Fall is the best time to check out Texas campgrounds and RV parks without the crowds

Slightly shorter days and cooler temperatures mark the coming of fall in Texas. This is when RV parks and campgrounds gradually transition from hosting children and families to snowbirds or winter Texans.

“The fall shoulder season is a great time to experience the amenities Texas campgrounds and RV parks have to offer without the intensity of either summer or winter crowds,” said Brian Schaeffer, executive director/CEO of Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO), which hosts TexasCampgrounds.com, the travel planning website.

TexasCampgrounds.com provides descriptions, photos and links to more than 350 campgrounds, RV parks and resorts across the Lone Star State. Even if you don’t have an RV, many of these establishments feature park model RVs, cabins and other rental accommodations designed by companies like Platinum Cottages.

The following campgrounds and RV parks highlight the wide range of parks available through TexasCampgrounds.com, many of which can be used as base camps for enjoying a variety of fall activities, including fishing, kayaking and sightseeing:

• Alamo Fiesta RV Resort in Boerne: Located in the German heritage town of Boerne, this 220-site, pet-friendly park includes mostly pull-through RV sites and rental cabins. The park can be used as a convenient base camp for trips into San Antonio as well as the Texas Hill Country. Amenities include a playground, exercise equipment and a park store. 
• Loyd Park in Grand Prairie: Loyd Park is a 791-acre recreation area located in the middle of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex on the west shore of Joe Pool Lake. The park has 221 campsites, eight lakefront cabins, an 18-room lodge and a two-bedroom, one bath house for rent. Built on a site with large majestic oak trees just a few steps from Joe Pool Lake, the Loyd Park Lodge, which opened last year, features a fully furnished kitchen, a covered porch with rocking chairs, barbecue grill, a fire pit and big screen TVs and Wi-Fi. Loyd Park also features furnished one-and two-bedroom cabins with kitchens and bathrooms as well as large private and group campsites, each of which comes with its own picnic table, pavilion, grill and fire ring. 
• Oak Forest RV Park in Austin: This Roberts Resorts park is located in a forested setting 10 minutes from downtown Austin. Amenities include forested areas, a swimming pool, a pavilion, bocce ball area and a dog park. Just a mile up the road from the park is the Travis County Exposition Center, which hosts Texas rodeos, horse shows, car shows and bike rallies among other events. Golf enthusiasts can play at nearby Bluebonnet Hill Golf Course or Morris Williams Golf Course, while bass fishing is available at Walter Long Lake.
• The Vineyards Campground & Cabins in Grapevine: The Vineyards Campground & Cabins occupies 52 acres of an 850-acre mostly wooded scenic area encircling Grapevine Lake. The park offers RV sites with concrete pads as well as furnished cabins. Amenities include cable television and upgraded Wi-Fi service and a pavilion as well as kayak and bicycle rentals.
• VIP La Feria RV Park in La Feria: This 360-site park offers two heated swimming pools, two whirlpool hot tub spas, a shuffleboard court, a large recreation hall, and horseshoe pits. The park also has fenced dog park areas. Activities during September and October include water aerobics. Offsite activities include boat rides on the Rio Grande River and visits to other neighboring tourist attractions as well as educational tours.
• Woodland Lakes RV Park in Conroe: This park features 120 full hookup RV sites and is conveniently located near shopping, restaurants and greater Houston-area attractions, yet it’s tucked away and surrounded by beautiful trees. Park guests are treated to the sounds of chirping birds, including bullfrogs and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Amenities include a clubhouse, a leash-free dog run, stocked fishing ponds and free cable and WiFi.

In addition to being supported by campgrounds and RV parks across Texas, TexasCampgrounds.com is also supported by Houston-based Channelview Supply Co., which has provided RV parts and repair services for Texas RV enthusiasts for more than 30 years. Based in Crowley, TACO is the trade association that represents campgrounds, RV parks and resorts across the Lone Star State. For more info about camping in Texas, contact Brian Schaeffer at (817) 426-9395 or visit www.TexasCampgrounds.com and www.TexasCabinRentals.net.