Hello all, looking for recommendations on locations that you know are good for camping and swimming with dogs.

We have a big group, three tents. One tent has three dogs, and one tent has one dog. We are not bringing our dogs personally, but others in our group are determined to bring theirs, complicating things. We were looking at camping in May when it would be warm enough to swim. While it won't be scorching, it will be warm enough that I would feel bad for the dogs if they're not allowed to cool off in the water.

I initially looked into Garner, but dogs are not welcome in the water or on the land near water - which, honestly, is valid. This group is responsible in the sense that these are well-behaved/quiet dogs, and their waste will be picked up/food not left out, but I do understand a dog's inherent impact on the environment. Another potential problem is the algae, which is a known issue in central Texas.

We are located between Austin/New Braunfels but are willing to travel 3-5 hours max.

Hi, I am looking at taking the family (wife and 2 boys 8 and 11) in March for a tent camp to Lake Livingston State Park. It looks like an amazing park but we have an 8-man tent and most of the sites I can see on the TPWD website seem to have limited space due to the amount of trees. Is it easy to find space for that kind of tent footprint? And is so, which areas/loops are recommended? Specific campsite recommendations would be even better. Many thanks.

Please help me out, (this is getting me crazy), but I thought that there was a Texas state park on the west area side of the Guadalupe mountains national park that was only accessible driving thru New Mexico to get to it, but I can't find any reference to it now. am I wrong or just looking in the wrong spot? thanks all.

If a park is showing sold out for day passes online does anyone know if they still have a limited number of passes available at the gate? I understand you’re not guaranteed entry if you don’t pre purchase a pass, but do they save some availability for drive up visitors?

Update I posted my question here because the park’s phones were down today, but I was getting conflicting responses in another group thread so I called the TX State Parks reservation line for an answer. They told me that at South Llano River, the sites aren’t numbered and campers can pick their spot when they arrive from what’s available.

When making an online reservation for South Llano River SP, do the 5 primitive site numbers correspond with actual sites or are the sites first come/first serve, like at Lost Maples? Thanks!

I'm heading down to PINS with the wife and 2 young daughters this coming weekend and was going to stay somewhere around yarborough pass, basically just drive and find a nice place to set up camp.

Once we set up camp we dont plan on venturing too much further other than just hanging out.

Any tips? Is that generally a good area? Any other recommendations?

So, I’m coming from a camping background of Colorado and Washington state where you could just drive up into the mountains and pull off in some random clearing to camp. (Usually)

Is there anything like that here in Texas? Even if you have to pay for a specific “clearing” me and a dad both bought adventure bikes recently and plan to go do overnight trips on them. I know it might not be the best place to ask but not too sure where else!

We are in central Texas btw

Hello, I'm wondering if anyone knows of any good spots for thru-hiking with 1 dog. If you do, could you please tell the class about your experience!

When I first moved to Texas we could buy day passes at the gate.

Last year friends and I drove out there to be turned away, they said there were no more day passes available for the day.

I managed to get a camping date for November 22nd, hoping it's still really pretty. I've never been that late in the year. All the day passes are more are sold out.

Are day passes at the gate still a thing or is the park so popular it's officially a thing of the past?

Curious about the camping / shelter situation along the way if it is a two day trip.

Also curious… what if I only have one car Lol?? How do I get back?

Are there any good swim spots in Palo Duro SP? Never spent an extended amount of time there and was curious.

Me and some buddies are looking to find a place in Texas to camp out in and has good hikes ideally not more than 4 hours from our starting spot in nacogdoches texas

I have some of my sons friends about to take a 10 day primative camping from Auburn to Sedona and back probably taking a southern trip through San Antonio etc then coming back through Oklahoma and Arkansas. I think their first camp will be around San Antonio.

They are experienced hikers and campers but 20 year old students so they are budget camping and also idiots. They have interest in paranormal activity. Any cool places to camp and explore, or ideas appreciated.

Could be a great trip or episode of unsolved mysteries so trying to help them out and make sure they avoid the really sketchy shit.

Any information appreciated and I will pass it on.

I got reservations at the live oak camp site. My reservation lists 50 amps but I think Live Oak has 20/30/50 amps too as listed on the webpage below. Does anyone know if it’s just the 50 amp listed that’s available at your campsite or if they included the 20/30? I’ve been to some parks where there is all three by the camp site. Unfortunately I respected late and just got what was available.

I called and asked but the park staff on the line wasn’t sure.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/garner/fees-facilities/campsites

Planning to hike and possibly canoe/kayak Pedernales in August. How is the hike/swim for dogs? It doesn’t appear to be off-leash, but seems otherwise pet friendly.

Has anyone hiked with their dogs recently? Were the dogs allowed to swim?

My daughter wants go do a bit of "deep camping", away from light polution and not at a place like COA, she wants to be in the woods, not on a pad 10 ft from other campers. We plqn do this in late winter or early spring.of 2025. We have been to a few survival classes and have done some basic camping. We would appreciate some recommendations for intermediate camping areas that would be in the woods. Thank you .

Thinking of visiting Garner in the fall for a random camping weekend (not Thanksgiving). Will it be too cold to swim then?