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Balmorhea State Park
Balmorhea State Park is home to the world's largest spring-fed swimming pool — a 1.75-acre, 77-degree pool fed by San Solomon Springs. Located in the desert foothills of the Davis Mountains, the crystal-clear pool supports endangered fish species and provides a stunning oasis in the arid West Texas landscape.
33 campsitesWest Texas5 hr 30 min from Austin$7/person entrance fee
Short answer
Balmorhea State Park campsites release on a rolling 5-month window at 8 a.m. Central. Popular dates sell out fast. If your dates are already taken, privately-owned cabins and vacation rentals around Toyahvale are bookable today.
Getting a site at Balmorhea State Park
Texas state parks release campsites on a rolling 5-month window at 8 a.m. Central, and Balmorhea State Park fills up fast for weekends and holidays. Popular dates can be gone within minutes of the window opening. If your dates are already taken, the surest way to lock in a place to stay is a cabin or vacation rental nearby.
Places to stay near Balmorhea State Park
Desert foothills offer private cabins near crystal springs and ancient desert blooms.
See cabins & rentals near Toyahvale →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Prefer to try for a state park site? Book direct on ReserveAmerica →
Texas state parks don’t have live cancellation alerts yet — but most sold-out sites free up 1–2 weeks before the date. We’ll email you the booking playbook (exact release times, the cancellation window, how to pounce) and tell you first if live Texas alerts launch.
Get the Texas state-park booking playbook
Campsite Types
Water + Electric
$20/night*18 sites
Water, 20/30-amp electric, picnic table, grill, fire ring; restroom with showers nearbyRV OKTent OK
Water + Electric
$30/night*15 sites
Water, 20/30/50-amp electric, pull-through; most have a shelter over the picnic table. Tents not allowedRV OK
Balmorhea State Park fills up fast — lock in a cabin nearby
Desert foothills offer private cabins near crystal springs and ancient desert blooms.
See cabins & rentals near Balmorhea State Park →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Guide to Balmorhea State Park
Best Campsites
For Families:Book the back-in water/electric sites — they allow tents and sit near the restroom with showers
For Privacy:The pull-through sites with a shelter over the picnic table offer welcome shade in the desert heat
For RVs:Pull-through sites have 50-amp service and are the easiest for larger rigs to maneuver into
When to Go
March through October. Summer weekends sell out months in advance. The pool is open year-round but lifeguards are seasonal.
Tips
- →Book as early as possible — this park is extremely popular
- →Bring snorkeling gear to see the endangered pupfish
- →Visit McDonald Observatory for star parties (30 minutes away)
- →Summer daytime temperatures regularly exceed 100°F — the pool is your friend
Highlights
World's largest spring-fed swimming poolCrystal-clear 77-degree water year-roundScuba diving and snorkeling allowedDesert scenery with mountain viewsEndangered Comanche Springs pupfish habitatClose to Davis Mountains and McDonald Observatory
Balmorhea State Park — Frequently Asked
Is Balmorhea State Park hard to book?+
Yes. Balmorhea State Park is one of the more popular Texas state parks and fills up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. March through October. Summer weekends sell out months in advance. The pool is open year-round but lifeguards are seasonal. If your dates are already full, book direct on ReserveAmerica the moment the 5-month window opens, or reserve a cabin or vacation rental nearby that you can book today.
How many campsites does Balmorhea State Park have?+
Balmorhea State Park has 33 campsites, including Water + Electric. Sites start at $20/night plus a $7/person entrance fee.
What is the entrance fee at Balmorhea State Park?+
The entrance fee at Balmorhea State Park is $7 per person per day. A Texas State Parks Pass ($70/year) waives entrance fees for you and all passengers in your vehicle.
How far in advance should I book Balmorhea State Park?+
Texas state parks open reservations exactly 5 months in advance, at 8 a.m. Central. For Balmorhea State Park, popular weekends can sell out within minutes of the window opening, so book the instant it opens. If your dates are already full, a cabin or vacation rental near Toyahvale is the quickest place to stay you can lock in today.
How can I get a last-minute campsite at Balmorhea State Park?+
Cancellations at Balmorhea State Park happen regularly, most often 1 to 3 weeks before the date, so it is worth checking ReserveAmerica directly for openings. If nothing is available for your dates, privately-owned cabins and vacation rentals near Toyahvale are bookable today as a backup.
Cabins & vacation rentals near Balmorhea State Park
Privately-owned cabins and rentals around Toyahvale are bookable today on Vrbo.
See cabins near Toyahvale →