Best Tent Camping near Stockdale, TX

We really enjoyed this park and lovely old Live Oaks. It was close to Anhalt Halle. 

Type of Park: Private-owned 

Check In: 11a Check Out: 11a 

Cost per night$44 

Discounts: Good Sam$4/night 

Site#10- Pull-Thru 

Water 20/30/50 amp Sewer Picnic Table Site Pad: Asphalt

👍🏻 Pros: Shade from Live Oaks Close to showers, restrooms, laundry There’s a little room in the same building with coffee, table, books(Botanical Room)

👎🏻 Cons: The front area is a little close to Hwy 281 so there’s a little road noise but not bad No fire ring No grill at the sites

📝 Park Notes: Lot of people live here full time Good Live Oak shade trees, but watch them above and on the side of your rig 

Wifi

Propane sold onsite

Laundry facilities

Club house for larger gatherings- built of native stone

Dog Park

Basketball court

Chapel, church services on Sunday

Nature Trail

Headquarters has limited supply of RV parts(or there's a Walmart and Tractor Supply nearby)\

Billiards, Ping Pong, Horseshoes, Shuffleboard

RV Storage area

Mini storage buildings

Rental Guest Suites available

Frog/Koi pond/fountain

Quiet hours 9pm to 7 am

🐦 Wildlife: Birds: Lots of happy singing ones, hummingbirds Squirrels

More info at https://www.denisevajdak.com/2021/04/anhalt-western-roundup.html

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

This was the perfect getaway for a last minute weekend trip. We arrived after dark, but Reza was so helpful in making sure we had everything we needed as we set up at the tent site. We really appreciated the little extras: reclining chairs at the tent site and also at the fire pit, the flush toilet and the outdoor shower, a picnic table and firewood was also available. Both Dot and Reza were so pleasant and very accommodating to our needs. They were readily accessible without being intrusive. We definitely had our privacy but knew they were just a phone call away. We cannot wait to come back and reconnect with nature. The stars are abundant and the vibe is so amazing, we felt completely recharged. We're so happy we found this gem!!

Camp Hueco Springs is owned by the same operators as the Double Rockin' R Campground. However, this campground has many more amenities. The campground is located near the town of New Braunfels along the River Road.

The main attraction of this campground is the easy access to the Guadalupe River.

The office/store has an abundance of supplies from groceries to firewood to fishing supplies. On one side of the campground there are primitive sites with only picnic tables. On the other side of the campground are pad sites for RVs with full water, electric and sewage hookups. There are restroom facilities near the campsites and a few pot-a-potties scattered around the grounds. Tent campers are allowed on the pad sites, but the fees are a little more and you will be surrounded by RVs. Down the road there is a store where you can rent cabins, inner tubes, canoes, kayaks and SUPs. There is something for everyone at this campground.

The best part about this campground is the easy access to the river. There are some campsites right on the bank of the river and others a short walk away under a grove of trees. Some of the campsites on the river do not have shade, so bring your own sun shade. One downside to this campground is that the campsites lie between the river and the road, so often you can hear road noise - bring some ear plugs. Also, this campground receives lots of visitors during the summer and fall so don't expect much privacy. Sometimes the restroom facilities are left a bit untidy.

In the winter this campground is often used as access point for fly fishermen seeking to land huge trout. In the summer, the water is sometimes low and slow moving which can limit water recreational activities. However, if you're there for the floating, paddling, fishing or just hanging out by the river this campground offers something for everyone.

Disclaimer: I am biased towards COE campgrounds. Cheap, ample grass, trees, water, blue sky and stars at night. Usually a paved pad, reliable utilities, picnic table, fire ring, grill, friendly volunteers. Did I mention cheap? With a National Park Pass you get 50% off so nightly rate is usually $11-15 range. How can you go wrong. Almost always good site spacing, 20-30 feet. Almost always well maintained. Waaayy closer to camping than commercial RV parks. 

Cranes Mill is 4 of 5 on COE scale, paved pads, pretty level. Good spacing, generally 25-30 feet. Hooded picnic table with usual fire ring, grill. Excellent bath houses. Canyon Lake was low when I was there (Nov,'22) but still fishing and boating activity. Small towns/shops <5miles, major shopping 15 miles. I'm going back in Feb'22 for another stay.

Good cell coverage - Verizon, 3bars LTE, 10+mb down, ATT 3bars LTE 10+mb down. I work remote so this is important. No issues in my ten day stay.

Campsite Review:

Palmetto State Park is a tranquil campground located in Central Texas. It offers campers the chance to hike, bike, swim, paddle, fish or just lay in a hammock under the shade of trees. The park is located a few minutes drive from the towns of Gonzales and Luling. The park's most unique feature are the dwarf palmetto plants which grow throughout the forest.

When entering the park you are welcomed by a canopy of overhanging trees. At the entrance there is an office where you can pay your admission fee and shop for some basic camping necessities. There are also after-hour pay stations nearby.

At each campsite there is a parking space with water and electrical hookups, a picnic table, barbecue grill and fire pit. Most of the sites will fit small to medium sized RVs. There are plenty of shade trees around the campsites which are welcome during the summers in Texas. The restrooms are near the campsites and all of the restrooms, although somewhat dated, have sinks, flush toilets and showers.

Some of the attractions of this park include a small artesian spring, lake and the San Marcus River. There is a nice hike and bike trail which runs along the bank of the river which is flat and easy to walk or bike. There are some amazing sights and sounds while walking through the forest - from birds to insects to small mammals to plants. As previously mentioned, one of the unique features of this park are the dwarf palmetto plants that grow on the forest floor. These palmettos make you feel as if you've been transported to a tropical paradise. Paddle boat, kayak and canoe rentals are available at a concession office near the lake.

There are a number of activities to enjoy at this park, but some of the facilities could use an update. I would think that is a nice park for families with kids because of the variety of activities that can be pursued. There are no extreme features like mountains or cliffs, just a number of peaceful nooks in nature.

Before or after your stay at Palmetto State Park be sure to pass by the little town of Luling, Texas where you can eat at the City Market Café which has some of the best barbecue in Texas.

Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am offered the opportunity to test products. At this campground, I tested the Gregory Inertia 30 Hydration Backpack.

Top reasons I loved the Gregory Inertia 30 Hydration Backpack:

1. Size: The pack is 30 liters and is useful for day hikes, weekend adventures or carry-on airline travel.
2. Features: The pack has well thought-out organization with a large main compartment, a mid-sized compartment, a top stash pocket, stretch mesh front and side pockets and a flexible suspension. Also, there are a number of attachment loops for attaching tools, poles, solar chargers or other gear.
3. Technology: The new 3D hydration bladder is a breeze to fill, empty and clean. It has an tactile grip handle and rubberized fill top which make opening and closing easy. When cleaning or drying out the bladder, the sidewalls of the bladder maintain an open shape which allows easy access and evaporation of any residual water.
4. Quality: All of the materials are of high quality. I expect that the backpack will last many years. This is important for a day use backpack which will see regular duty under a variety of conditions. It is also important for backpacking, because no one wants a gear failure while in the backcountry.

I hope and expect that this backpack will become my go to backpack for a variety of adventures.