Best Cabin Camping in Texas

It being August in Texas, we rented a limited use cabin with air conditioning. It also has a mini frig and a microwave inside. It has a queen size bed for which campers need to bring their own pillows and bed linens. The frig was super cold, and the AC worked well. There was a wood table with four chairs. The table was really sticky, so I recommend bringing something you can use as a table cloth. There are only six of these cabins, and they have a four bathroom building at the end of the cul de sac. No tents or pets are allowed at the cabin sites. Each has fire pit and water outside cabin

The park has a very small lake with canoe, kayak, paddle board, row boat, and paddle boat rentals. Life vests are provided with rental. It was fun! There is a good sized swimming area too. There are a number of trails of varying difficulty, some for hiking only, some for home and bike. Ranger programs offered.

Tin Valley Retro Rentals is a diamond in the rough! Owner Ronda has transformed Airstreams, buses, retro RV’s, and even a VW Beetle (the Cuddlebug) and Land Yacht into amazing places to stay. At Tin Valley you’ll share your stay with a donkey, some pigs, chickens, dogs and cats. It’s a pet friendly atmosphere. Along with the retro rentals and tent sites there’s amazing RV parking and new to Tin Valley, Van Lifer parking spaces. This is not your standard RV park, the RV parking spaces are spread out not packed in tightly. The sites are spread out so you’re not looking directly into your neighbor’s window but instead at the immaculate unobstructed view of the surrounding mountains. Two of the tent sites have their own artistic touch complete with A-Frame style lodging so you can leave the tent home if you’d like. The Land Yacht site is the only clothing optional site here as well, where you can feel free to feel free. Each site has it’s own fire pit and charcoal grill. There’s an outdoor shower here, or nearby showers, laundry, pool and cafe at the neighboring Terlingua Ranch. Artist Jules Muck has put her own touch on Tin Valley transforming what would normally be just a renovated RV into a work of art. Stars will shine brighter here than you’ve ever seen before without the city light pollution nearby and it’s an amazing sight. You can hike up the two mountains closest or take a walk around Tin Valley. Take time to head to Big Bend national or state parks in the Terlingua area. The center of Terlingua also has a ghost town complete with walking tour. In that area you’ll find bars and restaurants, Cottonwood, the nearest grocery store, or the closest place to fill up on gas. A visit to Terlingua and Tin Valley Retro Rentals won’t disappoint. You won’t’ find another place this original, or with this much space to rent to call your own as an RV’er, camper, or retro renter. Check out tinvalleyretrorentals.com or Tin Valley Retro Rentals on Facebook.

Smaller state park with lots of shade in the Texas heat. The areas has plenty of place to picnic and walk around. A few trails with a small pond that connects a few together. There is also a pool area this must be booked along with your site reservations. There are also place to tent camp, cabins and yurts with electricity to rent. The sites vary from full hookups to water and electricity. Each site is private and not to close each with plenty of privacy. There is also a lake that’s outside of campsite area that can be busted up the road.

Two things I love:

1. Shade and privacy
2. Picnic table and fire pit at full site hook up.

One thing I didn’t like:

1. Road is currently damaged for easier exit so their is a detour.

Reserved 68 nights prior to arriving. Campground had 78% occupancy during our 3 night stay. 

PROS Able to clearly hear the ocean roar from all campground 59 FHU sites 

Campsite concrete pad level and in good condition 

Park roadways good condition with no speed bumps and easy to maneuver 

Lantern pole at some sites 

Some sites have two sewer connections 

Picnic table located on oversized concrete pad 

Combo lock on toilet/shower entrance doors 

Toilet/shower facility very nice

Laundromat on site with 3 washers and 3 dryers.$4.25 

Wood campfire allowed in off-ground fire pit with screen cover you provide and placed away from any grass 

Fairly good dark sky viewing as campground street lights are limited 

2 large wooden Colorado River fishing piers which are lighted from dusk to dawn 

Putt-putt golf$10 

Bagged ice machine across road from Park 

2 bars VERIZON signal 

CONS 

Toilet/shower door combination changed during our stay and was not notified and had no access until we tracked down park personnel 

Dog poop in the mens handicap stall Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday so obviously no one monitoring toilet facility

$6 reservation fee for self made on-line reservation 

10 campsites were reutilized to build elevated beach cabanas 

Park quiet hours not enforced 

No park officials or host cruising patrolling campground

No entrance gate locked overnight. Lots of fishermen cruising through campground

No shade what so ever. Some sites had a pergola over their concrete picnic table; Our site had no table covering. Brisk ocean"breezes", made it impossible to deploy our trailer awning

No privacy from any other campsite

Sites fairly close to each other

No campsite campfire pits

No on-site firewood sales

Concrete picnic table unmovable No ocean"view" from any of the campsites

No camp store in Park. Closest H‑E‑B, Walmart and Tractor Supply in Bay City. No grocery stores in Matagorda but there is a Dollar General store. Park WIFI poor; could only connect at toilet/shower facility

No playground, basketball or tennis courts

No pool or splash pad

Tin Valley is a beautiful and serene desert retreat situated in a valley, surrounded by small mountain ranges such as the Western Corrazones and Sombrero Peak. The night skies are bright and breathtaking when the weather is clear; we were lucky enough to see the Milky Way and the Leonid meteor shower during our stay. There are several sites at Tin Valley - some A frame platforms, some stationary trailers, some cars and buses that have been converted to camping trailers. There are also some stationary RVs available to rent that have running water, electricity, and a bath house. These latter RV rentals are more expensive than the more primitive sites. We booked our stay through Airbnb.

Our camper was an old trailer that had been gutted/renovated and was outfitted with sleeping bags, extra blankets, two cots, and a propane heater (no gas provided). It was a good windbreak on the colder, chillier nights. There were some solar-powered outlets in the trailer (for charging a phone), but we didn't use them since our phones would charge in the car. I don't think they would power anything like a hair dryer, etc. The rest of the site included a trash can, a padded bench, two chairs, a picnic table, a charcoal grill, and a fire ring (wood available for purchase - I think it was $5 per bundle). There is no water at the site, but there is a sink and outdoor shower a short walk away. There is no hot water available, but it is potable. The rental included the free use of the (hot) showers at nearby (5 minute drive) Terlingua Ranch Lodge, where there is also a restaurant. There is also a portapotty a short walk away from the trailer, which was kept very clean and well-stocked with toilet paper. There is no cell service or wifi at the campsite, but free wifi is available if you walk down toward the stationary RVs.

Getting to the site in the dark can be a little intimidating - it's West Texas, so everything is pretty spread out. The owner of the site was excellent when communicating how to find it. Google Maps will not take you to the correct place - you must print out directions before you go (cell service is very spotty out there) and watch your car's odometer. Drive slowly and carefully - lots of wild animals and winding, unpaved roads. You can safely make it to the camp site with any kind of car, though a vehicle with high clearance and/or 4-wheel drive wouldn't hurt.

The site is about a 20-25 minute drive from Terlingua/Study Butte, and about a 30-35 minute drive to the entrance of Big Bend National Park. If you plan to stay here while visiting Big Bend, remember to factor drive time to the park and then within the park - it's a big place. The drives are beautiful, though, so it's not a chore.

Please be aware:

1. If you bring your own car, please check all systems before you take it out there. Our car's battery died halfway through the trip and the owner of the only auto parts store in Terlingua was out of town, so the store was closed. We had to get a jump in the park and then drive two hours north to Alpine to get a new battery.

2. West Texas is a desert - Big Bend NP only allows 5 gallons of water per person per day at potable spigots. Please be sparing and conserve where you can. That said, it is Texas, which means it can get very hot. Bring water with you everywhere.

3. West Texas is home to Mexican black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, javelinas (wild hogs), every variety of venomous snake that lives in the United States, and more. It may not look like a typical "predator country," but it can be. Store food in hard-shell enclosed spaces, like your trailer or car. Bear boxes are not available at sites, but they are available in the national park. Watch carefully for snakes on dry ground at the site (rattlesnakes, copperheads, coral snakes) and in water (cottonmouths, water moccasins).

Camping here was decent. We absolutely love Big Bend. We were able to find free camping in the park but this place was worth the money.

Theres picnic tables, fire rings, bathrooms, running water, maybe 40 or 50 sites. We were able to find some hot springs in the Rio Grande river, in the park which was fantastic. We also walked in to mexico and spent the day over there. Its hot during the day and cold at night. Amazing hiking, biking, swimming, and site seeing. Big Bend NP is least visited NP and most re-visited. That says a lot about the place.

Also terlingua texas and the ghost town are a hoot. All kinds of cool off grid homes, artists, and musicians. These places are a drive from the campground and outside the NP.

Cheers!

Type of Park: Private- book with them through Campspot. 

Check In: 2 pm for RV sites, 4 pm for cabins Check Out: 12 pm

• 🚻 Restrooms
• 🚿 Showers
• 📶 Wifi(did not use)
• 🧺 Laundry facility
• 🐕 Off-leash dog park
• 🛒 Store has RV supplies, necessities, few groceries, souvenirs, ice
• 🚶🏻‍♀️ Trails
• 🌊 Water access- Frio was very low but still had some water from the springs
• 🏚 Cabins
• 🦌 Wildlife: Scarlet Tanager, bats, woodpeckers
• 📆 Nightly activities- mostly geared towards kids Volleyball, tetherball, gaga ball, horseshoes, playground
• 📡 AT&T had good signal. Verizon was non-existent
• 👩🏻‍💼 Staff was friendly and helpful 
• Can bring golf carts or rent them here 
• Recycling bins for cans
• ❗ Note: CP 3 is directly across from the dumpsters, but has a good shade tree

📋 Site#CP 06, Central Park 

Premium site, Central Park sites have a patio area looking toward the river with pergola top

• 🔙 Back In
• 🅿 Site Pad: Raised in the back to be level(watch small children), river rock base, level, long enough for camper and truck when unhitched, wide enough for another vehicle
• 💧 Water- low to the ground so hose and filter come off to the side along the ground
• ⚡ Electric max 50 amp
• 💩 Sewer connection in good condition
• 🔥 Fire Ring- but in a burn ban 
• Picnic Table: wooden with metal legs 
• Close to restrooms/showers 
• Shade in the afternoon 
• Full sun in the mornings 
• A little green space between the next campsite and lower campsites 
• Next to a road that leads to lower level and river- so a little extra traffic(but no campers on the front side of camper)

In the Area:

🛒 Several small stores, tube/kayak rentals

🍽🍺 Bar& grills on the way to and in Leakey(15 minutes) 

Garner State Park is very close- a Texas Parks Pass is very handy

A little pricey and the prices are subject to change depending on capacity(don't really care for that). Some reviews dock them for the train noises, but we weren't bothered by it at all, especially with AC running.

📋 Site#305:

🔙 Back In🅿 Site Pad: level, concrete, long enough, but a little narrow. Parking spot for tow vehicle next to it💧 Water- good pressure, high enough for filter and everything to hang down⚡ Max amp: 50- had a couple issues with Over Current at first, but it seemed to stay on after that. The Power Watch Dog tripped the power and did its thing.💩 Sewer connection was in good shape. It was a little closer to the front of the site, so I used 2 hoses📶 Wifi- available but I didn’t use it📺I picked up multiple channels just with the antenna. Even GRIT. I escaped the heat in the hottest part of the day.🔥 Fire Ring w/Grate Standing Grill Picnic Table: hexagon shaped. Looked like wood, but was the plastic composite material. Heavy. Two of the overflow parking spaces were on the side of the site, so it was handy. This site is on a corner, so it was a little bigger. There’s a little tree planted there that will give shade in a few years

👎🏻 Cons: 

The site was a little narrow and there’s no widening at the entrance on the back-in sites. You have to bring your good backing skills.

📝 Park Notes:

🚻 Restrooms- very clean and spacious. There are a couple ADA restrooms with showers that can be accessed by wheel chair and multiple household sized showers. Each one is male/female so it would be good for families with children.🚿 Showers had good pressure and multi-function shower heads. Glass doors. Very clean.🧺 Laundry facility had 6 sets of washer/dryers. Credit card or app. No cash.🐕 Off-leash dog park was big and had a separate section for smaller dogs. There was a nice dog wash station near the restrooms. No washing of dogs or rigs at the individual sites.🛒 There was a small store in the main office with souvenir items, a few RV necessities and ice cream.🚶🏻‍♀️ A trail runs along the length of the park along the creek. No getting in the creek though.🏚 Cabins with and without lofts. All have screened in back porches🤿 Pool with shallow end and lounge chairs in the water. A hot tub that will hold about 30 people. You can literally swim across it. Small splash pad area for the kids.Covered pavilion area with large BBQ pits.🔥 Large fire pit with chairs around it🤾‍♀️ Playground equipment, 2 volleyball courts, horseshoes, tether ball, hammocks, tables, porch swing(hanging from a tree), ping pong table🪑 2 group areas, 1 was large and had a view of the pool. Residents can use it at anytime unless someone has reserved it for a private event. They have coffee and condiments there from 8-10am. They had Donuts for Dad for Father’s Day(but open for anyone).🍩☕🦌 Wildlife: Various birds, squirrels🗑 Trash pick up at the sites in the morning Some buddy sites available on the ends of the rows Golf carts are available for rent or you can bring your own Restrooms/Showers/Dog Wash/Dog park are on one end of the park and the Pool/Volleyball/Playground are on the other end by the Office/Store/Event rooms. A golf cart or bike would be handy.🌳 No shade trees on the RV park yet, but young ones are planted💲 Prices fluctuate depending on the demand for spaces📅 There are events in the park on weekends👩🏻‍💼 Staff was very friendly and helpful. Always smiling.

Everything you need is very close. Walmart, Home Depot, Salt Lick BBQ, Dell Diamond, Kalahari Resorts(Indoor water park), restaurants, dancehalls…it’s almost in the City, but doesn’t feel like it. We have had some fun Munzee events in Hutto, so there’s lots around if you enjoy scavenger hunts on your phone.

More info on my website: https://www.denisevajdak.com/2022/06/hanging-out-in-hutto.html