warrior mom

Hi all. I have been lurking here for about a month and the wealth of information is amazing, thank you!

We are planning a tent camping trip in July. We have 3 boys ages 11, 9 and 7 and are trying to decide between the two parks for 3 nights of camping.

We are seasoned tent campers but have never been to either of these parks. I am wondering which one would be a better fit for a family with really active, water loving boys. We do like some privacy at the campsite and nice bathrooms are a must for me.

:cool:

rockhill

My vote would go to South llano River. It maybe a bit problematic though with low water levels do to the extended dry period. It is affected more than the Frio and the Frio is down considerably.

Turn Key

Welcome aboard, "warrior mom"! Hope we can help.

Like "rockhill" said, you may have an issue with low water and that will most likely be true at either park. Both are great parks with South Llano having a slight edge with me. You may find camp site privacy a bit limited but they do have great facilities. The "tent" area is a bit more secluded but still not what I'd call real private.

Perdenales has "power and water" sites that offer a bit more privacy with some fair seclution offered by the brush and undergrowth. There is also a "hike-in" area that offers a great deal of privacy. River is nice to wade/swim in IF the level is high enough.

Another one you might think of is Blanco SP. Just about no privacy but a very nice park with a better chance for swimming in the summer time. Of course my number one fa-vor-ite park, Inks Lake SP will always have great swimming!

Hope all this helps and you have a great trip. Stay cool and,

Happy Camping!

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warrior mom

Inks Lake looks nice. Blanco seems like it is small and camping areas are limmited. Swimming is important with 3 boys!

I just went to the TPWD and looked at the park maps. Is there much privacy at Inks Lake? I think we will probably book something with power and water anyway, I just don't want to have an RV sitting right over our tent!

Troop198

Inks is a great park suggest you start a new thread asking for Inks sites.

srds

Just got back today from South Llano State Park,low water but still enough to get wet in,still a few deep holes .Very dry and they are inforcing burn bans .If I want to swim in hill country now I would go to Inks Lake if you could,constant water levels and good cold water.The sites are a little more spaced out at Inks and you have way more choices.

srds :cool:
Have Fun

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srds

Oh by the way ,Welcome to Wild Texas warrior mom,You can go to youtube as see some videos on Inks I never looked for SL have fun

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To Camp or Not to Camp -Lets go Camping- Have Fun

warrior mom

Thank you all for your welcome and advice. I am looking at Inks Lake now. I think it is probably a good fit for a family of three boys that love the water!

rockhill

You would be correct in that statement. And forgive me for offering opinion, but failing to welcome you, my Bad.

As others have pointed out you will have no issues about low water at Inks. When you get tired of the water, make the very short drive over to Longhorn Caverns. As cool as you can get in Texas during the summer, but not be in the water.

Enjoy your trip

Turn Key

You won't get a lot of privacy at Inks unless you head to the western end of the park ("Water Only" sites). "Power & Water" sites on the eastern end don't offer as much privacy but puts you near the swimming area and other park activities.

Sites are pretty good sized and nicely spaced except in the very far eastern loop (Sites 240-257). Sites 83-93, 279-286 and 41-48 all give nice access to the lake for swimming and offer good sized sites. You will most likely have trailers and other RV's as neighbors. About every other site between 240 and 276 are on the water, nicely sized and shaded to some degree. Not the best swimming in that area though.

If the kiddos are old enough and swim well enough, don't miss letting them swim in the Devil's Water Hole. They'll love it! Just make sure that they are supervised.

Below you will find a link to a review of Inks Lake I wrote a few years ago. We go there often enough that I'm confident you will find it of help even though it is a bit older then I'd like. Hope you find it of interest and you have a great trip. Let me know if I can help further.

Happy Camping!

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Inks Lake State Park, Texas Park/Trip Review Spring, 2005

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warrior mom

Thank you Turn Key for the link. The review is very helpfull.

We are hoping to get there early afternoon on a Thursday, I hope that will give us a fair shot at a campsite that is not in the far eastern loop. The boys are excellent swimmers so I think a dip in the Devil's Water Hole is in order.

We spend Thanksgiving most years near Hunt, Texas so the route is very familiar from north of Dallas. We have talked about trying to get to Longhorn Caverns each time we go. I haven't been there although I have been to Natural Bridge Caverns several times. I think that will be a nice side trip.

I will let you all know how the trip goes. Thanks again.

Turn Key

Should work pretty well for you. We always arrive very early on Thursday and always have a pretty good pick. Things start hopping around that park about late Thursday and into early Friday. This is a very busy park but I've never seen it be a big issue except for the number of people around. It is a great place to go.

Happy Camping!

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warrior mom

Reservations have been made. After debating at dinner this evening, we decided on a water only site.

Thanks again!

:cool:

srds

Have a blast,The Avatar by my name is Devils Water Hole ,cut thru by #248-247-246 and follow the trail.Theres also spots that are like hot tubs on your way there.Bring water shoes.

srds :cool:
Have Fun

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To Camp or Not to Camp -Lets go Camping- Have Fun

Turn Key

You'll still have great time.

Happy Camping!

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