Garner State Park Camping
in August

Booking Garner State Park in August

Texas state parks open reservations exactly 5 months in advance at 8 a.m. Central — so for a August trip, the booking window opens in March. Popular weekends can disappear within minutes of the window opening. If your dates are already full, check the booking system directly for cancellations, or book a cabin or vacation rental nearby.

What to Expect in August

Still hot and busy on weekends, but late August eases as school starts. The Frio stays the main draw.

Park Highlights

• ✓Swimming and tubing in the Frio River — spring-fed and ice cold
• ✓Nightly summer dance at the concession building (a Texas tradition since the 1940s)
• ✓Old Baldy Trail — 1.7-mile climb with panoramic Hill Country views
• ✓Paddleboard and kayak rentals on the river
• ✓Mini golf and game room at the concession
• ✓One of the largest campgrounds in the Texas parks system

Tips

• →Summer weekends book up the instant the 5-month window opens — set your alarm
• →The river can be low in late summer during dry years — check conditions before you go
• →Bring water shoes — the river bottom is rocky limestone
• →The nightly dance is free and open to all ages — it's genuinely fun, not touristy
• →Sites near the river can flood after heavy rain — check the weather forecast