Garner State Park Camping (2026): Sites, Fees & Frio River

Garner State Park camping currently ranges from $15 to $35 per night plus the daily entrance fee. For RVers, the scarce prize is Shady Meadows sites 144–155: 12 full-hookup, pull-through campsites with 20/30/50-amp service. Live Oak and Rio Frio provide 50-amp water/electric sites, while Pecan Grove and the New Garner water-only inventory restrict camping equipment to 20 feet or less.

Most overnight sites open five months ahead at 8 a.m. through Texas Parks & Wildlife. Garner also reaches day-use capacity during the summer and holidays, but a confirmed camping reservation preserves entry during those day-use closures.

TPWD’s current campsite categories total 347 sites: 12 full hookup, 211 electric, and 124 water-only. The mix is large, but the exact utility and rig fit vary sharply by camping area.

This guide covers both: the state park campground areas in detail (which loops, which hookups, which sites to target), the best private parks along the Frio, and the practical strategy for planning a trip to a place that half of Texas is trying to visit at the same time. For a broader look at Texas camping by region, see our complete Texas RV parks guide, or for more Hill Country options, our Hill Country RV parks guide.

Garner State Park: The Full Picture#

Garner State Park sits on 1,774 acres in Uvalde County, roughly 30 miles north of Uvalde on US Highway 83 and about 90 miles west of San Antonio. The park straddles the Frio River where it cuts through a canyon of Cretaceous limestone — the same Edwards Plateau geology that gives the Hill Country its spring-fed creeks, its caves, and its distinctive rugged character. The canyon walls rise above the river, covered in Ashe juniper and live oak, and the campgrounds fan out along both banks and across the surrounding hillsides.

The park is divided into two main sections: Old Garner and New Garner, both along the Frio River. Old Garner includes the original CCC-era infrastructure — the concession building, the dance pavilion, the stone bridges and pathways — along with the Pecan Grove and Oakmont camping areas. New Garner encompasses the larger, more modern campground areas: Shady Meadows, River Crossing, Live Oak, Rio Frio, Cypress Springs, and Persimmon Hill. The two sections are connected by the park road, and no campsite is more than a short walk or bike ride from the river.

Old Garner Camping Areas#

Old Garner is where the history lives, and it is considered the premium section of the park due to proximity to the concession, the river swimming area, the mini-golf, paddleboat rentals, and the legendary jukebox dance pavilion. There is a trade-off: the sites here are smaller and have significant rig-size restrictions.

Pecan Grove is the most sought-after area in the park and the hardest to book. The sites sit under towering pecan trees near the river, with walk-up access to the concession and swimming area. But these are water-only sites — no electric hookups — and they are restricted to pop-ups, trailers, and motorhomes 20 feet or shorter. If you are in anything larger than a small travel trailer, Pecan Grove is not an option. For tent campers and truck-camper rigs, though, this is the place to be. The shade is extraordinary, the river is steps away, and the atmosphere on a summer evening — families grilling, kids running barefoot back from the swimming hole, the jukebox warming up across the way — is pure Texas nostalgia.

Oakmont has 39 non-waterfront sites with water and 20/30-amp electricity. TPWD says site dimensions vary; it does not publish a campground-wide 30-foot maximum. Enter the complete equipment length and inspect the individual site record before reserving. If you need 50 amps, choose eligible inventory in New Garner.

New Garner Camping Areas#

New Garner is where larger rigs belong, and where the more modern hookup infrastructure lives. The campground areas here are more spread out, with wider roads and larger pads, though the trade-off is more distance from the Old Garner concession area.

Shady Meadows contains the park’s 12 full-hookup sites, numbers 144–155, at $35/night. TPWD lists them as pull-through sites with water, sewer, and 20/30/50-amp electricity—and explicitly warns that they have no shade or tree cover. Shady Meadows also contributes to the park’s 35-site category with water and 30-amp electricity.

River Crossing is situated near the Frio River with water and 30-amp electric hookups. The location is excellent — you are close to the river with restrooms and showers within easy walking distance. River Crossing tends to have a mix of RVs and tent setups, and the atmosphere is social and family-oriented. Sites here accommodate mid-sized rigs comfortably.

Live Oak offers water and electric sites with 20/30/50-amp service — the 50-amp availability makes this area essential for larger motorhomes and fifth wheels running air conditioning. The area has a mix of tent and RV sites near the river, with access to restrooms, showers, and the park store. Important caveat: Live Oak is closed during January and February. If you are planning a winter trip, this area is off the table.

Rio Frio matches Live Oak with 20/30/50-amp electric and water hookups. Named for the river it borders, this area gives you some of the best water access in the park. The sites vary in length and width, so use the reservation system’s filters to match your rig size.

Cypress Springs offers water and 30-amp electric near the river. This area leans more toward tent camping and smaller rigs, and includes group camping options. If you are in a larger RV, the 30-amp limit and tighter sites may not suit your needs.

Persimmon Hill is part of the New Garner water-only inventory, limited to pop-ups, trailers, and motorhomes 20 feet or less. It closes in January and February.

Hookups, Facilities, and Practical Details#

The hookup situation at Garner is more varied than most Texas state parks:

• Full hookups (W/E/S): 12 Shady Meadows sites, #144–155, with 20/30/50 amps
• 50-amp electric: Limited to Live Oak and Rio Frio areas
• 30-amp electric: Available in Shady Meadows, River Crossing, Oakmont, and Cypress Springs
• 20-amp electric: Some sites in Oakmont, Live Oak, and Rio Frio
• Water only: 49 Old Garner sites at $20 and 75 New Garner sites at $15; both categories publish a 20-foot equipment limit

There is a dump station in the park for sites without sewer hookups. Confirm its current status on the park map or with TPWD before relying on it.

Restrooms with flush toilets and showers are distributed across the campground areas. The facilities are state-park standard: clean, functional, maintained, but not luxury. Hot water is generally reliable.

TPWD does not publish carrier-by-carrier campsite coverage. Treat connectivity as unverified and carry downloaded maps plus a backup communication plan if service matters.

Rates#

• Full hookup, Shady Meadows: $35/night
• Old Garner 20/30-amp electric: $26/night
• New Garner 20/30/50-amp electric: $26/night
• New Garner 30-amp electric: $22/night
• Old Garner water-only: $20/night
• New Garner water-only: $15/night
• Daily entry fee: $8 per person (ages 13+); free for children 12 and under
• Texas State Parks Pass: $70/year; compare the pass benefits with the party size and trip count

The Reservation War#

There is no gentle way to say this: getting a summer weekend campsite at Garner State Park is competitive. Reservations open through the Texas Parks & Wildlife online system five months in advance at 8:00 AM Central Time, and the most popular sites — particularly the full-hookup spots in Shady Meadows and the shaded Pecan Grove tent sites — can sell out within hours.

Summer weekends (Memorial Day through Labor Day) are the hardest to book. Spring break weeks are nearly as difficult. Fall weekends, especially October, fill quickly too as the weather cools and Texans flock to the Hill Country.

Here is the strategy that works:

1. Know your exact dates and do the math. If you want a July 4th weekend site, count back five months to determine when reservations open. Mark that date.
2. Be online at 7:55 AM Central. The system opens at 8:00 AM. Have your account logged in, your payment method saved, and your preferred sites identified.
3. Have backup sites selected. If your first-choice area sells out, do not waste time grieving — immediately pivot to your second choice. Shady Meadows full-hookup gone? Try Live Oak 50-amp. Live Oak gone? Try River Crossing 30-amp.
4. Consider midweek stays. Tuesday-through-Thursday availability is dramatically better than weekends, even in peak summer. If your schedule has any flexibility, exploit it.
5. Check for cancellations. People cancel. Check the reservation system regularly in the weeks leading up to popular weekends — sites do open up, especially as the date approaches and plans change.
6. Reserve day use during peak periods. Even if you are camped at a private park nearby, a day-use reservation is the safest way to guarantee entry when Garner reaches capacity.

The phone option: If the online system gives you trouble, the TPWD Customer Service Center at (512) 389-8900 can process reservations by phone. Lines are busy on opening mornings, but it is a viable backup.

Private Parks Along the Frio#

When Garner fills — and it will fill — the Frio River corridor offers several private RV parks that provide full hookups, river access, and considerably less booking stress. These parks are not inside the state park, but they are on or near the same river, and some are close enough that you can bike to Garner’s entrance.

Camp Cold Springs#

Camp Cold Springs is a private riverfront alternative on Cold Springs Ranch Road in Concan. Its official site currently lists 23 RV sites, along with 16 cabins, direct river access, a pool, hot tub, and bar.

The current booking flow prices stays by date rather than publishing a dependable flat rate. Verify the selected site’s hookup type, equipment limit, and final price before paying.

• Sites: 23 RV sites advertised
• Rate: Live quote by dates
• River access: Yes — direct access
• Amenities: Pool, hot tub, and bar
• Fit check: Confirm hookups and rig dimensions for the exact site

Parkview Riverside RV Resort#

Parkview Riverside sits directly across the Frio River from Garner State Park — you can practically see the state park from your campsite. The location is the headline: you get Frio River frontage and proximity to Garner without needing a state park reservation to access the river.

Every site has full hookups with 20/30/50-amp electric, water, and sewer. The park offers pull-through sites for bigger rigs, fire rings at each site, clean restrooms with hot showers, an on-site dump station, and Wi-Fi throughout. Tube rentals and shuttle service are available on-site, and kayak and paddleboard rentals are nearby.

Private-park prices change by date and site type. Use Parkview’s live booking quote rather than relying on an old seasonal range.

• Hookups: Full (water, electric 20/30/50 amp, sewer)
• Sites: Pull-through and back-in, varied sizes
• Rate: Live quote by dates and site
• River access: Yes — direct Frio River frontage
• Amenities: Tube rentals/shuttle, Wi-Fi, fire rings, showers
• Distance to Garner SP: Adjacent (across the river)

Rio Frio RV Park#

Rio Frio RV Park is a smaller operation in Rio Frio. Its published policy lists full hookups with water, sewer, and 30/50-amp electricity at each RV site. The park currently publishes a $45 normal nightly rate and $65.50 peak-season nightly rate, with minimum stays and occupancy rules.

• Hookups: Full (water, electric 30/50 amp, sewer)
• Rate: $45 normal / $65.50 peak, before tax and fees
• Minimum stay: 2 nights off-peak; 3 nights in published peak periods
• Booking age: 25+
• Fit check: Verify the exact site’s dimensions before booking

Quick Comparison Table#

Park	Hookups	50 Amp	Sewer	Rate/Night	River Access	Booking Difficulty
Garner SP — Shady Meadows #144–155	W/E/S	Yes	Yes	$35 + entry	Walk	Extreme (summer)
Garner SP — Live Oak / Rio Frio	W/E	Yes	No	$26 + entry	Walk	Very hard (summer)
Garner SP — Oakmont	W/E (20/30A)	No	No	$26 + entry	Short walk	Very hard (summer)
Garner SP — Pecan Grove	Water only	No	No	$20 + entry	Steps	Hardest in the park
Camp Cold Springs	Confirm exact site	Confirm	Confirm	Live quote	Yes (direct)	Moderate
Parkview Riverside RV	Full	Yes	Yes	Live quote	Yes (direct)	Moderate
Rio Frio RV Park	Full	Yes	Yes	$45 / $65.50 peak	Confirm	Moderate

Bottom line: If you can get a Garner State Park reservation — particularly Shady Meadows full-hookup or Live Oak 50-amp — take it. The state park experience is the reason you come to this stretch of the Frio. When Garner is full, Camp Cold Springs gives you the best combination of value, hookups, and river access among the private options. Parkview Riverside is the premium choice for those willing to pay for the location directly across the river.

The Frio River Experience#

The Frio River is the reason this place exists, and understanding what makes it special helps explain why half a million people visit Garner State Park each year.

Swimming#

The Frio is spring-fed, meaning the water temperature stays refreshingly cool even when the air temperature hits triple digits. In the heat of a Texas July, stepping into the Frio is a physical shock followed by immediate gratitude. The main swimming area in Garner State Park is a wide, calm stretch below the Old Garner concession building — limestone bottom, clear enough to see fish, deep enough in spots for jumping off rocks, and shallow enough at the edges for small children. It is supervised during peak season but not a traditional lifeguarded pool. You are swimming in a river, and the usual river awareness applies.

Tubing#

Floating the Frio on an inner tube is the signature Hill Country summer activity. The river is generally Class I — gentle current, small riffles, nothing that requires whitewater experience — with occasional deeper pools where you can stop and swim. Tube rentals are available at the park concession (open Memorial Day through Labor Day and some weekends) and at multiple outfitters in Concan. Most outfitters include shuttle service back to your starting point. A typical float takes one to three hours depending on the stretch and how often you stop to swim.

Kayaking and Paddleboarding#

The same calm water that makes the Frio excellent for tubing makes it equally good for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Rentals are available both inside the park and at Camp Cold Springs and other private outfitters along the corridor. The river is narrow enough that you are always close to shore, and the bald cypress canopy overhead creates stretches of dappled shade that make midday paddling tolerable even in summer.

The Jukebox Dance#

This is the tradition that sets Garner apart from every other state park in Texas. Since the 1940s, the CCC-built concession pavilion has hosted a nightly summer dance where families, couples, and teenagers two-step and waltz to music from a vintage jukebox. The dance runs every night from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, from dusk until 11 PM. There is no charge beyond your park entry fee. The dance floor is open-air, the music is a mix of country and oldies, and the atmosphere is the kind of unscripted, multi-generational Texas experience that you cannot manufacture or replicate. Grandparents who danced here in the 1960s bring their grandchildren, and the cycle continues. If you camp at Garner during summer and skip the dance, you have missed the point.

Planning Your Frio River Trip#

When to Go#

Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day) is peak season, and it is peak for good reason. The spring-fed river is at its best when the air temperature justifies immersion, and the full park program — concession, tube and paddleboat rentals, the nightly jukebox dance — only operates during summer months. The trade-off is crowds, heat (highs regularly above 100 degrees), and the most competitive booking window of the year.

Spring (March–May) offers comfortable temperatures, wildflower season in the surrounding Hill Country (mid-March through mid-April), and significantly easier booking. The river is swimmable by April for those who do not mind cool water, and the trails are in prime condition. The concession may not be open for all of spring, so check before relying on rentals.

Fall (September–November) is the second-best window. September still feels like summer on the Frio, but crowds thin after Labor Day. October brings cooler air, fall color on the bald cypress trees along the river, and the return of easy midweek availability. This is arguably the best time for RV camping — the weather is pleasant, the park is not at capacity, and you can actually book a site without military-grade planning.

Winter (December–February) is quiet. Live Oak area closes in January and February, and the river is too cold for casual swimming. But the hiking is excellent, the park is uncrowded, and the Hill Country winter — mild by most standards, with daytime highs in the 50s and 60s — suits campers who want solitude.

Getting There and Getting Supplies#

Garner State Park is on US Highway 83, about 30 miles north of Uvalde and 90 miles west of San Antonio. The drive from San Antonio is roughly 90 minutes on mostly two-lane roads through classic Hill Country terrain — rolling limestone hills, ranch land, live oak canopy.

Groceries and fuel: Stock up in Uvalde, which has H-E-B, Walmart, and major fuel stations. Concan, the small community adjacent to Garner, has limited supplies — a few small stores and restaurants, but nothing approaching a full grocery run. Do not plan to provision in Concan.

Propane: Fill in Uvalde. Nothing available in the immediate Garner area.

Water: Potable water is available at campground spigots, but during peak occupancy, pressure can drop. If you are filling a large fresh-water tank, consider filling in Uvalde.

Ice and basics: The park concession sells ice, snacks, and basic supplies during summer. A few shops in Concan also carry essentials.

Wildlife Notes#

The Frio River corridor is rich in wildlife, and a few species demand awareness:

• Rattlesnakes (Western diamondbacks and rock rattlesnakes) are present, particularly on rocky trails and near brush. Watch where you step and where you put your hands.
• Feral hogs are statewide in Texas. Secure your trash and food, especially at night.
• Scorpions are common in the Hill Country. Shake out shoes and towels that have been sitting on the ground.
• White-tailed deer are everywhere and largely unbothered by humans. They will walk through your campsite.

The river itself supports a healthy fish population — Rio Grande cichlids, largemouth bass, and channel catfish are all present. Fishing requires a valid Texas fishing license.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Can I fit a large RV at Garner State Park? It depends on the exact site. Pecan Grove and the New Garner water-only category publish a 20-foot equipment limit; other site dimensions vary. Enter the complete equipment length in the reservation system and inspect the individual site record before paying.

Is there sewer at Garner State Park? Only at the 12 Shady Meadows full-hookup sites, numbers 144–155. All other campsites lack an at-site sewer connection.

How far ahead should I book for summer? As soon as the five-month reservation window opens. Set a calendar reminder for the exact opening date, be logged in before 8 a.m. Central, and have backup site choices ready. Midweek can be easier, but no shorter lead time is guaranteed.

Can I swim in the Frio River year-round? Technically yes. Practically, the spring-fed water is cold enough that swimming is most enjoyable from May through September. Locals start wading in April, and October still works on warm days. Winter swimming is for the very bold.

What is the jukebox dance? A nightly summer tradition (Memorial Day through Labor Day) at the CCC-built concession pavilion. Families and visitors gather to dance to jukebox music under the open sky. Free with park entry. It runs from dusk until 11 PM and has been a Garner tradition since the 1940s.

Do I need a reservation for day use? Reserve during peak season and holidays because Garner regularly reaches day-use capacity. The entry fee is $8 per person age 13 and older. A confirmed overnight camping reservation guarantees entry during day-use closures.

Is there cell service? TPWD does not publish carrier-by-carrier campsite coverage. Download maps and reservation details before arrival, and do not depend on a particular carrier without checking a current coverage map.

Are the private parks on the same river? Yes. Camp Cold Springs, Parkview Riverside, and other private parks along the corridor sit on or near the same Frio River. The water quality and swimming experience are comparable — you are not settling for a lesser river by staying outside the state park. What you miss is the state park’s maintained swimming area, trails, and the jukebox dance.

What about flooding? The Frio River is a Hill Country waterway, and Hill Country rivers are subject to flash flooding after heavy rain. The limestone terrain does not absorb water well, and thunderstorms can send walls of water down the canyon with little warning. Monitor weather forecasts, heed any park warnings or closures, and never camp in a dry creek bed. The state park has evacuation procedures and will close river access when conditions warrant.

Facts checked July 18, 2026 against TPWD’s campsite categories, entrance fees, reservation FAQ, Camp Cold Springs, and Rio Frio RV Park’s published policies. Fees and availability can change.