We recently bought a travel trailer, and I'd like hear some camping recommendations within a few hours of BCS. I know about Lake Bryan, Gibbon's Creek, Huntsville SP, Birch Creek SP, Bastrop SP, Jellystone in Waller, and Live Oak in Navasota (but we won't be going there).

What else is out there?

Davy Crockett NF.

We're not RV-ers, but Bell County has a couple beautiful clear blue lakes - Lake Belton and Stillhouse Hollow. Check them out.

For a great river spot, try Pecan Park in San Marcos. I can be there in almost exactly 2 hours from Steep Hollow. It's a great spot with lots of huge pecan trees and river access. Very family friendly. www.pecanpark.com

The Jellystone in Canyon Lake is our favorite. It's about 2.5 hour drive. We love the hill country and there are tons of things to do in the area. The campground is a lot better than the Waller Jellystone.

If we want a short drive we go to Somerville. Rocky Creek park is our preferred park but Somerville SP is also nice.

Livingston SP is also nice but it about 2.5 hour drive also.

aggiegal99 - Tell us a little more about yourself...are you a retired couple looking to get away or a family with young kids. It makes a difference.

I did not like Pecan Park in San Marcos. The river access is not good and there are a lot of full time campers there. Park was clean and kept up nice, just not somewhere I would go for a weekend away with my young kids.

[This message has been edited by BigBubba (edited 8/27/2011 12:46p).]

Thanks for the input so far!

We have kids. I like to be on the water, and I like swimming in lakes, but my kiddos prefer pools. They love miniature golf. Trails are important to me (I run). Fishing is important to my husband and kids.

The Nails Creek [State Park] portion of Lake Somerville, in Lee County might be an option. There is lakeside camping and tons of trails!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4505_121.pdf

Some of our favorite places are Ft. Parker near Mexia, Bastrop State Park- there is also a north shore and south shore, Lake Livingston is ok. There is also Double Lake and Cagle recreational area. Another great State Park is Brazosbend.

We have been camping for over 5 years and favorite places to camp depend on the time of year and who we are camping with. We belong to the Southeast Popup Camping Club- SETPUCC.org. We started out in a popup but have since upgraded to travel trailer. We enjoy camping with this group, a good mix of couples and families. There are park reviews on their website too.

You might look at the US Army Corps of Engineers parks at Granger Lake. The lake is just outside of Taylor, which is about 90 miles from Bryan/CS. There are two units - we like the Wilson Fox unit. The campsites have concrete pads with picnic tables that are covered. There is also a lot of space in between campsites.

The main draw for this park is for the fishing. There isn't much else to do there, other than perhaps bicycle or walk around the facility.

Since this is a real campground and not an RV park, you won't be with people who are living full-time out of an RV. You can make reservations on the recreation.gov website.

My folks enjoy Cagel Park on Lake Conroe. Fishing, hiking, boating...

There are actually quite a few places just north of Houston.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/camping-lake-conroe-10188.html