Best Glamping near Smithville, TX

Recent Glamping Reviews near Smithville, Texas

242 Reviews of 20 Smithville Campgrounds

• 

  Karin R.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 3, 2021

  Son’s Blue River Camp

  Our Family loves Son’s River Camp!

  We stayed in one of their air-conditioned glamping cabins. It was very nice and clean and the AC stayed very cold. They have private, lockable, full bathrooms right behind the cabins. The place is very pretty and the staff friendly. We loved tubing and kayaking the San Marcos River! It’s a great getaway!

• 

  Karin R.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 4, 2021

  Son’s River Ranch

  Our favorite River property!

  We loved everything about Son’s River Ranch! The staff is great, the place was very clean and we had a blast! Our glamping cabin was nice, it was well worth the money to not to have to set up a tent and do all that work. Plus the AC kept us very cold and comfortable at night and the kitchenette had everything we needed to cook and make meals. We rented a cabana for the day too and it was fun to hang out and relax by the river and BBQ. The next day we tubed and kayaked. They have a wristband you can buy for the day that is good for unlimited kayaking and tubing, we did both! The trip took about 2 hours by tube and an hour by kayak. They have shuttles to bring you back up to River Ranch when you are done. I highly recommend this place!

• 

  Bounding Around

  Legend

  

  Mar. 1, 2020

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  Pretty park - popular too!

  This state park is a little outside of Austin near the airport. The park stays busy and it’s easy to see why– it’s really nice with waterfalls you can check out in the park and it isn’t far from the airport. We had a great stay here and will definitely check it out again if in the area. Although– watch the branches if you are in a bigger rig– we watched a guy hit one and mess up his roof. Also, if you will be camping in Texas State Parks a bit be sure to get the annual Texas State Parks pass– it will end up saving you a lot of money! Also, we went to a nearby market to buy what we thought was salsa(see pictures)– it definitely wasn’t and it was sooo spicy!!

• 

  Troy W.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 29, 2018

  Bastrop State Park Campground

  Bastrop State Park + Camping Options + Family Fun + Eco Lesson

  I actually would rate this campground 3.5 stars, because it is better than average and getting better every year.

  In 2011 a forest fire swept through this park and devastated over 90% of the piney woods. The park is still recovering.

  However, something that has never changed about this location is that Bastrop State Park offers multiple camping options and great opportunities for family fun.

  The park has car camping, walk-in camping, RV camping and even cabin camping/glamping. One of my favorite activities when visiting this park is to drive the scenic and winding tree lined road between Bastrop State Park and nearby Buescher State Park.

  There are recreational activities for kids such as a playground, swimming pool, fishing, geocaching and hiking trails. Many of the facilities underwent a remodel and now offer restrooms with modern sinks, showers and toilet stalls.

  There are sections of the park where one can see the devastation cause by the forest fire. It is a humbling experience for both children and adults to see the burnt but recovering forrest. There are also sections of the park where one can still stand under some of the old growth majestic pine trees. The walk-in sites are surrounded by forrest. The RV site has some of the tallest trees still standing. One caveat about the RV site is that you can hear the auto traffic from the nearby highway.

  The park office has a small store and sells camping necessities and souvenirs. The town of Bastrop is nearby where you can find supermarkets, stores and restaurants so you're never too far from supplies.

  Based on my recent visit to this park, I think that it still offers a variety of camping options, family fun and possibly an eco lesson for all of us.

• 

  Andrew R.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 14, 2017

  Bastrop State Park Campground

  A Texas classic

  Bastrop State Park, even recovering from the 2011 Bastrop complex fire, is a jewel in the state. Wonderful Depression-era buildings and history, hiking, biking, and camping, including very good cabins and facilities for events, reunions, weddings, etc. Connects to Buecher State Park near Smithville. A great stop between Central Texas and the Piney Woods.

• 

  Troy W.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 30, 2018

  Vernon L Richards Riverbend Park

  Vernon L. Richards Riverbend Park + Family Fun + Colorado River + Rodeo!

  I came across this campground while searching on thedyrt. I had not previously heard about this park, so I decided to check it out. 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.

  There are a number or recreational facilities at the park such as a playground, baseball field and frisbee golf course. The Colorado River runs along one side of the park and offers opportunities for paddling and fishing. One of the most unique features is that there are rodeo facilities on the grounds. The rodeo events only occur during certain times of the year, so check the park's website and calendar.

  The campground area is at the very back of the grounds down a gravel road. The park is primarily designed to host RVs, but they do allow tent camping. Each site has a parking pad, water and electric hookup, picnic table and grill. There are bathroom facilities in the center of the campground.

  Compared to some of the other parks in the area such as Bastrop State Park, Buescher State Park and Lake Bastop South Shore Park, this city park is a little bit rough around the edges. The reservation system, or lack of an onsite office, is a bit baffling. But if you're looking to witness a rodeo, this might just be your only option.

• 

  Troy W.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 15, 2018

  Lockhart State Park Campground

  Lockhart State Park + Family Activities + BBQ

  Lockhart State Park is a small park with simple facilities, but they do have a golf course and some of the best BBQ in Texas nearby.

  The park is located a short distance from the town of Lockhart and about 40 minutes from Austin. The park has all the basic amenities like campsites with water, electricity, picnic tables, grills and fire rings. There are a few short trails to explore. For the family there is a swimming pool and little playground. Perhaps one of the unique features of this park is that there is a 9 hole golf course within the park.

  Some of the facilities feel a bit dated. However, if you're looking for a relaxing time with family friendly activities this park might work for you.

  Before or after your stay at Lockhart State Park be sure to pass through the town of Lockhart (nicknamed the BBQ Capitol of Texas) where you can choose between three of the best barbecue restaurants in Texas - Blacks BBQ, Smitty's BBQ and Kreuzs BBQ.

• L

  Lisa E.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 24, 2020

  Lockhart State Park Campground

  Cute little park

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

• S

  Sara

  Guide

  

  Sep. 30, 2020

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  My favorite park in Texas

  This campground is a must see if you live in Texas. In addition to the awesome camp sites, there are two swimming areas that are to die for. Highly recommend!!!

• 

  Kimberly B.

  Scout

  

  Mar. 8, 2023

  Thousand Trails Colorado River

  Wonderful campground with so much to offer

  Starlink is pretty quick here and T-Mobile is smoking fast.

  Management is kind, courteous, and quick to fix any issues. It’s a hidden gem of Texas to be sure.

• 

  Linette G.

  Guide

  

  May. 16, 2018

  Lake Bastrop North Shore Park

  Sites are a bit tight; daily entrance fee not disclosed

  It's a bit ridiculous that you have to pay both a daily entrance fee, plus your nightly site fee at Texas state parks.

  The camping itself was ok. A bit confusing trying to find where you needed to go. Boat launch area looks like camping area.

  RIght by the lake, good for recreation.

• 

  Amanda C.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 23, 2021

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  Heaven on earth

  This place is incredible! The waterfalls are perfect to cool off in on a hot Texas day. This place has a cool history and it’s fun to look for stuff on the trails. I would go with out kids first.

• S

  Sara W.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 3, 2020

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  Beautiful Park!

  This is one of my top 3 campgrounds in Texas. Most of the spaces are secluded and there are lots of trees and shade. The two swimming areas are amazing and the highlight of the park. I only wish they allowed my dog to swim!

• J

  JJ T.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 19, 2017

  Bastrop State Park Campground

  Pines!

  Bastrop state park is awesome! So cool how this patch of pine trees are in central Texas and can give you the feel of being in the mountains. A lot of the park is still damaged from the fire but seeing the new pine trees grow is very encouraging and beautiful in its own way. There's also a playground which was great for our little ones.

• 

  Nicole R.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 31, 2018

  Lake Bastrop North Shore Park

  Wow!

  We we’re traveling and needed a spot near Austin, Texas and love Lake Bastrop. There’s two Campgrounds one South and one North. The right one for us was South since we didn’t want anything too primitive. Thankfully there is plenty of trees for shade. And the view of Lake Bastrop is phenomenal. We did the lakeshore hike which takes a while since it’s 6 miles. W rented a canoe from the office one day and really enjoyed that.

• G

  Gerald K.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 14, 2023

  Splashway Campground

  Splashway Campground Review

  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.

• 

  Eat · See · RV L.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 17, 2020

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  Great State Park with Awesome Location to Austin

  This is such a wonderful state park! Great hiking trails, two swimming holes, well spaced out camping sites with electricity and water. We stayed here because it was close to the airport and had a flight to catch. It was only a 9 min drive. It's about 20 minutes from downtown Austin but still offers a peaceful nature retreat and a wonderful spot to cool down in hot Texas summers.

• 

  Tucker B.

  Legend

  

  May. 4, 2021

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  Perfect for a Shakedown Cruise!

  We needed a place not too far out of town to test out our setups in prep for summer.

  This was easy to get to and we had plenty of space to shake things down.

  Loved having great cell service right at our site (AT&T), as we work remotely and needed to get a couple of things done.

  Have also hiked here on previous occasions and love the secluded trails and Texas history here!

• 

  Steve & Ashley G.

  Legend

  

  May. 27, 2019

  Bastrop State Park Campground

  Good local campsite

  Good facilities at this site. The restrooms and showers are first rate. We stayed here just one night. The front office and check in process is excellent. The campsites have water and ample shade. Not much to see in this camp but good as a stopover or local weekend camping. It’s close to Austin Texas about 25 minutes. The have some good moderate hiking trails and some interesting historical sites. The have a children’s playground and a nice swimming pool. The trees here are being replanted and restored. The views are not the greatest and some of the sites are near a highway.

• 

  Jeff

  Guide

  

  Oct. 8, 2020

  Birch Creek Unit — Lake Somerville State Park

  Great camping large lake, good location - July 2020

  Well spaced spots.  Fairly level pads with table, fire ring, 30/50 amp electrical, water.  We didn't see any covered tables, but all usable spots had concrete pads for tables.  Like a lot of east-Texas camping areas, LSSP was also devastated by Hurricane Harvey and is still recovering, but don't let that stop you, but instead level-set your expectations.  Sites are well dispersed, but some appear to be no longer in use.  In July 2020, there were very few folks in the park, partly, I'm sure due to Covid-19 and well, its July in Texas!  Typically, and as expected, gnats were really bad at night, but mosquitos were tolerable.  Just be prepared and you'll be fine.  Great kayaking and very little motorized boat traffic, but likely due to current situation.  Trails are numerous, but not well marked.  We didn't see a lot of hog damage on the trails, so maybe the staff has been working on that.  Good amount of wildlife  Equestrian area looked like it was restored and  back-in-business.   Will be returning.  While the Birch Creek and Nails Creek sections are visible across the lake from each other, there is a long drive (15 minutes in a vehicle around the lake) to get between them, so plan your time accordingly.

• 

  Dmitri W.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 29, 2016

  Bastrop State Park Campground

  Fun for the Whole Family and a Great Beginner Campground

  Bastrop State Park has excellent facilities including hot showers, indoor sinks and toilets in modern, clean, and well maintained facilities, managed trails, and a pool! It can be a little noisy around the campground, and there is road noise as well from the highway. It's not really a "Nature Experience" but it is easy, clean, and fun. If you are a hardened backpacker you might want to go to a county park, but if you want to introduce your kids or partner to camping, this is the spot.

  You can reserve a campsite online, but plan ahead! They sell out. Also, if you are going during the summer months, beware! Texas heat in the summer can be dangerous. Best months are spring and fall.

• C

  Cathy J.

  Guide

  

  May. 23, 2021

  Lockhart State Park Campground

  Cheap Golf

  We were here 2/8/21 to 2/13/21. We had 2 decent days and then the bad weather began. We golfed 18 one of the days, fun layout, not in the best shape right now but the price was right. With the Texas pass you also get a discount on golf and anything else you buy. Lots of short trails, close to town. Our loop had power and water at the sites. It was pretty quiet due to impending horrible weather.

  Small park close to town and be sure to get some BBQ, lots of choices in town!

• 

  Steve & Ashley G.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 15, 2019

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  Great Local State Park

  The State Park is located within the city limits of Austin Texas. It has two waterfalls and a number of cool hiking trails. They have great camping options with sites for everyone including tents and camper vans. They have 7 designated hiking trails which range from easy to moderate. Onion Creek provides great fishing and swimming. The campsites offer some cover and privacy. You need a reservation during the busy times of year in the Spring and Fall. They have some boulder features for rock climbing and a bald cypress tree that is 500 years old. This is a good option for new campers or families that wanted to get out for the weekend. They have ample facilities from restrooms to visitors areas. I have it 3 stars because of overcrowding. Otherwise a nice place for the Travis County Area.

• 

  kristin S.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 3, 2021

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  Excellent State Park close to Austin

  This park is a great option for nature camping very close to all the attractions of Austin. The sites are spacious and they all have electricity and water hookups (some sites have 50 amps, most have 30 amps). All are reservable and very affordable at $24/$20 respectively, with greater discount if you’re a Texas State Parks Pass holder. We are out-of-staters and found great value in the parks pass! Second nights at campgrounds are 50% off and free admission to all state parks.

  The sites are very private and spacious and have nearby hiking trails accessible from the sites. There are several camping loops in the park, most of which have easy access to the Onion Creek hike & bike trail. Booking online is straightforward and check-in is virtually contactless.

  We spent time hiking the Homestead and Flint Rock trails and really enjoyed the peace and solitude, knowing we were so close to the metropolitan area. A perfect spot for enjoying the city during the day while staying surrounded by nature at night!

• 

  Brittany S.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 1, 2018

  Bastrop State Park Campground

  Great for all!

  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!

• 

  Denise V.

  Ranger

  

  Feb. 25, 2022

  Bastrop State Park Campground

  Last Minute Trip

  The weather and the calendar aligned and there happened to be an open spot, so I took it, loaded up and headed out. 

  Length of Stay: 2 Nights

  Type of Park: State 

  Check In: 2p Check Out: 12p

  💲 Cost per night$25+$5 entry fee per person per day 
  Discounts: Texas Parks Pass Total Cost$25

  📝 Site#24 Notes:

  Pull Thru
  Water
  Max amp: 50 
  Sewer
  Grill
  Fire Ring w/Grate
  Hook for hanging lantern or other items
  Picnic Table: concrete Site Pad: level, asphalt, long enough for truck and trailer and extra space

  👍🏻 Pros:
  • Full hookups
  • Overlooking hillside
  • No one was camping on one side of me
  • A little shade in the afternoon
  • A couple tall Loblolly Pines still stand at this site

  👎🏻 Cons:
  • Because so many of the trees are missing, you hear more of the road noise from Highway 21 and 95
  • No privacy between spots
  • Spot is barely off main road

  📝 Park Notes:
  • Restrooms
  • Showers
  • Dump Station
  • Munzees and Geocaches in the Park
  • Trails- some are pretty challenging, steep
  • Pool
  • Pavilion
  • Cabins
  • Structures built by CCC(Civilian Conservation Corps)
  • When you enter Bastrop or Buescher, You can drive or bike between the parks(11 miles@ 30 mph max), but I would not tow/drive an RV.

  🐦 Wildlife:
  • Birds: Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Bluejays, Mockingbirds, Misc small birds

  💜 Highlights of this trip:
  • Drove around this park and to Buescher State Park
  • Made a run through Buc-ee's
  •🍕 Neighbors Kitchen& Yard- I definitely recommend the Pepperoni Rolls and the Prickly Pear Margarita! Great view overlooking the Colorado River. Live music sometimes.
  • Camping alone
  • Glad I went when I did. The very next day, a "controlled" burn got out of control and burned over 800 acres!

  More info at my blog: https://www.denisevajdak.com/2022/01/mlk-weekend-camping.html

• 

  Napunani

  Legend

  

  Jan. 24, 2022

  Lockhart State Park Campground

  Camping at a Golf Course

  Pros 

  Reserved on-line 123 days prior to arrival without incurring any reservation fee. 

  Total cost was$18 each night. 

  Campsite and entrance fee discount with Texas State Park Pass. 

  Very quiet in December. No highway or train noise.

  Great night sky viewing from park golf course.

  NO STREET LIGHTS in campground., but toilet facilities had exterior lighting.

  Campsite had cooking grill on metal fire ring and barrel BBQ smoker.

  Campsite had metal cover over picnic table.

  Level site #7.

  Grass mowed throughout campsites.

  Ample supply of TP, soap and hand towels in toilet facility.

  Nice view of Golf Course from FHU campground.

  Cons

  FHU sites in wagon wheel configuration. Absolutely no privacy from other sites. Campsite fire rings placed weirdly which created confusion between campers as to which fire ring belong to which campsite.

  Water pressure fluctuations constantly.

  20 campsites total for this park with 3 park hosts which one is using a numbered site, so only 19 campsites to reserve.

  Never saw any park rangers or park security driving through campground; no interaction with Park Hosts.

  No security gate closed overnight. L

  imited Shade. Seems each FHU site had one tree.

  One toilet facility for 20 campsites PLUS day users, except for pool users. One shower only in each Men’s and Women’s.

  Campsite #7 full of fire ants!

  No campfire wood for sale.

  1 bar AT&T No Park Wifi