5 Beautiful State Parks in Texas With RV Camping

We all know that Texas offers all sorts of outdoor recreation opportunities. From boating on bayous to hiking in the mountains to enjoying camping in Hill Country, you can experience just about every kind of climate and landscape imaginable in the Lone Star State.

And while Texas state parks are often best for car camping and tents, others have spots specifically for travel trailers, fifth wheels, and RVs. The question is, which state parks in Texas with RV camping should you visit this summer?

There are plenty of choices here, but let’s zero in on a handful of options from around the state.

Abilene State Park

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Well, we might as well start in our own backyard!

Abilene State Park is just 16 miles southwest of the city and offers activities ranging from swimming (in the lake or in the historic 1930s swimming pool that the Civilian Conservation Corps built), fishing, and boating to hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The park also features birdwatching, a sand volleyball court, and a horseshoe pit for fun games with the family. Virtually everywhere you go, you can enjoy the shade of large trees in the summer and the beauty of their foliage in the fall.

Bring your RV and stay in one of the park’s large campsites, some of which have full hookups. Other sites are available with electricity and water only. Don’t have an RV? Bring your tent and stay at one of the tent-only sites. There are options with electricity hookups, while others have water hookups.

Davis Mountains State Park

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Next on our list of state parks in Texas with RV camping is Davis Mountains State Park. Located in West Texas near Fort Davis, you’ll find a mountainous park where you can hike, mountain bike, or ride your horse. The park is a fantastic destination for observing the night sky, too, because its remote location means there is very little light pollution.

If you enjoy geocaching, Davis Mountains State Park is a great option. You can explore the park's rugged terrain while searching for treasures hidden by everyday folks like you. Many caches have a log book you can sign, and there are usually tradable items for kids (and adults!).

Key features of the park include:

• Birdwatching in the park’s enclosed viewing station or the shielded outdoor patio.
• Hiking on the 4.5-mil Skyline Drive Trail that travels along mountain ridges and valleys.
• Horseback riding on 11 miles of trails in the Davis Mountains. There are six equestrian campsites and six primitive campsites for you and your horses, too!
• Ranger programs on local history.

Davis Mountains offers more than two dozen campsites with full RV hookups and another 34 sites with water and electricity only. There are 33 more campsites with water nearby, and if you’re feeling really adventurous, you can ditch your RV and hike four miles to the primitive camping area.

Lake Livingston State Park

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If lakeside camping is more your vibe, Lake Livingston State Park - about 75 miles north of Houston - has everything you could want. 

On the one hand, Lake Livingston is one of the biggest lakes in the state and offers watersports like boating, swimming, and fishing. You can bring your own boat or rent kayaks at the park. Likewise, you can enjoy fishing the lake’s superb white bass population or try your hand at catching crappie, catfish, or perch. You can fish from a boat, the fishing pier, or the bank, and the park provides two fish-cleaning stations for your convenience.

Other activities include hiking, mountain biking, and geocaching. You can also watch the area’s birds, attend a craft workshop with a park ranger, and head to the park store to grab drinks and snacks to take in the sunset over the lake.

In terms of state parks in Texas with RV camping, Lake Livingston is near the top in terms of the most campsites available. There are no less than half a dozen camping areas, most of which have full hookups, including 50-amp electric service. In fact, there are more than 60 sites with full hookups and another 52 sites with water and electricity available. Sixteen more sites have water nearby.

Bastrop State Park

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Located just 32 miles east of Austin, Bastrop State Park has had a rough go of it the last decade or so. The Bastrop Complex Wildfire in 2011 burned 96 percent of the park, but thankfully, firefighters were able to save the park’s historic facilities that were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Then, in 2015, the park experienced a significant flood on Memorial Day when the dam at the park’s lake failed due to heavy rains. But, out of the ashes and the flood, the park remains, with all sorts of activities for you and your family to do, including:

• Biking 12 miles of roads over rolling hills
• Hiking seven miles of trails
• Fishing in Lake Mina
• Wildlife and bird watching
• Geocaching
• Swimming at the park’s pool

Bastrop makes this list of beautiful state parks in Texas with RV camping because there are 70 RV camping sites. Of those, 35 have full hookups, 19 have electricity, and 16 have water. Another six walk-in sites are available for tent camping and have water nearby.

Palmetto State Park

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East of San Antonio near Gonzales, you’ll find a true gem in the Texas State Parks system. Palmetto State Park gets its name from the abundant dwarf palmettos that grow under the canopy of the area's soaring trees. The park almost feels like a tropical paradise - the abundance of water has formed various swamps that you can explore in one or two-person kayaks that you can rent from the park.

Other water activities are abundant. Canoeing and kayaking are available on the San Marcos River. Fishing is also available at Oxbow Lake. There’s fishing gear available for rent and a pier where you can easily drop your line in the water.

If you prefer adventures on land, Palmetto State Park offers hiking and biking trails, including the Palmetto Trail, which winds its way through one of the park's largest stands of dwarf palmettos. Like many other Texas State Parks, Palmetto also offers birdwatching, geocaching, and camping opportunities.

Though this park isn’t quite as large as the others on this list, there are still 17 RV camping sites available (plus 19 tent camping sites). Each RV site has water and electrical hookups, a picnic table, a fire ring, and an outdoor grill. Other amenities, like restrooms and showers, are nearby.

Camp in Style in State Parks in Texas With RV Camping

As discussed earlier, there are many other state parks in Texas with RV camping you might explore. From Atlanta State Park in far East Texas to Goliad State Park & Historic Site near Victoria to Meridian State Park near Waco, the possibilities are truly endless for finding places to explore in the great state of Texas with your RV.

And if you don’t have an RV, we can help! We can help you outfit your truck with a truck bed camper from OEV (like the one shown above) or Skinny Guys. Or, if you prefer having a small towable trailer, we’ve got many options from SNO Trailers, Sherpa Trailers, and Escapod (as shown below).

If you’re longing to hit the road and explore Texas state parks in a campervan, we’ve got you covered, too! We’ve got fully converted pop-top vans based on Ford, Chevy, and Mercedes platforms that offer luxurious interior amenities so you can truly enjoy your favorite state parks in Texas with RV camping. 

Whether you want a top-of-the-line rig, something that’s budget-friendly, or something in between, we’re here to help you make the best decision for your needs. After all, we’re in this business to make your explorations of Texas and beyond better. That’s why BTR - pronounced better - is in our name!

Stop by our facility just off I-20 in Abilene to browse our inventory of campervans, towables, and truck bed campers. While you’re here, you can shop all the other outdoor gear we have in stock, too, from tents to camp kitchen supplies to clothing, and more. Come see us to get outfitted for your next adventure today!