RV parks in Austin?

[joewinfield]

Jen and I want to attend the South by Southwest happening in Austin and it seems all hotel rooms are booked. Any ideas of RV parks would be appreciated. Thanks joe

[knunut]

Try Austin Lone Star.Have not stayed there,but plan to in May.

[emo59]

Pecan Grove is full already - but stop by if you're around 'cause we're going to be there.

Royal Palms is o.k. - They have full time residents, mobile homes, and RV spots.

McKinney Falls State Park is nice, and fairly close to everything (10-15 min. drive)

Where is Austin Lone Star? I'll try to find out more about it.

Jill

[Silver Bill]

I think Austin Lone Star is on I-35 about Ben White.

[SmokelessJoe]

Too bad the PECAN GROVE is full.

Make sure you go by just to see it. World's Coolest RV Park, on a river bank and RIGHT DOWNTOWN.

Definately one of the many things that Help Keep Austin Wierd.

Sergei

[emo59]

O.k. Lonestar is the one I thought. RV lover - I think it depends on what type of park you are looking for. Lonestar is nice but a little ways out. McKinney Falls is typical state park, but a little closer to the southside events than Lone Star is.

Let me know if you are coming to Austin, because we will be in Shady Grove in the Globetrotter. You can park at our site and go to one of the great restaurants around the area.

[emo59]

I'm sorry. I meant Pecan Grove. Shady Grove is the restaurant next door.

[Fyrzowt]

As an aside, I was just checking out some websites regarding Pecan Grove. Found this website that has photos of a number of Airstreams in the park. Looks like a Rally?
barenakedfamily.com ~ Pecan Grove RV Park

Dave

[emo59]

Nope. No rally. About 80% of the spaces are permanent residents. Of those, ther's probably 10-12 Airstreams, Avions, and Silver Streaks. Then, word has gotten around with Airstream owners, who appreciate the finer, funkier things in life, that this is a good, enjoyable, laid back park, so a lot of other Airstreamers stay their regularly.

At least two of the 'permanent' residents actually have houses in Austin (on the north side) and keep their Airstreams there so they can have a place to stay the weekend or spend the night if they were out late in the area.

[Torpedo Family]

We have stayed in Austin Lone Star six or seven times. It is the BEST in Austin we have stayed. Pecan Grove is MUDDY unless they have cleaned it up, which I do not think they have. LONE STAR has a FREE breakfast each morning, ice cream social Saturday and other nice ammenities. Also when you arrive you are escorted to your site.

[emo59]

I guess it just depends on your tastes. I would gladly give up a pale slab of concrete for shady trees, gravel, mud when raining, lots of character, and being walking distance to Town Lake, Zilker Park, Congress Bridge Bat Colony, etc.

Those are the things I enjoy, so take this as a caveat when considering my reviews of campgrounds. I will always flavor the comfortably-worn to the shiny and pristine.

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by emo59

O.k. Lonestar is the one I thought. RV lover - I think it depends on what type of park you are looking for. Lonestar is nice but a little ways out. McKinney Falls is typical state park, but a little closer to the southside events than Lone Star is.

Hate to disagree, Eric, but Lone Star, is on the interstate in south Austin by William Cannon and is a lot more convenient than McKinney Falls. McKinney Falls is a nice park, but there is absolutely nothing near it. The nearest good restaurants are in the I-35 and William Cannon area.

The shortest way from McKinney Falls to anything downtown would be up McKinney Falls Parkway to 183 and then up 183 to about 7th street which is a pretty long trek through the seedy end of Austin to get downtown.

OTOH, Lone Star has become expensive and McKinney Falls is certainly a lot cheaper place to stay.

[emo59]

John - You're prob. right about the distances. In Austin, we usually stay around the South Lamar/Ben White/Brodie area. Now that Ben White is near completion around Riverside to I35, we go that way.

We could probably discuss the finer points of Austin all day. I think wherever RVLover goes, they will enjoy themselves.

[SmokelessJoe]

http://www.shefelman-nix.com/bartonsprings.html
*
http://www.statesman.com/business/co...2/2barton.html

[silversled]

I have have never stayed there but our Hill Country Unit is having a Rally their later this year. There is also a pecan park in San Marcus just south of Austin.

Good Luck

[Waynon]

Originally Posted by Torpedo Family

We have stayed in Austin Lone Star six or seven times. It is the BEST in Austin we have stayed. ..... LONE STAR has a FREE breakfast each morning, ice cream social Saturday and other nice ammenities. Also when you arrive you are escorted to your site.

I'm glad you like Austin. It's a wonderful place to live or to visit.

There are many rv parks around Austin. There's a wonderful state park between town and the airport, but inside you'd think you were many miles away from civilization. There are numerous rv parks west of town near Lake Travis.

Lone Star is a typical old barely remodeled former KOA from the seventies. I camped there many times back then. It was a crowded parking lot then and it is even more crowded and over priced now.

If I could respectively suggest that after six or seven times there you might want to try some of the better parks.

Waynon

[joewinfield]

Jen and I stayed at McKinner Falls State Park and loved it. True, it is a bit of a drive to the Austin hot spots but worth it. Took us about 15 minutes to some of our favorite south A places. We're partial to State Parks so it worked out great. Our first South by Southwest experience but not our last. A great time. We have purchased some land near Johnson City so we will be enjoying our favorite Texas city (Austin) often. Thanks for all the advice. joe

[uwe]

I have staed at Pecan Grove last year for close to a week. I found it quite nice, and convenient. The trees left a spotty haze on my polished trailer, but it washed off easily once I got home.
It is a quiet park, with a nice restaurant next door, and a coffe shop just a block east. Not a trace of mud anywhere.
I can recommend this park for location, ambiance, convenience and the courtesy of the staff.
But then I guess it is full already, so I am posting this for future readers.
Oh, and Austin is great!

[Waynon]

Originally Posted by emo59

I'm sorry. I meant Pecan Grove. Shady Grove is the restaurant next door.

Shady Grove is a really nice restaurant just down the street. Shady Grove is also the park in the same original Toomey Family Pecan Orchard and borders Pecan Grove just to the west. Many people get them mixed up. That is actually the original park, and probably the one where the poster remembered the mud. It can still get pretty muddy there occasionally. It only accepts monthlies and very sadly has just been sold to the owners of the above mentioned coffee shop next door to be developed into high rise condos. I parked there for a whole year when one of my kids was in Law School at The Universiy and was having some health problems. It'll be a shame to see it go. Especially the beautiful huge pecan trees that were planted by Mr. Toomey in the twenties.

Waynon

[Waynon]

Originally Posted by uwe

I have staed at Pecan Grove last year for close to a week. I found it quite nice, and convenient. The trees left a spotty haze on my polished trailer, but it washed off easily once I got home.

I have pecan trees at my farm and they are beautiful and producers of my favorite nut and favorite Southern pies, but that spotty haze if not washed off as you did in a few days can become a REAL problem. The discharge from the trees is acidic and will actually etch the aluminum if left on too long and is horrible on car finishes as well.

Originally Posted by uwe

It is a quiet park, with a nice restaurant next door, and a coffe shop just a block east. Not a trace of mud anywhere.
I can recommend this park for location, ambiance, convenience and the courtesy of the staff.
But then I guess it is full already, so I am posting this for future readers.
Oh, and Austin is great!

Because most of the spaces are only rented on a monthly basis with a long waiting list it is almost always full. Make your reservations VERY early. IMO it is probably the best location possible for anything going on in central Austin. Certainly the most "Austin-ey."

Waynon