One Tank Trip for North Texas Camping

Sponsored By:
Texas State Parks & Wildlife Dept
www.tpwd.state.tx.us
Texas. The word conjures imagery of the American frontier, of cowboys and outlaws and the spirit of the Old West. It took rugged, independent individuals to tame this land, and that same rugged independence is present in the Texas of today. The people of the Lone Star State are proud of their history, and proud to be called Texans.
The state capitol of Austin is the inception point for this road trip, so why not start this one tank trips adventure with a tour through the capitol building? This massive edifice was built in the late 1880s and is the second-largest state capitol building in the U.S. and is on the official National Register of Historic Places.
If it’s the offbeat and unusual you’re looking for, you’ve definitely come to the right place. This is a city that celebrates creativity and artistic endeavors, and is rich with museums and galleries that spotlight an eclectic array of works from local artists. If you’re planning your trip anytime between March and October, you can be part of the crowd that watches the bizarre night flight of 1.5 million bats as they launch from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Now that’s not something you see every day (unless you live in Austin, of course).
Leaving Austin, take Highway 71 west for 2 miles until you come to the exit for the US-290-W, which you’ll cruise along for 70 miles, ultimately pulling over in Fredericksburg. This Texas camping area was settled in the mid 1800s by German immigrants, and still maintains a unique feeling of Old World German culture. There are several places to enjoy authentic German cuisine, and of course, beer! If you happen to appreciate fine wine, you’ll see that this is also wine lover’s heaven, as there are more than 20 wineries in the Fredericksburg area alone. Among the many other activities in the area, you might want to check out the National Museum of the Pacific War, Wildseed Farms, and the Rockbox Theater, where live shows bring back the Golden Days of Rock and Roll.
A southbound drive down the TX-16 takes you through 25 miles of breathtakingly beautiful landscape before you pull into the next stop, Kerrville. This is a superb spot to pull over for a few days, and enjoy the great outdoors. This town is located near the Guadalupe River, and boasts a wealth of creeks and streams for whatever water-based adventures suit your fancy. The Kerrville-Schreiner Park is another must-see for the nature lover, as it spreads out over 500 acres of Guadalupe River landscape, and is a great place to kick back and even spot some local wildlife. While you’re in town, drop in on the fine folks at the Mooney Airplane Company, who’ll be happy to take you on a tour of their construction factory, where they build some of the sleekest and fastest single-engine aircraft currently in production.
Continuing south for another 2 miles down the TX-16, merge with the I-10-E, which you take for 60 miles before you come to San Antonio. There’s a lot to do in this neck of the woods, especially when it comes to family-style amusement. San Antonio is the home of Splash Town, a 20-plus-acre water park with enough rides and attractions to suit kids of all ages, from 5 to 105. Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is worth a look, but is not for the faint of heart. This attraction is a high-tech, incredibly elaborate spook house that features a blend of live actors, robotics, and Hollywood-style special effects to create a truly spine-tingling environment. For something a little less bone-chilling, but nonetheless exciting, head on over to Sea World and watch the dolphins and killer whales go through their paces, or spend a day riding some of the smoothest and fastest steel roller coasters at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
When it’s time to catch your breath from all this excitement, head north on the I-35 and set the rig on cruise control. Enjoy a leisurely drive through 75 miles of Texas camping terrain, and before you know it you’ll have come full circle on your one tank trips vacation back to Austin, where you can get one more look at that awe-striking cloud of bats as they blot out the night sky.
Other Area Sponsors in Texas: Hill Country RV Center Paradise Cove on Lake Travis RV Resort, Cottages & Marina