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The best camping near Buescher State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Buescher adventure.

83% (3 reviews)
83% (3 reviews)

Woodlands and a small lake offer a quiet retreat in the Lost Pine Forest of central Texas.  

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Community favorites near Buescher State Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Buescher State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Buescher State Park

100%
(6)

Wild and Boujee Ranch

10 sites ¡ RVs, Tents100 acres ¡ Smithville, TX
100 acres on the Colorado river! Great fishing, beautiful blue bonnets (during season) swimming, boating, walking trails, cows and donkeys to watch grazing, bird watching, and plenty more at this one of a kind ranch. Relax and enjoy unobstructed views of the stars. Kids are welcome to enjoy the great outdoors!
from 
$55
 / night
97%
(350)

River Forest Haven

46 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents30 acres ¡ Del Valle, TX
River Forest Haven is a unique space that seeks to bring you closer to nature. We do not artificially light the camp and we strive to leave as much of the property in its natural state as we can. This provides a unique experience that is not your typical campground as we keep all of our campsites tucked under lush natural canopies. Car and tent camping works great! For most sites, you can easily drive up to your spot. Arrive, take a look around and settle into your site. We are always happy to deliver any of our items from our general store- just message us on HipCamp and we will come by. With nearly half a mile of Colorado riverfront to swim, fish, toob, paddle-board, kayak, and canoe*, along with 30 acres to hike and explore, River Forest Haven is also a quick 20-minute drive from downtown Austin.THINGS OF NOTE: ⁃ cell phone service is mostly non-existent ⁃ firewood can be brought or bought, but not collected.
from 
$40
 / night
96%
(189)

CampEZ in SxSAustinTX

19 sites ¡ Tents2 acres ¡ Austin, TX
Once owned by locally famous (at the time) D.G. Burrow who was a performing Country and Western musician here in Austin TX. Our 'campground/farmette' is about 2 acres (inside the city limits!), on a creek, kind of woodsy, and next to a pretty vast parkland greenbelt. Recent flooding made quite a mess but it's still pleasant here. Several friendly and permanent residents and farm animals. Creek-side private campground hideaway available. This is a CAMPGROUND: NO RV, ROOM, BED, INVOLVED - BRING A TENT AND GEAR FOR COMFORT (check my other listings for an RV stay). This a "want to camp" campground. If you "need to camp" due to financial or other reasons, Camp EZ will likely not be a good fit for you. Not suitable for very young children . Please include your child in your count. Campfires in designated area only with permission (burn ban sometimes). Bring firewood. Community vibe 'round here; everyone is expected to be respectful of one another and clean up after themselves "leave no trace" style. One week maximum stay. Bring a tent and gear needed to be comfortable. 2 private hot outdoor showers, rustic kitchen and 2 charming compost priveys included. Wood fired sauna available. Visitors are expected to clean up after themselves especially in the kitchen, showers, restroom and, of course, your campsite. Trash and recycle containers are around or, better yet, pack it out! Campfires in designated area only with permission (burn ban sometimes). Bring firewood. We are a 2 acre community on a secret and secluded little street 5 miles due South of the capitol of TX and even closer (2.5) to the very hip SoCo area (Continental Club, Jo's Coffee, Guero's Taco Bar, El Mercado and lots more). I have 3 cats, 11 chickens, 2 little donkeys and 6 sweet mini goats here at my little and funky 'farmette' right on Williamson Creek (sometimes flowing and not really swimmable) and next to a huge wooded greenbelt with a quiet and unused nature trail. This is not a KOA or a state park. This is a home campground. It's kind of rustic and we like it that way. You may see a roach, ant or cricket and you may also see a deer, fox or coyote. We are busy and not always able to visit for long. Lots of remodeling and flood related cleanup chaos here but also lots of pretty and secluded nature. Short walk to bus stop and historic Sagebrush HonkyTonk and Austin Bergstrom Airport is 9 easy highway miles away. Rustic outdoor shower/kitchen/privy. BYOTent. No wild or excessive partying here please and please remember: no smoking :) WE NOW HAVE A COVERED PING-PONG PLAYING AREA AND BADMINTON TOO!​ Other details to note: Street parking. Camping is a very short walk from parking lot. We have carts to tote your gear if needed. Sorry, this campground is not set up to be able to park next to your site. We do not supply towels, toiletries, tents or bedding. Camp fire in designated fire pits only with approval. BYO Firewood. NO GENERATORS OR RECORDED MUSIC. Quiet time: 9PM-9AM. Please be mindful of your neighbors. -Jim O' (Did I mention rustic?)
from 
$25
 / night
99%
(135)

Colorado RiverBend Retreat

6 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents12 acres ¡ Smithville, TX
This 12.4 acres of wildlife on the Colorado River is full of so much natural beauty! We're Located In Smithville Tx Home Of Hope Floats! 5 mins from downtown! Plenty of stores if needed! Roundtop And Lagrange Tx home of the antique shows (15-25 mins) Sherwood Forest Fair (25mins) Beautiful Historis Bastrop (12mins) 🚨PSA Please Be Advised🚨 This Is The Country Where Folks Do Hunt And Shoot!! Although Your Completely Safe, You MAY Or May NOT Hear Gun Shots!! If You Have A FurBaby That Is Panicked And Stressed From Fireworks Popping And/Or Gunfire ( AS I DO ) It May Be Best 2 Leave Them Home,, To Prevent Any Uncomfortable Anxieties That May Occur IF there happens to be gun shots. PLEASE NOTE (TP) CAN BE PURCHASED BUT IS NO LONGER PROVIDED AS WELL AS TOWEL BUNDLES. PLEASE BE MINDFUL THE PRIVATE DOCK IS THE RIVERRAT SHACK BNB GUESTS' RIVER ACCESS!! Please be respectful and courteous to All Guests and their campsite's and individual spaces!! 🙏 Be Advised We Have Free Grazing Cattle So You Will See Them Passing Through The Camp!! They're NOSEY But Friendly! A Gentle Shew And They'll Be Out Of Your Way!!! 📢 PSA 📢 Reading The Shower Instructions Is Best Done B4 Entering The Shower!! Always turn the hot on 1st and do not add any cold until it's All The Way HOT 🥵 📣Attention Campervan's 📣 A Campervan is a type of RV And RVs Are Only Allowed @ Campsite 3 As To Not Block The River Views From Other Camper's. If You Have A Campervan And Want To Be @ A Bank Site.... You'll Need To Get Permissions From The Host 1st, B4 Booking!! 🙏 This Can Be Accommodated But Will Have To Be Ironed Out Ahead Of Time!
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$66
 / night
92%
(524)

Texas Music River Ranch

35 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents111 acres ¡ Webberville, TX
The Texas Music River Ranch is 111 acres located in the quaint village of Webberville, Texas, only 20 miles east of downtown Austin. The large oak and pecan trees amid the rolling green hills of this gorgeous ranch land are nestled on the banks of the lazy Colorado River. Swim, kayak, or canoe...but there’s no better way to beat the legendary Texas heat than by grabbing an inner tube and enjoying a calm, steady float along a river known for an abundance of fossils and its wildlife. Bring your own tubes, kayaks and canoes, we are currently replenishing our inventory. Or perhaps you prefer to fish the shady tree-lined banks. Either way, you'll see a variety of birds while you relax on or beside the cool waters of the Colorado River. We're kid and dog friendly and we love musicians. Bring an instrument and join us for an impromptu jam session in our special events room or around the campfire. Cook dinner on our BBQ pit. Firewood is available onsite A few rules... 1. Check in is before sunset 2. No wondering by the upper level cabins (these are private property). Showers are behind these cabins. Please respect staff spaces. 3. If you have an extra vehicle, please park it with your other vehicle. 4. If you have a 3rd extra vehicle, let us know and we will direct you where to park it. 5. Please be courteous of other campers space and road access. 6. All kids are free. If your kids are 17 and under do not add them or it will charge. 7. If you have an impairment please let us know before booking so that we can ensure a space is ready and suitable for you. 8. If you have an RV please book through TMRR No Hookup, TMRR Electric only Hookup or TMRR Electric and Water Hookup. If you have any questions or concerns, contact our Office phone @ (737)318-8412 Office Hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-9pm, Sunday 11am-6pm We look forward to making your acquaintance and sharing our little piece of Central Texas heaven with you, your family, and your friends.
from 
$30
 / night
Booked 1 time

Lost Pines Smithville

1 site ¡ RV, Tent2 acres ¡ Smithville, TX
We purchased the property as a forest back in 2007. We cut down a little bit of the forest to build our house. Some of the forest burned down in the great Bastrop wildfire in 2011, but it has grown back. Native Americans once lived here. Sometimes you can find arrowheads. Learn more about this land: Lost Pines camping is located on a gravel dead-end road. We are in a pine forest and have a two-acre lake on the property that is good for swimming. Bastrop and Buescher State Parks are nearby and easy to access through back roads. Blackberries can be picked for a month or so in springtime. The land is a bit hilly. Downtown Bastrop and Downtown Smithville are both a ten-minute drive away. There are 1 RV site and 1 tent site. The tent site is a hike into the forest. The other is alongside the parking area.
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$29
 / night
100%
(6)

JFF Ranch

11 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents12 acres ¡ TX
We are located on 12 wooded acres. We have goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and, of course, our dogs and cats. We are located approximately 12 miles from Buescher/Bastrop State Park and approximately 15 miles from Rocky Hill Ranch, a mountain bike ranch. There is kayak rental available in both Smithville and Bastrop, where you can kayak down the Colorado River. Smithville has some unique, local restaurants or you can grill at your campsite on the gas grill provided.
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$25
 / night
96%
(27)

Glat Austin at Lake Bastrop North Shore Park

12 sites ¡ Lodging182 acres ¡ Camp Swift, TX
Our purpose is to offer you different accommodation options, so that you can live with your family and friends the experience of enjoying an unforgettable vacation in absolute comfort; without missing anything. You will find all sorts of ways to commune with nature at Lake Bastrop North Shore Park. Its 182 acres are nestled in the Lost Pines region and reside on Lake Bastrop – a place where fishermen thrive catching award-winning largemouth bass. Rent one of the park’s kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards or corcls (round watercraft for children) to take out on the lake. Pack your hiking boots and hit the 4.5-mile trail, offering an intermediate challenge for users with various inclines and descents, which connects to LCRA Parks’ Lake Bastrop South Shore Park. Along the trail, you can spot whitetail deer, jackrabbits, lizards and the occasional grey fox. Once you’ve arrived at the other park, you can show off your spike shot in a game of sand volleyball or tee off in a round of mini golf. Lake Bastrop North Shore Park also has a camp store for firewood, ice, snacks and souvenirs to make your camping experience even more pleasurable.
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$200
 / night
100%
(813)

Happy Horse Camp & RV Getaway

15 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents22 acres ¡ Cedar Creek, TX
GET AWAY without going FAR AWAY! Feels like the middle of nowhere, but it's only 25 miles to downtown Austin and 15 miles to the charming little town of Bastrop with its eateries, shops and historic buildings. Spend quiet nights in the country listening to the coyotes howl and the owls hoot. Hike the nearby Roughs (trailhead is 2 miles away) or book a river canoe or kayak trip with one of the local outfitters. Bring the family and have a weekend event under the trees and covered shade of our Pony Pavilion! Hollis and her wonderful voice, great stories and powerful ukuleles now offer LIVE MUSIC by your very own campfire, for your private enjoyment. (See the EXTRAS category to book a $20/45 minute/weather-permitting show, or a 1-hour Ukulele lesson, or just get with Hollis when you show up at camp) Enjoy the park trails, the Happy Horse on-site Scavenger Hunt, the delightful maze of campground trails (on your bikes!) and the peace and quiet! Happy Horse Hotel is on 22 acres conveniently located between Austin and Bastrop in the Pope Bend of the Colorado River. LCRA's fabulous McKinney Roughs Nature Park is 2 miles up the road, adjacent to the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort. The camp area is 9 secluded, fenced and wooded acres laced with all-dirt flat biking and walking trails on our property. We encourage you to bring your bicycles along. The bird watching is great!
from 
$45
 / night
96%
(23)

Amanda S.’s Land

20 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres ¡ Thrall, TX
from 
$15
 / night
99%
(435)

The Best Dam Spot

8 sites ¡ Tents3 acres ¡ Staples, TX
4 dispersed campsites are located on a large gravel bar facing a beautiful private waterfall. Camping is walk-in from the parking lot. No overlanding rigs, RV or car camping allowed at campsites. Camping spot includes: unlimited river access, use of kayaks and paddle boards, a semi-private outdoor shower with hot and cold water, a rinse off shower and a clean outdoor port-a-potty that is regularly sanitized. No personal/composting toilets allowed. Please only use the restroom in the portalet provided. Small campfires are allowed (burn ban permitting). Campers are responsible for bringing their own firewood. *Climbing on the dam structure is strictly prohibited. *The cotton gin (big metal building) is private, for reserved parties only. **No tent air conditioners or electric heaters allowed** (small fans/ electric blankets are permitted) *Please arrive BEFORE dark to check-in. No check-ins after dark. *Children 5 and under are free! (please add children in this age group to your booking in our "Extras"). *Day passes are available for $25 per person/per day. Please add them to your reservation. **ALL campers staying on property MUST check-in upon arrival, sign Release of Liability Consent form and pick-up wristband. *To book the entire property, please reach out to me for info/pricing.
from 
$50
 / night
95%
(249)

Off Grid Immersion Camp

9 sites ¡ Lodging, Tents85 acres ¡ Dale, TX
****Recent Update**** Due to new adjacent properties developments, and new neighbors moving in nearby, there are occasional neighboring barking, music and gunshots that can be heard from the distance, which is pretty common out in the countryside here. *************************************************************************************** There is currently a group of 10 people who spend the majority of our time living and striving to create community on these 85 beautiful acres of land. Our goals are to establish a thriving community, grow most of our own food, build tiny houses to rent or sell, create sustainability and be as self sufficient as possible, salvage material for builds, host events and retreats, teach classes, and more. Please feel free to ask questions and share any interest you may have in what we are doing here. Our property is a densely forested 85 acres with a walk-able 2 miles around the perimeter of the property and many trails and hidden nooks to explore throughout the heart of this beautiful escape back to our natural roots. We are in the process of mapping out the trails- which we plan to make available soon! For now those of you with a sense of adventure and desire to explore will certainly be satisfied. We have a full acre size pond and a kayak that you can feel free to use. There is a communal area around the pond that we will be adding to in the near future- you may run into some of our community members or other campers there from time to time, we invite you to socialize, bring a chair, perhaps a beverage or snack and get to know each other and us as well if we cross paths! You will observe and encounter wildlife in abundance including a variety of birds, wild hogs, opossums, armadillo, moles, spiders, scorpions, butterflies, praying mantis, walking sticks, snakes- keep an eye out for rattlesnakes and copperheads, deer, many insects, and more. Please be cautious and treat these creatures' home with respect for them as well as yourselves. Our property is also home to some lovely cows, chickens, a few dogs, and several cats- they (other than the cows who do what they please) generally remain in areas away from our camp sites though they may still decide to stop by to say hello! We have many spaces available for camping throughout the property. These are primitive campsites on raw land so you will need to provide your own tent, water, food, and operate with a leave no trace mentality when camping here. There are areas that can accommodate large groups of campers as well as very secluded nooks if you are looking for a private retreat into nature. There is plenty of fallen wood available for firewood and a fire pit will be prepared for you before arrival!
from 
$25
 / night

The best camping near Buescher State Park guide

Overview

About

Just 45 minutes from Austin, Buescher State Park offers more than 1,000 acres of woodlands, including loblolly pines and the former state champion cedar elm, Big Tree. The 30-acre Buescher Lake is a highlight with tranquil paddling and boating, plus crappie, catfish, bass, and trout. The park features miles of hiking and biking trails, though serious bikers will want to tackle the challenging but scenic 12-mile road between Buescher and its larger sibling, Bastrop State Park. Plenty of wildlife, including deer, bobcats, armadillos, and more than 250 species of birds, also call the park home. Three campgrounds, cabins, and screened shelters offer plenty of space to stay overnight.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for hikers and bikers: Lakeview Campground offers easy access to the Winding Woodland Trail and Park Road 1C connecting Buescher and Bastrop parks.
  • Best for lake views and access: Oak Haven Campground is the closest to the canoe and kayak launch and fishing.
  • Best for families: Cozy Circle Campground is right next to a playground area.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. During peak season, plan to make a reservation as soon as you know your dates. Campsites and cabins can be reserved up to five months in advance. 
  2. If your plans are flexible, try to visit during the week or during non-holiday periods to beat the crowds. 
  3. For those traveling light, plan to arrive early to claim one of the five primitive and walk-in campsites that are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.

When to go

The park is open year-round and sees fewer visitors than its larger neighbor, Bastrop State Park. Temperatures can soar in summer, but visitors are not permitted to swim in the lake, which limits cooling options. Spring and fall are the best times to catch migrating birds. Anglers looking to catch trout should visit in winter, when the lake is stocked with rainbow trout.

Know before you go

  • Swimming is not permitted in the lake. Visitors can use the swimming pool at Bastrop State Park (open from May through September).
  • Only non-motorized boats are permitted on the lake. Canoe and kayak rentals are available.
  • You don’t need a fishing license to fish inside the park. Loaner fishing gear is available.
  • Three campsites (sites 5, 31, and 52) and one cabin (#1) are wheelchair-accessible.
  • The 12-mile Park Road 1C between Buescher and Bastrop state parks is hilly and winding, and should only be attempted by experienced cyclists.
  • Fires are permitted in fire rings only. Bring your own firewood or purchase from the camp store, as gathering firewood in the park is prohibited.
  • Pets are allowed in the park but not inside any buildings or camping cabins.

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