rock formation in state park near fredericksburg texasTexas 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

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 it’s the smallest state park in Texas. The park definitely warrants a visit as one of Hill Country’s 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.

2. Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site

Location: 199 Park Road 52, Stonewall, TX 78671

Visitors to the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site can get a firsthand look at what life was like for former President Johnson’s grandparents and parents when they first arrived in the area. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, which has park rangers dressed in historical garb tending to crops, farm animals, and cooking meals during World War I.

There’s also a Visitors Center, 1.2 miles of walking trails, American bison, Texas longhorns, wildflowers, creeks, and historic cabins, as well as recreational facilities, including an Olympic-size swimming pool that’s available during the summer. The park is just twenty minutes away from Fredericksburg and perfect for a day trip.

Furthermore, the park does not charge an entrance fee. Also, the park only offers group camping. For no extra charge, you can enjoy a baseball field or, for a small fee, the resource education center and an amphitheater. A swimming pool makes for great fun but does come with a small charge per person, although you can buy a season pass if you plan to visit often.

3. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

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 Fredericksburg’s 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 States’ 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.

4. Inks Lake State Park

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 it’s a little over an hour away from Fredericksburg.

The Devil’s 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 Devil’s 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.

5. Colorado Bend State Park

Location: 2236 Park Hill Dr, Bend, TX 76824

Colorado Bend State Park is a haven hidden in central Texas, about an hour and 20 minutes from Fredericksburg. For only five dollars a day per person over twelve, you can enjoy a natural oasis with caves, a waterfall, hiking, camping, and much more. Children will also marvel at the gorgeous swimming holes, and it’s far away from civilization in a 5,000-acre park.

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, you’ll 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 park’s 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. It’s 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.