Hey, y'all! I was web cruiser and came upon this site and a forum thread talking about the Austin City Limits music festival. As the topic was camp sites, I ended up running a search on recreational areas as I've daughter who's coming of age when camping is going to be a whole lot of fun for her. So, I decided to share my info.
I didn't intend to have it be so long but once I started looking into the possibilities, I also started remembering the crazy and unusual times I've spent on my camping trips here. Although a bit long, I think you'll discover a flavor of Austin. If any of you are able to make it for the festival, don't forget about visiting the Barton Springs. It's truly a jewel; you'll not want to miss it. AND ... it's right across the street from the festival so if you should need a dip, you'll the find the waters a refreshing 68 degrees .. year 'round.
Finally, if you should make it to Austin and for some reason there aren't any RV or camp sites available, let me know. I've an acre west of Austin; my little house sits on part of it so there's at least 1/2 acre left. Of course I've no hookups but there are always solar showers (and my bathroom).
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Texas State Park Reservations site and intra-website links to all state data about the Texas park system.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/park_reservations/
The Lower Colorado River Authority site. This link is VERY good as it lists ALL the parks, recreation areas, sites with water access, etc, etc, in the Lower Colorado River Basin. If you should decide to spend only one or two days at the festival, you could choose any of these options.
http://www.lcra.org/parksearch/results.html#developed-parks
Texas Outside: This site is not gov't affliated; I used it's lcoational criteria to list the Austin area parks below. It provides park information by either city or name, whether it is lake camping, private, KOA, or state or CORP, or Travis County parks. Also, it ranks them.
http://www.texasoutside.com/campMain.html
The imp data below is that it provides information about public parks in the greater Austin Area in helpful manner and also lists the private RV parks.
Private RV Parks:
http://www.texascampgrounds.com/parks_found.php?parkname=&homecity=Austin&city=&FormsButton1=Search+for+Parks
A park locater by city.
http://www.texasoutside.com/txorails/public/reviews/campground_full_list
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So .... here goes ... The following is the list of parks that are probably of most interest to you given they have all the facilities (save for one) that you need and are close in.
Bastrop State Park: Avery nice park located approx. 30 miles outside of Austin. It sits within an area of "lost pines." An archeaologist friend of mine told me a number of years ago this small little "forest" is migrating in that over very long periods of time it reseeds itself in a particular direction. It has very quaint rock cabins built by the CCW in the 30's. It's been years since I've tried to get a booking but one usually has to jump at the chance to reserve one. The campsites are just fine, though.
http://www.texasoutside.com/txorails/public/reviews/show_campground/33
Map of Bastrop State Park Trails
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4505_043l.pdf
Emma State Long Park: This park is nearly right across the river from me. By boat, it's a small ride from one shoreline to the other but by car it's over a 30 minute drive. As the park is right on the shoreline, it's has flat sites. The park is known to get quite busy but I would not think it would be very busy as the festival is in Sept. However, it's still fairly accessible and popular so there could still be a fairly high degree of activity. When I first moved to Austin, I worked with a girl who's second job was a grill cook at the now defunct Pier Restaurant. As she had to get across the river to get to work, she needed to ask a boater for a ride every night. She told me she never was turned down!
http://www.texasoutside.com/txorails/public/reviews/show_campground/5
McKinney Falls State Park: A nice park that they've certainly kept up but I don't know much about the camping, only the water and if we've have, it's really nice.
http://www.texasoutside.com/txorails/public/reviews/show_campground/12
Park Map
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4505_090d.pdf
Pace Bend Park: Also located approx 30 miles outside of Austin. It's a really big park with many different types of campsites. You can park yourself near a cliff and watch the folks jump off of them or find a more secluded site. All sites are close to the water ... which you'll surely enjoy to cool off in. When I first moved to Texas, I saw my first Armadillos here. As it was dark, they scurried away pretty fast but I did get a good look at them; I was pretty astonished to see these little snort-faced, armor-covered piglets scooting away. This was also the time when people swam and sunned in their birthday suits but I wouldn't think it's that way now. On another camping here after I was baptized with my first 'Dillo siting, my beer-laden brain shortcircuted and I decided to climb up a really steep cliff ... probably to get another beer. Of course I slid down the whole thing severly spraining my ankle. There happened to be an EMT sunning himself and he'd witnessed my fall. He swam over and checked me over ... and he was BUCKNAKED!! (He looked pretty good, too.) When my boyfriend loaded me into his VW bug, another woman, fully clothed, asked if I was okay and gave me a pain pill. Hey, IT'S AUSTIN!
http://www.texasoutside.com/txorails/public/reviews/show_campground/122
Map of Pace Bend
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/tnr/parks/pdf_files/pacebend.pdf
Hippie Hollow is listed somewhere as being a camping spot but they must've been referring to day camping when folks camp out to watch the naked people. If you want to go au natural, this place is your destination. All types of people go here but about 2 to 4 yrs ago, the Austin Gay and Lesbian Club rented a double-decker houseboat to glide across the water near this Hollow. Unfortunately, as the craft was parellel to the shore, all the boaters were on one side of the ship gazing at the pretty rocks (not!) on the shore and the thing completely tipped over! Luckily, no one was hurt. (However, there have been at least two deaths from boaters who have rented these houseboats so if y'all should decide to rent one, PLEASE be careful.)
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/tnr/parks/hippie_hollow.asp
Lonestar RV Park: I've never been hear but it looks cute from the website photos.
http://www.texasoutside.com/txorails/public/reviews/show_campground/117
That's it, folks. Hook 'em Horns, Rochelle
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 9:26 pm