We’re going to take another quick break from the lovey-dovey Valentine’s day getaway posts to let you know about a southern state park where you may want to book a vacation over the spring, summer, or fall months.
If you are in the Austin, Texas area or will be making plans to travel in that direction, you may want to look into staying at Lockhart State Park. Just under an hour south of the booming metropolis of Austin, this state park offers quiet accommodations and activities away from the city. However, it’s still within easy driving distance of Austin if you want to discover this western city.
Here are some activities you may want to enjoy within the state park:
- Take a short hike on their 1.5 miles of trails. Note that if you’re looking for a destination that focuses on hiking you may either want to find supplemental hiking destinations in the area or find another state park in Texas.
- Go picnicking at one of their picnic areas, complete with tables.
- View area wildlife, including deer, coyote, bobcat, fox, armadillo, rabbit, snakes, and more.
- Play a round of golf at this TX state park’s 9-hole course, perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the entire park. This course is the only one operated by park staff in the Texas State Park system and offers daily, weekly, and holiday rates as well as golf carts for rent.
- Swim at the newly-opened in-ground pool, a great family-friendly activity.
Open year round, Lockhart State Park is a great place to bring your Austin RV rental to set up camp at one of their sites with water, electricity, and sewer hookups. Campers are charged $2 a day per person entrance fee (for individuals over age 13) and an additional $18 a night for Austin campers sites that accommodate up to 8 people. Note that you may want to stay away from the hottest summer months, however, because this part of Texas can get to be quite steamy, unless you have an RV to which you can retreat from the heat.
While there are some activities to enjoy at Lockhart State Park (not as much as some, we might point out), you may want to also check out nearby attractions to add to your vacation fun. Your campsite may just become the hub around which you travel the Austin area. Some other places you may want to explore include downtown Austin, Palmetto State Park, Monument Hill Historic Site, and Bastrop State Park, to mention a few. You can also find several other premier golf courses in the Austin area if you plan on bringing your clubs.
Although not a destination we would say is “the best of the best” when it comes to state parks, Lockhart State Park does have some unique features and is conveniently located in a great region of Texas. A family-friendly option, Lockhart State Park may be worth looking into for a weekend or week-long vacation.