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Palo Pinto Mountains State Park
Texas's newest state park, opened in 2024. Rugged terrain in the Palo Pinto Mountains with hiking, swimming, and camping in the heart of Central Texas.
58 campsitesNorth Texas2 hr 45 min from Austin$7/person entrance fee
Short answer
Palo Pinto Mountains 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 Strawn are bookable today.
Getting a site at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park
Texas state parks release campsites on a rolling 5-month window at 8 a.m. Central, and Palo Pinto Mountains 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 Palo Pinto Mountains State Park
Rugged mountain cabins and rustic ranches await amidst Central Texas wilderness.
See cabins & rentals near Strawn →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
$30/night*23 sites
Water, 20/30/50-amp electricRV OKTent OK
Water Only
$15/night*12 sites
Walk-in; water nearby, vault toilet nearbyTent OK
Primitive Hike-in
$12/night*13 sites
No water - pack in; composting toilet nearby; ~2-mile hikeTent OK
Equestrian Water + Electric
$30/night*10 sites
Water, 20/30/50-amp electric; restroom with shower nearbyRV OKTent OK
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park fills up fast — lock in a cabin nearby
Rugged mountain cabins and rustic ranches await amidst Central Texas wilderness.
See cabins & rentals near Palo Pinto Mountains State Park →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Guide to Palo Pinto Mountains State Park
Best Campsites
For Hikers:Book the hike-in primitive sites for the most solitude - they require about a 2-mile hike and have no water, so pack everything in.
When to Go
Spring and fall. Great alternative to overcrowded Hill Country parks.
Tips
- →New park — book early as word spreads
- →Great alternative to Enchanted Rock for hikers
Highlights
Texas's newest state park (2024)Rugged Palo Pinto Mountain sceneryHiking, swimming, and campingLess crowded than Hill Country parks
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park — Frequently Asked
Is Palo Pinto Mountains State Park hard to book?+
Yes. Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is one of the more popular Texas state parks and fills up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. Spring and fall. Great alternative to overcrowded Hill Country parks. 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 Palo Pinto Mountains State Park have?+
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park has 58 campsites, including Water + Electric, Water Only, Primitive Hike-in, Equestrian Water + Electric. Sites start at $12/night plus a $7/person entrance fee.
What is the entrance fee at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park?+
The entrance fee at Palo Pinto Mountains 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 Palo Pinto Mountains State Park?+
Texas state parks open reservations exactly 5 months in advance, at 8 a.m. Central. For Palo Pinto Mountains 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 Strawn is the quickest place to stay you can lock in today.
How can I get a last-minute campsite at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park?+
Cancellations at Palo Pinto Mountains 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 Strawn are bookable today as a backup.
Parks Near Palo Pinto Mountains State Park
Cabins & vacation rentals near Palo Pinto Mountains State Park
Privately-owned cabins and rentals around Strawn are bookable today on Vrbo.
See cabins near Strawn →