SP Campground Review – Davis Mountains State Park, Fort Davis, TX

One of the many sublime trails in Davis Mountains State Park

A simply outstanding campground in the stunning Davis Mountains in SW Texas!

Note/ Unfortunately we had to evacuate this area because of fire and the campground is currently still closed.  I’m not clear when it will open again or how quickly the area will recover, but will rate from point of view of when we first arrived.

Link to campground here: Davis Mountains State Park, TX
Link to map location here: Davis Mountains State Park, TX

1. Site Quality = 5/5
   Extremely nice sites here. There’s a selection of primitive, water/electric and even full hook-up sites (with cable!). The full hook-up sites are all decently flat paved pull-throughs with lean-to shelters, fire-pit and nice views of the hills (best views from sites # 18, 20 & 21, but I’d say all have lovely surroundings). Only very minor ding is limited to no shade and no dedicated privacy. Other sites are mostly back-ins with a small selection of shaded sites (around sites #46-61). Back-ins vary a bit in separation and size. Almost all sites have pretty views of the hills.
2.  Facilities = 4/5
   Good facilities here. Large bathrooms and showers, kept nicely clean. Only negative was old shower-heads combined with high water-pressure made the showers feel a bit like a truck pressure-wash! Also showers have combined bench area, rather than individual area to hang your stuff.
3. Location = 5/5
   This park is a simply fabulous location. Located at 5,200 feet in the beautiful Davis Mountains and only ~3 miles from town. There’s miles of hiking in the surrounding area, plus the attraction of nearby Fort Davis, and the McDonald Observatory. On-site Indian Lodge has restaurant and town has shopping, cafe’s, museum and eateries.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Great park for doggie. There’s no end of hiking in the hills, plus ample space to hang out in camp.

Overall Rating = 4.75
BONUS ALERT = Stunning mountains, hiking, nature and star-gazing all-in-one!

Summary: Can’t really say enough good about this park. From a nature point of view it’s stunning. The campground is set beautifully in a small valley at 5,200 feet in the Davis Mountains surrounded by hills and miles of hiking. There’s a large selection of sites all the way from primitive to full-hook-up (with cable!), all of which have paved surfaces, decent separation and pretty views. Lots of activities to do in the area from hiking and biking the hills, to sight-seeing only ~3 miles away in cute and quirky Fort Davis (check out the Broom Shop, Stone Village Market (health food), the Rattlesnake Museum and Fort Davis Historic Site) to star-gazing at the McDonald Observatory (I highly recommend attending a night-time “Star Party“) to gardens and scenic drives. Unfortunately our time here was cut far too short by the fires, but there’s no doubt we’d love to come back and stay for an extended time. A gem of a place!

 Extra Info:  Verizon network “iffy” here. Our smartphone had small bursts of 3G, but also periods of no connectivity at all. Aircard had no connectivity, but we were able to get online reliably with external antenna/amp. Sites cost $10/night for water, $15/night for 30Amp/water and $20/night for full hook-up (50Amp/water/sewer and cable!). FHU are reservable online and book-up fast. Additional $5/day/person entry fee (waived if you have Texas State Park Pass). On-site dump station.

Note/ Unfortunately, due to the fire and our premature evacuation I only have a select few shots of the campground. Sorry!

View of our full hook-up site (#15)

Typical site view in full hook-up section (#14 shown)

View down full hook-up section (#15, #16 shown on right front to back)

One of the many lovely views from the campground ( this shot taken right outside the facilities)

Ariel view of the campground from top of hill trail (RVs visible in the valley)

SP Campround Review – South Llano River State Park, Junction, TX

The gorgeous South Llano River

A nature-lovers paradise right off the I-10 in West Texas.

Link to campground here: South Llano River State Park, TX
Link to map location here: South Llano River State Park, TX

1. Site Quality = 4.5/5
   Lovely sites here. All are very flat, paved back-ins with 30Amp/water, picnic table, fire-pit and lantern-hanger. A select number of sites also have cute, covered shelters. Decent separation although some of the sites are rather open to neighbors. The front-end of the campground has more privacy (but less shade) than the back-end. A few sites on the narrow side, but overall good access for any size rig.
2.  Facilities = 4/5
   Very nice facilities here. Showers are in good condition, large with good pressure and kept nicely clean. Lots of on-site activities including the river (open for swimming and tubing), picnic areas, trails and bird blinds. On-site dump station, but no laundry.
3. Location = 5/5
   This park is only ~5 miles from I-10, but feels very “out there” and is set in a nature-perfect location. Rolling hills, river, trails and birding all reside at this spot. Nearby Junction has WiFi (at the library) and basic shopping.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Great park for pooch. Miles and miles of hiking and nature. Plus, the 24-hour bird show will keep both doggie and kitties entertained.

Overall Rating = 4.6
BONUS ALERT = Wild Turkeys, river, nature and hiking all in one!

Summary: This turned out to be was a fabulous stop on our way West in Texas, so much so that we ended up extending our stay. Although it’s only a hop over from I-10, the campground is nature-lovers paradise with a remote and relaxing feel.  It’s set beautifully in a peaceful valley right next to the gorgeous South Llano River and surrounded by rolling hills. There’s a slew of outdoor activity available here from miles and miles of hiking (in the adjacent Buck Wildlife Management Area), to swimming, fishing and tubing in the river, to bird-watching (the area is roosting home to the Rio Grande Turkey and has multiple on-site bird blinds). Sites are lovely, flat asphalt surfaces with 30Amp/water, nice “sitting area”, decent separation and very pretty surroundings. The area gets hot, hot, hot in summer but is perfect in the Spring. We thoroughly enjoyed the area and would certainly come back.

 Extra Info:  Verizon extended (1X) network only here so weak voice signal, but no usable data signal even with external antenna/amp (free WiFi is available in Junction at the Public Library). Sites cost $17/night for 30Amp/water, reservable on-line. Additional $3/day/person entry fee (waived if you have Texas State Park Pass). On-site dump station.

Extra, Extra Info: For a throwback to old-style country music, tune into 93.5FM KOOK while you’re here. You won’t regret it! Also, bring your bird feeders!

Typical site view (#16 shown)

Another site view (#40)

View of our site (#19)

View of our nicely private "sitting area" behind the RV (site #19)

View down back-end of campground loop (#41, #43 on right front to back)

View of front end of campground loop (#10, #8 on right front to back)

View of facilities

SP Campground Review – McKinney Falls State Park, Austin, TX

Ruins from the McKinney Homestead

A lovely State Park in the perfect location to explore Austin.

Link to campground here: McKinney Falls State Park
Link to map location here: McKinney Falls State Park

1. Site Quality = 3.5/5
   The sites here are decent. They are long asphalt pads with 30/50Amp & water, good separation between campers, selection of shaded and open choices plus picnic table, fire-pit, and tent-camping square at each site. The only ding is levelness. Many sites are uneven and a few have significant slope. Pull-throughs tend to be more level than back-ins.
2.  Facilities = 4/5
   Facilities are nice. Good size bathrooms with large showers (2 per bathroom in a communal  changing space) and good water pressure. Slightly dated, but kept nicely clean each day by the park. On-site dump, but no laundry.
3. Location = 5/5
   This is the perfect location to visit Austin. You’re only 10 miles from town, yet you’re right in the middle of lush and relaxing nature. Plenty of hiking and biking trails on-site. Historical interest with Rock Shelter and remains of the McKinney Homestead on-site.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Good pet-friendly spot. Lots of hiking trails for pooch and good space to hang out outside the RV.

Overall Rating = 4.4
BONUS ALERT = Relax in nature only 10 miles from Austin!

Summary: This was the perfect spot to visit Austin. The park is only ~10 miles from town yet is set in a lovely, large green area with miles of hiking/biking trails, historical interest (Rock Shelter and the McKinney Homestead) and even several creeks with cute, little water-falls. The sites themselves are very decent asphalt pads with great separation, green ”sitting area” and electric/water hook-ups. The only negative is some of them are rather uneven (with blocks and fully extended jacks our RV was just barely level). Overall we thoroughly enjoyed exploring/hiking the park and taking trips into Austin and would certainly stay here again if we came back.

 Extra Info:  Both Verizon aircard and phone worked fine. Sites are $16/night  for 30Amp/water or $20/night for 50Amp/water. Additional entry fee of $5/person/day (waived if you have the Texas State Park Pass). On-site dump.

Typical back-in site view (Site #12 shown)

View of one of the more shaded sites (#13 shown)

Side-view of our corner site (#15). Lots of space around the RV, but the site was very uneven.

View down campground loop (Site #8 on right)

Another view down campground loop (Site #18 on left)

Picnic table, fire-pit and tent-space at each site

View of one of the pretty McKinney Falls

RV Park Review – Canyon Falls RV Park, Canyon Lake, TX

Pretty landscaping inside Canyon Falls RV Park

This was a short stop-over for us to escape the madness of Spring Break. A nice, relaxing campground in the nature area of Canyon Lake half-way between Austin and San Antonio, TX.

Link to park here: Canyon Falls RV Park
Link to map location here: Canyon Falls RV Park

1. Site quality = 3.5/5
   Decent site quality here. The sites are flat gravel with 50Amp/water/sewer, picnic table and small fire-pit. Selection of shade trees and nice landscaping throughout the park. Only negative is you’re quite close to your neighbor.
2. Facilities = 2/5
   Definitely not the highlight of the park here. Bathrooms & showers seemed to be temporary, built in a type of hanger and were not as well-kept as we like. Water pressure was poor and mens/womens were combined.
3. Amenities = 3.5/5
   A decent, but not extensive selection of amenities. Cable at each site, but no WiFi. Fishing pond and small hiking trail on-site, picnic area and small (but somewhat run-down) community center.
4. Location = 4/5
   A nice location right next to Canyon Lake, Canyon Park and the surrounding nature area. Within short drive of small towns with basic shopping and restaurants.
5. Pet friendliness = 5/5
   Very pet friendly spot. Lots of cats on the property, and plenty of owners with dogs. Small hiking trail up the hill behind the park where pooch can run and play.

 Overall rating = 3.6
BONUS ALERT: Stay in the relaxing hills of Canyon Lake!

Summary: This was a quick stop-over for us on our way to Austin which turned out to be quite nice and relaxing. Owners were extremely friendly and accomodated our arrival late at night (9PM) without a problem. The park itself is situated in the hills close to Canyon Lake. Lots of lovely landscaping and cute spots in the campground, plus fishing ponds and a small hiking trail on-site. Surrounding area is hilly and naturally pretty. Sites are decent, flat gravel and full hook-up, but you do end up pretty close to your neighbour if sites are full. The only real negative was the facilities which seemed to be in a temporary structure (a type of hanger) and not really up to par. Overall a decent stop and we enjoyed the tranqulity, but if we come back our preference would probably be the COE Campground at Potters Creek (booked out while we were here).

Extra Info: Verizon aircard and smartphone worked. Sites $35/night ($200/week) cash or check only (no credit card).

View of our site (#21)

View down campground loop (Site #13 on right)

View of cabin area

View down main camground road

In the "hiking area" with Polly up the hillside behind the campground

Boondocking Site Review – Calaveras Lake, San Antonio, TX

View from the banks of Calaveras Lake

This is an inexpensive dry-camping location just next to San Antonio. It’s not exactly a boondocking location, but doesn’t really qualify as a campground either, so I’ll rate it as a boondocking spot. Unfortunately it doesn’t make our favorites list.

Location: Calaveras Lake, San Antonio, TX
Coordinates: 29.305861,-98.298798. Link to map location HERE. 
Cost: $4/person/night
How We Found It: Using Don Wright’s “Free Camprounds” book.
Nearest Dump/Water: ?? Not sure.

1. Access – 4/5
   Very decent access here, but sites are mixed. The road into Calaveras Lake is paved and access inside the campground is decent. You can set-up anywhere around the lake once inside the facility. Most of the banks are very uneven/sloping, but there are a select number of flat areas and a few nicer spots right on the water.
2. Nature – 2.5/5
   Nature-wise this is a bit of a mix. On the positive side you are right by the Lake with access to fishing and water activities, but your view is marred by a large power plant on the right-hand side and the area around the lake has limited space/activity. A small nature trail on-site, but no real hiking.
3. Isolation – 1/5
   The Lake is outside of town and so does get bonus points for being “away from the city”, but its location makes it extremely popular with the locals. The park doesn’t seem to limit how many people access/camp here so don’t expect to be alone.
4. Pet Friendliness – 3/5 
   The park is pet-friendly, but there’s very limited area to hike/walk pooch. A strip of green along the back power-lines and a small nature trail pretty much make up the lot. Pooch does have access to the lake.

Overall Rating = 2.6

Summary: So, this was one of those spots that looked great on paper, but didn’t work out for us. Our experience was no doubt marred by the fact that we camped here during Spring Break, but there were also other aspects which made it less than great. Location-wise it’s a good spot -> only 10 miles from San Antonio, right on a lake with access to fishing and green for a mere $4/person/night. Camping is “free access” to wherever you can park on the banks of the lake. There are a select number (8) of designated sites on the North side that you can reserve beforehand. However the overall area is limited in size, there is a large power plant across the lake (mars your view) and the management doesn’t seem to limit how many people can camp there. So in busy times it literally packs in with as many folks as can possibly set-up on the banks.  When we first arrived it was fairly quiet and if we’d come here mid-week during low season we might well have found a nice (and somewhat peaceful) spot to enjoy the water and the area. However our experience that evening with the big build-up of people was, unfortunately, downright uncomfortable and we decided to leave. If we come back we’ll probably try a different location.

Extra Info: On-site flush toilets, but no water or other facilities. Verizon smartphone and aircard worked.

NOTE/ All below pics we taken when we first arrived (before the big build-up of people in the evening):

Front view of our parking site at Calaveras Lake

Side-view of our parking spot and the main campground road (on left)

View out the side-window of our RV.

Walking under the power-lines with Polly. View of the power plant in the background.

CP Campground Review – Brackenridge Park, Edna, TX

View of the Pier at Brackenrige Park

A much nicer-than-expected City Campground stop on our way SW on SH 59.

Link to campground here: Brackenridge Recreation Complex, Edna, TX
Link to map location here:  Brackenrige Park, Edna, TX

1. Site Quality = 3/5
   There’s a bit of variation in site quality here. Most sites are either concrete or dirt/gravel and decent size with fairly flat surface and picnic table/fire-pit and grill. However some sites are rather crowded (especially on the lake loops and some of the outer areas) and you might find yourself literally back-to-back with neighbors. Selection of either full or partial hook-ups with fully shaded (specifically sites 46-63) to fully open areas with lake views.
2.  Facilities = 4/5
   Facilities were generally decent. Bathrooms are fairly large with good shower pressure. However they are a tad dated and were a bit muddy while we were there so the place gets a small ding for that. A few (old) laundry machines. Lots and lots of recreation activities around the complex -> volleyball, mini-golf, disc golf, fishing, hiking, equestrian trails as well as some historic markers (Brackenridge Plantation and Texana Church). Several on-site dump stations.
3. Location = 3/5
   Considering this is a bit of a “middle-of-nowhere” kind of spot the campground is beautifully located right on Texana Lake and has lots to keep you busy for days. Nearby Edna has very basic shopping and a few BBQ joints.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Good pet spot. There are hiking trails around the lake with secluded spots where you can take pooch to run and play. Full pet-friendly.

Overall Rating = 3.75
BONUS ALERT = Beautiful lake views and walks in the middle of SE Texas!

Summary: We chose this spot primarily as a stop-over on our way down SW and it turned out to be much nicer than expected. The prime draw is Lake Texana and the park is beautifully located right on its’ banks with many sites having lake views and plenty of opportunity to walk/hike/play around the lake. The Complex also boasts a multitude of other activities including on-site mini-golf, disc golf, basketball court, volleyball area, equestrian trails and historical markers. For that reason it’s popular with local families and kids. The sites are decent with selection of full/partial hook-up and fairly level gravel/concrete lots, but a fair few are squeezed far too tight for my linking. Best separation seems to be in pull-through (sites #P121-132) and shaded areas (Sites #46-63). This is not exactly a destination location, but a convenient stop going SW from Houston and we would stay either here or at cross-the-road Lake Texana State Park again if we needed a spot coming down.

 Extra Info:  Verizon Smartphone worked (barely). Verizon aircard worked only with external antenna/amp. Sites are $23/night  for 50Amp/water. On-site dump and laundry.

Typical site view on one of lakeside loops (Site #96 shown)

Another lakeside loop view. This site is concrete (Site #87)

View of fully-shaded area (Site #56 on left)

View along middle of campground (Site #20 on right)

View of our site (#19C) in rather crowded back area

View from lakeside walking trail (lake loops shown left)

Walking the lakeside trail with Polly

Boondocking Site Review – Kelly’s Pond, Sam Houston National Forest, TX

Sunrise through the trees at Sam Houston National Forest

A lovely boondocking spot deep in the  gorgeous Sam Houston National Forest near Lake Conroe, TX (~70 miles N. of Houston). Multiple locations for all size rigs in here.

Location: Kelly’s Pond, Sam Houston National Forest
Coordinates: 30.51347,-95.662079. Link to map location HERE.
Cost: FREE (no permits required). Day-use fee of $5 for multi-use trail if using off-road vehicles on the trail.
How We Found It: I initially found the forest and campgrounds using http://www.uscampgrounds.info/. Read the description for Kelly’s Pond and called up Ranger to ask if they would accept RVs at the primitive site.
Nearest Dump/Water: Nearest water at Stubblefield Campground (~4 miles North). ?? Not sure about nearest dump.

1. Access – 4/5
   Very decent access here. The road into Sam Houston Forest (FM1375) and down to the turn (FM204) for Kelly’s Pond is excellent. Kelly’s Pond is on a dirt trail off FM204 and is clearly marked. The 1-mile road down to the campground is wide and firm with good clearance, but dusty and somewhat rocky. At the end of the trail it opens up to a large, open green field where you can easily turn around and park anywhere. There are also several, more private boondocking sites along the road down to the Pond (a particularly sweet, large spot ~1/4 mile from entrance and another very nice one ~1/2 mile in).
2. Nature – 4/5
   It’s a pretty location here. You are right in the middle of the forest with tree views all around. At the field you do face tent-camping spots. Direct access to multi-use trail from Kelly’s Pond, plus several hiking-only trails within short distance. Nearby Lake Conroe offers boating and fishing.
3. Isolation – 3/5
   You are deep within the forest here and well away from the road. So, during the week the place is empty and gorgeous. However, this is a popular spot for off-roaders (particularly motorbikers) so you will get bikes and people coming in on the week-end. Everyone parks in the open field area at Kelly’s Pond, so the couple of boondocking spots along the side of the road (coming in) are much more private.
4. Pet Friendliness – 5/5 
   Very pet friendly location. All trails are open to doggies and there’s lots of space for pooch to romp and play.

Overall Rating = 4.0
BONUS ALERT =  Camp with view of trees and nature deep in the forest!

Summary: This is a great little boondocking site deep in Sam Houston National Forest ~70 miles North of Houston, TX. The campground is primarily a tent and off-road bikers location, but it’s set in a wide, open green field with plenty of space to park even the biggest rigs. Access is good with concrete roads all the way to the last 1-mile dirt road down to the Pond. When we arrived mid-week we were the only people here, but it started filling up on the week-end with bikers. We loved the area and would certainly stay here again, however we’d choose to stop at one of the more private boondocking sites along the road coming in rather than parking in the field at the end. There is a developed NF campground (with reservable and first-come, first-serve sites) at Cagle Recreation Area ($20/night) just ~7 miles away for those that need a back-up.

Extra Info: Vault toilet on-site, but no water or other facilities. Verizon smartphone worked. Verizon aircard worked, but benefited from external antenna/amplifier.

View of our spot in Kelly's Pond

View from back of our RV

View from back end of "field" showing road and parking area to the right

View out side-window of our RV showing field and vault toilets (on left)

View of entrance to dirt road leading down to Kelly's Pond

Boondocking Site Review – Sea Rim State Park, Sabine Pass, TX

Walking the coastline at Sea Rim SP, TX

FEB, 2012 UPDATE -> One of our blog readers is workamping at Sea Rim SP & told us camping is (unfortunately) no longer free. There is now a $10/night camping fee (no hookups)

So, I’ve been trying to come up with a good method for reviewing and sharing our boondocking spots as we travel out West. Clearly things like facilities and amenities don’t apply to this kind of camping. For me, boondocking is all about getting “out there”, so I’m going to focus on it from that point of view and swap out the ratings to items which apply to that. This is a new category for me, so feel free to chime in and let me know if there’s anything you’d like to see which is missing:

Location: Sea Rim State Park, Sabine Pass, TX
Coordinates: 29.674966,-94.044471. Link to map location HERE.
Cost: FREE (no permits required)
How We Found It: By accident. I was looking for camping along the North TX coast using Google Maps. Spotted the green area of McFaddin National Wildlife/Sea Rim and called up the rangers to ask about it.
Nearest Dump/Water: ?? Not sure. Spotted some private RV parks coming down SH 87 at Sabine Pass so that would probably be the place to ask.

1. Access – 5/5
   Very easy access and camping here, even for big-rigs. The road leading down to the coast (SH 87) is excellent and the State Park itself is clearly marked all the way from Port Arthur. The park has concrete roads and 2 large concrete parking areas which are open for boondocking. Camping is also allowed anywhere on the beach. Beach is fairly firm, but tides can be deceiving, so park well back from the water.
2. Nature – 5/5
   Excellent nature here. Fully open beach views from everywhere in the park including both concrete lots. 5 miles of open coastline to hike and play. Small nature trail on East End of park.
3. Isolation – 3/5
   The spot is nicely located at the Southern Tip of Sabine Pass. You’re ~10 miles from Sabine Pass and during the week very few people come out here. On the week-end however, you will get locals coming to walk, fish and hang out on the beach. The State Park Ranger also patrols on a regular basis.
4. Pet Friendliness – 5/5
   Very pet friendly location. The beach and all surrounding areas are open for pooch. Direct access to beach-combing right from your RV.

Overall Rating = 4.5
BONUS ALERT =  Camp with an open view of the ocean!

Summary: This is a great little spot ~10 miles West of Sabine Pass. It’s a super-easy “starter” location for RVers who want to try boondocking for the first time, but it may not be around for long! The State Park was completely destroyed during the last hurricane, so the rangers decided to allow free camping until they’re able to re-build the facilities (the info on the SP website is wrong -> the camping and access is completely free for now). It’s a wonderful spot on the TX coast with fully open beach views and over 5 miles of coastline to play on. You can boondock either on the concrete parking pads in the park or anywhere on the beach. The area doesn’t have shelter so you’ll feel the winds when they whip up (as they do often down here), but the untamed beauty is gorgeous. During the week it’s very quiet and very few RVers come here, but the locals do show up on the week-end. Nearest shopping is ~20 miles away in Port Arthur so come prepared. This was a superb spot and we would definitely come back. Get down here while you can!

Extra Info: Porta-potty on-site, but no water or other facilities. Verizon smartphone worked (only just…1X bar). Verizon aircard worked, but needed external antenna/amplifier.

View of the road and one of the boondocking concrete parking lots

Back view of our RV from our parking location. The ocean view is in front of the RV.

View of 2nd concrete parking area. Porta-potties on left.

RVer boondocking on the beach

View in front of our RV, just across the road.

The fabulous coastline. Wild and deserted!