Listen to Onion Creek flowing over limestone ledges and splashing into pools. Follow trails winding through the Hill Country woods. Explore the remains of an early Texas homestead and a very old rock shelter. All of this lies within Austin’s city limits at McKinney Falls State Park - what are you waiting for?

Think of the park as Austin’s backyard; we’re just 13 miles from the state capitol. Here you can camp, hike, mountain or road bike, geocache, go bouldering, and picnic. You can also fish and swim in Onion Creek.

Onion Creek can flood after rainfall. Beware of the creek’s flow; contact the park for current creek conditions. Read through our swimming safety tips before you visit.

Stay at one of 81 campsites (all with water and electric hookups). Or rent one of our six newly remodeled cabins. We also have a primitive youth camping area, for use by nonprofit-sponsored youth groups

McKinney Falls State Park Campground

With summer rapidly approaching for Texas I wanted to cruise down to Austin before the heat waves made it a bit unbearable. In doing so I elected to check out McKinney Falls Park. I will say that going into my stay I had only seen a couple of videos about the park which were less than descriptive as to what to expect from the park. Typically I would pine over reviews in advance but this time I decided to instead let the park surprise me and report the full initial reaction.

I did not book in advance, something I would not advise you to do unless it is winter season at the park. When I arrived there were only 2 campsites left on a Thursday just after noon. Needless to say this park fills quickly when the weather is pleasant. These two sites were literally only available for a single night as the campground was fully booked for the weekend.

I can see why quickly from pulling into the park why it is so popular, the grounds are well maintained, the wildflowers are in bloom making for a wonderful retreat for some amazing hiking and a scenic area for family photos and being only 15 minutes from downtown Austin easily makes this the best retreat away from the city for those wanting a quick weekend get away.

When selecting a campsite I often times like to find an area near the restroom without being directly across from them, having access to this amenity can be useful however proximity to avoid cross traffic is key when using a large campground. This location has restrooms scattered through the various loops with a centralized shower house. Our site was site 69, it backed up to one of the restrooms on our loop and actually had a small private path to the facility which made it unique from other sites and very convenient.

While the spring has brought in recent rains, the site was a it more overgrown than I would have liked considering this area is noted for a variety of snakes, however the tent pad and picnic area itself was cleared so with hesitation we went ahead and set up our overnight home.

The tent pad was a right pebble base, this made sleeping in just a sleeping bag impossible. We had to pad the base with several layers due to the sharp texture of the rocks below. I noticed later when packing the tent we also ended with a small tear at the lip of the tent because of these rocks. I would advise on this surface potentially laying a tarp barrier before placing your tent fo this reason.

Sites were standardly equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. Our site had both water and electricity, which actually were quite handy considering we were having some charging issues with my in car charger. This particular site was located directly beside the camp host.

We used the site as a basecamp for exploring the city in the evening and the following morning before checking out of the park we took a drive to the showers and explored the park fully. The showers had pretty hard water and lower pressure than some but definitely got the job done for bringing us back to life from the muggy day, nearly 75% humidity.

We visited both the upper and lower falls areas as well as the wildflower field. I can easily see after visiting these just why the park stays so busy! The beauty is astounding, but more so the water offers a retreat for those looking to take a dip in the cool flowing pools. While both were down from normal account, we still saw many people diving in and enjoying the day. Others fished along the banks, hiked the many trails surrounding the waters and enjoyed picnics in the designated areas.

My friend wade into the water to see what it felt like and it was still a bit cool for her liking at this time of April, but give it a couple months and that cool temp would be more than welcomed!

All in All despite the few small areas for improvement I couldn't see this park being anything less than a 5! The quality of experience when we visited with not impaired by the numerous guests and though it could change later in the season, for early April when the wildflowers bloomed wild, the waters flowed cool and the camping was not in intolerable heat it was a win!

Tips:

* Book in advance any time other than Winter.

* Bring sunscreen there is little shade near the falls so you will want to protect yourself. In the brief time I was out there I got a little burned on my neck and shoulders.

* Bring drinks, we stopped in the Check In Station and there were only a handful of drinks and supplies. I would suggest bringing a water filter or bringing a cooler of drinks for your visit.

* Beware of snakes and spiders. On our stay we noticed an influx of spiders, while we personally did not see a snake some others were saying they had seen them basking near the banks and on some of the trails. Always be aware!!

* Remember do not pull vehicles into the grass, keep all cars in designated drive areas. Each campsite has a parking area for you to use, if you need additional parking there is more parking near restrooms.

Retreat Just 15 Minutes From Downtown Austin

Easy walk from campsites to Falls. Across the falls are some great hike and bike trails. Get to the park early, as it gets crowded quickly.

Hike, bike, and camp

I have camped at McKinny Falls a number of times.  With it's proximity to Austin you would think you could feel the city down your neck, but aside from a glow at night, you feel that you are a world away.

Both the Upper and Lower Falls are great to look at and swim in.  Just be careful of the current.

There are a few hiking trails.  One of them goes around most of the park and is paved.  One is on the other side of the river and is more traditional loop.

Along the river, they have lots of spots for day use.  Neat the Lower Falls is a place to go bouldering, which you don't find in most State Parks.

The camp ground is well maintained with each site having it's own fire ring, water spigot, and are all within walking distance to the bathrooms.

A great park hidden next to a city

Overall, I was underwhelmed by the park, but since it's only a short ride from downtown Austin, this is a perfect spot to go chill or hike around for a few hours. Most of the trails we were on ran beside the river, in one form or another. Everything was mostly well maintained, sans a few areas. There quite a few people out when we went, as well as a few dogs in the park and in the water. So, if you're looking for peace and quite, this probably isn't the park for you.

Not Bad for a Quick Getaway

**Camp Review**:

I have visited McKinny Falls State Park a few times and have always enjoyed my trips there. The camp sites all have water, fire rings, tables, tent pads, and aren't too close to each other. The bathrooms are all within a short walk of the campsites. Not all of them have showers.

There are several hiking trails you can take where you can check out the wonderful nature.

If you would like to swim, you can do so at the Upper Falls or the Lower falls. Both have a place to swim and a place to jump off rocks. The intensity of the waterfalls is dependent on the current at the time.

There are also day use areas for people to use that have a table and bbq pit. There are some near the Lower Falls that are close to a playground and some near the Upper Falls along the river.

McKinny Falls also has a bouldering area where people can test their skills. One of the few parks I know of that have that available.

**Gear Review**:

As a Ranger on The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time and on this camping trip, I took two pieces of new gear from CRKT.

Firstly, the **PAZODA™ 2** ([https://www.crkt.com/pazoda-2.html](https://www.crkt.com/pazoda-2.html)). For a $20 knife, it was smaller than I had first expected, but with the quality of it, I am no longer surprised. It is a straight blade with a Thumb Jimping on it, which helps to cut. I used it for opening oranges or cutting veggies for dinner. When I was not using it, it fit very well onto my belt and I often forgot it was there.

It is solidly made, light, sharp, and has space to engrave on it, which makes it a perfect knife for a special occasion.

Secondly, I bought the **WOODS CHOGAN™ T-HAWK** ([https://www.crkt.com/shop/outdoor-knives/woods-chogan-t-hawk.html](https://www.crkt.com/shop/outdoor-knives/woods-chogan-t-hawk.html)) as well as the sheath for it ([https://www.crkt.com/shop/accessories/chogan-woods-t-hawk-leather-sheath.html](https://www.crkt.com/shop/accessories/chogan-woods-t-hawk-leather-sheath.html)).

There were different styles of T-Hawks I could get, but I chose the Chogan because it had a hammer on the other side. I often go camping in places with hard ground, and this helped hammer in the stakes of my tent and shelter greatly.

The axe side also worked rather well. Out of the box, it was rather sharp already. I had no trouble getting a strong bite on my wood. During the weekend of me using it, I saw no wear and tear on the axe head despite me chopping through a cord of wood.

The website says it makes a good thrower, but I did not attempt that.

The sheath worked well for it with no issues at all. It is designed so I can hammer with the sheath on as well, which is handy.

You can also buy replacement handles ([https://www.crkt.com/woods-t-hawk-replacement-tennessee-hickory-wood-handle.html](https://www.crkt.com/woods-t-hawk-replacement-tennessee-hickory-wood-handle.html)) online.

Ranger Review: CRKT Woods Chogan T-Hawk and Pazoda 2 at McKinny Falls State Park, TX

McKinney Falls is the perfect getaway into nature right outside Austin. There are plenty of campsites that are a good distance from the water with everthing you'd expect. Some are pretty crampt so I would make sure to plan ahead and choose which site you want. The water is beautiful and the surrounding area is awesome. Definitely can be a lot of people though on the weekends and on good weather days.

Onion Creek

There's an extinct volcano nearby called Pilot Knob. That accounts for the flat rock near the main falls. They are working on restoring the visitor center from after the floods. Bluebonnets are amazing here in Spring. Please be careful swimming. If you can't swim, please refrain or wear a life jacket. There have been several drownings here. The ruins of the homestead are definitely worth checking out if the creek is passable.

Waterfalls in volcanic rock

McKinney Falls State Park is located a short distance about 10 miles or 15 minutes from the city center of Austin, Texas.

For this reason, the park receives quite a bit of people traffic during weekdays and especially on the weekends. If you are just visiting for the day, it is easy to gain access. However, if you are planning to camp overnight, it is wise to book at least a month or two in advance. Your reservation holds a campsite for you, but does not guarantee a specific location. When you arrive you can request or you will be assigned a specific campsite.

All of the campsites are very similar and contain the same basic amenities like water, electricity, picnic table, fire ring and a pad site to place your tent. There are typically restrooms with toilets and sinks spread throughout the park. Bring comfortable walking shoes because the campsites are a bit of a walk to get to the falls/swimming holes. You may also drive.

The main attraction of the park are the hiking/biking trails and the two water falls/swimming holes. There is an upper falls with a dramatic overhang which is perfect for cliff jumping or just chilling underneath. Depending on the supply of water, swimming may or may not be allowed due to the bacteria count. Check in advance or ask at the information desk before entering the park if you are planning to swim.

If the swimming holes are not open, there are a number of nice hiking/biking trails to explore within the park.

The only downside to this park is that it does get a fairly large number of visitors throughout the year. Luckily the majority of the people are friendly and just there to have a fun chill time. And based on the flow of water, the swimming hole may or may not be open. So call and book in advance.

McKinney Falls + Swimming Holes + Lots of Friendly People

McKinney state falls is an amazing state park right next to Austin. There are two awesome water falls that are excellent places to stop and cool off in the summer. The restrooms and showers near the campgrounds are the cleaniest I have ever been to hands down. We are here about once a month, and love it every time.

Hidden gem south of Austin

We spent a couple of nights at this park. We loved the water falls and the sites are far apart with trees and shrubs surrounding them.

Large and Private campsites

If you're not able to drive far, McKinney Falls is a nice quiet getaway. It's a typical state park where you're pretty close to your neighbor, but there are a few good spots that give you space. The Airport is nearby so you'l get some of the air traffic noise, but other than that it's a nice quiet break away from Austin.

Close to Austin

Very young crowd of campers, small camp sites, but if you are wanting to stay in the water all weekend it is a great swim hole

Swimming with the fishes

If you live in Austin or are visiting, why not take a little side camping trip to McKinney Falls. There's camping, water, and hiking trails. We missed out on the trail we planned on due to some December flooding, but the water spilling over the rocks was picturesque. It felt good to sleep under the stars, and combined with time spent in Austin it made for a wonderful vacation.

Died and went to Austin ... but first: camping

Great location to Austin and Circuit of the Americas. The sites were clean and offered some privacy.

Woodsy but Close to the City

We came here on a particularly warm winter weekend. What was left of the foliage was tattered and brown, as you'd expect in the dead of winter. But the air was warm and the river was beautiful. We hiked all up and down and check out the sweet little waterfalls and spouts pouring through holes in the rocks. The campsite was just fine- not my favorite because it had a pretty small designated pad where any/all tents had to be, so if you're in a group with multiple tents, you'll be _very close_ neighbors. Sites would probably be really pretty when the trees have their leaves, looked a bit sad this time of year, but offered an awesome launchpad from which to check out the rest of the park- so we'll take it :)

The river was beautiful, gotta come back in the summer!

Located On Onion Creek, 15 minutes from downtown Austin, Park is a 70 year old park that was at one time McKinney Ranch. Two waterfalls , one is the upper Falls and the other lower falls, with trails throughout. The old homestead trail has the original stone ranch house. Numerous rock walls . Fishing , camping, swimming and hiking. There are 86 campsites , 5 cabins, large meeting/dinning hall, and outdoor theater. A variety of wildlife also.

Clean, well kept, friendly staff, close to Austin, trees & wildlife

**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/](https://romoutdoors.com/product/rom-pack/)

Ranger Review: RoM Outdoors Backpack at McKinney Falls State Park

Mckinney is my favorite campground I have been to so far. It's cheap and has the most beautiful campsites. Private and spread out while feeling safe. Gates were easy to operate after hours and facilities were kept clean. Campers and staff are respectful. The falls are a must see with the upper and lower falls being very different from each other.

Peaceful and private in a beautiful setting

We picked this campground so that we could visit with a cousin who lives in Austin. Our stay was on a Thursday night in early April and although most sites were occupied, it was a quiet campground with the sites spaced a good distance apart. Some sites were afforded more privacy with trees. Our site (78 in the Big Cedar Loop) had a slight downgrade but it leveled out at the end and our 17’ van fit perfectly. Bathrooms were reasonably clean. Nice trails to see two waterfalls. Enjoyed our one night stay here at this time of the year (quiet with lots of wildflowers) but I imagine it would be a very different place on a hot summer weekend, a time I would not want to be there!

Nice campground close to the city

Easy to access and fun for the whole family. The trails are shorter and easy to hike on, the falls are really scenic, and the campsites are well maintained. Overall, it's a classic state park feel, but is located just minutes outside of Austin.

Great gem outside Austin

Beautiful waterfalls and great location close to everything in Austin!

Great location 

This is a lovely little campground and park right near Austin. Biking, swimming, hiking ... lots to do close by!

Great campground right near Austin

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. 

Great Local State Park

When it hasn’t been raining in Austin, the best part of this park, it’s name sake, isn’t on display. But still a freaking amazing place to camp in nature, but still be in city limits! Its crazy, but you can hike during the day and catch a movie at night (what a friend and I personally did). Nice trails. Definitely a place you have to try. 

Awesome when the falls have water

The trails, picnic areas, swimming, and other attractions are amazing. The upper falls are easy to get to and quite refreshing. My two biggest problems come from not very many access points to the trails from the camping areas and the tent pad being made of crushed granite.

I’d highly suggest finding a camping site with a flat grassy area and using that instead. 

Overall very good  

I put three stars because I haven't had the chance to camp here yet. I will come back with an updated review. I have gone on day hikes here and it's super cool. There are some historical sites and the water is beautiful. You can swim under the falls and in the creek/river.

Beautiful water

This is a state park.  It is pretty big and has good campsites.   Most of the campsites have shade and all have a picnic table and fire pit.   My husband likes to fish and he enjoys the fishing spots.  The park has a great place to go swimming.  We also like it because it’s close to Austin.

Great shady campground.  

Make sure the water level is up, during my second visit to this park the water was low and not moving. The water was nasty in some spots due to stagnant water. However, beautiful when the water level is normal or up and Plenty of good hiking trails as well.

Good Experience

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!!

Pretty park - popular too!

McKinney Falls is close to where I live. Have been here many times for camping as well as just a day trip. Always enjoy this park.

Close, clean, fun

Beautiful spot for hiking and overnight camping. Set by the river there are bathrooms as well as parking spots available. Very nice get away from the city scene

Beautiful spot right by the river

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. 

Great State Park with Awesome Location 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.  



Beautiful park close to Austin

The hiking trails with history is the best. Enjoy a nice cool down with a swim.  

Words Cant Describe

This park is just outside of Austin.  I've lived here my whole life and forget what a little gem this park is. We were in RV spot 11.  Nice back in pie shaped spot in a cul-de-sac. No shade over RV so the morning sun warmed it up pretty quick. The rest of the site had some nice shade to set up chairs near the campsite and some good hammock trees.

Urban Sanctuary

Great location for a little getaway with the family. Awesome scenery and excellent staff. Had a problem with electrical and was fixed by park staff within the hour. 

Great family friendly fun

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 &amp; 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!



Excellent State Park close to Austin

We wanted to try out this State Park even though it is really close to the airport. The people at the officers friendly but very strict about check in time. We had a pool thru that was nice and level, with plenty of room. The bathrooms were very clean, and the trails were nice. There is lots of parking the falls and it is an easy hike to get close and check them out. There was some noise fro plains flying over but other wise it was fairly quiet.

Close to Austin Texas

It is a great park that has everything a place to swim, great hikes, historic markers, trails for bikes. We really enjoyed our stay 

Great all in one park

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&amp;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! 

Perfect for a Shakedown Cruise!

This is a beautiful and huge camp ground with lots of nature to admire. The camp sites are spacious and feel very private, yet you don't feel alone with other campers nearby you. We had a stunning full hook up camp site with a climbable tree and took a hike to the waterfalls! There's lots of hiking trails that go really far, if you have the time. Definitely recommend!

Beautiful, peaceful, close to Austin

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.  

Heaven on earth 

Stayed for a week in December. Traveling with a 40' Class A RV. 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. Lots of fun hiking/running/biking options around the park. 
Easy access to Austin and plenty of local options (groceries, pharmacy, restaurants, etc) just a few minutes from the park. We loved it! 

Great park and location to Austin! 

We stayed only two nights while exploring Austin and it was great! Took our dogs on one of the trails and the campsites were fairly dispersed. Very cheap too I believe $20 a night. 

Great location!

Type of Park: State Park 

Check In: 2 pm Check Out: 12 pm

🚻 Restrooms

🚿 Showers

💩 Dump Station

🔎 Munzees and Geocaches in the Park

🚶🏻‍♀️ Trails for walking and biking🚲

🌊 Onion Creek was very low at this time

🏚 Cabins

🚧 Gates are closed and locked from 10 pm(code given at check in)

👩🏻‍💼 Staff was friendly

  

**📋 Site#80, Big Cedar Camping Area**

🔙 Back In

🅿 Site Pad: asphalt, long enough for trailer and tow vehicle

💧 Water- high enough for filter to hang down

⚡ Max amp: 30

🔥 Fire Ring w/Grate(but a burn ban was on) 

Picnic Table: metal with wood tops, concrete base 

Wooded on the back end of the site. You can see the neighbors on either side through the trees.

🌳 Good shade on most of the site

  

**👎🏻 Cons:** 

No sewer(but most State Park sites don’t have it) 

  

Regular cost per night$20+$6 daily fee+$10 for extra vehicle 

Discounts: Texas State Parks Pass. Daily fees waived, half off second night 

My Total Cost💲52 

  

**In the Area:** 

The campground is in south Austin, but it doesn’t feel like it’s in an urban area. City close with the feel of being out in nature. LOTS to do very close. Dining, dancing, bars, water sports, bats, shopping, State Capitol and more.

  

More info at https://www.denisevajdak.com/2022/06/mckinney-falls-and-dancing.html

Out in Nature, But City Close

We stayed at site 49 in the Grapevine loop. It was so so quiet, we loved that. Not too much traffic of people going in and out. There were cardinals everywhere which made for a good time of bird watching. This site was perfect for backing in, you can pull forward and back in almost completely straight. Very close to the bathrooms and trash. The site had relatively good Verizon cell service with 2-3 bars around 30-40mbps. The picnic table was able to catch three bars of 5GUW. The pad was asphalt with a slight 1-2 degree slope to the right. We loved how close we were to the onion creek loop, it was really fun on a bike. The Upper and Lower falls weren’t too far away if you walk, or they have plenty of parking. Great spots to watch the sunset! If you’re checking out make sure to get to the dump station early as it gets backed up since there is only one for the whole park. 

Awesome trails, wonderful waterfalls, and lots of birds!

**Why we booked:** We wanted to check out Austin and prefer park campgrounds to RV resorts in general. Having hookups meant we could take our time and stay awhile, especially at the price.

  

**Campground:** A well-maintained campground with a mix of nomads, retirees, and families. Just about what you'd expect from a solid state park campground.   

  

**Quirks:** Late check-in can be a bit tricky. Solar might not always be easy. I've heard the park gets mobbed by day-use in the summer.  

  

**Site:** 20 in the Big Oak loop was just right for us. Lots of Carolina Wrens! Easy in and out with our 27' travel trailer and F250.  

  

**Nearby:** Hiking trails, the Lower Falls, and the Onion River are all nearby. It's not super feasible to bike, as you're out a ways from most amenities, but car access to pretty much anything you need.  

  

**Value:** Unbeatable.

Perfect Austin basecamp

All the park rangers were super friendly and helpful. Well maintained campsites clearly marked with restroom and hot showers close by. 