The Austin area has an abundance of places to camp both inside the city limits and at nearby state parks. Contrary to what you may imagine Texas to look like, the Austin area is surrounded by rolling hills and lush forest landscapes. The area west of Austin is called Texas Hill Country and is well-known for its sprawling ranches, spring-fed swimming holes, and limestone hills.
Camping in Austin, especially the scenic spots just outside the city limits, is immensely popular with Texas locals so you’ll want to secure a reservation well in advance to avoid scrambling for a less than ideal spot to set up camp. Many RV Parks in Austin, Texas are set up for long-term camping, but you’ll find plenty of options for short-term rentals both in the city and the surrounding hills.
Our 6 Favorite RV Parks in Austin, Texas
1. Pecan Grove RV Park
Image from The Dyrt camper Alicia O.
Pecan Grove RV Park is the closest of the RV Parks in Austin, Texas to downtown. It is located right in the heart of Austin within walking distance of breweries, food trucks, and Butler Park. Full water, electric, and sewer hook-ups are available and sites are for RVs and trailers only. Pecan Grove’s amenities are limited to bathrooms, showers, and laundry facilities, but its proximity to downtown is its main selling point. Many of the park’s sites are occupied by long-term residents so you’ll want to reserve a site in advance over the phone. Pecan Grove is open year-round.
2. Austin Lone Star RV Resort
Just five miles outside of downtown, Austin Lone Star RV Resort has over 150 pull-thru and back-in RV sites with full hook-ups and wireless Internet. Cabin rentals are also available and include linens, private bathroom, kitchenette, and covered porch. Special monthly and yearly rates are available and other resort features include a fitness center, swimming pool, laundry facilities, dog park, and shower facilities.
3. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Texas
Image from The Dyrt camper Celeste C,
Located 40 miles southwest of downtown Austin in the Texas Hill Country, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Texas is one of the most fun and family-friendly RV Parks in Austin, Texas. Premium RV sites are decked out with electric, water, sewer, and cable hook-ups as well as picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. Both pull-thru and back-in sites are available, and resort amenities include outdoor pools, splash pads, miniature golf, arcades, a disc golf course, and much more.
Tent sites come with their own water and electricity, and a variety of cabins and cottages of all sizes are available for nightly rentals. Other park facilities include a fully-stocked camp store, laundry facilities, arts and crafts building, and dog park. Dogs are only allowed at RV sites and select cabins.
4. McKinney Falls State Park
Image from The Dyrt camper Troy W.
Just minutes outside of downtown Austin, McKinney Falls State Park has 81 campsites ideal for both tents and RVs. Each site has water and electric hook-ups, a tend pad, picnic table, and fire ring with a grill. The park gets very busy considering its proximity to Austin so camping reservations are highly recommended March through November. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, a dump station, and WiFi at the park headquarters.
Six cabins are also available for rent and each sleeps four and includes a kitchenette, dining area, and porch. There are no restrooms in the cabins and visitors must bring their own linens. Park highlights include a short trail to a natural rock formation used as an ancient shelter by Native Americans, the 2.8-mile Onion Creek paved bike trail, and swimming in Onion Creek.
5. Inks Lake State Park
A popular weekend getaway for Austin area locals, Inks Lake State Park is just an hour northwest of downtown. Inks Lake gets very busy on weekends and visitors will be turned away when the park reaches capacity unless they have camping reservations. The park has 125 RV campsites with electric and water hookups, more than 50 tent sites, and 22 rustic cabins that sleep four, but you must bring your own linens.
Swimming in the Devil’s Waterhole is the park’s main draw. An inlet of Inks Lake that is almost completely surrounded by rock, Devil’s Waterhole is a popular natural swimming hole and canoe tours are available of this interesting geological feature. Other popular activities at Inks Lake State Park include boating, waterskiing, fishing, and hiking the park’s 9-mile network of hiking trails through the woods and rocky outcroppings around the lake.
6. Pedernales Falls State Park
Image from The Dyrt camper Chelsea O.
Pedernales Falls State Park is about an hour drive west of Austin and camping is available year-round. Pedernales Falls has 69 spacious campsites for RVs complete with water and electric hook-ups, picnic table, fire ring, and room for a tent. You’ll also find flush toilets, hot showers, and a dump station. Twenty hike-in backcountry campsites are also available and require at least a two-mile hike to reach.
The shallow Pedernales River is great for swimming, wading, tubing, and fishing. No swimming is allowed near Pedernales Falls, but a nice one-mile loop trail leads from the parking area to several scenic views of the falls. Mountain biking is popular along the 8.9 mile Juniper Ridge Trail and the short Twin Falls Nature Trail is a great family-friendly trail. Leashed dogs are allowed on all trails.
