{"id":107330,"date":"2020-08-17T03:37:57","date_gmt":"2020-08-17T10:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=107330"},"modified":"2020-09-23T01:43:38","modified_gmt":"2020-09-23T08:43:38","slug":"7-amazing-camping-spots-around-austin-and-where-to-store-your-camping-equipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/self-storage\/7-amazing-camping-spots-around-austin-and-where-to-store-your-camping-equipment\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Amazing Camping Spots Around Austin \u2013 and Where to Store Your Camping Equipment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, traveling and vacationing might not be in the stars this summer. But that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t go camping close to home and enjoy outdoor adventures. Nature\u2019s still there for exploring!<\/p>\n

That\u2019s easy for Austin residents. There are multiple gorgeous camping sites located within a short driving distance from the city. Austinites can spend a few days with their families and have a fun and inexpensive holiday, while still social distancing. Here are some of the best camping sites you can find around Austin:<\/p>\n

1. Lockhart State Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lockhart State Park is located only 30 miles from downtown Austin. Although it\u2019s not a huge park, it\u2019s beautiful, quiet and ideal for families with young kids. It provides a few miles of trails, a creek for fishing and a golf course. Every camping site has water and electric hookups, picnic tables, fire rings and upright grills. If you\u2019re an RV owner<\/a>, you\u2019ll be happy to know that there are campsites that can accommodate large trailers and motorhomes.<\/p>\n

2. McKinney Falls State Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Only 13 miles from the state\u2019s capital, McKinney Falls State Park<\/a> sprawls across 641 acres and features more than 80 campsites that include tent pads, picnic tables, water and electricity hookups and fire rings. The state park offers hike and bike trails, and rangers here have programs focused on birding and geocaching. A special feature of McKinney Falls is Onion Creek \u2013 it flows through the whole park, allowing campers and visitors to fish and swim.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

3. Cedar Breaks Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This park is located about 25 miles north of Austin, overlooking Lake Georgetown. There are numerous campsites nestled in the shade of the mesquite trees that are thriving here. You can hike or bike throughout the park or follow the San Gabriel River Trail that leads to a gorgeous swimming spot called the Blue Hole. The lake also provides opportunities for water sports, so you can get active while staying cool.<\/p>\n

4. Tejas Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tejas Park is the classic camping experience a short drive from Austin \u2013 the park is only about 30 miles outside of the city, on the south shores of Georgetown Lake. The campsites are pretty basic: A tent pad and a ground ring fire, without electricity hookups.<\/p>\n

Water is available, but at a distance, so, if you love roughing it in nature, this is the place for you. There are great opportunities for fishing and boating, and you can hike through beautiful juniper forests and prairie grasslands.<\/p>\n

5. Bastrop State Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bastrop State Park is also just a short, 30-minute drive from Austin, and contains the mysterious Lost Pine Forest. It\u2019s made up of a unique population of trees closely genetically related to the vast expanse of pine trees located in Piney Woods – more than 100 miles away! The Lost Forest went through some wildfires and flooding during the past few years, but it\u2019s now recovering, so you get the chance to see nature being reborn. There are campsites for both tents and RVs with water and electricity hookups, picnic tables, fire pits and grills. You can go hiking, biking, fishing and swimming, or geocaching and wildlife watching.<\/p>\n

6. Emma Long Metropolitan Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The park is actually within the limits of Austin\u2019s metro area, so it\u2019s very accessible, and provides 1,142 acres of woodlands and lakefront beach. The park has multiple camping sites, both with and without water and electricity.<\/p>\n

There are opportunities for swimming and sunbathing on the shores of Lake Austin, and for hiking and biking the shaded trails inside the park. You can also take advantage of the volleyball and basketball yards \u2013 games that can still work well for social distancing.<\/p>\n

7. Pedernales Falls State Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Pedernales Falls State Park<\/a> is situated at about 25 miles west of Austin, and the short drive is well worth it. The large, 5,200 acres park offers scenic views of the Pedernales Falls, where the river transforms into a landscape waterfalls, sprawling over a distance of more than 3,000 feet.<\/p>\n

The limestone steps forming the falls are about 300 million years old. The hiking trails have different degrees of difficulty, so everyone can exercise at their comfort level. The primitive campsites, without water and electricity, are closed during the pandemic, but the rest of them are available to campers.<\/p>\n

How to deal with your camping equipment \u2013 check out some of the best self storage facilities in Austin<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Camping is a fun way to bond and relax with your family, even during the pandemic. However, camping also involves a lot of equipment: Tents, sleeping bags, foldable chairs and tables, outdoor cooking gear, bikes and kayaks, etc. Storing all that stuff at home is a real challenge for most families. One way to keep your equipment without cluttering your house or garage is by renting a self storage unit in Austin<\/a>. Here are some great options for storing your camping and outdoors sports equipment:<\/p>\n