Garner State Park Camping & Reservations
The most-visited state park in Texas. Float the ice-cold Frio River by day, dance under the stars at night. Garner State Park reservations sell out the instant the booking window opens — check live campsite availability below, see when 2026 dates open, and set a free cancellation alert if yours are taken.
Check live availability
We check ReserveAmerica right now — no stale numbers, just what’s actually open.
How to Get a Reservation at Garner State Park
The summer dance, the Frio River, the multi-generational tradition — this park sells out fast. Here’s how to actually land a site.
Know the 5-month rule
Texas state parks open reservations exactly 5 months in advance at 8 a.m. Central Time. For a Fourth of July weekend, that means booking opens February 4 at 8 a.m.. For Memorial Day, book in late December. Mark your calendar — popular summer weekends at Garner sell out within minutes.
Be at your computer at 8 a.m.
Log in to your Texas State Parks account before 8 a.m.. Have your preferred loop, site type, and payment info loaded. When the clock hits 8:00 a.m., start clicking immediately — the best sites go in seconds on peak summer weekends. Don't log on late — the window is 8 a.m. sharp.
Pick your loop based on your trip style
For families: Rio Frio (sites 100–155) puts you closest to the river and the dance. For RVs: Pecan Bottom (sites 1–50) has full hookups. For privacy: Shady Ridge (215–260) is up the hill, quieter. For a roof and A/C: book one of the 17 cabins, or grab a screened shelter (electricity and a fire ring, no A/C) near the river.
If it's sold out — set a cancellation alert
Garner is one of the most-cancelled parks in the Texas system. People book summer sites months out, then life gets in the way. Camp.land scans every 10 minutes and emails you the moment a cancellation opens up. Most of our users who got into Garner for summer did it through a cancellation alert.
Garner is sold out for your dates?
Set an alert and we’ll email you the moment a site opens. Cancellations at Garner happen constantly, especially 2–4 weeks out.
Set a Cancellation Alert →New to booking here? Read how to get a Garner State Park reservation.
Can’t wait for a cancellation?
Grab a cabin or vacation rental near Garner State Park — privately-owned places around Concan on Vrbo, ready to book tonight.
See cabins & rentals near Garner State Park →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Campsite Types & Pricing
Full Hookup — Pecan Bottom
$25/nightSites 1–50 · 50 sites · Water, Sewer, 30/50-amp
Best for RVs — larger pads, easy access
Water + Electric — Rio Frio
$20/nightSites 100–155 · 56 sites · Water, 20/30-amp
Closest to river and concession area
Water + Electric — Shady Ridge
$20/nightSites 215–260 · 46 sites · Water, 20/30-amp
Quietest loop, shaded by oaks
Water + Electric — Live Oak
$20/nightSites 156–214 · 59 sites · Water, 20/30-amp
Mid-park, versatile for tents and RVs
Water Only — Cedar Hollow
$15/nightSites 261–305 · 45 sites · Water only
Tent camping — budget option
Walk-in Tent — Riverside
$15/nightSites 306–320 · 15 sites · Water nearby
Short walk, closer to the river
Screened Shelter
$50/nightOld & New Garner · 18 sites · Electricity, no A/C
Screened from bugs — bring a fan for summer
Cabin
$85/nightCabins 1–17 · 17 sites · Kitchen, bath, central A/C
Sleeps 4 (max 6) · 2-night min · books first
+ $8/person entrance fee. Texas State Parks Pass ($70/yr) waives entrance fees.
Cabins & Lodging at Garner State Park
If you’d rather sleep with a roof, air conditioning, and a real bed, Garner has 17 cabins — 13 with a fireplace and 4 without. Several are historic native-rock cabins dating to the park’s Civilian Conservation Corps era (the CCC developed Garner between 1935 and 1941), which makes them some of the most characterful — and most fought-over — lodging in the Texas state park system.
Every cabin has a full kitchen (refrigerator, microwave, stovetop, sink), a private bathroom with a shower, central heating and air conditioning, and two double beds. The base rate covers up to 4 people, with a maximum of 6 (about $10 per extra person, per night).
Before you book a Garner cabin
- →Two-night minimum on every cabin — no single-night stays.
- →Bring your own bedding. No linens, blankets, or towels are provided.
- →No pets are allowed in the cabins.
- →A cleaning deposit ($130–$150, credit card) is collected at check-in. Check-in is 3 p.m., checkout 11 a.m.
- →Cabins open the same 5-month window as campsites and are the first lodging at Garner to sell out — especially summer and fall weekends.
Screened shelters
Cheaper than a cabin and a step up from a tent site, Garner’s 18 screened shelters (across Old and New Garner) each have electricity with an interior light and outlet, a picnic table, and an outdoor fire ring with a grill. They’re screened against bugs but not air conditioned — bring a fan for summer. You supply your own cot or sleeping setup, and each shelter holds up to 8 people. No pets.
Cabins booked solid for your dates?
Garner’s 17 cabins cancel constantly as plans change. We’ll email you the second a cabin or shelter opens back up.
Set a Cabin Cancellation Alert →The Frio River at Garner
The Frio River is the reason people drive 2+ hours from San Antonio and Austin to camp at Garner. It’s spring-fed, crystal clear, and stays around 68–72°F year-round — ice cold even in July, which is exactly the point.
The swimming areas are directly accessible from most campsites. You can float the river on tubes (rentals available), kayak, or paddleboard. The limestone bottom and clear water make it feel more like a Caribbean snorkel spot than a Texas river.
Water temp
68–72°F year-round (bring water shoes)
Activities
Swimming, tubing, kayaking, paddleboarding
Watch out
River runs low in drought years — check before going
Best Time to Camp at Garner State Park
Crowd levels, temperatures, and booking difficulty by month.
40–65°F
Very quiet. Mild hiking weather. River still cold.
45–70°F
Easy to book. Good for couples. No dance yet.
55–80°F
Spring break rush. Books solid months out.
65–85°F
Wildflowers. Pleasant temps. Getting busier.
70–90°F
Memorial Day weekend = instant sellout.
78–95°F
Summer dance starts. River season in full swing.
82–98°F
Hottest month. Peak bookings. Dance every night.
80–97°F
Still peak. River may run low in drought years.
72–90°F
Crowds thin. Dance ends after Labor Day.
60–82°F
Fall color starts. Great weather returns.
48–72°F
Very peaceful. Good for hiking. Easy to book.
40–62°F
Winter rates sometimes available. Tranquil.
What to Know Before You Go
- →Summer weekends book out the instant the 5-month window opens — be online at 8 a.m., not the next morning
- →Bring water shoes — the Frio River has a rocky limestone bottom
- →The river can run low or fast depending on recent rainfall — check current conditions at the park website
- →The nightly dance at the concession runs every evening during summer season — free for all ages
- →Sites near the river (Rio Frio loop) can flood after heavy rain — check the weather and have a backup loop in mind
- →Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at the park concession — no need to haul your own
- →A Texas State Parks Pass pays for itself in one trip for a family of four (waives $8/person/day entrance fee)
- →Cell service is limited inside the park — download maps and confirm your reservation before you arrive
Garner State Park Camping FAQ
Does Garner State Park have a day pass?+
Yes — day-use entry to Garner is $8 per person per day (free for kids 12 and under), and a $70 Texas State Parks Pass covers everyone in your vehicle for a year. You don't need a reservation for day use most of the year, but on busy summer weekends Garner caps day-use entry and closes the gate once the park fills — arrive early, or reserve a day-use permit ahead of time on the Texas Parks & Wildlife site.
What are Garner State Park's hours?+
Garner is open for day use from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and registered overnight campers have 24-hour access to their sites. Hours and gate closures can shift seasonally and when the park hits capacity, so confirm current hours with Texas Parks & Wildlife before you head out.
Is Garner State Park a national park?+
No — Garner is a Texas state park near Concan in the Hill Country, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife, not the National Park System. Reservations go through the Texas state park system (opening 5 months in advance), not recreation.gov.
What is the nightly dance at Garner State Park?+
The Garner nightly dance is a Texas tradition dating back to the 1940s. Every summer evening, campers gather at the park's outdoor pavilion near the concession building for music and dancing. It's free, family-friendly, and genuinely fun — not a staged tourist event. It runs from roughly Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Can I camp at Garner with my RV?+
Yes — Garner is one of the most RV-friendly state parks in Texas. The Pecan Bottom loop (sites 1–50) has 50 full hookup sites with water, sewer, and 30/50-amp electric. The Rio Frio, Shady Ridge, and Live Oak loops also have water and electric and can accommodate most RVs.
How cold is the Frio River?+
The Frio River is spring-fed and maintains about 68–72°F year-round. On a 100-degree July afternoon, that feels absolutely freezing. Water shoes are essential — the bottom is rocky limestone. The river can run low during drought years, so check conditions before your visit.
Are the screened shelters at Garner worth the price?+
They're a cheap, bug-screened upgrade from a tent site — each of the 18 shelters has electricity, a picnic table, and a fire ring for around $50/night. Note they are not air conditioned, so summer nights stay hot; bring a fan and your own cot. If you want A/C and a real bed, book a cabin instead.
What is the best loop at Garner for families?+
Rio Frio (sites 100–155) is the consensus best loop for families. It has water and electric hookups, the shortest walk to the river swimming areas, and direct access to the concession and nightly dance. Sites here are in high demand — book them first if available.
Does Garner State Park have cabins?+
Yes — Garner has 17 cabins, including several historic native-rock cabins from the park's 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps era. Each has a full kitchen, a private bathroom, central air conditioning, and two double beds, and sleeps up to 6. There's a two-night minimum, no pets, and you bring your own bedding. Cabins open for reservations 5 months ahead and are the first lodging at Garner to sell out.
Do Garner cabins and screened shelters have air conditioning?+
The cabins do — every Garner cabin has central heating and air conditioning. The 18 screened shelters do not; they have electricity, a picnic table, and a fire ring, but no A/C, so bring a fan in summer. If air conditioning matters to you, book a cabin.
How far in advance can I reserve a Garner cabin?+
Cabins open exactly 5 months in advance at 8 a.m. Central — the same window as campsites. With only 17 cabins and heavy demand, popular weekends are gone within minutes. If they're already booked, a cancellation alert is the most reliable way in, since cabin plans change often.
Planning Garner State Park by month
What each month is like, when reservations open, and how hard it is to book.
Other Hill Country Parks to Consider
Don’t let Garner sell out on you
Your first alert is free — no card required. Summer weekends see frequent cancellations 2–4 weeks before the date.
Set Alert for Garner State Park →