Texas offers some incredible parks, and a few of the best options are in central Texas near Fredericksburg. Explore nature, view bats, visit an enchanted rock, and so much more at the six best parks in the area. You will find a different landscape in West Texas with trees and deserts mixing for a natural wonderland with something for the entire family.
People who love golfing, horseback riding, and camping will find their next adventure. You will even find historical sites such as farmhouses and a giant pink granite rock you can climb. Get the information you need right here to plan a fun-filled summer in nature, camping, and exploring.
Map of State Parks Near Fredericksburg TX
Here is a map of the state parks in Texas covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Fredericksburg
Here are each of those state parks with their distance from Fredericksburg and what makes each unique.
1. Old Tunnel State Park
Distance from Fredericksburg: about 12 miles south of Fredericksburg (straight-line).
Location: 10619 Old San Antonio Rd, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
At Old Tunnel State Park, you can enjoy more than nature as Fredericksburg has tons of history about the Civil War era and a historic railroad tunnel. Visitors at Old Tunnel State Park can hike, bird-watch, join up for educational events, and see bats most nights of the week from March through October. Train enthusiasts, history fans, and animal lovers of all ages should visit Old Tunnel, State Park.
While the rustic park lacks some amenities but makes up with tons of sights to see even though itβs the smallest state park in Texas. The park definitely warrants a visit as one of Hill Countryβs best-kept secrets. The park is also a great spot to get some exercise. A short.5-mile trail loop is included. However, you can get in a good exercise with all of the steps and elevation variations. At 5 p.m., the path shuts. After that time, only individuals with bat viewing permits are permitted to enter.
Keep in mind, because of the size, you cannot camp here, nor can you bring pets, build a fire, smoke, or drink alcohol. However, the park is free to enter, and you can enjoy a meal in nature. If you want a bat permit, you will need to pay five dollars per person.
See our full Old Tunnel State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Lyndon B. Johnson State Park
Distance from Fredericksburg: about 15 miles east of Fredericksburg (straight-line).
Location: Stonewall, TX 78671
Discover Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and LBJ State Park’s hiking, fishing, and swimming opportunities just over an hour from Austin.
Highlights associated with Lyndon B. Johnson State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Lyndon B. Johnson State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Distance from Fredericksburg: about 16 miles north of Fredericksburg (straight-line).
Location: 16710 Ranch Rd 965, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area has been attracting visitors for decades, and it is still one of Fredericksburgβs most popular attractions. Camping, picnicking, 8.4 miles of hiking trails, a nature walk, informative exhibits, rock climbing, cave exploring, wildlife viewing, and a park store are all available. In addition, the park is only 20 minutes away from Fredericksburg, making it a fabulous day trip if you are staying in town.
Enchanted Rock is notable for its massive pink granite dome. It is the United Statesβ largest isolated pink granite dome. One of the most popular activities in the park is hiking to the summit of Enchanted Rock. The rock is 640 acres in size and stands 1,825 feet above sea level at its highest point! The monolithic rock is intriguing to see and investigate, whether you trek to the summit or see it from below.
To enter the park, you will need to pay a fee of eight dollars per person over twelve years old. If you want to camp, you will only pay a small fee per night, and you get water, a grill, a fire ring, a tent pad, a lantern post, and restrooms with showers nearby. Take your pets to the primitive campsites and enjoy the park in style. Choose this park if you want epic views of the stars among rocky terrain and near vernal pools filled with fairy shrimp you can enjoy from a distance.
See our full Enchanted Rock State Natural Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Blanco State Park
Distance from Fredericksburg: about 30 miles southeast of Fredericksburg (straight-line).
Location: Blanco, Texas
Blanco State Park is a 104.6-acre (42.3 ha) state park, along a mile of the Blanco River, on the southern edge of Blanco, Texas, United States.
Highlights associated with Blanco State Park include river access, historic sites, and wildlife viewing.
See our full Blanco State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Guadalupe River State Park
Distance from Fredericksburg: about 36 miles southeast of Fredericksburg (straight-line).
Location: Spring Branch, TX 78070
Guadalupe River State Park is a state park located on a section of the Guadalupe River in Kendall and Comal Counties, Texas, United States and is administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground.
See our full Guadalupe River State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Pedernales Falls State Park
Distance from Fredericksburg: about 37 miles east of Fredericksburg (straight-line).
Location: Johnson City, TX 78636
Pedernales Falls State Park ( PUR-dΙ-NAL-iss) is a 5,211.7 acres (2,109 ha) state park situated along the banks of the Pedernales River in Blanco County, Texas, United States.
Highlights associated with Pedernales Falls State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Pedernales Falls State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Longhorn Cavern State Park
Distance from Fredericksburg: about 42 miles northeast of Fredericksburg (straight-line).
Longhorn Cavern State Park is a 645.62 acres (261 ha) state park located in Burnet County, Texas, United States.
Highlights associated with Longhorn Cavern State Park include lake recreation, river access, and scenic views.
See our full Longhorn Cavern State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Inks Lake State Park
Distance from Fredericksburg: about 43 miles northeast of Fredericksburg (straight-line).
Location: 3630 Park Rd 4 W, Burnet, TX 78611
Inks Lake State Park offers outdoor fun for the entire family with room for everyone. Kids will love geocaching, playing volleyball, hiking nine miles of trail in shady forests, or even swimming. Rent a paddleboat boat, canoe, or kayak for the day for a little fishing. The park even offers a store to buy essentials. Keep in mind the park costs seven dollars a day per person over twelve, and itβs a little over an hour away from Fredericksburg.
The Devilβs Waterhole, a famous swimming spot, is where the Valley Spring Creek Trail begins. Several people even jumped over bluffs into the water (about a 20-foot drop). The trail continues beyond the Devilβs Waterhole, passing over rugged terrain and past lovely groupings of cacti. Add in a waterfall that follows that flows during rainy seasons that empty into little pools, and you have an epic location to visit.
Camping is available at Inks Lake State Park. There are over 200 campsites, several of which offer direct lake access. Some sections are more private, while others provide the impression of sleeping in a small hamlet. Camping also gives you early access to swimming holes and hiking paths, allowing you to beat the crowds! Stay at a cabin if you would rather for a lakeside room overlooking the rocky terrain and Lake Buchanan. With a wide range of animals, geology, and plants, this park will amaze you at every turn.
See our full Inks Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
9. Colorado Bend State Park
Distance from Fredericksburg: about 58 miles northeast of Fredericksburg (straight-line).
Location: 2236 Park Hill Dr, Bend, TX 76824
In Colorado Bend, hiking to Gorman Falls is a must-do! The walk to this 70-foot waterfall is three miles round trip and largely flat until you reach the top. As soon as you arrive, youβll take a steep natural rock staircase down into the canyon. The railings make this a relatively easy hike, although the pebbles can get quite slippery. The region is also surrounded by green moss-colored boulders, giving it the feel of a tropical jungle paradise.
While you cannot swim at Gorman Falls, but you can swim in the parkβs other spring-fed pools! Spicewood Springs is a great place to swim and is directly adjacent to the campgrounds. Expect to cross the water several times when hiking the Spicewood Springs trek. Itβs a 1.3-mile round-trip trail. Enjoy camping at primitive campsites with water nearby and fire rings or group camping with options near the canyon and river. Spend days fishing, exploring, and spelunking.
See our full Colorado Bend State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
