Best Tent Camping near Smithville, TX

Recent Tent Reviews near Smithville, Texas

424 Reviews of 14 Smithville Campgrounds

• 

  Yvette K.

  Traveler

  

  May. 30, 2019

  Bluff Creek Ranch

  FANTASTIC mountain bike trails!

  This is a mountain biker's dream! Well groomed tent camping around a large pond with showers and toilets just a short walk away. Firewood and ice are complimentary! Great trails for intermediate to advanced mountain bikers. There's also an Air B-N-B on the property for those who don't want to tent camp as well as a sheltered area for cots, etc. Helpful, available staff and I didn't hear a peep of highway traffic or other sounds of civilization for the 3 days we were there!

• 

  loinse B.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 5, 2024

  Sherwood Forest Faire Campground

  thanks

  Various camping options including primitive tent sites, RV sites(with and without hookups), and group camping heardle areas.

• 

  Haleigh A.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 16, 2018

  Buescher State Park Campground

  Great Park

  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.

• J

  Jon D.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 14, 2024

  Palmetto State Park Campground

  Excellent Stay!

  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.

• N

  Nathaniel G.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 6, 2020

  Lake Wood Recreation Area

  Quite campground on the Guadalupe River

  Great spot to get away and camp. $25 for tent camping with water and electricity. Also has hookups for RVs. The dam failed a few years back so the lake is no longer there but the river is great for fishing and some swimming. Lots of shade from old pecan trees and soft grass for comfortable tent placement. All sites have a fire ring and picnic tables.

• S

  Suzie C.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 7, 2018

  Bastrop State Park Campground

  Short trip out of the city

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

• 

  Lori C.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 7, 2021

  Rocky Creek (Somerville Lake)

  COE Campground on Lake Somerville

  This is a wonderful very well maintained Corp of Engineers campground on Lake Somerville. RV sites are level with plenty of spacing, lots of people tent camping. Sites have water and electric and there is a dump station. Clean bathrooms, well maintained trails and miles of accessible shoreline. Great AT&T and 2 bars T-Mobile reception. Some areas are closed because of previous flooding. Tons of deer wandering around every evening. Highly recommend for a relaxing place to stay.

• 

  John H.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 31, 2020

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  Beautiful park close to Austin

  Tent camped 21JUL 1 night.

  Super clean park, good trails and great water features. The whole thing is kind of built around a couple swimming holes, which are the main attractions, and pretty amazing.

  Sites were big and well treed. Super secluded and plenty of shade to be had.

  Trails aren’t close to the sites, so you’ve got to drive once you are setup, which might not be an issue for most, but I like to dig in then hit the trails.

  This was one night camp 6/10 for me in my campmaster project and it was fantastic.

  Hot but no rain.

• L

  Lacie M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 17, 2018

  Birch Creek Unit — Lake Somerville State Park

  Fisherman’s paradise

  The lake is fairly warm, large amount of bass, huge gar, croppy, And catfish. when the water is right you can take a flat bottom boat up to any of the creeks. Overall a great campground with decent facilities. They do have horse stalls at many of the campsites so definitely bring your horse and trot around the lake !! They do have rv and tent sites with a lot of trails that are mowed down and well taken care of. Lots of picnic areas and covered areas S well!

• 

  Kaitlyn M.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 14, 2018

  Overlook

  Great camping spot!

  We were are spot T2, along with another group at T10 (only ones camping out there)! The spots are somewhat close together. It’s an all-around great camping spot. Has ample sites to camp either in tents or RVs, with both electricity and water hook ups. Really quiet, everyone is respectful of the 10pm silent rule. Good shade spot while tent camping in the summer. Campsite is a walking distance from bathrooms and showers. Close to water (walking distance) for swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, etc. By the campsite (not the marine side) there is a small inlet of the lake that is great for swimming. Other parts are too deep, but are perfect for taking a boat out and fishing! Staff is very friendly with any questions. Very dog friendly. Good price!

• 

  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.

• M

  Mari P.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 9, 2018

  Palmetto State Park Campground

  Nice basic state park

  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.

• 

  Lynne L.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 10, 2020

  Rocky Creek (Somerville Lake)

  A hidden gem with gorgeous sunsets!

  I recently went on a camping trip solo (minus the hubby) with my old-man dog here. We tent camped at site #177. This is a beautiful park on a beautiful lake! Here are some of the pros: friendly couple at check-in/entrance shack, friendly rangers driving around checking on folks, deer everywhere(!), beautiful lake view, well-maintained grounds, good shade trees, trash dumpsters within walking distance, electricity/water hookups worked great, picnic table/fire ring/grill, gorgeous sunsets(!), very quiet at night, cute and clean little beach/swim area to hang out in. The cons for me were: getting to the water from my site was not as direct as it looked on the map, circular bricks with holes on the shore were not dog friendly (not human leg friendly either), bathrooms/showers were closed in our area/circle due to Covid-19. I would ABSOLUTELY return to this park!! 

  I really appreciated the hospitality shown here! They recognized that I was a lone female (but a very confident/independent one) with an old man-dog and, respectfully, went out of their way to make sure that we were okay!

• 

  Rick G.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 10, 2020

  Lake Bastrop North Shore Park

  Great little spot - Clean and tucked away!

  We spent 2 nights here in the tent sites a couple weeks ago. We loved it.

  There are 8 tent-only sites at the north end of the park - there is a short trail by the restrooms that lead to them. Upsides are that they are removed from most of the park's bustle, so it's easier to relax and enjoy your time "in the woods". The restrooms and shower facility are a ~200-300 ft walk, depending on which site you choose. Each site has a grill, picnic table and fire ring. The sites are not particularly level, but we were able to get two tents on the site with minimal issues. The tent area also has a community grill and fire pit that would make it a great candidate for a group camping event.

  There is a small floating dock where you can fish or launch a kayak (remember, you can't park close so you'll have to carry the boat in...good for kayaks, bad for canoes). There is ample room at the park's main launch to put in larger canoes or kayaks without carrying them as far.

  The park amenities are fine - swimming area, fishing pier, and fairly clean showers/restrooms. Also, there is a Bucee's 5-10 minutes away for those last-minute needs/forgotten supplies!

  All in all, a good weekend, and a good spot to camp!

• 

  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!

• 

  Troy W.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 15, 2018

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  Ranger Review: RoM Outdoors Backpack at McKinney Falls State Park

  Campground Review

  This Texas State Park is just a short 15 minute drive from downtown Austin. It is only a 5 minute drive from the Austin airport. 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. The park has lots of forest trails to hike as well as some interesting rock formations around the creek and water holes. The most noted feature of the park is definitely the Upper and Lower Falls.

  This park has a variety of facilities including cabins, RV sites, tent sites and group sites.

  There are water, electricity and restrooms with flush toilets and sinks near all the campsites. At the premium campsites there are all of these amenities plus showers. This park is great for swimming, fishing, hiking and bicycling.

  You might see deer, raccoons, armadillos and occasionally snakes. All of the wildlife should be left undisturbed. Except for the fish. Fishing is allowed in the park and one will not need a state fishing license when fishing within the park.

  This is a very family friendly and well-managed park with the only downside being that the park is often very busy with visitors.

  Product Review

  As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - today I am testing the RoM Outdoors Backpack.

  The RoM Pack (pronounced "Roam") is a backpack, blanket and poncho all in one piece of gear. It is made of heavy duty 600D fabric which is water-resistant and appears to be very durable. The total volume of the pack is about 3000 cu. in. Their slogan is, "Let Adventure Unfold". The unique feature of this pack is that the backpack unfolds into a blanket. In addition, it can be unfolded into a poncho.

  While I tend to use ultralight gear when I'm hiking or backpacking, I found this pack useful for fly fishing. I was able to carry my boots, waders, hammock, rod, reel, net and fishing tackle nicely. Once I reached my destination, I unfolded it to use as blanket. See the demonstration video. While I had good sunny weather, I could foresee using this piece of gear as a poncho if a thunderstorm were to roll in and I wanted to wait out the storm.

  The Pros:

  Unique multiuse design

  Heavy duty water-resistant material

  The blanket material is soft

  When used as a poncho, it is also insulating.

  Multiple pockets (2 removable pockets) with Molly straps

  Designed and Made in the USA

  The Cons:

  Heavy in comparison to other backpacks

  Straps and pockets somewhat obstruct use while using it as a poncho

  Water bottle pockets could be larger to accommodate various sizes

  For more info:

  https://romoutdoors.com/product/rom-pack/

• 

  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!!

• 

  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.

• 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.

• 

  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.

• m

  marty E.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 9, 2024

  Bastrop State Park Campground

  Excellent but noisy

  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.

• 

  Troy W.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 1, 2018

  Lake Bastrop North Shore Park

  Lake Bastrop + Family Activities + Lake Life

  This campground is located a short distance away from the city of Austin, Texas. The park is managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). At the entrance there is an office where you can pay your admission fee and it has a small store where you can pick up supplies. If you arrive late, there is an after hour station to pay your fee which accepts cash or a credit card.

  This park has car and RV campsites. There are no primitive sites. There is a campground called the Lake Bastrop North Shore Park located 15 minutes away with primitive sites.

  The campsites are all very similar. There is an area to park your car and it will fit a small or midsize RV. There are water and electrical hook-ups which make it very convenient. There are typically plenty of trees for shade. Each site has a picnic table for dining, a grill for outdoor cooking, a pole to hang food or trash and there is a fire ring for a campfire. Of course they also have pad sites where you can place a tent. The pad sites will fit anywhere from a two man tent up to an eight man tent. In addition to the campsites there are a number of small cabins which can hold up to four people. The cabins have some basic amenities and the restrooms are nearby. Most of the campsites and cabins are only a short walk to the lake shore where you can catch a sweet view of Lake Bastrop.

  There is limited hiking with one trail that runs along the lakeshore for about 6 miles. The main attraction of this park is living the lake life. Near the campsites one can launch a canoe or kayak. But there is also a boat ramp and boat dock where you can launch larger sized watercraft. If you don’t have your own watercraft you can rent a canoe or kayak from the office and pick it up near the boat dock. It is possible to fish from a boat or the shore. There are a number of community spaces which are great for picnicking. There is a sand volleyball court. And there’s a special area of the lake that has been roped-off and is designated for swimming.

  I think that the only possible downside about this park might be that there are always lots of families and energetic kids running around. If you’re seeking peace and quiet this might not be your place. If you are seeking some fun activities, this place is great.

  I think that the Lake Bastrop South Shore Park is a 5 star campground for all of the facilities, amenities and considering that the staff are friendly.

• J

  Jessica O.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 28, 2018

  McKinney Falls State Park Campground

  An awesome place surrounded by the city of Austin, TX

  This was a wonderful campground… I wish we could have stayed longer and explored the grounds, but we were on our way to RenFest.

  This campground had everything we needed: the bathroom was close, there was water, a tent pad, etc…and was surrounded by nature..

  I hope to go back sometime! The only drawback was that they didn't have tent only sites, so we had to pay the same price as an RV…

• 

  Dude R.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 26, 2020

  Buescher State Park Campground

  One Of My Tope 5 Texas State Parks!

  Buescher State Park, Texas is a wonderful and beautiful place to spend some time relaxing and RV camping! We had the pleasure of spending a day and night at Buescher State Park, Texas in May of 2017. This was our third stop on a 10 day 5 park tour. Buescher State Park, Texas is located in the Lost Pines area of Central Texas and is a great place for springtime camping, fishing and swimming! Hill Country wildlife abounds in this wonderful park! If you enjoy fishing, swimming, birding, hiking or Geocaching then you will enjoy a visit to Buescher State Park, Texas. 

  Want to see more fun RV tours and RV camping videos? 

  Visit my channel here...

  https://youtu.be/3vJp7HMYIjU

• 

  Thomas F.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 9, 2024

  Sherwood Forest Faire Campground

  Great place

  This campground provided the perfect setting for our family's medieval adventure! The Sherwood Forest Faire itself was clean and well-maintained, with Retro Bowl spacious sites that offered plenty of room for our tent, car, and campfire.

• 

  Brittany S.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 1, 2018

  Buescher State Park Campground

  Beautiful trails!!

  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!

• 

  Lori J.

  Scout

  

  May. 22, 2022

  Palmetto State Park Campground

  Palmetto State Park

  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.