The best river, stream, or creek camping near Menard

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Pitch your tent in Menard and wake up with the river just steps away. With over 140 riverfront camping options, you can fish at dawn, hike rugged banks, or saddle up for horseback-riding in wide open Texas country. Campsites tend to offer toilets, showers, and pet-friendly spots, so you don’t have to rough it unless you want to. Prices start at $20 a night, with an average around $55. Locals swear by Low Gear Farmstead (655 reviews), or try Dos Rios - Hill Country Adventure (428 reviews) for a solid base after a day on the water. For a quieter stay, Hill Terrace (98 reviews) tucks you away from the crowds. Bring your rod, lace up your boots, and get ready to camp right where the river runs.

96% (1.3K) 50 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Menard

Dos Rios - Hill Country Adventure

1. Dos Rios - Hill Country Adventure

95%
(975)
37mi from Menard · 24 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
At the Confluence of the Mighty Llano River and the Majestic James River lies something completely unexpected - an undiscovered gem in the Texas hill country. The Dos Rios. We have over 19.3 acres of hill country beauty to explore. Take a casual dip in the mighty Llano River, or take the plunge off of 20-foot red rock cliffs into deep cool water. Kayak, canoe, swim, visit the Eckart Bat Cave, or take a scenic drive down the gorgeous James River Road (a winding gravel road that goes over several low water crossings on the crystal clear James River). Enjoy the island in front of the property, with its beaches and multiple access points to swimming holes. We also have camping, tiny homes, vintage airstreams, and modern glamping tents available (see other Hipcamp listings). Kayaks and canoes available for epic river trips too!
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from 
$24
 / night
Low Gear Farmstead

2. Low Gear Farmstead

99%
(1327)
8.8mi from Menard · 32 sites · Tents, RVs
Get into low gear and enjoy the slow pace and peace of our little working farm on the edge of the hill country. Low Gear Farmstead's 75 acres border the lovely San Saba River, providing campers the opportunity to swim, wade, fish and paddle. Farm animals including dairy goats, chickens, and horses inhabit the property, but wildlife such as deer, wild turkey, ringtail, fox and armadillo is also abundant. Bird watchers will be delighted at the diversity of birds, especially in spring. Don't forget to look up at night as our dark skies provide excellent stargazing on clear nights and a very visible Milky Way. We limit the number of campsites and spread them out so that campers may enjoy privacy and seclusion. Campsites are provided with compost toilets and most sites also have a fire ring. 4WD is not required unless we have had heavy rains, otherwise most vehicles, except very low clearance ones, do fine. The nearest town, Menard, is about a 12 minute drive from the property and has a grocery store, gas stations, a couple restaurants, a pub and a bakery. Lovers of history might enjoy visiting the Presidio de San Saba, about 20 minutes from the farm, as well as the historic Pioneers Rest Cemetery in town. Low Gear Farmstead is a safe, welcoming space for queers and POC.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$20
 / night
Cabin at the Ranch - Harper, TX

3. Cabin at the Ranch - Harper, TX

99%
(101)
42mi from Menard · 1 site · Lodging
The Ranch is our place we like to go when we need to get away. It's raw and it's nice land to camp, explore and enjoy wildlife. We have a Wildlife Exemption on the property and enjoy managing native song birds. We keep a constant flow of bird seed located in feeders around the ranch, and we have seen all kinds of birds making this a great place for birders. The ranch has nice elevation changes with a wet weather creek that traverses the property. There are some trails to hike or mountain bike. The cabin is rustic without plumbing or electricity, but we enjoy it and it's fun to think it's everything we would need. This is off-grid living all the way, and we are constantly learning new and better ways to do things. The cabin is located on the very first spot we pitched a tent after purchasing the land, and we continue to make improvements as we go. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$159
 / night
South Llano River State Park

4. South Llano River State Park

93%
(20)
69 sites · Junction, Texas
Float the day away on the river or get your cardio on hilly trails you share with charming wildlife.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
North Llano River RV Park

5. North Llano River RV Park

94%
(9)
29mi from Menard · 46 sites · RVs
North Llano River RV Park in Junction, Texas is the perfect place to stop for guests traveling along I-10. If you’re traveling west, stop here to relax and fuel up before driving through hundreds of miles of vast desert until you get to El Paso, Las Cruces or Phoenix, etc. If you’re headed East along I-10, our safe, quiet and scenic RV Park is a refreshing sight, as there are not many options for RV Parks along I-10 west of Junction.
Pets
Full hookups
from 
$55
 / night
Hill Terrace

6. Hill Terrace

100%
(133)
37mi from Menard · 8 sites · Lodging
The site sits near the junction of Bailey Creek and the South Llano River. The land is managed for bird watching and plant diversity and boast and astonishing variety of plant species. The Painted Bunting and the Black-throated Sparrow almost always available for view here. Hill Terrace Cabins One and Three began their existence as Depression era Girls Scout cabins. Humans have been on the site and estimated 7,000 years now and there is strong sense of peace and continuity in the land and waters here. An historical marker on site relates a famous shoot-out between The Texas Rangers and the infamous Potter gang. The wells are shallow, spring fed, and sweet with limestone, so bring your favorite tea or coffee. And a hat! The river is flowing well, but burn bans may be in effect.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$175
 / night

Pitch your tent in Menard and wake up with the river just steps away. With over 140 riverfront camping options, you can fish at dawn, hike rugged banks, or saddle up for horseback-riding in wide open Texas country. Campsites tend to offer toilets, showers, and pet-friendly spots, so you don’t have to rough it unless you want to. Prices start at $20 a night, with an average around $55. Locals swear by Low Gear Farmstead (655 reviews), or try Dos Rios - Hill Country Adventure (428 reviews) for a solid base after a day on the water. For a quieter stay, Hill Terrace (98 reviews) tucks you away from the crowds. Bring your rod, lace up your boots, and get ready to camp right where the river runs.

96% (1.3K) 50 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Menard

Dos Rios - Hill Country Adventure

1. Dos Rios - Hill Country Adventure

95%
(975)
37mi from Menard · 24 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
At the Confluence of the Mighty Llano River and the Majestic James River lies something completely unexpected - an undiscovered gem in the Texas hill country. The Dos Rios. We have over 19.3 acres of hill country beauty to explore. Take a casual dip in the mighty Llano River, or take the plunge off of 20-foot red rock cliffs into deep cool water. Kayak, canoe, swim, visit the Eckart Bat Cave, or take a scenic drive down the gorgeous James River Road (a winding gravel road that goes over several low water crossings on the crystal clear James River). Enjoy the island in front of the property, with its beaches and multiple access points to swimming holes. We also have camping, tiny homes, vintage airstreams, and modern glamping tents available (see other Hipcamp listings). Kayaks and canoes available for epic river trips too!
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from 
$24
 / night
Low Gear Farmstead

2. Low Gear Farmstead

99%
(1327)
8.8mi from Menard · 32 sites · Tents, RVs
Get into low gear and enjoy the slow pace and peace of our little working farm on the edge of the hill country. Low Gear Farmstead's 75 acres border the lovely San Saba River, providing campers the opportunity to swim, wade, fish and paddle. Farm animals including dairy goats, chickens, and horses inhabit the property, but wildlife such as deer, wild turkey, ringtail, fox and armadillo is also abundant. Bird watchers will be delighted at the diversity of birds, especially in spring. Don't forget to look up at night as our dark skies provide excellent stargazing on clear nights and a very visible Milky Way. We limit the number of campsites and spread them out so that campers may enjoy privacy and seclusion. Campsites are provided with compost toilets and most sites also have a fire ring. 4WD is not required unless we have had heavy rains, otherwise most vehicles, except very low clearance ones, do fine. The nearest town, Menard, is about a 12 minute drive from the property and has a grocery store, gas stations, a couple restaurants, a pub and a bakery. Lovers of history might enjoy visiting the Presidio de San Saba, about 20 minutes from the farm, as well as the historic Pioneers Rest Cemetery in town. Low Gear Farmstead is a safe, welcoming space for queers and POC.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$20
 / night
Cabin at the Ranch - Harper, TX

3. Cabin at the Ranch - Harper, TX

99%
(101)
42mi from Menard · 1 site · Lodging
The Ranch is our place we like to go when we need to get away. It's raw and it's nice land to camp, explore and enjoy wildlife. We have a Wildlife Exemption on the property and enjoy managing native song birds. We keep a constant flow of bird seed located in feeders around the ranch, and we have seen all kinds of birds making this a great place for birders. The ranch has nice elevation changes with a wet weather creek that traverses the property. There are some trails to hike or mountain bike. The cabin is rustic without plumbing or electricity, but we enjoy it and it's fun to think it's everything we would need. This is off-grid living all the way, and we are constantly learning new and better ways to do things. The cabin is located on the very first spot we pitched a tent after purchasing the land, and we continue to make improvements as we go. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$159
 / night
South Llano River State Park

4. South Llano River State Park

93%
(20)
69 sites · Junction, Texas
Float the day away on the river or get your cardio on hilly trails you share with charming wildlife.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
North Llano River RV Park

5. North Llano River RV Park

94%
(9)
29mi from Menard · 46 sites · RVs
North Llano River RV Park in Junction, Texas is the perfect place to stop for guests traveling along I-10. If you’re traveling west, stop here to relax and fuel up before driving through hundreds of miles of vast desert until you get to El Paso, Las Cruces or Phoenix, etc. If you’re headed East along I-10, our safe, quiet and scenic RV Park is a refreshing sight, as there are not many options for RV Parks along I-10 west of Junction.
Pets
Full hookups
from 
$55
 / night
Hill Terrace

6. Hill Terrace

100%
(133)
37mi from Menard · 8 sites · Lodging
The site sits near the junction of Bailey Creek and the South Llano River. The land is managed for bird watching and plant diversity and boast and astonishing variety of plant species. The Painted Bunting and the Black-throated Sparrow almost always available for view here. Hill Terrace Cabins One and Three began their existence as Depression era Girls Scout cabins. Humans have been on the site and estimated 7,000 years now and there is strong sense of peace and continuity in the land and waters here. An historical marker on site relates a famous shoot-out between The Texas Rangers and the infamous Potter gang. The wells are shallow, spring fed, and sweet with limestone, so bring your favorite tea or coffee. And a hat! The river is flowing well, but burn bans may be in effect.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$175
 / night

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field