Smithville sits within the Lost Pines region of central Texas, where loblolly pines create an isolated forest ecosystem unlike the surrounding prairie. The area has sandy, well-draining soil that allows for comfortable tent camping year-round. Seasonal temperatures range from 40°F in winter nights to over 95°F during summer days, affecting both camping comfort and fire restrictions at local sites.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Bastrop offers shoreline fishing with various catch possibilities at both North and South Shore Parks. According to one camper at Lake Bastrop North Shore Park, "Lake Bastrop North Shore Park Park is managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority. There's a office at the entrance were one can pay your admission fee. Or if you arrive late, there is a self paying station that's available 24 hours 7 days a week."
Hiking trails: Rocky Hill Ranch provides trails through scenic fields and forest areas. A visitor noted, "The trail is very pleasant, it's mostly nice for the nice field views you get. The camp site itself is spread out, with fire pits and I think some benches."
Cycling routes: Buescher State Park offers excellent cycling opportunities including support for organized rides. A cyclist mentioned, "We have stayed here 2 times and loved it both times. Our time in the park was shorter than we would have liked but we cannot wait to go back and explore more. Love the support for the MS150. The rangers were some of the nicest and extremely helpful."
Swimming spots: McKinney Falls State Park provides swimming holes with varied difficulty levels. A visitor explained, "The water was warm, and it was perfect for new swimmers with floaties and advanced swimmers. There's a place where you can jump off the rocks into the water."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campsites near Smithville provide natural screening and spacing. At Lake Bastrop North Shore Park, one camper noted, "We live in Austin and this is truly our go to campground recently. Its so well kept, the campground layout is very clever. There's no bad sites! Nice privacy between sites. Some sites are on the lake with a little trail to access the water."
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain high-standard bathroom facilities. A camper at Bastrop State Park Campground commented, "Camped here two nights. The facilities are amazing. Bathrooms have had a lot of money spent on them, with hot showers and full plumbing. The camp sites are well maintained and the hiking trails are nice."
Waterfront access: Some campgrounds offer direct river or lake access from individual sites. At Colorado RiverBend Retreat, a visitor shared, "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! 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."
Level concrete pads: Many RV sites feature well-constructed parking areas. A camper at South Shore Park noted, "Level site concrete pad surrounded by crushed granite. Aluminum picnic table, lantern pole, BBQ grill and fire pit with cooking grill. Cleaned BBQ grill and fire pit upon arrival."
What you should know
Reservation systems vary: Different parks have different booking processes. For Vernon L Richards Riverbend Park, a visitor explained, "The park is operated by the City of Smithville. There is not a park office on the grounds to accept reservations or fees for camping. To reserve a campsite, call the City Recreation Center at 512-237-3282x7 Mon-Fri, 8:00am - 4:30pm."
Environmental recovery: Several parks show signs of past wildfires or floods. At Bastrop State Park, a visitor observed, "It is heartbreaking to see all the damage to the Pines, due to the wildfires, but it is recovering well. There are several miles of hiking trails, that can be done in one or two days. It just depends on how many miles you want to hike."
Campground busyness: Parks close to Austin see higher visitor numbers. Regarding McKinney Falls State Park, one camper stated, "The close vicinity to the city does mean that this park has a constant flow of visitors. In the summer it is extremely busy with day visitors, weekend campers and long-term campers. In the winter it is moderately busy."
Water conditions: Lakes and rivers can change seasonally. A visitor to Bastrop State Park noted, "It's sad what happened here to the trees in the fire and the lake when the dam burst, but this park is resilient. Please support it by visiting. You can now also walk the old closed golf course."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming areas for different skill levels: Choose sites with water access appropriate for children. A visitor to McKinney Falls State Park Campground shared, "The great part is the swimming. The water was warm, and it was perfect for new swimmers with floaties and advanced swimmers."
Kid-friendly programming: Some parks offer educational activities for children. A family at Bastrop State Park mentioned, "Kids got to do the junior ranger program which they loved. There was a fire not long before we visited in 2012, which was sad but interesting to see."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play equipment. A visitor noted, "The have some good moderate hiking trails and some interesting historical sites. The have a children's playground and a nice swimming pool."
Structured activities: Some campgrounds host seasonal events. At Sherwood Forest Faire Campground, visitors can experience a medieval-themed environment with the reviewer noting, "This campground provided the perfect setting for our family's medieval adventure! The Sherwood Forest Faire itself was clean and well-maintained, with spacious sites that offered plenty of room for our tent, car, and campfire."
Tips from RVers
Hookup specifications: RV sites offer varying levels of service. At South Shore Park, one RVer reported, "There are a few sites with full hookups, the rest were just water/electric. Highly recommend this park!"
Road conditions: Some parks have challenging access roads. An RVer at McKinney Falls State Park advised, "Getting in and out of the park was smooth for the most part just watch some overhanging limbs. Plenty of space between sites. Park, sites, and road all well maintained."
Dump station locations: Not all parks have onsite waste disposal. A camper at Vernon L Richards Riverbend Park explained, "Each site has a parking pad, water and electric hookup, picnic table and grill. There are bathroom facilities in the center of the campground."
Arrival timing: Late arrivals should check park protocols. A camper at Vernon L Richards Riverbend Park shared, "We arrived around 11:30 pm to the park and was stopped by a very helpful officer that explained to us the park was closed, but helped us get a spot anyways and directions."
