42 times. Approach was directly over our campsite. 

  No patrolling host or ranger 

  No soap or hand towels in toilet facility 

  No playground, basketball or tennis or volleyball courts 

  No lake swimming area 

  No park WIFI 

  No hiking trails

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• 

  Napunani

  Legend

  Mar. 24, 2021

  Airport Park - Waco Lake

  Filthy women’s restroom

  This park is a short drive to all of Waco attractions including the famous Silos. We stayed Friday and Saturday nights. 

  Pros:

  • Very friendly gate attendant

  • Extremely quiet park except for arriving/departing aircraft at Waco Regional Airport

  • Great view of the lake as trees/shrubs are minimal

  • Clean campsite

  • Very clean campfire pit

  • Most sites had a nice distance from neighbor sites

  • Crushed granite surrounds the site’s asphalt parking pad so no muddy mess after rain

  • Pedestal BBQ grill, fire pit with grilling grate and aluminum picnic table at each site

  • Some sites had aluminum roof pavilion over picnic table

  • Some sites had lantern pole

  • Park roadways in good condition

  • Entrance gate locked at 10pm

  • Plenty of TP in women’s restroom

  • 4 bar signal AT&T 

  Cons:

  • Filthy women’s restroom. Human feces on floor. Two of the three stalls locked for days. One remaining stall the door would not close and latch. Sign posted on door that restrooms were cleaned Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, but the human feces were on the floor Friday night, Saturday all day and Sunday morning. Exterior door would not close completely.

  • No water to sinks in women’s restroom

  • No soap dispenser and no hand dryer in women’s restroom

  • Men’s restroom door locked Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning

  • Exterior door to one shower room was unable to be closed

  • Extremely low water pressure to campsite

  • No site privacy due to minimal trees/brush throughout the park

  • Low hanging tree branches over roadway and campsite pad

  • Our campsite pedestal BBQ grill was extremely corroded

  • No wildlife sightings- not even a squirrel

  • NOT A DARK SKY FRIENDLY CAMPGROUND! Boat launch lights across the cove lit up most of the campground. Large lights on the toilet/shower building that made it nearly as bright as daylight!

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• 

  Napunani

  Legend

  Jun. 9, 2023

  Mother Neff State Park Campground

  Texas First State Park

  PROS 

  Saved $24.50 with Texas State Park Pass 

  No fee charged for making on-line reservations 

  Got a call the morning of arrival from park headquarters confirming my arrival 

  Site 3 was immaculate upon arrival, even the crushed gravel raked. 

  Site 3 level 

  Site 3 has aluminum picnic table, metal firepit with cooking grate and 2 hook lantern pole all in good condition 

  Site 3 afternoon shade 

  Campground loop toilet/shower facility immaculate 

  30 minute drive to Waco attractions

  2 bar T MOBILE 

  CONS 

  20 total campsites but 2 are used for camp hosts 

  Picnic table chained to ground so not moveable and it was 30 ft from camper 

  Lots of road noise from TX236 

  One toilet/shower facility for the entire park for both day users and 20 campsites 

  Men’s toilet had urinal and toilets out of service during our 3 night stay 

  Toilet/shower facility not climate controlled 

  Lots of feral cats throughout campground 

  No fire wood for sale in park 

  No WIFI

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• 

  Lisa B.

  Guide

  Jul. 7, 2019

  Krause Springs

  Plenty of room for everyone

  Natural springs w/tent & RV camping (NO PETS), fishing, kayaking, lake access, hammock areas and day use picnic w/grills. CASH ONLY FACILITIES!! Family owned. Beautiful Butterfly garden great for yoga, reading or enjoying the mind of a gardener. Several RV w/H20 & electric hookups (reservations required). Tent sites are not #, random locations (30 acres), plentiful and 1st come 1st serve. Toilets/showers near RV sites, portable toilets farther out. Pack it in/out, dumpster at office area. Love this place and grateful the owners share their haven with the public!

• 

  George B.

  Guide

  May. 24, 2021

  Mother Neff State Park Campground

  Secluded and quiet

  The other reviews sum up the area around the cg, so I thought I'd share an opinion of the cg itself. The pads are level concrete with a gravel patio area, a metal picnic table, a nice fire ring and a lantern pole. The front gate locks at 8:30 but they give you a pass code to get in with. Verizon cell service is pretty good here. We have seen a number of deer here along the outskirts of the camping area, and a rattlesnake crossing the road in front of camp. We didn't use any of the facilities, so I have no opinion there.

• 

  Steve & Ashley G.

  Legend

  Nov. 1, 2019

  Berry Springs Park & Preserve

  Hidden gem near Austin

  Nice park and campground very near Georgetown, Texas. Berry Springs is a local county park and preserve. The Park is located just north of Georgetown Texas about 1 mile off Interstate 35 the main highway between Dallas and Austin. It’s a Great location with loads of open space. They have basic sites with covered picnic tables, fire rings, and hooks for hanging items. The former ranch has a lot of history dating back to the Texas Pioneer days. The park is located next to clear spring fed river for swimming and fishing. This may be a great option for those looking for a location close to Austin or a local family weekend. The camp was nearly empty in October this year which is the peak season for camping in Texas. The sites are best suited for tent camper, vans, and smaller trailers.

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