What better time than now to hop in the car and travel to one of Texas’ many state parks to enjoy the Lone Star State’s natural beauty?
Whether you want to stay close to home or make a weekend road trip out of it, plenty of beautiful state parks lie within driving distance of San Antonio. There’s no excuse not to enjoy Texas’ amazing outdoor wonders.
McKinney Falls State Park
5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, Austin, (512) 243-1643, tpwd.texas.gov
Located in South Austin, McKinney Falls State Park offers plenty of outdoor fun, but visitors flock to the park in the summer to swim. The Upper Falls swimming hole is particularly popular for its deeper water and picturesque limestone formations. Credit: Shutterstock / Silvio Ligutti Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
16710 Ranch Road 965, Fredericksburg, (830) 685-3636, tpwd.texas.gov
Climbing the pink granite dome of Enchanted Rock is a local right of passage for local outdoors enthusiasts. Beyond its namesake, this park also offers camping, hiking, rock climbing and amazing stargazing views. Credit: Shutterstock / Daniel Mullins Hike to a magical waterfall at Colorado Bend State Park
2236 Park Hill Dr., Bend, (325) 628-3240, tpwd.texas.gov
Only a quest to a magical waterfall can heal you spiritually after all the dirty, filthy things you’ve done for the past couple weeks. Maybe at the end of the trail a mystical troll will greet you with a riddle like “why are you such a puta?” Credit: Shutterstock / JB Manning
Dinosaur Valley State Park
1629 Park Road 59, Glen Rose, (254) 897-4588, tpwd.texas.gov
Dinosaur Valley State Park more than lives up to its name. Visitors can check out the footprints of dinosaurs who left their tracks in the bed of the Paluxy River and participate in a variety of ranger programs from informative sessions on the local dino tracks to guided hikes. Aside from that, there’s also biking, camping and horseback riding. Credit: Shutterstock / arnon wilson Brazos Bend State Park
21901 FM 762 Road, Needville, (979) 553-5101, tpwd.texas.gov
South of Houston is Brazos Bend, which prides itself in offering a “wild” experience. A pair of binoculars and a camera are a must for those wanting to enjoy the park’s abundant wildlife and beautiful landscapes. Visitors are also welcome to hike, bike, fish and ride horses. With the “wild” experience in mind, make sure to read their alligator safety tips before heading out to explore. Credit: Shutterstock / Richard A McMillin Caddo Lake State Park
245 Park Road 2, Karnack, (903) 679-3351, tpwd.texas.gov
Located in the East Texas piney woods, Caddo Lake is all about wildlife and its namesake lake. Camp, fish, paddle, hike and go boating here — whatever you may wish. All activities aside, the serene beauty of Caddo Lake is reason enough to travel to this park. Credit: Shutterstock / Martina Birnbaum
Mustang Island State Park
9394 TX-361, Corpus Christi, (361) 749-5246, tpwd.texas.gov
Located near Corpus Christi, Mustang Island has five miles of coastline to explore. Beachgoers can spend time swimming, surfing, kayaking and having seaside fun like building sandcastles. Further inland there’s space to camp, hike and more. Credit: Earl Nottingham, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Hike Guadalupe River State Park 3350 Park Road 31, Spring Branch, (830) 438-2656, tpwd.texas.gov Credit: Shutterstock / Thomas MalesPalmetto State Park
78 Park Road 11 South, Gonzales, (830) 672-3266, tpwd.texas.gov
Just an hour away is the oasis of Palmetto State Park, named after the dwarf palmettos that grow in abundance here. With multiple water sources, including the San Marcos River, the park is home to a variety of animals and plants. In addition to hiking, visitors can also go swimming and tubing, or explore the park by canoe. Credit: Shutterstock / Tricia Daniel
Pedernales Falls State Park
2585 Park Road 6026, Johnson City, (830) 868-7304. tpwd.texas.gov
Not too far from Johnson City are the tranquil, though sometimes turbulent, waters at Pedernales Falls. This park should be visited by folks who thrive in natural scenery as it offers camping, hiking, biking, bird-watching and horseback riding, as well as a butterfly garden. Certain areas are available to swim in, but there’s also chances for tubing, canoeing and kayaking down the river. Credit: Photo via Shutterstock / Daniel Mullins Hill Country State Natural Area
10600 Bandera Creek Road, Bandera, (830) 796-4413, tpwd.texas.gov
Hill Country State Natural Area’s rugged terrain is perfect for those looking to rough it. It offers primitive camping — as in without plumbing — as well as horseback trails. The 5,000-acre area has beautiful landscape, including grasslands, canyons and seasonal springs. Credit: © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Blanco State Park
101 Park Road 23, Blanco, tpwd.texas.gov
Sitting along a mile of the Blanco River, this park offers camping, picnicking, nature trails and even a wildlife viewing station. Guests can enjoy all that the spring-fed Blanco River can provide, from swimming and paddling to fishing for largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish and rainbow trout. Credit: Shutterstock / BJ Ray
Choke Canyon State Park
700 Texas 72, Three Rivers, (361) 786-3868, tpwd.texas.gov
The Choke Canyon Reservoir is the big attraction here, since it offers first-class fishing with plenty of largemouth bass and catfish available to catch — either from the shore or a boat. For birdwatchers, the park also known as a stopover for migrating flocks. Looking for something more active? Visitors can swim, camp and hike here as well. Credit: Shutterstock / Danita Delimont Lost Maples State Natural Area
37221 F.M. 187, Vanderpool, (830) 966-3413, tpwd.texas.gov
The two-hour drive to Lost Maples is totally worth it. The park features more than 10 miles of trails, including one loop that offers a breathtaking view from the top of a 2,200-foot cliff. The park is worth a visit at all times of year, but Lost Maples is especially renowned for its Uvalde bigtooth maples, which burst into vibrant colors in the fall. Credit: Shutterstock / Richard A McMillin South Llano River State Park
1927 Park Road 73, Junction, (325) 446-3994, tpwd.texas.gov
Visitors to South Llano State Park can take their pick between swimming, floating the river, paddling and fishing — or stay dry by camping, hiking or biking. Astronomy-lovers should reserve time for some stargazing, as SLRSP is an International Dark Sky Park. Credit: Shutterstock / Diana Borden
Bastrop State Park
100 Park Road 1A, Bastrop, (512) 321-2101, tpwd.texas.gov
West of Austin, Bastrop State Park is a great spot to take the family. Camping, picnicking, biking and hiking — it’s all here. And there’s plenty of wildlife to check out as well. In recent years, the park has faced forest fires and floods, and now the trees and wildlife are in a state of rebirth and renewal that is worth the trip to admire. Credit: Shutterstock / MMMendez Garner State Park
234 R.R. 1050, Concan, (830) 232-6132, tpwd.texas.gov
Around two hours west of San Antonio, Garner State Park lies in the small burg of Concan. Part of the beauty of Garner is its distance from large cities. Campers can relish in the lessened light pollution, perfect for stargazing. Stay into the evenings and join fellow campers for a summer jukebox dance by the park’s concession building. Credit: Leroy Williamson, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Goose Island State Park
202 S. Palmetto St., Rockport, (361) 729-2858, tpwd.texas.gov
Goose Island State Park is a great choice for nature lovers who want to hit up the coast. Fishing enthusiasts in particular can enjoy the 1,620-foot-long pier. Credit: Shutterstock / Bayoutlaw75
Martin Dies, Jr. State Park
634 Park Road 48 South, Jasper, (409) 384-5231, tpwd.texas.gov
This 705-acre recreation area is complete with nature spots where visitors can get lost in the beauty of the park. The park offers a number of campsite options including a cozy cabin, making it a great spot for telling scary late-night campfire stories surrounded by lush towering trees. Credit: Shutterstock / Silvio Ligutti Inks Lake State Park
3630 Park Road 4 West, Burnet, (512) 793-2223, tpwd.texas.gov
North of Austin, Inks Lake is a prime spot to appreciate nature. With a variety of trees and plants — cedar, live oak, prickly pear cacti and yucca — the landscape is absolutely gorgeous. Park-goers can enjoy camping, backpacking, picnicking and hiking. Just make it a point to swing by the Devil’s Waterhole for some scenic waterfall views. Credit: Shutterstock / Silvio Ligutti Buescher State Park
100 Park Road 1-C, Smithville, (512) 237-2241, tpwd.texas.gov
Located not too far from Bastrop State Park, Buescher has scenery that’s worth the drive to visit. While hiking is definitely an option here, those who prefer wheels will definitely want to hit up eight miles dedicated to mountain bikers. And for those who want to go two-for-two, the scenic drive to Bastrop State Park is an experience to enjoy, too. Credit: Rob McCorkle, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Lockhart State Park
2012 State Park Road, (512) 398-3479, tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lockhart
A day trip from either Austin or San Antonio, a unique feature of this park is its historic nine hole golf course. It has the other classic amenities, too, like fishing, summer swimming and camping. Credit: Shutterstock / Hundley Photography Walk off the turkey at Government Canyon State Natural Area
12861 Galm Road, (210) 688-9055, tpwd.texas.gov
Government Canyon State Natural Area covers a gargantuan 12,000 acres and has a whopping 40 miles of trails. Located not too far outside Loop 1604, Government Canyon is a great option for a day trip. And for the paleontology-lovers out there, there are even dinosaur tracks to check out. Credit: Shutterstock / DJ Malec
