echauzier

Forgive me if this question is a bit too broad or naive, but my girlfriend and I are planning on going camping for a couple of nights on the weekend following Thanksgiving. We're both relatively recent transplants to Austin and have yet to camp in Texas.
We're looking for tent camping within a reasonable (maybe 1 1/2 hrs?) drive from Austin, not too crowded and without a burn ban. We'd also like to be someplace with good hiking access.
Any suggestions?
-Thanks

Mean Machine

Try Inks Lake State Park or for some really good hiking, Colorado Bend SP is super.
Might be tough finding spots, but if you don't mind primitive spots and hiking in, you should be good to go.
Have fun

__________________
Gary
Round Rock, TX

Troop198

Second Inks its a nice place , if you want a close day trip (or overnight) right in Austin try McKinney Falls SP. Here is a link to a review and pictures. Can beat how close to Austin it is. Has some hiking too.

McKinney Falls SP (10/2008)

JohnK

I recommend Colorado Bend SP. It is very scenic and offers some great trails for hiking. Campsite options range from backpacking, to "walk in", which means a very short walk of about 20 - 50 yards from the parking area to very nice sites along the river, to drive in sites. I recommend the "walk in" sites.

Interestingly, the backpacking sites along the river are not very peaceful as there are homes on the other side of that section of the river. For backpacking, the Windmill campsite is better if peace and solitude are important.

FYI, there are no showers available at Colorado Bend and you have to drive over 9 miles of gravel road that can be rather rough in spots in order to get there.

Inks Lake is very nice, but very popular and can be rather noisy. If you decide to go there, and if you are arriving on Friday, I highly recommend getting there early, preferably around noon if possible, in order to get a good site, particularly if you would like to have a waterfront site.

I took my wife, daughters and our two kayaks to Inks 3 weeks ago and had a great time. We checked in around noon and were able to get one of the relatively secluded waterfront sites, site 332. I highly recommend it if it is available.

Lost Maples SNA is also very scenic and a great spot for hiking. It may be a little farther than you want to go and the campsites don't offer much privacy.

Have a great time whereever you go and let us know how it went!

JohnK

camperone

I know this doesn't help you much, but I will be at Guadalupe State Park!! It's the closest to us and is the most "wooded" state park I have been to so far. They might still have some tent sites left. It's worh a try.

Troop198

If you do Inks Lake SP you also might consider at outing to Longhorn Caverns SP right near by, its a cave tour that is interesting.The caves were formed into the limestone via rain and underground streams. Large deposits of calcite left some interesting features. Fossils date back to native americans and even the civil war later

Longhorn Cavern State Park

There were at one time 21 state parks alone in the hill country some are now run by the city or county. So you have lots to choose from