Campgrounds and RV parks near Kempner, TX

Water recreation drives most trips. Stillhouse Hollow Lake has 58 miles of shoreline and stays relatively uncrowded for boaters and anglers, with clear, deep water holding largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. Kayaks and canoes can be rented nearby, and swim beaches sit inside the developed parks. On land, the Chalk Ridge Falls Nature Area below Stillhouse Hollow Dam offers an interpretive hiking trail along the Lampasas River, passing a spring-fed creek, a small waterfall, and a suspension bridge. The multi-use Dana Peak Trail near Dana Peak Park is a longer loop open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. Day trips reach the historic village of Salado for shops and galleries, downtown Lampasas for its courthouse square and Hancock Springs, and Austin roughly 70 miles south.

Central Texas weather shapes the camping calendar. The best conditions run March through May and October into November, when average highs sit in the 70s and low 80s Fahrenheit and humidity is manageable. Spring wildflowers, including bluebonnets, generally peak from late March into April. Summer is hot. August is the warmest month at nearby Lampasas, with an average high near 95°F and an average low in the mid-70s. Book shaded or full-hookup sites so air conditioning can run through the afternoon, and plan lake activities for morning or evening. Severe thunderstorms and occasional flash flooding are most common from April through June. Winter is short and mild but variable. January is the coolest month, with an average high near 58°F and an average low around 41°F. Hard freezes occur but rarely persist, and most private RV parks in the area operate year-round. Corps campgrounds reduce loops or close sections in winter, so confirm status before arrival.

Expect a Central Texas landscape of live oak, mesquite, and limestone hills, with big open sky and warm daytime sun for most of the year. Roads into Kempner are well-maintained state and county highways, and most RV parks in the area handle larger rigs without tight turns. At the Corps parks, sites are mostly open with rolling terrain and little to no shade, so awnings and sunshades help in warmer months. Union Grove and Dana Peak both provide restrooms with showers, dump stations, and four-lane boat ramps. Cell coverage is generally reliable near town and along US-190 but can drop in lakeside coves. Zebra mussels have invaded Stillhouse Hollow Lake, so boaters must clean, drain, and dry boats, trailers, livewells, and gear before moving to another water body. Summer burn bans are common in Lampasas and Bell counties; check local rules before campfires.