Best Tent Camping near Shiner, TX

I like off the beaten path places, this sure is one of them! The tent sites are very nice, close to the river & oxbow lake (kayaks for rent!). Very peaceful.

This is a very nice, small, State park. There is a lot to do and it didn't feel crowded at all. The tent camping spots were great! We stayed at a walk in site (water only) and had a great time! Good fishing, hiking, etc.

Cabin staff are available as well as tent campgrounds. Trails are pretty. Beware of snakes, the poisonous kind we saw almost everyday.

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.

Bastrop 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!

We stayed here for a couple of nights while touring the nearby Shiner brewery and the historic old churches in the area.  The sites are small, and there are many full timers in the park, but there are several sites available for short term travelers.   Many folks use this as a travel stop.  The owners are very nice and helpful, and give good advice on things to do in the area.  The campground is within walking distance to downtown, which offers a few pretty good restaurants.  It is also walking distance to Whataburger and a couple of other restaurants.  It is right off the interstate, but we really weren't bothered by highway noise. This is a really good travel stop and we will likely stay here again when we're passing through the area.  I'll post a few pics of the things to see and do in this area.

This is a great campground with lots to do. It is awesome like geometry dash lite. We camped: the camp pitch was fairly level with electric hookup, water supply close to the tent and a fire pit for each pitch. There are also RV hookups as well. My kids totally enjoyed the laser tag, there is also a boating pond, fishing and live music on a Saturday night. The toilet block was the cleanest I have ever seen on a campsite- it was as clean as many hotels I have stayed in. One good advice for anyone staying in a campsite in Texas: compared to campsites in more temperate climes, Texas campsites are dusty and have as much dirt as grass on the pitches(and this site is no exception). Bring a tarp to put under your tent- it will be a lot easier to clean than the bottom of a sewn-in groundsheet when you get home.

The only reason I gave it 4stars is because of a lot of street noise outside the park. The park itself is beautiful and quiet. Great bathroom fac; very new and clean. All of the tent sides have sand tent pads, but if you’re a hammock camper be sure the trees fit your kit.

Palmetto State Park is another campground that we found while bikepacking thru Texas. During our visit my biggest compliment is their incredibly kind staff. I had taken a tumble on my bike and was pretty scraped up. We checked in after-hours and were going by an outdated map when choosing our site. We pitched our tent in the rv side but when the over seer saw how scraped up I was he allowed us to stay put. Now I happen to love the more "natural" campgrounds. I say that because what I consider beautiful can make it a bit more difficult for large rigs to maneuver around the curves and large trees and our campsite was a bit muddy. We were just off a game trail where a heard of deer passed thru and I had the pleasure of viewing that morning! They have a set up with a knowledgeable staff, perfect imo for school groups or scouts to have a great time while also learning about ecology at the same time. Pa0ddle boat and water trikes for rent, fishing..you name it. (If biking watch out for the suicidal squirrels! LOL ) You almost get the feeling that you're camping in jurassic Park. ;) it's just far enough away while also being convenient to a Buck-eez (did I spell that correctly?) Which I get excited to this day when I find one! The history in this park is fascinating. I wish we'd had time to experience the bbq-ing it's famous for! Definitely worth a visit.

We enjoyed the palmetto palms and boggy area. We couldn’t believe we were in Texas. There is a nice swimming area for children and a few good fishing spots. The best thing was that we had a Bucees about 2 miles away. We bought great BBQ sandwiches and the best fudge available here in Texas.

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!

So everyone knows that Lockhart has some of the best BBQ in Texas, but it is a lot more than that. Lockhart State park is a fairly small park, but it still has quite a bit to offer. If you are a hiker or a biker, this may not be the best for you, seeing as the most of the trails are less than half a mile long. But if you are just looking to get away, this is a great place.

They have a nice little swimming pool on site that is great for kiddos to enjoy, and they have quite a few places you can fish throughout the park. Then about half the park is for golfing, which is great news for the dad of the family. The short trails are nice a scenic with a lot of running creeks and streams throughout the park. 

There are tent and RV sites, along with a group recreation hall and dining hall. Seeing as I love to hike, this is not my go to place, but I find it great for a day trip.

My family and I love to grab some BBQ at Smitty’s, Black’s, or Kruez Market about 6 miles down the road and then find a nice picnic table by the water to chow down. Plus you can take a leisurely walk to burn off all those calories when you’re done! Lockhart is located about thirty minutes from the Austin/San Marcos area, so if you’re in the neighborhood check it out! It is also about thirty miles from Bastrop and Buesher State Park which also have a lot to offer with amazing trails, wildlife, and views!

Campgrounds are far enough that you won't be bothered by noise. Park host maintain the restrooms and showers very clean. Good hiking trails with great views. Plenty of dumpsters to throw your trash bags. Each site comes with a picnic table, fire pit and an sand area to place your tent on so that you don't worry about removing rocks.

My family and I enjoyed our two night stay at site 2! peaceful and beautiful surroundings. Picnic table, fire pit, hammocks and the bathroom/shower is so close! There is also a large sink - perfect for washing dishes. You can park at the site - we set up two tents with space to spare. Right by the river - easy to fish or spend time in the multiple hammocks. The hosts are so friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back!

Texas State Park with 37 sites. Nestled in a wooden river area with lush vegetation. Several hiking trails that are easy on the joints.

The hiking here is alright. Good sights to see, but it isn't my top priority in Texas.

We have camped here in tents, pop up trailer, and hybrid travel trailer. We have been here with family, scouts, and just us. The park has fire damage in 2011 but there are still lots of trees and new bathrooms in Copperas Cove section. Great hiking. Pool is YMCA owned so pay per use or bring your Y membership cards. Traffic noise may be better now that Hwy 71 construction is completed. Easy access to HWY 21 and 71.

Beautiful and fun little state park with a 9 hole golf course, a swimming pool and nearby #1 Texas barbeque

Palmetto is a neat micro climate in the middle of central Texas. There are palmetto plants everywhere. The camp sites are slightly covered and there are a few trails that trek through the swamp like terrain.

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.