Palmetto State Park Campground

We were pleasantly surprised at the size of the RV spots in this state park. So much room! 

Pros:

- Large sites.
- Lots of easy trails.
- Plenty of recreational opportunities.

Cons:

- If you miss the turn off to the 2nd loop of campsites, there is no place to turn around for miles.
- The entrance road to campsite loop is really only 1.5 lanes wide, except at the turnoff. There is no shoulder.

Amazing state park

I really enjoyed this park. My dog and I camped and hiked here in February. The plant life was great. We had a nice campsite, not another soul around. We hiked about 10 miles. I would definitely  recommend  this for individuals and families.

Palmetto

Some claim there's a Bigfoot or skunk ape in the woods but maybe it's the cows mooing? Who knows. Either way, I'm still going back to look some more. This place has an eerie quality to it in the swamps. Easy to hike all the trails in a couple hours. Small lake for swimming. You can kayak the river using your own shuttle. Very nice group campsite!

Bigfoot

we really enjoyed our time here. the camp site managers were very friendly and helpful. we took the time to walk all the trails around the area. they allow dogs as well as long as they are on a leash. nice bathrooms are located close to camp sites. would definitely recommend this place. 

great camp site 

Palmetto is a great state park. Easy access to the river and right in between San Antonio and Houston. Close enough to pop out of town for a few days.

A great weekend getaway

Trees! Beautiful park with a lot of trees and a tropical feel too. Will be going back! Good hiking trails and very attentive camp host. 

Palmetto Paradise 

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](https://www.gregorypacks.com).

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.

Ranger Review: Gregory Backpack at Palmetto SP (River + Lake + Palmettos) 

Palmetto is a neat micro climate in the middle of central Texas. There are palmetto plants everywhere. The camp sites are slightly covered and there are a few trails that trek through the swamp like terrain.

Swap micro climate 

This is probably my favorite park so far. I've been living / traveling in my RV for over a year and a half, and I've stayed at Palmetto several times. The short trails around the area are wonderful to walk, and the beautiful palmettos and vegetation, swamp-like areas and sounds make you feel like you're in Jurassic Park. This is a wonderful place for anyone. Kids will be intrigued by the "Ottine Swamp Thing" legend - a bigfoot-like creature said to be living in the area. It's a . mysterious, magical and interesting place to be!

Mysterious, beautiful and interesting! 

Great place to hike. Beautiful trails with lots of wildlife. Going to try camping there next. 

Day hike

Two night stay with the family at this hidden gem. Small State Park with good amenities and unusual and rare vegetation. Good hiking trails. Kids loved fishing, biking and swimming in the small lake. 

Great under rated, less known park with good camping

Been going here for a few years never really packed . Good for kayaking. There’s a lake and flowing river. Believe San Marcos river. One cabin available for rent 

Nice quiet park and lake

We enjoyed the palmetto palms and boggy area.  We couldn’t believe we were in Texas.  There is a nice swimming area for children and a few good fishing spots.  The best thing was that we had a Bucees about 2 miles away.  We bought great BBQ sandwiches and the best fudge available here in Texas.  

Great Park 

We camped here for 3 nights with reservations made 151 days prior to arriving. 19 RV sites in the RV camping loop with sites"inside" the loop fairly close to one another. Outside loop sites had nice distance between sites. No vegetation between sites to shield from neighbors. Park headquarters check-in is in the village of Ottine. There are no security gates. Quiet campground- no road noise. A distant train whistle from time to time. Coyotes howled every night. The only wildlife we saw were squirrels. Narrow roadway from FM 2091 to RV campground. Water had a sulfur smell. The toilet/shower facility was VERY clean. This facility is not only utilized by the 19 campsites but also day users of the trails and CCC pavilion. So a lot of traffic thru this facility, especially on weekends. This speaks volumes of the camp hosts who we saw cleaning frequently. Shady campsites are narrow, fairly level asphalt pads with trees near the edges causing creative parking for those with slide-outs. We were unable to deploy our awning due to the number of close trees. Ice and firewood for sale at the camp host site. Eight different trails available within this park. Longest 1.25 miles. Very good condition. Crushed granite and boardwalks. Beautiful CCC constructed pavilion with a terrific view of the San Marcos River from the back patio. Never saw a park ranger drive through the RV campground during our stay.

Tight RV loop w/smelly drinking water

3 friends got away for the day. Small hike down to the river with a cooler of beer. Only a few other throughout the morning but started to get packed after 1pm. Water was clear and cool. Will definitely be back.

June Sunday Getaway

This is a great park for families. There is all kinds of activities like biking, hiking, swimming, fishing, a playground, kayak/paddle board rentals, etc. The campground is small for RVs, only about 19 sites and there’s a few with full sewer hookups, the rest with water/electric. The sites on the outer loop are spaced out a bit more then the sites on the inner loop. We had some noisy neighbors with loud music but otherwise I would guess it’s a pretty tame park.. highly recommend and we’ll be back!

Family fun state park

Nice trees and shade. Good spacing. Most sites are level. Electric and water only. No sewage hookup, except for site #2.  Sprint signal is weak but useable. Restroom/showers are clean. Friendly staff. 

Very pleasant

We decided to spontaneously go camping just outside of Austin, TX. We needed a spot that was far enough outside city limits so we can lessen the light pollution. It was a great campsite and the set up for taking pictures of the Milky Way was awesome! Very quiet and offered some short and beautiful hiking trails!

Milky Way in Texas

The park is by small, but the sites are big. 

Large campsites

This is a small campground with only 19 sites, which keeps it quiet. Sites are mostly a good size and while there's no visual buffer from your neighbors, there is a decent amount of space between sites. Lots of trees around for shade, but they do interfere with enjoying the dark night sky. (You can't have everything! LOL) All sites are paved but some have odd slopes to them.

Water and 20/30/50 amp electric on each site is nice. They also have a central dump station. Firewood available from camp host, which is good because the HQ is quite a ways down the road. All sites have forwoits and standing grills.

Bathrooms seemed well-maintained and clean, showers worked well and had hot water. 

Trails throughout the park are mostly short and easy but make for a nice morning walk since several come right past the campground for easy access.

Woke up to lots of birds chirping and a nice peaceful sunrise. There is some road noise but it's distant enough not to be bothersome.

T-Mobile coverage was OK, Verizon was a bit better. May need an antenna or booster to get a lot of work done. 

Quiet campground to hear all the birds

I felt like I was on safari when we pulled into the park. Palmetto plants are everywhere! The entrance is like jurassic Park, and when you get to your site, it's classic "state park" camping - wilderness and plenty to explore. Book site 9, if you can get it. Best site in the park if you want a quiet site with a private forest on your right side. Only down side is the burn ban might prevent you from using the fire ring or smoker.

It's a jungle!

Clean restrooms, clean shower’s, no need for soap because the pressure from the shower head will blast the dirt and stink off your body!! Lots of shade, plenty of hiking trails.

Peaceful 

This park is a great place to visit.  Really nice trails.  Great staff.  Spots are really nice, but mostly very short.
Our 28' trailer took up most of the space.  But, I was able to fit my truck sideways at the end of the driveway.

Great little park (no sewer)

I like off the beaten path places, this sure is one of them! The tent sites are very nice, close to the river &amp; oxbow lake (kayaks for rent!). Very peaceful.

Excellent Stay!

Texas State Park with 37 sites.  Nestled in a wooden river area with lush vegetation.  Several hiking trails that are easy on the joints.  