Beach Camp on Llano River
The best beaches in Texas are not on the coast. Secluded beaches. Clear, spring-fed water on the Llano River. 500 Waves is more than a camp site. 500 Waves is the river.
Close to Austin and Fredericksburg. North of Enchanted Rock and on the way to Big Bend. Private camp site with shade and electricity right on the river. No need to drive to the river, you are at the r
The best beaches in Texas are not on the coast. Secluded beaches. Clear, spring-fed water on the Llano River. 500 Waves is more than a camp site. 500 Waves is the river.
Close to Austin and Fredericksburg. North of Enchanted Rock and on the way to Big Bend. Private camp site with shade and electricity right on the river. No need to drive to the river, you are at the river. Perfect for families and couples seeking a fun, easy, socially distant retreat on a quiet country road. Adventure awaits.
"A slice of beachy heaven on the Llano River." Austin American-Statesman Austin360, June 2020. Check us out @500Waves on Instagram.
March - April 2021 Update: River is flowing beautifully in all three of its channels in front of 500 Waves. The water is crystal clear and the wildflowers are starting to bloom. Bluebonnets are the first arrivals - followed by a rainbow of colors into June. Book now if you want to flower peep this spring - especially if you want to come on the weekend.
Welcome, wanderers! In addition to campers on weekend getaways, 500 Waves hosts lots of visitors on a grand North American road trip or Texans taking the scenic route to Big Bend or New Mexico. If you want to get off the beaten path and see the real Texas, let us know and we can offer tips and advice for a truly Texas odyssey that includes some time at the beach camp.
500 Waves Beach Camp sits right smack on the Llano River and offers a huge covered deck with table, chairs, and a big view of the river. Texas-sized riverfront fire pit and gas grill are available. You have private and exclusive access to a flush toilet and hand washing sink in our newly constructed bathroom.
Camping Details: Four people maximum. No parties or groups. If your nuclear family is larger than our max group size of four, please contact us. We like grandmas and are kid-friendly. Tent site and campfire pit are 200 yards from car park. We have a wagon to help you move your stuff up and down the small hill. In summer come prepared for the heat, especially if you are tent camping.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Our small camper (the white egg-looking trailer in some of the pictures) may be parked on site during your visit. If so, the spot right next to the cabin will not be available for your RV. There is plenty of room much closer to the electrical outlet for your rig.
We have neighbors. Repeat: We have neighbors so set your expectations accordingly. You will be the only campers on site and will have no difficulty keeping a safe and social distance from anyone else. 500 Waves Beach Camp is a big lot on a very quiet river road with a few scattered small cabins. If you're looking for absolute seclusion, this is the country not the wilderness. That said, there are usually very few (if any) other people in the riverbed or on this section of the Llano River - especially on weekdays and in winter and fall.
WHAT CAN WE DO WHILE AT 500 WAVES BEACH CAMP?
Nothing. And that's ok. Really. Just sit and enjoy the quiet.
Enjoy the spring-fed Llano River. 500 Waves Beach Camp is on the riverfront and has direct access to private beaches, fishing, wading, and tubing year round. If the river isn't flowing, we will say so in this description. (But it's always flowing.)
Terrific birding and wildlife viewing all year with an ever-changing array of critters. When it is warm, your children will see tadpoles during the day and go to sleep to the sound of hundreds of frogs. In fall and winter the riverbed is a superhighway for deer, foxes, and flocks of migratory geese and other birds.
Bring your yoga mat to greet the sunrise on your private beach. And pack fixings for your favorite cocktail and watch the sun set into the Llano River from the shade of your covered deck or from a riverfront campfire (burn ban permitting).
Take a stroll to a historic granite low-water crossing and ponder the infinite expanse of time.
Bring your telescope, binoculars, or the naked eye to view our dark skies. Plan your visit around a new moon for darkness or a full moon for howling.
Kayak down the river to your camp site for just the right mix of rapids and slow paddling.
Hike the riverbed for miles upriver or downriver and find your own hidden swimming hole.
Play tetherball, corn hole, and giant Jenga. Create family memories and give your other hand something to do while you drink beer.
Bike or drive historic gravel backroads and make friends with Llano County's many cows.
Cruise into small town Llano for live music, local vodka, craft beer, mesquite-flamed pizza, shopping, and the best BBQ in Texas.
In the spring and on into early summer our wildflowers will make you weep.
It sounds corny, but 500 Waves Beach Camp is more than a campsite. It's an experience and a miniature vacation in and of itself. You could take your kids to a hotel or one of those crowded, icky, and expensive water parks. Or you could take them to nature's closest equivalent.
Let's talk COVID-19. We know you are concerned about safety and cleanliness. We are too as we are at 500 Waves when not hosting visitors. We want to be very upfront and clear about our protocols. If possible, we will sanitize the camp site between visitors. This includes bathroom, grill, table, and chairs. However, given the rural nature of the camp site we want to be honest and let you know that we will NOT be able to do a deep clean between every reservation. We will try but it will not be every time. We are asking folks to wipe things down upon arrival and again upon departure. We assume campers would do this regardless but we want to be crystal clear. Ideal? No. Necessary? Unfortunately, yes.
FAQs:
- No dogs or pets. We know your dog is awesome but no exceptions. We work hard to protect wildlife habitat.
- No groups and 1 RV/camping unit greatly preferred. Please don't ask to add additional guests after making your reservation. Please.
- Private bathroom with sink and flush toilet. No showers.
- No kitchen or dishwashing facility. Gas grill available for cooking.
- No potable water and no RV dump station. Bring lots of water and dump in Llano.
- 30 amp and standard electrical outlets for RVs. Extension cord may be helpful.
- Price increases on holidays and weekends during wildflower season. Price is determined not by the market but by our desire to be at our own land. If you're there, we can't be. And - as you will see - that's a bummer.
- Check in: After 1PM
- Check out: Before 12PM
- Cancellation policy: Strict
- On arrival: Go straight to camp
- Minimum nights: 2
- Accepts bookings: 12 months out
Activities
Offered on the Host's property or nearby.
Biking
Western Llano County is filled with great gravel backroads perfect for long rides with minimal traffic - minus the occasional c...Read more
Fishing
Good fishing even since the 2018 flood. Keep an eye on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's web site for seasonal stocking...Read more
Hiking
The bed of this part of the Llano River is huge. You can spend hours walking upriver or downriver from 500 Waves. Alternative...Read more
Paddling
There is terrific paddling on the Llano River. Kayak rentals and shuttle available in Castell. Bring your own boats for a great...Read more
Swimming
Great swimming and sandy beaches all along the Llano River near and in front of 500 Waves.
Wildlife watching
The Llano River and its banks provide a unique and ever-changing habitat. Our land hosts foxes, passing herds of deer, migrator...Read more
Terrain
Natural features you'll find at Beach Camp on Llano River in Texas.
Beach
The beaches of the Llano River are one of the best kept secrets in Texas. Miles of gorgeous red sand beaches all to yourselves.
River, stream, or creek
The Llano River is one of the wildest and cleanest rivers in Texas. There are no cities and few towns upriver from 500 Waves a...Read more
Swimming hole
The main and side channels of the Llano River flow directly in front of 500 Waves. There is great swimming with clean sandy bo...Read more
Waterfall
Our stretch of the Llano River is filled with rock gardens that create interesting kayaking and gorgeous waterfalls.
Ranch
500 Waves is a small property surrounded by huge ranches. The vibe is definitely more country river ranch than backcountry wil...Read more
The vibe at Beach Camp on Llano River
Places to see near 500 Waves on the Llano River
49 Reviews
We enjoyed camping at 500 waves! The place was very clean. The river front view was wonderful! The site was easy to find, quiet and private. Jason was very nice and responsive. Highly recommend.



My son and I were looking for a nice, quite place. I had questions before making the reservation and Jason was quick to respond. We couldn’t have hoped for a better experience. The property was fun, the night sky was amazing, and Jason stayed in touch throughout our stay to answer any questions as well as provide recommendations in the area. This will definitely be a place we will return to.





Thanks Shawn! So glad you and your son had a great time exploring the riverbed. Be prepared, the taller he gets - the meaner his tetherball spike will become!
Great host, great river views, great sand area near river for kids to play. Campfire was fun, and was stocked with firewood.
RV power hookup has a 30a and 15a/20a style plug, perfect for our 30a camper (no visible 50a plug option). As you come in the driveway the power box is on the right/passenger side, so keep that in mind when parking your RV.
When leaving, Google maps told me I could go left out of the driveway, but that actually dead ends and making the turn around with a 20ft camper was ok, but would have been a mess with a 30ft.
Met one of the neighbors going for a walk and she was friendly.
There were cows across the street so we went to say hello to them.
The river was flowing fast as it had rained the night before, so it was beautiful, but could easily sweep away young kids, recommend life jackets if the river is flowing quickly.





Thanks for bringing the kids out, Gordon! We love your pictures. So glad you got some sand time by the river and met the moo-ing neighbors across the road.
2nd stay here, that should tell you enough. Great escape to bring the kids. Love it.
Backing out my 21ft camper solo is a challenge with the culvert, if you have a longer trailer bring a spotter!





Listen to Gordon's wise words!
This was a great site! We loved the covered patio, the river access, and the fire pit. Jason was great to work with and the campsite was a nice space away from the craziness of life.



I was tempted to not leave a great review because I literally want to keep this place all to myself! Amazing location, awesome river! Jason was extremely responsive and quickly answered all of my questions about the area. 10/10 would stay again!

* BLUSH * Thanks for sharing a little about our secret William. Hope to see you soon!
This site exceeded all expectations! Private, gorgeous, abundant nature, wonderful amenities, an attentive and thorough host, 15 minutes away from downtown Llano if we'd forgotten anything, and a reasonable drive from Austin. This place is a treasure. Thank you, Jason, for our marvelous stay!

THIS is why we love sharing our place on Hipcamp. This little stretch of the Llano is indeed a treasure! Thanks for the kind words and please come back soon!
We had a wonderful stay at 500 Waves. The wildflowers were so beautiful and the property was filled with butterflies. The RV spot is a quick 2 min walk to the river. The sandy area was perfect for us with smaller kids. The water was gently flowing and shallow enough for the kids to stand in most spots. We really enjoyed the deck which provided some much needed afternoon shade. Jason was great and extremely easy to communicate with. Just a quick 1.5 hr trip from Austin so we definitely hope to come back!




Anna, thank you for the review and pictures. The wildflowers this year have been great!
One night getting out of the city into the pretty Texas hill country was perfect. Nice place near the river. Recommend it highly!

Thank you Deborah!!
- Property
- 500 Waves on the Llano River
- State
- Texas
- Country
- United States
- $100/night
- 1 Site
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Thank you, Claudia! And you win this year's Blue Ribbon as the first camper to see the bluebonnets!