Rio Frio — Garner State Park

Has endless trails to hike. Home like vibe and stay. Has a store and even dances in summer. Has a small laundry and rentals for water items. You can rv, cabin, or tent even!! Book ahead, most often booked out!!

I stayed here for a few days during the eclipse. Good site but a little noisy.

Camp host made sure to wake us up the first thing that morning about our lack of hangtag . We were just staying the night while traveling .There were none at the gate and the office was closed . Dumpsters very 100’ along the campground roads . I bet this place is a zoo in the summer . Decent showers and the gift shop / store was nice as was the lady running it . Not sure I would return because of the rude state park staff though .. to bad , nice access to the river ..

the balance of sun and shade is perfect!

I've camped at Frio River at least 20 times over the past 10 years the last time was just recently with the covid it was great big rocks little rocks Sandy area there are several places where you can throw down a tent so just bring your imagination

The trip was awesome. It was really packed though but offered amazing scenery and a lot to do.

We checked Garner State Park in late January 2022 when the park wasn't very crowded, and the hiking was fantastic.  Not all the campground loops are open in the winter.

We like this place because we were able to bring our dog. The site we had for ourselves was clean and spacious.

Garner State Park is one of my favorite state parks. It is a very big park with several camping loops that all have something to offer. We prefer Fall and Spring, since summer gets very crowded. But the cool clear water of the Frio is hard to resist so we have visited in July also. There are a lot of Hiking trails and a nice biking trail. There is a great store in the park with everything you could possibly need.

This site was 2 sites away from a wide road to the river. We took our kayak down this path on wheels (would’ve been a hassle without the kayak carrier). The site also has a narrow game trail to the water. The bathroom is a short hike away through the shortcut up the nearby hill. Slept with our rain fly off and saw beautiful stars. Truly wonderful. Would come back here if it wasn’t for the river being too low to really kayak in (at least for our 2-person kayak). Campsite has a picnic table, lantern pole, one tree that provided a bit of shade, and water on the other side of the driveway. Would highly recommend hiking crystal cave at the park!

This site was located 2 sites away from a wide road to the river. We took our kayak down this path on wheels (would’ve been a hassle without the kayak carrier). The site also has a narrow game trail to the water. The bathroom is a short hike away through the shortcut up the nearby hill. Slept with our rain fly off and saw beautiful stars. Truly wonderful. Would come back here if it wasn’t for the river being too low to really kayak in (at least for our 2-person kayak). Campsite has a picnic table, lantern pile, one tree that provided a bit of shade, and water on the other side of the driveway.

Great amenities. Great camp sites. Easy river access. Well stocked store

Garner is a lovely park and February is a great time to visit if you are there to camp and hike. Our site ended up being too tight for our slides to open fully (because of trees on either side). We ended up having to leave one closed because of a storm that came through at night. Low hanging branches made backing into our site in the dark difficult. We did have a great time hiking along the river and biking the campgrounds and the night sky is beautiful.

So far, one of my favorite TX State Parks. Great for landscape photography, swimming in the clear Frio River, biking and hiking.

We have been to Garner several times and it does not disappoint. The river is beautiful and the hiking is great. Going to the top of Old Baldy is always fun. We like the Rio Frio loop as it is less crowded and you can tube down to the damn in about 20 minutes if the water is flowing well. It’s a short hike to the water and there is a nice stone river bank. On the negative side, we camped one year with a large group of kids and had “noise patrol” STATE TROOPERS called on us BEFORE 10pm!!!! They hid out in the trees and acted like a swat team trying to take down a suspect. SERIOUSLY STUPID BEHAVIOR!!! Yes it was after 10pm when they showed up, but the kids had all gone in the camper to play games and everything was quiet. One of our group was playing guitar so low that I could barely hear it across the campfire but was told if he didn’t put it away he would get a ticket. If you decide to camp in a State Park by the river please except that there will be kids there making memories of a lifetime and just chill!😂 Most parents do make their kids abide by the noise requirements LIKE WE DID!!!!

Pretty Area. About 100 yards from the river. The river is beautiful. Camp sites were clean. Too packed for my taste, but its a popular spot.

This place is unbelievable, tubing, kayaking, horseback riding, putt putt golf and more

I was nervous to stay here because I had read horrible reviews on the bathrooms and I’d had to book an “inside loop” so I was nervous about how much room we would have. Wow!! I shouldn’t have worried. We had a huge green space with plenty of room to play and move around. I bathrooms are totally fine. I even saw someone cleaning during the day while we were there And Of course, the Frio is fantastic. It’s pretty hard to get a spot but so worth it!

Garner is a beautiful and happening place! The river is lovely, there are neat hikes, it’s dog friendly, there’s a general store, restaurant, and (before Covid at least) dances. The restrooms have flush toilets and showers and there is WiFi at the store. All that said, I prefer my outdoor time quiet and full of solitude, and this is not that. 😂 I most recently camped there on a Tuesday in late September, and even then, the place was absolutely packed. I love Garner for what it is, and as long as you know what you’re getting into, it’s sure to be a great time.

Best car camping spot around along the Frio River in the glorious hill country with cold water and beautiful hilly, limestone scenery all around. Make sure you check out a map/photos to snag a good camp spot in the shade and not right next to a bathroom. Spot 468 was perfectly shady, slightly isolated and there was a little walkway strait to water. Garner is Heaven.

My wife's favorite state park for 20 years finally met its match. Daingerfield SP now sits at#2, and Garner has taken its 1st place platform. 

We almost don't want to write such an awesome review for Garner, because it doesn't need any more traffic. It's the busiest park in Texas. I have no idea how we've missed it for so long. But it's obviously no secret. 

So let's start at the beginning. Check-in. Be ready for a wait. Take a number. Really. You take a number. And yes, we had a reservation.(You definitely should make well in advance reservations for this park.) 

Wait till your name is called over the speaker and then enter the check-in room and approach one of the staffed windows(they have multiple staff working to process their large number of visitors). We arrived the Sunday of a holiday weekend and waited an hour for our number. I can't imagine what the start of a holiday weekend looks like.(0_0) 

But after check in... it's all gold for this family. Spring fed, cool, crystal clear waters flowing thru a limestone bed is the star of Garner. Lounge, float, swim, rope swings, tube the river, just get in. You won't want to get out. 

This SP has scenic hikes for all levels, plenty to bike, Miniature Golf, a candy store, an ice cream shop, an Airstream food trailer, and nightly boot scootin' summer dances(my wife LOVES two-steppin'). 

So pack your swim trunks, inner tubes, and boots, and Garner will take care of the rest...

We enjoyed the empty but quiet park last winter. It was cold but the long walks warm us up. There was a little leaf colors. We plan to go back this summer.

The park has sone beautiful hiking along the Frio river. We stayed in the sites with full hookup which seam to be newer with new restrooms not open at the time so we had a short walk to the visitor center bathroom which was minimal and not as clean as I would like. The sites with just water and electric were much shadier and beautiful. They also have tent camping, some with shelters. I believe cabins are also available. Checkin process was a little slow even though we had reservations, I suggest to them they should have a separate fast lane for those with reservations. The camp store and gift shop were very nice and well stocked with essentials. Fire wood was about $6 for a large bundle. Garner grill was not open.

Very popular park for overnight camping and day trips. Full hookups, multiple camping areas, river and trail access, playgrounds for the kids and a on site store. Great place to hike, swim, tube and/or kayak. These sites fill up fast especially during the summer months so be sure to reserve in advance.

When we stayed we only stayed the day in the park at a drive in site. This was due to the weather was still a bit cold to break out the tent for an overnight. We did day camp with our tent and jet boil right by the water. I can see this place would be quite busy during the hot summer days we the frio right through the park. They did have options for cabins which we looked at which were very nice! This would be a great spot for summer but make sure to book early.

Went camping here for the first time. Me and my family really enjoyed ourselves and would love to return or even venture out camping somewhere else soon.

Garner state park has been one of my most favorite campgrounds in south texas. From the months of July through August..Garner hosts multiple events and a nightly dance at the dance hall. .Most campgrounds here give you access to the frio river. During the summer months, the campsites get reserved up fairly quickly so maybe a week in advance will do. Great state park with many things to do!

Garner is a perfect place to take the family and stay for weeks. In the summer they have tons of activists, a dance hall, restaurants, and a shopping center. The camping isn’t very rough due to all the amenities but it is a happy medium with lots to do.

My husband and I and our two dogs camped here over thanksgiving and it was a blast. the campsites are all far enough apart to have privacy. Hiking trailheads are located close to the campgrounds. Amazing scenery in the fall!

Garner will forever hold a special place in my heart. I grew up going camping there with family and still go with friends to this day. The campsites are amazing and the Frio River is always refreshing. Getting a spot is tricky, since most of the sites are booked months in advance. But the cool thing is that most of the people that are there are large families that have been camping there for generations.

100% family oriented, and 100% great times!