In April 2016, I left my job in Austin, Texas, to take time off. My husband and I sold just about everything we owned, except for sentimental items that we stored in a 7 1/2′ x 15′ storage unit, grabbed our two dogs, loaded our fifth wheel, and traveled the southwest for a year. I shot destination photography on the side and blogged as Eccentric Nomads. While I knew it would end eventually, it was a great year and I highly recommend RVing as a way to see places.
We still have the RV but don’t take it out as often. I thought I’d share some of our favorite RV parks in Texas.
New Adventure RV Park & Horse Hotel
While New Adventure RV Park and Horse Hotel is a smaller park with only 15-full hookups, this location is hand’s down one of the most relaxing locations we visited in our year. We liked it so much we returned a second time. Full disclosure, we also knew the owners from a previous job I was in. We loved the nature walking trail, the two fenced dog yards, and the outstanding wifi. Connectivity is extremely important for people full timing in RV’s and wifi was always strong and available. It is a quiet park, between Livingston and Coldspring. Both communities have small downtowns and cute shops and museums. Lake Livingston is also nearby, offering water sports opportunities. This area is not necessarily known for their dark skies but you can certainly enjoy them at New Adventure.
El Paso West/Anthony KOA
When people wonder just how big Texas is, I like to tell them it’s so large El Paso is in another time zone. While that’s actually true, the Sun City is a lovely city offering the Franklin Mountains as a backdrop and a rich culture and beautiful community. At the edge of the state is the small town of Anthony, just west of El Paso. At the border of Texas and New Mexico and not far from the Mexico/Texas border is the El Paso West/Anthony KOA. We spent a week here while I was shooting photos for a conference in El Paso and several other times when we were exploring the southwest. It’s also conveniently located across the interstate from the Anthony Texas Travel Information Center. Our favorite features of this park were the incredible skies, the mountain views, and the pull-through RV spaces. Of course, our springer spaniel mix, Sadie, preferred the dog park and running through the tunnel, an old concrete culvert painted bright yellow and a fun obstacle for traveling dogs. Finally, while we were at the park the last time, we found the end of the rainbow. We never located the pot of gold so you might want to look for it when you visit.
Oasis RV Resort in Amarillo
When you’re traveling along old Route 66 near Amarillo and need a place to overnight in your RV, Oasis RV Resort is an option I’d recommend. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the RV on its side stuck partially in the ground. Why, you may ask? Less than two miles east of the park is the infamous Cadillac Ranch, a row of old cadillacs standing up on their side and stuck in the ground. Make sure to grab some spray paint and leave your mark, even if it’s just for a minute.
Llano Grande Resort & Country Club in Mercedes
In the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) along the border of Mexico is the town of Mercedes and Llano Grande Resort Country Club. Tropical trees greet you when you enter the 55+ adult community and RV resort. If you like a lot of activity, this place is for you. From golf and pickleball to woodworking and arts and crafts, the park offers a variety of activities to keep you busy. Just inside the resort is the Hynes Event Center, offering live music concerts for both the resort visitors and the community. Sadie also had a favorite location. The dog park has a great pond and she spent many days running after tennis balls. When she was done, we’d go to the dog-washing station across from the pond and then enjoy the sunset. The park is also close to many of the nine locations of the World Birding Center and the most amazing nature walks.
If you want more information about RVing in south Texas, check out Welcome Home RGV.
On the Beach RV Park on Mustang Island
Prior to purchasing our fifth wheel, we bought a used motorhome. On Thanksgiving a few years ago, our kids were busy with life and other commitments so we packed up the RV and headed south to the Gulf Coast. We were fortunate to come across On the Beach RV Park in Port Aransas on Mustang Island. The park actually provided Thanksgiving lunch for those camping there so we broke bread with Winter Texans from the north and even Canada. What a fabulous experience!
Of course, the sunrises were pretty spectacular, too.
While these are five RV parks we loved, there are so many others I could name across the Lone Star State and I’m sure they’ll get mentioned later in other blog posts. Happy camping!
Until next time from Texas … safe travels!
