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Texas State Parks' Campsites 'Booked Up'

Texas Parks and Wildlife
Enchanted Rock State Park near Fredericksburg is one of the most visited state parks in Central Texas.

If the beautiful spring weather has you thinking about an impromptu camping trip to a Texas state park, you’ll probably have to wait until after the Easter holiday, and at some parks longer than that.

March is one of the most popular months of the year for camping in Texas parks, and with spring break and Easter lining up back-to-back most of the park camp grounds are full.

“As of us talking everything is booked up at least for the next week, seven to 10 days,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife Communications Director Josh Havens on Friday.

Havens said Central Texas and Hill Country parks are especially popular.  He said every campsite at Guadalupe River, Enchanted Rock, Government Canyon, Pedernales Falls, Inks Lake, Lost Maples and others are filled through the Easter weekend.   Sites could open if campers cancel.

“I would encourage people who are looking to get to a state park in the next seven to 10 days to call our reservations center here in Austin, or check online at texasstateparks.org, to see if campsites here or there start popping up.”

Havens says the state parks are still open for day users.  But if you’re heading to one of the most visited parks like Enchanted Rock, he suggests you call in advance to see if it’s full.

Havens also recommends you download a new mobile app- the Texas State Parks Guide. It has descriptions of park features, locations and facility maps.  It also has an in-app dialing feature to connect with the reservation center where you can check camp site availability.

Here are some state parks reservation numbers:

Reservations Center:                     512-389-8900

Indian Lodge Accommodations: 512-389-8982

Big Bend Ranch State Park:          512-389-8919

Shelley Kofler is Texas Public Radio’s news director. She joined the San Antonio station in December 2014 and leads a growing staff that produces two weekly programs; a daily talk show, news features, reports and online content. Prior to TPR, Shelley served as the managing editor and news director at KERA in Dallas-Fort Worth, and the Austin bureau chief and legislative reporter for North Texas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV.