Trip Planning
Jeff Crider shares some fun activities to do this fall in Texas.
Grape stomps, Oktoberfests, and rodeos are among the many fall festivals and special events that await RV enthusiasts in Texas, many of whom use RV parks as base camps for their activities.
Here’s a sampling of the many different types of festivals and other events taking place in Texas this fall along with descriptions of nearby campgrounds that can be used as base camps by traveling Texans, returning “Winter Texans,” and visitors from other states:
Grape Fest, Sept. 15-18, in Grapevine: This family friendly event features a grape stomping competitions, a people’s choice wine tasting event and a carnival for the kids.
Nearby campgrounds include:
The Vineyards Campground & Cabins in Grapevine: Located on the shores of 850-acre Grapevine Lake, this 52-acre wooded campground features RV and tent sites as well as park model RV rentals.
State Fair of Texas: This event takes place Sept. 30 through Oct. 23 at Fair Park in Dallas.
Nearby Campgrounds include:
Texan RV Ranch in Mansfield: This 159-site park is within 20 minutes of major Dallas / Forth Worth Metroplex attractions, including Cowboys Stadium, Texas Motor Speedway, Hurricane Harbor and Hawaiian Falls. The park features big rig friendly pull through RV sites as well as one bedroom cabin and two bedroom cottage rentals and park models. Amenities include a swimming pool, a pavilion and free WiFi and cable TV.
National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration in Lubbock: This annual event, slated for Sept. 9 - 11, features Western entertainers, storytelling, poetry as well as film and movie seminars, horse handling demonstrations, a horse themed parade, a youth Wild West Day and a national championship chuck wagon cook-off. The event also includes Native American presentations and exhibits of Western artwork and merchandise.
Nearby campgrounds include:
Lubbock RV Park in Lubbock:Amenities at this park include a heated swimming pool and a recreation hall with a large library.
Tri-State Festival & Rodeo in Amarillo:This annual event, set for Sept. 16-24, includes activities for all ages, including carnival rides, games and activities, a parade, live music and thrilling rodeo action.
Nearby campgrounds include:
Fort Amarillo RV Park in Amarillo: Park amenities include a 4,500-square foot dog park, tennis courts, an indoor heated swimming pool, and Lizzie Mae’s Mercantile, the park’s unique gift store, which features everything from Texas-themed souvenirs to Christmas ornaments to specialty food items, unique baking mixes and condiments to unusual lamps, throw pillows and one-of-a-kind home decor items. This RV park is also a popular location for visitors who want to see the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum as well as Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
The Gruene Music and Wine Festival runs from Oct. 8 to 11 and features numerous beer and wine tasting events and musical performances.
Wurstfest, Nov. 4-13, in New Braunfels: This is a 10-day German-themed food and craft beer event held at the Wurstfest grounds.
Nearby campgrounds include:
Pecan Park Riverside RV Park in San Marcos: Bordering the San Marcos River, this park features big-rig friendly RV sites, shaded RV sites, an indoor swimming pool and hot tub and fenced dog parks.
Leisure Resort in Fentress: This park is east of the Texas Hill Country and is roughly 40 miles from Austin and 60 miles from San Antonio. Its numerous onsite amenities include a pet park, fishing, a nature trail, playgrounds, pool and sand volleyball court and basketball court, and a shuttle service for river tubing enthusiasts.
Stone Creek RV Park in Schertz: Onsite amenities include a hot tub; family and adult swimming pools; two large off leash dog parks with dog agility equipment; two large recreation halls; as well as free cable TV and WiFi. This park is also a great base camp for excursions to major attractions in New Braunfels, such as Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Rockin’ R River Rides and Texas Tubes, and San Antonio, which is home to The Alamo, The River Walk, the San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium and many other attractions.
Medina Lake Cajun Festival, Sept. 24, in Lakehills, Texas: This festival brings the music, food and culture of Louisiana to the Texas Hill Country for fun the whole family can enjoy. Visitors can listen and dance to topnotch Louisiana Cajun and Zydeco music on two stages with bands from the heart of Louisiana, and sample gumbo from the Great Gumbo Cook-off. Delicious Cajun food is cooked on site. Dishes include crawfish pies, jambalaya, fried fish and shrimp, red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, boudin jalapeno pepper poppers, bread pudding with whiskey sauce, and pecan pralines.
Nearby campgrounds include:
Lake Medina RV Resort in Lakehills: This park features lakeside swimming and fishing area, a fishing dock and boat ramp, kayak and paddleboard rentals, a swimming pool and hot tub as well as a pickleball, volleyball, badminton and basketball courts.
Texas Butterfly Festival, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, in Mission: This event takes place at the National Butterfly Center in Mission. Activities include field trips and educational activities designed for beginners to experts.
Nearby campgrounds include:
Oleander Acres RV Resort in Mission:This park is a great place for nature enthusiasts. Not only is it located near the World Birding Centers of the South Texas Rio Grande Valley, but it features more than a dozen butterfly gardens that attract about 100 different types of butterflies. Oleander Acres offers RV sites and park model RV rentals. Amenities include leash-free dog runs for big dogs and small dogs. The park is about an hour’s drive from Brownsville and South Padre Island.
VIP La Feria RV Park in La Feria: This big rig friendly park has two heated swimming pools; two whirlpool hot tub spas; a large rec hall with live music and shows as well as kitchen and banquet facilities; horseshoe pits and fenced dog park areas.
Cajun Catfish Festival in Conroe: This annual event, scheduled for Oct. 14-16, includes Cajun and Texas music on three stages all weekend, plus a unique variety of food including catfish, boudain, gator, jambalaya and crawfish pie. The event also includes arts and crafts vendors and a kid-zone area with activities for children and a special performance stage for local dance teams.
Nearby campgrounds include:
Lake Conroe / North Houston KOA in Montgomery: This park has RV sites and rental accommodations. Amenities include a swimming pool, hot tub and playground.
Rayford Crossing RV Resort in Spring: This resort features spacious RV sites and a large resort-style swimming pool, bathrooms with granite countertops and a fully equipped exercise room.
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