The best family-friendly glamping near Smithville, Texas

Looking for a camping adventure near Smithville, Texas? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 1000 options in the area, you're sure to find the perfect campsite to suit your needs. Whether you're a fan of pitching a tent or prefer the comfort of an RV, we've got you covered. Prices start as low as $10 per night, with an average price of $45 per night. Looking for top-rated campsites? Check out Lost Woods with 380 reviews, Happy Horse Camp & RV Getaway with 321 reviews, or The Best Dam Spot with 292 reviews. Trash, potable water, and campfires are popular amenities, while wind sports, off-roading (OHV), and historic sites are among the favorite activities. Explore the great outdoors with Hipcamp!

99% (974)

Top-rated campgrounds

Looking for a camping adventure near Smithville, Texas? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 1000 options in the area, you're sure to find the perfect campsite to suit your needs. Whether you're a fan of pitching a tent or prefer the comfort of an RV, we've got you covered. Prices start as low as $10 per night, with an average price of $45 per night. Looking for top-rated campsites? Check out Lost Woods with 380 reviews, Happy Horse Camp & RV Getaway with 321 reviews, or The Best Dam Spot with 292 reviews. Trash, potable water, and campfires are popular amenities, while wind sports, off-roading (OHV), and historic sites are among the favorite activities. Explore the great outdoors with Hipcamp!

99% (974)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. River Forest Haven

95%

(509)

27mi from Smithville · 48 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · 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.

2. Colorado RiverBend Retreat #CRBR

99%

(267)

3.7mi from Smithville · 6 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Smithville, TX

This 12acres of wildlife on the Colorado is full of natural beauty! WE HAVE HOT 🥵 SHOWERS 🚿 AND FLUSHING POTTY! We're In Smithville Tx Home Of Hope Floats! 5 mins from downtown! Plenty of stores if needed Roundtop and Lagrange home of the antique shows (15-25 mins) Sherwood Forest Fair (25mins) Beautiful Historic Bastrop (12mins) HOT 🥵 SHOWERS 🚿 AND FLUSHING POTTY! 🚨PSA Please Be Advised🚨 NO EVS ALLOWED ACCESS TO OUR POWER!!! THERE IS A PET FEE ADD IN EXTRAS TAB Checkin is AFTER 3/4 BUT BEFORE 8p We're Asleep By 8p As We Rise By 3:30a Every Morning! If you've ordered extras please be sure 2 checkin inside the window 2 receive them! Otherwise you will have 2 request them the following morning. This Is The Country Where Folks Do Hunt/Shoot!! Although Your Completely Safe, You MAY Or May NOT Hear Gun Shots!! If You Have A FurBaby That Is Panicked/ Stressed From Fireworks Popping/Or Gunfire (AS I DO) It MayB Best 2 Leave Them Home,, 2 Prevent Any Uncomfortable Anxieties PLEASE NOTE (TP) CAN B PURCHASED BUT IS NO LONGER PROVIDED AS WELL AS TOWEL BUNDLES. 🚨 We CAN NOT Control Mother Nature Guys!🚨 When Travis Co. Opens The Gates On Us Little Guys Down River! (which makes 4 the BEST fishing BTW #MonsterCats) It'll Inevitably Flush The River Stirring Up The Sandy Bottom. When that happens the SandBar Is NonExistant As The Rising waters Cover it. Hipcamp now offers a weather insurance that U may want 2 add 2 UR booking just Incase Mother Nature decides 2 smack us around PLEASE BE MINDFUL THE PRIVATE DOCK IS THE RIVERRAT SHACK BNB GUESTS' RIVER ACCESS! Please B respectful/courteous 2 All Guests/ campsite's/individual spaces! 📢 PSA Reading The Shower Instructions Is Best Done B4 Entering The Shower!! Always turn the hot on 1st do not add any cold until it's All The Way HOT 🥵 *We No Longer Have Cows Grazing! 🚨 RVs must be added in extras tab and ONLY allowed @ Site3 w/ Permissions 📣Attention Campervan's 📣 A Campervan is a type of RV; RVs Are Only Allowed @ Campsite 3 As To Not Block The River Views 4rm Other Camper's. If You Have A Campervan; Want 2 Be @ A Bank Site. You'll Need 2 Get Permissions Frm The Host 1st, B4 Booking!! 🙏

3. Happy Horse Camp & RV Getaway

100%

(923)

21mi from Smithville · 15 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · 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!

4. Secluded Treehouse/AC, Real Privacy

100%

(79)

34mi from Smithville · 1 site · Lodging · Lockhart, TX

Welcome to your own private holler—where magic hangs from the trees and time slows to a whisper. Robin’s Nest is a real treehouse—built atop 7 oaks with no tape measure, no level, and no blueprints—just imagination, old wood, and 150-year-old treasures tucked into every corner. It’s not a house on sticks next to trees. It’s in the trees. And when you’re here, you’re not on our time. You’re on treehouse time. This isn’t polished, modern luxury. It’s barefoot luxury. A dreamy, playful escape with simple comforts: a swinging queen daybed, open-air master bath in the tree with you, fire pit, cowboy hot tub, and a rope cargo net for lounging in the forest. There are trails to wander, frogs to sing you to sleep, and stars above. Push open the double doors. Slide the futon against the handrail under the roof cover. Turn off the lights and leave only the fairy lights glowing. Across the pond, a spotlight shines on a little feeder, and if you’ve been quiet, you’ll see deer, raccoons, and other critters play in the dark—like a living storybook, better than TV. Leave the doors open. Let the cool AC wash over you. This moment is yours. The entire holler is yours. No neighbors. No campers. No shared anything. Just you and the wild around you. This land is a working wildlife sanctuary, cared for with 50 years of hands-on learning. Please don’t bring poisons—they hurt the good critters too. The yellow-and-black mud daubers? Harmless to humans, deadly to harmful spiders. The big harmless, banana spiders keep flies and mosquitos away. It's nature in balance. If the pond’s low, bring a float or take our kayaks ten minutes away to a secret bend in the San Marcos River. We’ll share the pin. Your close to town but, fully immersed in nature, so it's not ideal for small kids to wander alone. Ladders, beds, and trails aren’t built to code. Adults should be fit and wear sturdy shoes if going far from camp. One night is fun. But your happy place deserves more than that. This is your holler now.

Stories from the community

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Michelle

2 weeks ago

Weekend Trip to Colorado RiverBend Retreat #CRBR

Terry's Spot is the perfect campground. Me and my company couldn't have enjoyed our time more. Everything was nice and clean. Bridget is the perfect hostess. Gave us a little tour of the land and showing us the hot tub shack. I highly recommend booking with Bridget for your next camping trip. We will be returning for another visit.

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Kara Lund

November 2025

Weekend Trip to Happy Horse Camp & RV Getaway

My friend and I truly had the whole place to ourselves! Our room was perfect and the bed was super comfy!! Love that it was a king bed!! Great experience, high recommend!!

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Ronald

November 2025

Weekend Trip to Secluded Treehouse/AC, Real Privacy

Great place to stay, would highly recommend!! Nice woodsy area with places to explore or just chill out.

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Darron

October 2025

Weekend Trip to River Forest Haven

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Must-Visit Campground: Exceptional Service & Beautiful New Dock! I recently completed a stay here and was absolutely blown away. This campground deserves all five stars, offering the perfect blend of top-notch facilities and genuinely fantastic service. Staff Goes Above and Beyond The single most standout element of our trip was the incredibly helpful and welcoming staff. From check-in to check-out, every interaction was friendly, professional, and attentive. Whether we needed local recommendations or help troubleshooting a minor setup issue, they were quick to assist and truly made us feel like valued guests. Their dedication to ensuring everyone has a great time is clear. The Awesome New Dock The newly constructed dock is a major upgrade and easily the highlight of the facilities. It's spacious, well-maintained, and makes water access so easy. Whether you're using it for fishing, launching a small boat, or just relaxing and watching the sunset over the water, it is a truly beautiful and functional addition to the camp. Truly Pet-Friendly For dog owners, this is the place to be! The campground allows dogs and the atmosphere is wonderfully welcoming to pets. It made a huge difference being able to bring our furry family member along, and we saw plenty of other happy campers enjoying the pet-friendly environment. In summary, if you're looking for a relaxing, well-managed, and welcoming spot with great facilities and an unbeatable staff, look no further. We

CJ

October 2025

With kids

3 nights at Happy Horse Camp & RV Getaway

3rd time staying on the campgrounds and it was just as amazing as the first time. Hollis and Beaux are just so amazing and very great hosts! Brought my daughter this time and she also enjoyed life under the stars away from the city. Such a great hidden gem!

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Leslie

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Secluded Treehouse/AC, Real Privacy

Our stay at The Robin’s Nest was the perfect weekend getaway from the city. This unique home will truly have you sleeping in the trees. Everything you need is there, from coffee to firewood to a canoe for the pond! Shellie was friendly and helpful and quick to answer any questions I had. This is a special place. We look forward to staying here again!

Yvonne

October 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to River Forest Haven

Loved the vibe of this place! I stayed in the airstream and it was so cute and fun. They put a lot of details that made my stay comfortable. The area is beautiful and having access to the Colorado River was awesome. We took rides in the golf cart and hung out at the pool. Super dog friendly and I appreciated how safe I felt in the space. The container bathrooms were clean and loved the set up. Also appreciated the showers having a bench and hooks. I can tell they put a lot of thought into the little things that make a good stay. Thank you again and will definitely be back!

Emily

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Colorado RiverBend Retreat #CRBR

We had the most fantastic weekend staying on Bridget’s land. The super cute camper was the perfect size for me and my 2 daughters. There were kayaks available and a boat that we were able to use on the river. The scenery was amazing and so relaxing- literally right on the river. The bathroom was the best I have ever used on a camping trip. There is a flush toilet and 2 showers with plenty of hot water! Bridget was so kind and communicative about the property and with questions I had. I will definitely be back. It is so worth it- you won’t regret staying here!!

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Ryan

September 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Secluded Treehouse/AC, Real Privacy

My wife and I and our 2 dogs enjoyed the treehouse very much. Secluded, but also close to stores and restaurants. Dogs loved swimming in the pond. The outdoor shower at night is cool. Host is responsive and makes good suggestions! Would stay again for sure. Relaxing vibes.

View from the nearby McKinney Roughs horse trail.

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Arianna

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Happy Horse Camp & RV Getaway

The Happy Horse Hotel had everything we could ask for; from the cozy cabin, clean horse pens, nice outhouses, and onsite trails, to the nearby attractions such as the McKinney Roughs Nature Park, the Bastrop Museum, and the various local shops. We had a wonderful time and look forward to visiting again! - Arianna S. The Camping Palace was quite lovely, it had everything we needed. Beaux and Hollis are very wonderful hosts and saw to it that we were doing alright. Both are very friendly and accommodating. I look forward to returning. - Kelli K.

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Muriel

September 2025

With kids

1 night at Secluded Treehouse/AC, Real Privacy

We had so much fun staying here! A real treehouse experience!

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Ramiah

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Colorado RiverBend Retreat #CRBR

Terry’s Spot was underrated. Comfy queen size bed with working mini fridge/freezer, AC, toaster, coffee maker, TV with Netflix and other apps, wifi (although occasional off), cleaning products, with a working nice shower/toilet with hot water, plus you can fish, kayak/canoe, make fire, and animals all over the place for some friendly neighbors. All you can ask for glamping/camping and more!

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Lee

August 2025

Weekend Trip to Secluded Treehouse/AC, Real Privacy

My partner and I scheduled this stay on short-notice to get away before I started my new job. The weekend felt so relaxing, private, romantic, and adventurous. We stayed in August, so while it was a bit hot in the middle of the day, the AC in the cabin, outdoor shower, and bathtub provided lots of ways to cool down. The host was very responsive and helpful during our stay.

King and 2 twin beds, plus table that seats 4. Outhouse is 30 ft from front porch,
and enclosed but open to the sky hot water shower is around behind the bungalow.

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Ian

August 2025

Group trip

5 nights at Happy Horse Camp & RV Getaway

My daughter and her 3 friends were very happy and comfortable in their air conditioned cabin even in the late July Texas heat. We are so thankful that Hollis provides such fun and safe place for my family to visit.

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Matthew

July 2025

2 nights at River Forest Haven

It was very private. The air stream was quite cozy. We enjoyed our stay and will be returning in the future.

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Tricia

July 2025

With kids

1 night at Secluded Treehouse/AC, Real Privacy

The treehouse is so sweet! We had such a nice time and loved being outside with easily accessible comforts nearby.

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Lila

July 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Secluded Treehouse/AC, Real Privacy

This property and the owner are absolutely beautiful. Very responsive and everything you could ask for in a quick weekend trip. This is off the beaten path so be careful! We did encounter a Copperhead as well as some other friends of the forest. Nature was beautiful, extremely relaxing- HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

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Ron

July 2025

With pets

2 nights at River Forest Haven

Loved our stay in the airstream! Air stayed cold, bed super cozy, and had enough room to bring our dog. String lights that came on at night created such a nice atmosphere on the front deck.

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Catherine

July 2025

2 nights at Happy Horse Camp & RV Getaway

The trip was so relaxing and I loved the scenery in the early mornings. The camp house was really comfortable and had ample supplies for a welcoming camp weekend. We also took a Harmonica class with Hollis and had a blast learning from such a talented musician. Can’t wait to come again some time!

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shannon

July 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to River Forest Haven

I found this site through a quick Google looking for pet friendly lodging for a holiday weekend. I thought it was a longshot to find a place on one day notice, but was pleased to have found river Haven resort! With rain on the horizon, I booked the airstream, knowing I wanted to be more protected, but was excited about the opportunity to play in the river weather permitting. Unfortunately, heavy storms kept me out of the river and drastic flooding in the state made me uncomfortable and prompted in an early departure. I contacted the host and they had no issue refunding one nights stay amount. I hope to come back and redeem this credit on d the weather is more pleasant, because I’m very excited about what the location has to offer. The bed was very comfortable, nice to be protected from the elements and have access to electricity for charging, and refrigeration for food storage. The attached deck is a nice touch as well as the standalone hammock for relaxing. The flush toilets are adjacent to the site, an outdoor showers a brief walk down the road. Great water pressure in the shower and loved showering in the open air. Thanks again for the host for being accommodating and understanding the weather issues, I’m excited to return on a sunny day and explore the river more!