Campgrounds and RV parks near Smithville, TX

Buescher State Park offers several miles of trails through loblolly pines and oaks, a small lake open to fishing and paddling (no swimming allowed), and canoe and kayak rentals through the park. Bastrop State Park has additional trails, a seasonal swimming pool operated by the City of Bastrop Parks and Recreation Department, and fishing at Lake Mina, a small park lake where no fishing license is required inside the park. The 12-mile Park Road 1C connects the two parks and is popular for cycling and slow scenic drives. Downtown Smithville itself, used as a filming location for the movie Hope Floats, has cafes, antique shops, and the Vernon L. Richards Riverbend Park along the Colorado River. Austin, Bastrop, and La Grange are all within an easy day-trip radius.

Spring and fall are the most comfortable stretches for RV camping around Smithville. From roughly mid-February through May and again from October into November, daytime highs sit in the 70s and 80s, wildflowers bloom along park roads, and campsite demand at Bastrop and Buescher climbs on weekends and holidays. May is the wettest month on average, and Central Texas is prone to spring thunderstorms and occasional flash flooding. Summers are hot and humid, with August highs commonly near the mid-90s. Shade is a real factor: Cozy Circle and Oak Haven loops at Buescher sit under mature trees, which helps, but state park sites here offer 20/30-amp electric only, so plan accordingly for AC use. The Bastrop State Park pool is open seasonally through the warm months, roughly Memorial Day through August. Winters are mild but variable. Overnight lows in December and January can drop into the 40s and occasionally lower. From October to March, prescribed burning may take place at Bastrop and Buescher State Parks, which can bring partial closures and lingering smoke. Campers can reach Buescher at 512-237-2241 and Bastrop at 512-321-2101 within a week of a visit for current conditions.

At Buescher State Park, use the FM 153 entrance rather than following GPS to the back gate on Park Road 1C, which has low clearance and tight curves that are difficult for RVs and motorhomes. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Check-in for campsites is 2:00 p.m. and check-out is noon. After-hours arrivals check in at Park Headquarters by 9:00 a.m. the next morning. Bastrop State Park has no entry gate; late arrivals can find their site assignment posted on a kiosk outside park headquarters. State park sites at Buescher and Bastrop include concrete pads that are generally level, though some are narrow and shaded by trees that can limit maneuvering room for larger rigs. Buescher offers 20/30-amp electric with water hookups but no sewer at sites; a dump station is available near the Cozy Circle entrance. Restrooms with hot showers are maintained throughout both parks. A per-person day-use entry fee applies in addition to camping fees unless the driver holds a Texas State Parks Pass.