High Winter RV Locations in Texas: The place to Keep

As a result of I’m initially from Oklahoma, Texas has been a getaway vacation spot for me for my total life. This has carried over into RV life, and we now have now visited just about each space of Texas in our RV—and whereas we do favor wintering in Florida, we’ve additionally spent a number of winter weeks within the Lone Star State and have a number of favourite RV locations in Texas.

This 12 months, we plan to go to Texas for the whole month of January, so deciding on winter locations in Texas has been on my thoughts. On this article I’ll share with you my household’s favourite locations to winter in Texas, in addition to the spots we plan to go to this time round. 

Galveston Island

The seashores are simply my favourite a part of Texas, and Galveston Island has been one in all my favourite RV vacation spot in Texas since I used to be a child. Subsequently, it ought to come as no shock that we now have visited Galveston in our RV greater than as soon as, and we completely adore it.

We love grabbing a cup of joe on the lovable MOD Coffeehouse, spending lazy days on the seashore, and having scrumptious dinners at Shrimp N Stuff. Galveston Historic Seaport was superb for a historical past nerd like myself, and Pleasure Pier is enjoyable for the entire household. 

Different issues to do on the island embrace Moody Gardens, Bishop’s Palace, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and the Galveston Railroad Museum. 

The place to Keep

I’ll at all times, at all times suggest staying at Galveston Island State Park whereas on this lovable island. The park is extraordinarily effectively saved, and in case you can snag one, there are even websites located proper on the seashore. These are superb as a result of they help you go to sleep to the sound of waves.

South Padre Island

I’ve bought to be trustworthy, I haven’t truly gotten to go to South Padre Island since I used to be a child. That stated, we plan to go to this January and I’m extremely excited. From what I keep in mind, the seashores right here function beautiful, mushy sand and blue waters.

I’m excited concerning the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Path and the opposite nature trails within the space, and I’m certain we’ll make time to see Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Website and Sea Turtle Inc. I additionally hope to take some sandcastle constructing classes, which appear to be a factor down there. 

Different issues to do in South Padre Island embrace browsing classes, South Padre Island Journey Park, and Gravity Park. 

The place to Keep

We plan to remain in Isla Blanca County Park. This park performs host to an enormous variety of snowbirds and full time RV households each winter, and we’ve heard plenty of good issues about it. Month-to-month charges are completely reasonably priced, the park is true on the seashore, and it feels like we’ll have tons of fellow full timers to hang around with. 

Padre Island Nationwide Seashore

One other one of many higher winter RV locations in Texas, Padre Island Nationwide Seashore permits you to benefit from the Texas shoreline with out the commercialism present in another spots. The seashore is an NPS website, that means it’s protected, so visiting permits you to see seashores of their pure state. That is the proper place for a calming retreat into nature, with loads of seaside strolls, sandcastle constructing, swimming, and wildlife recognizing. 

Whilst you’re in Padre Island Nationwide Seashore, make sure you go to the customer heart, attend some NPS ranger applications, and earn your Junior Ranger Badge!

The place to Keep

One of many coolest issues about Padre Island Nationwide Seashore is that RVers are allowed to boondock on the seashore without cost! That stated, you accomplish that at your individual threat and getting caught within the sand is one thing that may occur. 

For individuals who don’t need to take the chance, there are two established campgrounds: Hen Island Basin Campground and Malaquite Campground. Neither gives hookups, however each have restrooms with flush bathrooms, and Malaquite has a dump station and showers. 

Huge Bend Nationwide Park

Admittedly, this is without doubt one of the RV locations in Texas I’ve by no means seen for myself (although I don’t understand how that occurred). Subsequently, I’m making it a objective to test it out in 2025. The photographs I’ve seen are unimaginable, and I’m betting that like different distant nationwide parks, it’s completely beautiful. 

Huge Bend Nationwide Park is the proper place to winter in Texas if you wish to escape the hustle and bustle of metropolis life and spend your time mountaineering, paddling, and taking in beautiful sunsets. That stated, it does get fairly chilly, so in case you’re trying to escape winter climate, this in all probability isn’t your spot. 

The place to Keep

Huge Bend Nationwide Park is surrounded by free and tremendous cheap boondocking spots, however many of those are laborious to achieve in a much bigger rig, so whereas we’ll in all probability select one in all these dry tenting spots, we’ll do our analysis earlier than diving in.

On prime of that, it’s necessary to notice that the Chisos Basin Campground within the park can solely accommodate trailers as much as 20 toes lengthy and motorhomes as much as 24 toes lengthy, that means we undoubtedly received’t be staying there. 

Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park

We visited Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park in December one 12 months and I used to be truly shocked how a lot I loved that leg of that journey. We boondocked between Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park and Carlsbad Caverns Nationwide Park so we might go to each, and we ended up getting snowed in a single evening, which was a surreal expertise in the course of a desert. We liked mountaineering the nationwide park, and since we visited within the winter, we have been virtually the one individuals there, which was fairly neat. 

As soon as once more, I do have to notice that this a part of Texas will get fairly chilly in winter. We have been fortunate that we solely had a pair days of below-freezing temperatures, however this isn’t at all times the case. 

The place to Keep

As I discussed above, we selected a boondocking spot between the 2 nationwide parks, and we actually loved the sunsets there. That stated, the BLM-run Sundown Reef Campground additionally appeared like an excellent choice for individuals who need free dry tenting however don’t need to go too far off the overwhelmed path.

Simply remember that the campground is technically in New Mexico, however nonetheless shut sufficient to Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park to go to greater than as soon as. 

Houston, Texas

Let me begin by saying that I truly don’t love Houston as a metropolis. That stated, I do admire what town has to supply by way of sights and experiences. Specifically, I like Houston’s museum scene, which incorporates an superior Well being Museum that’s a part of the ASTC reciprocal program, and my favourite kids’s museum within the nation: Youngsters’s Museum Houston, which can also be a part of the ASTC reciprocal program. 

Different nice museums in Houston embrace the Houston Museum of Pure Science, Holocaust Museum Houston (though I don’t suggest this one for younger kids), and naturally, the superb Houston Area Middle. 

The place to Keep

We wish to make use of our Thousand Trails membership as a lot as attainable. Subsequently, we keep at Lake Conroe Thousand Trails any time we go to Houston. This campground is ready on a lake and gives all types of facilities, together with a good looking pool, a playground for the children, and deliberate actions. It’s additionally simply 30–40 minutes outdoors of town, making it an excellent residence base. 

Austin, Texas

Austin is my favourite Texas metropolis. Actually, it’s one in all my favourite cities in the whole nation. This place is filled with artwork and occasional and scrumptious meals, and I’m right here for all of it.

We love Terry Black’s Barbecue and have had Amy’s Ice Lotions for dessert extra instances than I care to confess. Our favourite Austin attraction is the Thinkery kids’s museum, however we additionally love the Austin Zoo, Bullock Texas State Historical past Museum, Zilker Park, and McKinney Falls State Park. 

Should you can, go to Austin throughout one in all their many festivals or occasions. This place is aware of methods to have fun artwork, creativity, and life, and their occasions are the proper solution to expertise this truth. 

The place to Keep

We talked about McKinney Falls State Park above. This park is situated simply outdoors of town and is a superb place for a daytrip to go on a hike or try the falls. That stated, it’s an excellent higher place to park your RV as a house base for exploring Austin. Our website was beautiful, effectively shaded, and included water and electrical hookups. There have been restrooms with first rate showers obtainable, and a dump station is situated onsite. 

San Antonio, Texas

After all, I have to point out San Antonio. That is one other nice Texas metropolis, particularly in case you’re trying to be taught extra concerning the tradition and historical past of the state. We’ve visited the Alamo greater than as soon as and at all times be taught one thing new after we do. San Antonio Missions Nationwide Historic Park is a superb place for roadschooling, and the San Antonio Riverwalk is at all times enjoyable. 

Whereas in San Antonio, make sure you eat as a lot Mexican meals as attainable! That is simply the most effective issues about this vibrant metropolis. 

The place to Keep

We have a tendency to remain at Thousand Trails Medina Lake when visiting San Antonio. That stated, this campground is fairly far outdoors of town and we solely select to remain there as a result of it’s included with our membership. Should you aren’t a Thousand Trails member, I like to recommend trying out Traveler’s World Resort, which appears to be effectively appreciated by everybody who visits. 

Dallas, Texas

Final on my record of RV vacation spot in Texas is town of Dallas. First, let me say that Dallas is definitely my least favourite metropolis in Texas—and truthfully, it’s not an important winter escape both. That stated, as a result of it’s the closest Texas metropolis to Oklahoma Metropolis, and since we now have mates who go to the realm usually, we have a tendency to finish up there pretty usually. In reality, we plan to be there in simply a few weeks. Subsequently, I felt like I wanted to incorporate it on this record. 

Our favourite issues to do within the Dallas/Fort Price space? I’d should say that the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Dallas World Aquarium, and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing – Western Foreign money Facility Tour and Customer Middle have been all fairly cool. We additionally loved SeaQuest Fort Price, even when it was a bit kitschy. 

The place to Keep

We at all times keep in one of many 4 Thousand Trails parks surrounding town whereas visiting the Dallas space. All of them are no less than an hour outdoors of town, however since we don’t love spending time on this explicit metropolis anyway, it really works out. 

The Thousand Trails parks on this space embrace:

There you might have it, among the finest winter RV locations in Texas! Undecided which to decide on? I like to recommend spending two or three months exploring the state so you possibly can see a number of totally different spots and select your individual favorites.