Garner State Park Camping in Texas: The Complete 2026 Guide
Garner State Park camping on the Frio River: every campground loop, 2026 fees, cabins, screened shelters, reservations, maps and the current burn ban.
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Garner State Park camping is a Texas tradition. Families have been tubing the Frio River, climbing Old Baldy and dancing on the concession pavilion in Concan since the 1940s. With about 350 campsites, 37 screened shelters and 17 cabins across 1,774 acres, it's one of the biggest campgrounds in the Texas state park system. It's also one of the hardest to book in summer.
Here's how camping in Garner State Park works in 2026: every camping area, what each site costs, how reservations work, and what's closed right now.
Is Garner State Park Open?
Yes. The park and its campgrounds are open daily, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. A few things are behind the "Garner State Park closed" searches, though:
- Burn ban. Since September 17, 2026, there's a burn ban in effect. No wood fires are allowed. You can still cook on charcoal and on containerized fuel stoves, so pack a propane stove.
- Trail closures after the July floods. Heavy rain pushed the Frio River up in mid-July 2026. The Blinn River Trail and White Rock Cave Trail are still closed, along with parts of the Madrone Trail and the lower CCC Entrance Road Trail. Swimming is allowed at your own risk, and there are no lifeguards.
- Scenic overlook. Construction on the Park Road 29 overlook is suspended and two-way traffic is back, but the sidewalk there is still closed to pedestrians and bikes.
- Day-use capacity closures. In summer and on holidays, the park fills up and closes to day visitors as early as 10 a.m. It reopens by 6 p.m. Campers with reservations still get in.
If you remember the big 2024–2025 construction closure, that's over. The Pecan Grove and Oakmont loops, cabins, store and mini golf all reopened after the work on Old Garner.
Garner State Park Campgrounds: Old Garner vs. New Garner
The park is split into two halves. Old Garner is the historic north end near the pavilion and CCC cabins. New Garner is the larger southern section with bigger RV sites. Here's every camping area and what it costs per night, plus the daily entrance fee:
| Site type | Area | Sites | Nightly fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full hookup (water, sewer, 50-amp) | Shady Meadows #144–155 | 12 | $35 |
| Water + 50-amp electric | Rio Frio, Live Oak | 137 | $26 |
| Water + 20/30-amp electric | Oakmont (Old Garner) | 39 | $26 |
| Water + 30-amp electric | River Crossing, Shady Meadows | 35 | $22 |
| Water only | Pecan Grove (Old Garner) | 49 | $20 |
| Water only | Persimmon Hill, Rio Frio #434–473 | 75 | $15 |
A few details the booking page won't make obvious:
- The full hookup sites in Shady Meadows don't allow tents. They're pull-throughs with no shade.
- Pecan Grove and the water-only New Garner sites have a 20-foot vehicle limit. They're best for tents, pop-ups and small trailers.
- Live Oak and Persimmon Hill close in January and February.
- Quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and generators can't run during them.
- Extra vehicles cost $5 a night, and space is limited.
Which area should you pick? Tent campers who want to walk to the river and the dance should pick Pecan Grove. RV campers usually go for Rio Frio or Live Oak for the 50-amp power. Shady Meadows is the only place with full hookups.
Garner State Park Cabins
The park has 17 cabins in the historic Old Garner area, near the pavilion the Civilian Conservation Corps built in the 1930s. They book up months ahead.
- 13 cabins with a fireplace, $150 a night
- 4 cabins without a fireplace, $130 a night. Cabin #18 is accessible.
Every cabin has a kitchen sink, microwave, refrigerator, stovetop (no oven), full bathroom, central air and heat, and two double beds. Rates cover four people, and up to six can stay for $10 per extra person. There's a two-night minimum, and check-in is 3 p.m. Bring your own linens, towels, dishes and utensils. Pets aren't allowed in the cabins.
If "cabins near Garner State Park" is what you're really after, Concan has plenty of private river cabins along the Frio just outside the park gate.
Screened Shelters
Screened shelters are a cheaper step up from a tent. Each one sleeps eight and has electricity, a light, an outlet and a picnic table inside, plus a fire ring and water spigot outside.
- Old Garner (Pecan Grove): 21 shelters, $35 a night
- New Garner (River Crossing): 16 shelters, $30 a night
You can pitch a tent in the designated spot next to a shelter, but RVs and pets aren't allowed.
Group Camping
Cypress Springs Group Camp has a dining hall and five air-conditioned bunkhouses that sleep eight each, for up to 40 people. It needs a $400 deposit and can only be booked by phone at (512) 389-8920. There's also an air-conditioned group hall in Shady Meadows.
Garner State Park Reservations
Book campsites, cabins and shelters at texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com or call (512) 389-8900. Summer weekends and holidays usually sell out right when they open, so book as early as you can.
A few booking tips:
- Day passes cost $8 for anyone 13 and older, and kids 12 and under get in free. Reserve your day pass ahead of time in summer, because the park often turns day visitors away.
- A Texas State Parks Pass ($70) covers entrance fees at more than 80 state parks for a year and gives you camping discounts.
- Fall, winter and spring are easier to book. You'll also get cooler hiking weather and a quieter river.
Garner State Park Map
The official park map is on the TPWD Garner page under "Maps." It's worth printing before you go, because cell signal is spotty in the canyon. The layout is simple: Park Road 29 runs north to south. Old Garner, with Pecan Grove, Oakmont, the cabins and the pavilion, is at the north end by the river crossing. New Garner, with River Crossing, Shady Meadows, Rio Frio, Live Oak and Persimmon Hill, is to the south.
Where is Garner State Park? It's at 234 RR 1050 in Concan, Texas, in Uvalde County. That's about 90 minutes west of San Antonio.
Things to Do at Garner State Park
- Tube or paddle the Frio River. The park has 2.9 miles of river frontage. Tubes, kayaks and paddle boats are for rent in season.
- Hike Old Baldy. It's a short, steep climb to the park's best view over the Frio Canyon. There are about 16 miles of trails in total, so check which ones are closed before you set out.
- Visit Crystal Cave and the other trail features in the hills above the river.
- Go to the summer dance. On summer evenings, a jukebox plays on the concession pavilion. It's been a Garner tradition for generations.
- Mini golf, fishing and geocaching. You don't need a fishing license to fish from shore in a Texas state park.
Recommended Gear
With the burn ban on, a propane stove is the gear you really need at Garner. The Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Stove is allowed under the current rules, and it handles breakfast for a full campsite. Tent campers in Pecan Grove should bring a sturdy, easy-to-pitch tent like the Coleman Sundome, because Hill Country storms can come up fast. A Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Hammock is perfect for the pecan and cypress shade along the river.
For more Texas trips, see our guide to the best places to go camping in Texas. If you're bringing a pup (pets are fine at campsites, but not in cabins or shelters), read our camping with dogs tips. Once the burn ban lifts, brush up on how to start a campfire safely.