Camping near Horseshoe Bay, Texas encompasses a range of lakeside and Hill Country experiences within the scenic Texas Highland Lakes region. The area features several state parks, recreation areas, and private campgrounds with options for tent camping, RV sites, and cabin rentals. Inks Lake State Park, located about 15 miles northwest of Horseshoe Bay, provides year-round camping with waterfront sites and access to swimming areas including the popular Devil's Waterhole. Nearby Pedernales Falls State Park offers well-spaced wooded sites with views of the Texas Hill Country. Krause Springs in Spicewood provides a mix of camping options with natural swimming areas, while Lake Travis recreation areas like Pace Bend Park feature both primitive and developed sites with lake access.
Most campgrounds in the area are open year-round, though summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Winter camping is possible with occasional cold fronts bringing temperatures below freezing. Reservations are essential, particularly for weekends and holidays, with many state parks booking up to six months in advance. Fire restrictions are common during dry summer months. Cell service varies by location but is generally reliable at developed campgrounds. The Texas State Parks Pass provides value for frequent visitors, offering discounted camping rates and free day-use entry.
The camping experience varies significantly between locations. State parks like Inks Lake offer more natural settings with hiking trails and water recreation. According to reviews, "Inks Lake is a quiet and relaxing camp area with more modern RV campgrounds nearest the designated swimming areas and more remote camp zones on the other side of the main entrance." Private RV resorts like Big Chief RV Resort in Burnet provide full hookups and amenities for longer stays. Hidden Falls Adventure Park combines camping with off-road vehicle trails. Primitive camping options at Shaffer Bend Recreation Area near Marble Falls provide more secluded experiences but with limited facilities. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the region, with visitors reporting deer, armadillos, and occasionally rattlesnakes.
$16 - $55 / night
"An hour and a half away from Austin, we found Inks Lake to be a quiet and relaxing camp area away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are several sites set up across the state park."
"It was a small drive from our camp to the devil's waterhole. It was a slippery climb in and out but a beautiful swim with people cliff jumping nearby and a view of some falls."
$10 - $100 / night
"This was some of the best TEXAS camping we've done. We found a really nice spot that was on the cliffside and had an incredible view of the hill country. It was isolated enough from other campsites."
"This park, for many people in the hill country of Texas, is the quintessential park to visit."
"This sounds like an amazing place to escape the Texas heat! The rope swing and swimming holes sound perfect for a fun day trip."
"Historic Texas camping& swimming site nestled in Spicewood, 30 miles from Austin. Ehall pass"
$15 - $30 / night
"Pace Bend is one of my most favorite places to camp in Texas. Not far from the old (and new!)"
"Pace Bend Park is conveniently located a short distance from the city of Austin and on the shores of Lake Travis. The park is managed by the Travis County Parks Department."
"It was really windy which seems to be normal in Texas! Beautiful pool and hot tub area. Laundry facility very clean. There was a free super bowl party in the community room. Tons of deer."
"Tucked away from busy roads. Cabins and other amenities on site. WiFi not the best at the spots near the water - but this made us slow down and enjoy the view. (WiFi better near the office.)"
"This is a great little place on Lake Travis. Going in the spring time is the best because of all the wildflowers. Trails are easy. Campsites are clean with a fire pit and a grill."
"We set up at site 15 it has an awesome view of the river/lake and it’s walking distance down to the waters edge. Great spot to fish for some bass or take a dip in the water."
"Was planning on tent camping nearby and left a day early and all the hotel room were booked. Tried finding a tent site and no luck. Found this place online and figured I'd give it a shot."
"The biggest plus of all was the fact that you can swim in the lake! How refreshing!!"
$15 - $600 / night
"They have excellent off road trails for stock trucks up to rock crawling rigs."
"HFAP is an off roaders enthusiast's oasis. With 9ver 2200 acres of full size offroad trails there is surely something there for every vehicle and skill level."
$38 / night
"Escape to Fishers of Men Ranch in Marble Falls, Texas! Nestled near Lake Buchanan, this 38-acre rustic retreat offers swimming, hiking, and unique natural features."
"Beautiful Central Texas trees, hiking, large fire rings, ample wildlife, free firewood and more. We went hours after 1 1/2” of rain, so roads (all dirt) were interesting, but easily drivable."
"Only there for one short night but it was delightful to sit in the water of lake Travis and watch the stars on a warm texas summer night."
"As you walk into the lake (walk fast if you dont want to get bitten) you will find pockets if cooler water spouting up. Its kinda like stepping into a refridgerator but underwater."
TravelerThe campground is full of trees, hook up for those who need them (clean water for refilling, and electrical for recharging.) nice spot to have bicycles at!
GuideHuge dog park with washing stations. Friendly staff
ScoutWe can’t brag enough about the amazing friendly staff form Management on down to even the awesome volunteers my husband & I along with our 3rd place Bronze winner of the doggy contest have been over hill happy at Buda RV Place for our 4 month stay. Come and join us friendly faces & clean places from the office to the showers, restrooms,laundry room and the hot tub and pool firer pit the list goes on catch & release lake, small beach doggy park and dog wash from Dec- current we are happy here
GuidePark is well laid out with spacious areas for each site. Some site pads could be bigger for longer rigs and foliage trimmed back for slides but the spots are nice and have plenty of outdoor room at each site. Pretty private with all of the trees. Restrooms are very clean. Camp hosts are very friendly and knowledgeable. Park has several trails and hiking. The swimming hole is a huge plus in the Texas heat.
LegendQuiet, safe, good location in Fredericksburg/Texas hill country. WiFi, nice clean bathrooms with some of the best RV park showers we've run across: Hottern' hell, easy to control temp & great pressure! Leave trash bagged at site between 0800 & 1400 for pick-up (trash valet), large fenced grassed dog run divided up into 2 sections side by side (fence is about 3 or 4' with water dish & water fill + another dog park for small dogs ~2' hi fence, lots of trees but they're not everywhere (not much shade though in spots just south of pool), herd of mellow goats borders one side (ram was head-butting tree), lots of birds, laundry was clean ($1.50 wash, .25 cent per dryer round). Some spaces are tight & close, some are not & have more space. We were in a very tightly packed area & so tobacco smoke drifted into our camper, so we shut windows in that side at night for a few days. Large rigs okay. Well kept swimming pool & hot tub. Friendly office staff. There is a fountain in front & dogs are ok to splash around in but ask the front desk first. Several restaurants within walking distance (Mexican, BBQ & Italian).
TravelerI’m so impressed. First of all we were looking for a place to camp while also being highly busy doing other multiple things and it got a little overwhelming. We came across this and while website turned us away we decided to take the chance. The lady at the gate was phenomenal and I hate I missed her on my way out! Reese you rock woman! She was extremely sweet and helpful. We literally found the most perfect spot we could have that day. The place is clean and quiet. Just what camping should be! You don’t need all that extra stuff. The biggest plus of all was the fact that you can swim in the lake! How refreshing!!
TravelerWe stayed here in March 2026 in a 38’ 5th wheel. Lake is beautiful and we saw people swimming here and boating. There are electric and water hookups and a dump station. It was 90° here March 20th.
ScoutGreat COE park near Georgetown, TX. Very clean, LOTS of cedar trees and very nice staff. Sites along the lake are some of the best I’ve experienced at any COE park.
ScoutCamp Tejas was very peaceful and I felt very safe here. Campsites are very well maintained porta potties as well. Has good fields of grass and beautiful old trees to shade the sites. The water was very pure and good. The trails along the river really well maintained. I discovered ribbons of courts crystal in the riverbed. So much space that even if the parking lot's full of recreation you don't really see anybody around. There's only 12 campsites so that's nice. And yeah if you don't want to be around RVs and electronics and want to do some basic camping and be one with nature this is the spot. The civilization isn't far away but far enough.
Camping near Horseshoe Bay, Texas occurs within the granite and limestone terrain of the Texas Hill Country, with elevations ranging from 800-1,100 feet. The area receives approximately 30 inches of annual rainfall, creating periodic flash flood conditions in low-lying camping areas. Most primitive camping sites feature oak and juniper tree cover, providing intermittent shade during summer months when temperatures regularly reach 100°F.
Rock climbing and cliff jumping: Access the limestone cliffs at Pace Bend Park for natural climbing routes and designated jumping areas. "My favorite part about this campsite is the ability to cliff jump into a lake. I love the water and this campsite was perfect for me," notes Aaron S. at Pace Bend Park.
Kayaking and canoeing: Rent equipment at Inks Lake State Park or bring your own for protected paddling areas. "Grab a kayak and paddle up and down Inks Lake. Set up your tent near hiking trails and lake access," suggests Jennifer J. at Inks Lake State Park.
Off-road vehicle trails: Hidden Falls Adventure Park maintains over 2,200 acres of trails ranging from beginner to expert difficulty levels. According to Chad L., "With over 2200 acres of full size offroad trails there is surely something there for every vehicle and skill level. From mild stock level all the way to extreme rock crawling."
Swimming in natural springs: Krause Springs offers natural swimming holes fed by underground springs. "Kids can jump off the small Cliffside or fly on the rope swing. If you like nature this is a dream spot," reports Brandi W.
Large, private campsites: The spacious sites at Pedernales Falls State Park provide ample room between neighbors. "The camp ground is wonderful. Very spread out and wooded for privacy between the campsites. Hook ups for both water and electricity, if needed," writes Kaitlyn M. at Pedernales Falls State Park.
Waterfront camping access: Several sites at Shaffer Bend Recreation Area sit directly along Lake Travis shoreline. "We set up at site 15 it has an awesome view of the river/lake and it's walking distance down to the waters edge. Great spot to fish for some bass or take a dip in the water," notes Steve L.
Natural swimming areas: The Devil's Waterhole at Inks Lake State Park provides cliff jumping opportunities. Brian V. explains, "The best swimming place is the Devil's Waterhole. There are some rocks on the far side that people climb up on to jump off of."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campsites around Horseshoe Bay regularly host native wildlife. At Colorado Bend State Park, "First 20 minutes at this park we had deer walking through our camp site," according to Andrea P. at Colorado Bend State Park.
Limited facilities at primitive sites: Shaffer Bend Recreation Area offers minimal amenities. "It is a primitive campground. The large camp area has a couple port-a-poties. At the gate entrance there are men's and women's rooms with running water. That's about 3 miles from the camp sites," warns Erik F.
Lake levels fluctuate seasonally: Water access can change based on drought conditions. "Be mindful that Lake Travis is not a constant level lake and this is a narrow and shallow part of the lake. There is a chance of low water levels," cautions Candice C.
Wildlife encounters: Venomous snakes are native to the area. "It's Texas and there is wildlife. We saw about a 5 ft rattlesnake," reports Candice C. at Shaffer Bend Recreation Area.
Cell service limitations: Digital connectivity decreases in more remote locations. Larry D. notes, "Forget about cell service. Curiously enough, I had WiFi because my RV spot was closest to the office. But neither my son nor I had cell service for some miles before arriving at the office area."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple parks offer fishing access without boats. Chris H. at Inks Lake State Park shares, "We were on a small loop that allowed our kids (8 and 6) to have some room to roam, and we were just a 50 yard walk from the fishing dock."
Explore cave systems: Colorado Bend State Park offers guided and self-guided cave tours. "They offer a guided cave tour. And they also have one cave that you can explore by yourself," notes Red S.
Consider animal-friendly parks: Some campgrounds welcome family pets while others don't. Kaitlyn M. notes Pedernales Falls is "Extremely dog friendly!" while Michelle M. points out that at Krause Springs, "Dogs are not allowed, but service dogs are. Just call them in advance and let them know."
Pack for flash flooding: Weather changes quickly in the Hill Country. Faith S. at Pedernales Falls State Park warns, "Made me aware of how serious flash flooding is here. Respect weather warnings!"
Site leveling challenges: Many Hill Country campgrounds have uneven terrain. At Big Chief RV Resort, "Sites were level and very clean," reports Tim M. at Big Chief RV Resort, while at Inks Lake, Alice R. notes "SITES ARE CLEAN BUT A BIT CHALLENGING TO BACK INTO, INCLINE AND COULD BE BIGGER. NO PULL THROUGHS."
Tree clearance concerns: Low branches can damage RVs in some campgrounds. Brandi W. cautions, "My only warning is low hanging trees everywhere. I couldn't imagine trying to navigate the campground in a 5th wheel or class A. You could do some rooftop damage."
Buddy sites available: Some parks offer paired sites for group camping. Lawrence P. explains, "We were staying with 2 other couples, who shared a 'buddy site' which was pretty cool! (never seen that before)."
Hookup variations: Electrical capacity differs between parks. TexasGirlOnTheRoad notes, "Clean, all the hookups you need," while other parks may offer limited or no hookups for larger rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an RV resort in Horseshoe Bay?
Yes, there are RV resort options in and around the Horseshoe Bay area. Big Chief RV Resort near Burnet is one of the closest full-service RV resorts to Horseshoe Bay, offering spacious sites with water, electric, and sewer hookups. It's big-rig friendly and provides lake access. Sienna Ridge RV Park is another excellent option in the Texas Hill Country, offering a relaxing atmosphere with full hookups and proximity to water recreation. Both resorts provide the amenities RV travelers expect, including WiFi, shower facilities, and laundry services. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak tourist seasons and weekends when the Horseshoe Bay area sees increased visitors.
Where can I camp near Horseshoe Bay?
The Texas Hill Country surrounding Horseshoe Bay offers several excellent camping options. Inks Lake State Park Campground is one of the closest options, about 20 minutes away, offering waterfront sites with modern amenities for both tents and RVs. The park provides a quiet retreat with designated swimming areas and multiple camping zones. Pedernales Falls State Park Campground is another popular choice within driving distance, featuring both developed sites and primitive camping with stunning Hill Country views. Both parks offer reservable sites, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails. For the best experience, book well in advance during peak seasons (spring and fall) as these locations are popular weekend destinations.
Can I find camping near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal?
For camping near the Horseshoe Bay area, Pace Bend Park - Lake Travis is a great option within reasonable driving distance. This park offers both developed and primitive camping areas along the shoreline of Lake Travis with opportunities for cliff jumping and swimming. Another option is Shaffer Bend Recreation Area, which provides beautiful Hill Country views and campsites situated near Lake Travis. Both locations offer water access and are clean, well-maintained options. While these campgrounds aren't immediately adjacent to any ferry terminal, they provide convenient access to the major water recreation areas in the region and are within reasonable driving distance of Horseshoe Bay.
Are there cabin rentals available in Horseshoe Bay?
While traditional campground cabins are limited directly in Horseshoe Bay, nearby options provide comfortable alternatives. Krause Springs near Spicewood offers rustic cabin rentals alongside their popular spring-fed swimming areas, providing a unique lodging experience about 30 minutes from Horseshoe Bay. For something more conventional, McKinney Falls State Park Campground offers cabin rentals with modern amenities, though it's a bit further away. Many visitors to the Horseshoe Bay area also consider vacation rentals through services like Airbnb and VRBO, which offer numerous cabin-style accommodations throughout the region. For the most comfortable experience, book cabins well in advance, especially during summer months and holiday weekends when demand peaks.
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