6 incredible Texas campgrounds worth the drive

Fort Griffin is one of the amazing Texas campgrounds worth visiting. Fort Griffin Historic Site/Facebook

Traveling in Texas by RV? Don’t make the mistake of thinking campgrounds in the Lone Star State are all alike. From underground caverns to wandering reptiles, RV campgrounds in Texas have plenty to entice jaded travelers. Here’s a half-dozen campgrounds you won’t want to miss. Visit these six choice to discover unusual, luxurious, and unforgettable attractions.

On the beach

The Texas Coastal Bend is a region all beach-loving RVers should visit. On the Beach RV Park on Mustang Island offers easy access to the pleasures of beachside living. Each of the campground’s full-service RV sites are within a stone’s throw of the water. You’ll also find it easy to enjoy Port Aransas attractions, with a trolley stop adjacent to the park.

Outdoor recreation opportunities abound here. Kayakers will find rewarding water trails nearby, including three loops that make up Mustang Island Paddling Trail, and a scenic quartet of waterways at nearby Lighthouse Lakes Park. From this beachside park, you’re also minutes from numerous deep-sea fishing charters (and local fishing piers) for redfish and speckled trout. Beach combing, sunbathing, and surfing will keep the whole crew happy as you camp within earshot of Gulf Coast waves.

Among the gators

Brazos Bend State Park, southwest of Houston on a bend in the Brazos River, will thrill Texas RV travelers who want to get back to the wild. Alligators rule the roost at this park, so be prepared to share the trails and waterways with those irascible reptiles.

Nearly 40 miles of trails within the park are also home to coastal prairie and wetlands creatures such as river otters, foxes, and dozens of bird species, so don’t leave the camera behind. Standard water and electric campsites makes it easy and affordable to spend some time getting back to nature just a short drive from Houston.

Near underground caverns

Do you enjoy going below the surface while camping? Kickapoo Cavern State Park campground in South Texas is the place for you. The guided, quarter-mile cave tour near the campground holds plenty of visual interest.

You’ll also have the chance to watch clouds of Mexican freetail bats emerge from Stuart Bat Cave each evening from April to October. The marked trails throughout the park protect fragile species while allowing visitors to enjoy wildlife. Full hook-up and water-only campsites welcome visitors to stay and get to know this park’s natural wonders.

Under dark skies

Several remote Texas campgrounds are known for their "dark skies," or minimal light pollution, which allows for maximum stargazing. One of our favorites is at Fort Griffin State Historic Site near Abilene. A range of campsites, from full hook-ups to primitive, lets you match your style of camping with night-sky viewing.

Amateur astronomers will enjoy monthly ranger-led night-sky events. No matter what else you have planned, save time to search the heavens for sights you may have missed at brighter locations. You’ll also want to explore the park itself, home to the official Texas state Longhorn herd and once the location of an 1860s fort.

In luxury

RV camping in a forest is one way to spend your vacation, but what if you’d like a little luxury near the campground? Lajitas Golf Resort in Big Bend Country hosts campers at onsite Maverick Ranch RV Park and offers plenty of ways to relax in style.

From the 18-hole, Lanny Wadkins-designed course voted Best Resort Course in Texas, to the services of Agave Spa, RV park guests have access to all the resort has to offer. There’s also skeet and trap shooting, ziplining, hiking and mountain biking at Big Bend State Park, and trail rides that originate at the resort. If your RV camping dreams include luxurious surroundings, you’ll want to book a campsite at Lajitas.

For family fun

Having kid-friendly fun built in at the campground can make the difference between fond vacation memories and a family vacation disaster. The Texas State Railroad Campground in the East Texas Piney Woods is ready to help.

Not only will families find comfortable RV campsites waiting right next to vintage Rusk depot, they’ll also find plenty of ways for youngsters to burn off energy. A splash pad playground, fishing lake, tennis courts, and shuffleboard are just a few ways for the kids to play as you camp. You can also book seats on themed train rides powered by antique steam or diesel engines.

Listen Live

The Longhorns host Georgia on Saturday night. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

By any measure, from the official statistics to the informal eye test, top-ranked Texas' defense has been dominant.

The Longhorns rank No. 1 in total defense and scoring defense. They are top 10 in first downs allowed, tackles for loss and passing yards. Much of that is built against opponents starting former walk-on quarterbacks ( Michigan ) and freshmen ( Mississippi State and Oklahoma.)

But the level of quarterback play Texas will face, in both talent and experience, is about to get much better over the second half of the season.

Texas hosts No. 5 Georgia on Saturday night in the first matchup of top five teams in Austin since 2006, before playing the next week at Vanderbilt. Bulldogs senior Carson Beck was a preseason first team Associated Press All-America pick, and standout Vanderbilt transfer Diego Pavia has carried the Commodores to a surprising 4-2 start, including a historic win over then-No. 1 Alabama.

Quite simply, Texas hasn't defended this caliber of quarterback all season.

Beck is a player on the doorstep of the NFL, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said.

“There's nothing in the throw game (Beck) can't do,” Sarkisian said. “He's played enough football now, too. It's kind of hard to confuse guys when they've played that much football.”

Texas (6-0, 2-0 SEC) has allowed just one team to pass for more than 200 yards this season. Beck passed for 459 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions last week in a 41-31 win over Mississippi State. His 36 completions set a Georgia record.

Even when Beck struggled early in Georgia's loss to Alabama, he rallied the Bulldogs to a late fourth-quarter lead. He finished with 439 yards in the loss where Georgia's rally ended with an Alabama interception in the end zone in the final minute.

Sarkisian recruited Beck when the Texas coach was an assistant at Alabama. Beck had initially committed to the Crimson Tide before switching to Georgia.

Beck is 18-2 in his career as a starter, and 6-2 against top 20 opponents.

The Bulldogs (5-1, 3-1) will need another exceptional game from him Saturday. A second SEC loss could threaten any chance of playing for the SEC championship, and raise the alarms on the College Football Playoff as well.

Texas has all but overwhelmed opposing quarterbacks so far.

In last week's 34-3 thrashing of rival Oklahoma, the Longhorns sacked Sooners freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. five times, and held him to 27 yards on 20 carries. Texas allowed just 225 total yards.

Hawkins was the first Sooners freshman to start at quarterback against the Longhorns in the 120-year history of the rivalry and was quickly swallowed up by a relentless pass rush.

By the numbers, the Longhorns program is on pace for a historic season. Sarkisian has said his favorite stat is points allowed, which is not many.

Texas has surrendered only three touchdowns all season. Opponents have snatched four turnovers inside Texas territory, but none have produced points.

That ability to snuff momentum can drain an opponent, Sarkisian said.

“We're so composed as a defense,” Texas safety Michael Taaffe said. “We're so confident, that no matter what happens, everything is going to be alright.”

The only time Texas has trailed this season was a 3-0 early deficit against Oklahoma. Several Longhorns starters were still on the field when the Sooners' final drive stalled at the Texas 6-yard-line as the game ended.

The stars emerging for the Longhorns have been second-year linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and freshman edge rusher Colin Simmons.

Hill leads the team in total tackles (42), sacks (4 1/2) and tackles for loss (8 1/2). His sideline-to-sideline speed and move this season from the edge to the middle of the Texas defense has drawn comparisons to former Longhorns All-American Derrick Johnson 20 years ago.

Simmons has four sacks and 7 1/2 tackles for losses, second on the team in both categories.

“Size, speed,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said in summing up the Texas defense.

“They’re the complete package on defense," Smart said. "The consistency you watch them play with, it reminds me of some of our best teams here.”By any measure, from the official statistics to the informal eye test, top-ranked Texas' defense has been dominant.