MCKINNEY FALLS STATE PARK, AUSTIN, TEXAS

Our Opinion: Recommend.  Close to Austin for sightseeing, but in a natural setting.

Date of Stay: February 10th through 12th, 2010.

Weather During Stay:  Cold and rainy (some sleet) until the last day, then cold and sunny. 

Site Description:  We were in site 18, a 50 amp site with water, next to the restroom.  84 sites have E and W; 12 of those have 50 amps, the rest have 30 amps.  Sites are a mix of pull-outs, right alongside the loop road, and back-ins.  Sites are reasonably spacious (though not particularly private), with tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings.

Campground roads are asphalt, as are sites.  Sites vary in length, but many will accommodate big rigs.  We had to maneuver quite a  bit to get level in our site.  Many trees in the park - watch for overhanging branches.  Most sites are shaded.  Dump station available.

Rate: 50 amp sites are $20/night, plus a per person day use fee ($4/$2 senior, over age 65, I believe).  Our $60 annual pass covered the day use fee.  30 amp sites are less, but I don’t know the fee.

Phone/radio/TV: Excellent Verizon service for phones and air card.  Some obstacles for roof-mounted satellites; choose your site carefully.  NPR on 89.5.  All networks available on batwing antenna, including PBS.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  This is a flat, fairly heavily forested campground in a large state park with two rivers/creeks.  Views are of neighboring campers and trees.

Lighting/Noise:  No light at night except on the small buildings in the campground.  Very quiet.

Favorite Sites:  We didn’t spot any exceptional sites.  Most were rather rough - uneven asphalt, sloping here and there…

Hiking/Walking:  There are lots of hikes in the state park, including two hike/bike trails each 2.8 miles long.  Hike to waterfalls, old stone buildings, and the “rock shelter”, a rock overhang along Onion Creek.

Comments: This park worked well for our visit to Austin - downtown Austin is about 20 minutes away.  Lots of deer here, too.  Too bad it was so wet and cold when we visited.