The heart of Harrison hangs around the Boone County Courthouse Square Historic District, featuring early 1900s brick storefronts, the 1909 courthouse, 1914 jail, the Lyric Theater, and Hotel Seville—all offering a nostalgic main street experience. The Lyric Theater, originally a 1929 movie house, now hosts live performances and was renovated preserving its historical character, earning praise as the “Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks”.

Twin Falls

Twin Falls—also called Triple Falls after heavy rains—is a scenic waterfall tucked near Camp Orr Boy Scout Camp along the Buffalo National River in northern Arkansas. The name “Twin Falls” comes from the two water sources feeding it (a creek and a spring), and during wet seasons, a third stream may appear, creating that “triple” falls effect. It was a beautiful place to hike on an otherwise hot day.

Alum Cove

Alum Cove Natural Bridge Recreation Area in the Ozark National Forest is a gorgeous spot featuring a massive stone arch and a short, scenic hiking trail. The natural bridge spans about 130 feet long and 20 feet wide, formed from a sandstone cave carved by wind, water, and ice over time. Pioneers used the bridge to cross the creek in their wagons.

Although the loop trail is only a short relatively easy 1.1 miles long, due to the summer heat we only took the trail down to the bridge which is about .4 miles round trip.

Hammerschmidt Falls

Hammerschmidt Falls is a seasonal waterfall tucked into the upper Indian Creek drainage in the Buffalo National River region of northwest Arkansas. It’s named after Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt, who helped make the Buffalo River the nation’s first national river.

The trail is short and pretty easy—around 0.7 to 1 mile round-trip, with 125–130 ft elevation gain, making it accessible for most folks looking for a casual hike. The path follows an old dirt road from Hwy 74, dips near a private pond, and then meanders along the creek until you reach the top of the 43-ft plunge waterfall.

One key thing: you generally need a few inches of rain in a short period to see the falls running at full flow. Most of the year it’s a trickle or dry. After heavy rain, though, it turns into a stunning curtain drop and gives off a dramatic vibe that’s well worth the timing.

Independence Day in Harrison Arkansas

The town of Harrison held a great fireworks show that included a drone light show as a backdrop to the fireworks called “Fire in the Sky”. I wasn’t super excited to see fireworks but the drone show was spectacular. We had previously only seen them on TV. It really added a lot to the fireworks show.

Park Review – Shady Oaks Campground and RV Park

Rating: 
Location: South of Harrison, AR along AR-206.
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 11:00/1:00
Site Quality / Amenities:
Access: We came from the east and followed AR-206 from US-65 in Bellefonte. From the west side, AR-7 south of the park is hilly and has lots of sharp turns which would make them a bit difficult for a larger trailer. They would probably be fine for something smaller. AR-7 from the north goes through Harrison which could be done but wouldn’t be the preferred route (for me).
Staff: When we were there the owner of the park had recently changed and clearly the park was undergoing change. Many of the staff had left the park and the few left were doing all the work although they weren’t too happy because they were working full time jobs when they were only supposed to be working 20 hours or so a week. Although I had good interactions with the lady in the office before we got there, the office was never open while we were there due to some unspecified issues. We did always get them on the phone when we needed something, however. It seems like the new owner has some good people but he needs to treat them better before they decide to move on.
Cellular/WiFi: Our T-mobile signal was marginal and speeds were pretty slow at around 10Mbps down and less than 1Mbps up. Due to the park basically being in a forest, Starlink was also marginal due to trees overhead. Although streaming worked pretty well since it buffers up data, anything else (phone calls in particular) just barely worked.
Restaurants: We both ate fried catfish at Flavors of Louisiana in Harrison and at Cliff House Inn in Jasper . Both places had some of the best fried catfish we have had, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Ozark Cafe also in Jasper is an Arkansas Landmark since 1909. It’s been featured in several foodie magazines and had great food.
Nearby parks: We didn’t drive through any nearby parks but we did look at quite a few as we drove by them. Many were a bit rough and would not be somewhere we would want to stay. I think one of the issues for this area is that a lot of these places were in their heyday when the nearby Dogpatch USA amusement park was open. Built 1968 and closed in 1993, Dogpatch was the major commercial attraction in the area.
What we liked: The park was very tree covered which helped with shade for summer temperatures.
What we didn’t like: Navigation within the park was difficult for large rigs due to sharp corners and trees close to the internal roads. Sketchy Power – We had a 50 amp site but those of you who have a similar 50 amp trailer know the breaker is a dual 50 amp version and there are usually a 30 amp and a 20 amp breaker for the other plugs. 50 amp sites actually supply 100 amps of power, 50 amps for each leg. This park supplies 30 amps to one leg and 20 amps to the other. Not only does it supply only 50 amps total, half what it should but that is shared with the other plugs which some people likely try to use. This would quickly overload the circuit. Luckily, we only had problems one time. We didn’t pop the breaker but we did have a low voltage situation when we were drawing close to the limit of the breaker.
Verdict: This park was one of the nicer ones in the area but ultimately it wasn’t a great option for larger trailers like ours. We likely won’t stay here again.

Today, Fort Smith is a cool blend of small-city charm and growing vibrancy. With about 90,500 people (a slight increase since 2020) it’s the third-largest city in Arkansas and anchors a metro area of nearly 300,000 across Arkansas and Oklahoma. Fort Smith feels lively—rooted in its frontier history, with a growing arts and food scene, solid economy, friendly neighborhoods, and a nice base for both families and young professionals. It’s a spot where history and opportunity sit side by side.

Fort Smith

It all started in 1817, when the U.S. Army, led by Major William Bradford and engineer Stephen Long, built the first Fort Smith atop Belle Point to maintain peace between the Osage and a migrating band of Cherokee. This small stockade featured blockhouses, a hospital, and provision buildings. Remarkably, its only threat came in 1821 from Chief “Bad Tempered Buffalo” and the Osage, who backed down without bloodshed. By 1824, as tensions eased, the fort was abandoned in favor of one further upriver at Fort Gibson .

In 1838, the Army returned, erecting a new fort—later completed in 1846—as a supply depot during the era of Indian Removal. It played a significant role during the Trail of Tears, helping facilitate the forced migration of the Cherokee and other tribes westward. Under General Zachary Taylor in the 1840s, the site also became a supply base during the Mexican‑American War and served as a jumping‑off point for gold rush hopefuls.

During the Civil War, Confederate forces occupied Fort Smith briefly in 1861, but Union troops seized it again in September 1863. It remained a Union stronghold until the war’s end, serving as a base for restoring order in the region.

By 1871, the military presence ended, and in 1872, the site became the Federal District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, including Indian Territory. Judge Isaac C. Parker, the “Hanging Judge,” held court from 1875 to 1896. Over 79 people were executed under his watch—a record for a U.S. federal judge—while marshals, including the legendary Bass Reeves (Shown in the featured image at the top of this post with his dog), enforced the law across a notoriously lawless region.

After Judge Parker’s death, the fort’s federal court and jail continued to operate until federal jurisdiction was scaled back in 1896.

Fast forward to 1961, when the site was designated a National Historic Site and National Historic Landmark. Today, visitors can explore remnants of both forts, Judge Parker’s courthouse, reconstructed gallows, the oldest building—the Commissary from 1838—and the Trail of Tears overlook along the Arkansas River.

United States Marshals Museum

The U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, AR, is a fresh and immersive tribute to America’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. Built on the riverfront, this 53,000 sq ft facility officially opened to the public on July 1, 2023, after more than 16 years of planning and fundraising.

The museum is organized into five main galleries plus a Hall of Honor:

• To Be a Marshal – Traces the agency’s origins in 1789 and showcases its judicial and protective duties, with a timeline and interactive features.
• The Campfire – A centerpiece multimedia exhibit where animated marshal figures from different eras tell personal stories.
• Frontier Marshals – Focuses on Fort Smith’s frontier era with a recreated saloon, stories of figures like Bass Reeves and Judge Isaac Parker, and hands-on interactive scenes.
• A Changing Nation – Highlights marshals’ roles through Prohibition, the civil rights era, disaster response, and more, with participatory decision-making elements.
• Modern Marshals – Features current operations, including court protection, fugitive apprehension, and captures of FBI Most Wanted, showcased with multimedia and interactive displays.
• Samuel M. Sicard Hall of Honor – Pays tribute to over 350 fallen marshals since 1789, with names etched on a wall and a peaceful river view.

This museum isn’t just about local history — it brings the full 234-year story of the U.S. Marshals to life through interactive, emotional, and educational exhibitions. Whether you’re fascinated by the Old West frontier, modern law enforcement, or immersive museum design, the U.S. Marshals Museum delivers something compelling. If you’re planning a visit to Fort Smith’s rich historic district (next to the Old Fort and Judge Parker’s courthouse), this museum is a must-see highlight that connects past to present in a powerful, engaging way.

Actor John Wayne helped create the mythology of the frontier marshal through his many Western film performances during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Wayne rode this saddle in many parades.

Park Review – Fort Smith Riverfront RV Resort

Rating: 
Location: Fort Smith, AR
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: Roads were gravel and pads were concrete. We were in site 115 which was a premium 70′ site that backed up to the Arkansas River. These sites had a unique design with patios and connections on both sides of the pads. This allows for motor homes to pull straight in so that their large front windows face the river as well as supporting towables that back in to the sites. This is a new park and the few trees that were in the park were small. We were lucky in that there were some larger trees behind us that provided some shade later in the day. There are fire pits and picnic tables at each site. Park amenities include an Outdoor Playground & Exercise Area, Horseshoe Pits, Porch Swing Conversation Area with fire-ring, Pickle Ball Court, Private on-site Boat Ramp & Boat Parking Area, Boat Dock with Fish Cleaning Station, a Swimming Pool and a Dog Park. The entrance to the park is gated at night.
Access: Although you do have to go through town to get to the park it wasn’t difficult to navigate. Easily accessible from Interstate 40 from either direction.
Staff: Staff was friendly and helpful. We asked for and got a late check-out because of local heavy rain at checkout time and because we had a late check-in at our next stop and it wasn’t that far away.
Cellular/WiFi: They do have WiFi available but we didn’t use it. T-Mobile was good as was Starlink since we had an unobstructed view of the sky.
Restaurants: We tried Rolando’s Restaurante – a local Latin American place with good food. We typically like Mexican and Latin was a bit different for us but we still liked it.
Nearby parks: We didn’t check out any nearby parks.
What we liked: Concrete pads and large sites (premium). Convenient to local attractions including the fort, and Marshals Museum. Walking trail behind the park.
What we didn’t like: We felt like it was a bit expensive. The back side of the park was open to the public trail which could be a security issue although we didn’t experience any issues.
Verdict: We would stay here again!

Completed in 1964 and situated on the Canadian River, Lake Eufaula is Oklahoma’s largest lake, encompassing approximately 102,000 acres with 600 miles of shoreline . The lake is renowned for its exceptional fishing, particularly for species like crappie, sand bass, catfish, and black bass. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages several marinas and boat ramps, providing ample access for boating and fishing enthusiasts.

Park Review – Lake Eufaula State Park

Rating: 1/2
Location: Eufaula (Checotah), OK
Type: State Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 5:00/2:00
Site Quality / Amenities:
Access: Easily accessible from US-69 or Interstate 40. Take OK-150 to the park.
Staff: Staff at the Park Office were friendly and helpful but were not fully up to date with activities within the park. We saw park rangers drive through the main loop area but they never ventured into the Lake View Circle.
Cellular/WiFi: I don’t believe there is any WiFi in the park but we had a decent T-mobile signal with about 160Mbps downloads and 7Mbps uploads. Starlink had a relatively obstruction free view of the sky in spite of numerous trees and it achieved about 150Mbps downloads, and 15Mbps uploads.
Restaurants: We stopped by Lin Cuisine IV in Checotah while in town for our weekly Walmart visit. This is a Chinese restaurant and the food was unexpectedly pretty good.
Nearby parks: We didn’t explore any parks nearby.
What we liked: We visited right after schools were getting out for the summer and we expected the park to be busy but it was probably less than 10% full. Some people may have stayed away due to the lake being flooded. For instance, the marina was closed since the walkways going to it were underwater. There were lots of large mature trees that not only provided shade but also made for a beautiful area.
What we didn’t like: Because of recent rains, much of the park and it’s trails were a muddy mess. As previously mentioned the marina and it’s restaurant were closed. The nature center also seemed to have varying hours. Much of the area around the nature center including the exhibits were closed and looked like they hadn’t been usable for years. A lot of the picnic and tent areas were constructed in the mid 1960’s and did not seem to be maintained any more. The entire Longhorn Loop area was closed – possibly due to flooding. Trees could be trimmed up in most areas to keep larger rigs like ours from scraping them. Although the park is usable and a nice place to be in nature it definitely is showing a bit of age and need for some TLC.
Verdict: We’d likely stay here again when travelling through the area. The park is very nice for a rustic experience.

Rating: 1/2
Location: On the south side of Oklahoma City along I-35.
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/12:00
Site Quality / Amenities: Roads are asphalt, and sites are concrete with grass between each site. Each site is 50/30A with full hookups. WiFi and cable is included. There is a clubhouse and laundry facilities on-site. Also available are storm shelters for the occasional tornado.
Access: When coming from the south take exit 123A to avoid exiting right at the entrance to the park. From the north side you can take exit 123A as well.
Cellular/WiFi: Cellular and Starlink was good with no obstructions. We didn’t test the WiFi.
Restaurants: We ate at Cava Mediterranean restaurant which was good as well as BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse both on the north side where Anna’s sister and brother in law live.
Nearby parks: We didn’t investigate any parks nearby but there aren’t a lot of options.
What we liked: Paved roads and pads are great in the rainy season.
What we didn’t like: There was some road noise from the Interstate as well as due to nearby trains. There is also a fairly large homeless population in the area but we never saw them enter the RV park.
Verdict: We would stay here again.

Rating: 1/2
Location: On US-287 (Northwest Loop) on the north side of Wichita Falls.
Type: Commercial
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: At the time of our visit, this park was new and not yet fully operational. At that time it would be hard to call it a luxury park. Roads and pads are concrete. Each site has a concrete patio along with a picnic table. There is a large dog park as well as a club house and pool. The club house apparently serves mixed drinks some times but they never did the 5 days we were there. It also includes a laundry room and an exercise room. The pool was also not yet open as they were waiting for approval from the city.
Access: Even though it’s at the crossroads of US-287 and Interstate 44 it can be slightly challenging to get to as there are a lot of roads converging and quite a few large businesses.
Staff: The staff were friendly and basically consisted of a front desk person and a couple who live on site and basically do everything.
Cellular/WiFi: Starlink had an unobstructed view of the sky so speeds were good. T-Mobile had 5 bars and achieved nearly 1 Gbps down and 80 Mbps up. The park had WiFi but we didn’t use it.
Restaurants: We tried Cracker Barrel due to it’s close proximity and honestly it was not a good experience. The chicken fried steak I had seemed to be semi warm from a microwave. The catfish was only slightly better but mostly tasteless. We decided the chain is really going down hill fast after visiting several other locations and I think we’ll pass on them for a while. They’ll either improve or go out of business. We also went to Texas Roadhouse and it was very good – both service and food. It also ended up being less expensive than CB.
Nearby parks: We didn’t investigate any nearby parks.
What we liked: The park is all concrete – roads and pads which was nice during the rain we got. Overall the park has lots of possibilities as they finish it out. Sheppard Air Force base is close by so we got to see a lot of T-38C Talon jets practicing which was very cool but added to the noise (see below).
What we didn’t like: Most sites aren’t very level, requiring leveling blocks on one side the ground the wheels. Grass has been planted but in many places there are more weeds than grass. The park is right on two highways and near railroad tracks which normally doesn’t bother us but here it was quite noisy day and night. Also new for us was that there was a underground petroleum pipeline going through the park and right by our site.
Verdict: We would stay here again, for a short stay although at least for now it’s hard to call this a “Luxury” park.

Quanah Parker, for whom the city is named, was the last chief of the Comanche Nation and the son of Comanche chief Peta Nocona and Cynthia Ann Parker, a white settler who had been kidnapped as a child and assimilated into the tribe. Quanah became a symbol of adaptation and leadership during a difficult transition period when Native American tribes were being relocated to reservations.

The town of Quanah was officially established in 1884 when the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway extended its line through the area. It quickly grew into a regional trade center due to its location along the railway, which brought commerce, settlers, and industry. The town became the county seat of Hardeman County in 1890. Early economic growth was driven by ranching, cotton farming, and railroad shipping.

Copper Breaks State Park, located approximately 12 miles south of Quanah is a 1,900-acre state park renowned for its rugged terrain, rich history, and exceptional stargazing opportunities as a dark sky park. Unfortunately during our stay conditions were not ideal most of the time due to clouds and some smoke from Canada. The area has a rich history, once serving as a stronghold for the Comanche and Kiowa tribes.

The park’s landscape features red rock canyons, mesas, and the seasonal Pease River. The Pease River as well as Lake Copper Breaks were full when we camped as the area had received a lot of heavy rain a few weeks prior. In fact the trails just reopened the day we arrived. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including Hiking & Biking along several trails throughout the park. Lake Copper Breaks and Big Pond are available for fishing and swimming. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout and/or channel catfish each winter. The park also provides various camping options, including drive-up sites with amenities, primitive sites, and equestrian campsites.

Designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association, Copper Breaks offers exceptional stargazing opportunities. The park hosts monthly star parties from April through November and other night sky programs throughout the year.

Texas Longhorn Heard

A portion of the official Texas Longhorn herd resides in Copper Breaks State Park. These cattle, part of the state’s historic herd, were introduced to Copper Breaks in the 1970s and can be seen grazing in the park’s pastures. The park hosts weekly Meet the Longhorn activities including the opportunity to get a Longhorn kiss where you put a piece of special food in your mouth and they take it from you.

Hiking Trails

Wildlife in the park

The park is home to diverse wildlife, including mule deer, bobcats, coyotes, and various bird species such as road runners and great blue herons. We saw a mule deer and quite a few birds but no bobcats. We only heard coyotes. We did see lots of rabbits, a horned lizard and even a Chameleon.

Park Review – Copper Breaks State Park

Rating: 
Location: About 12 mi. south of Quanah off TX-6.
Type: State Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 2:00/12:00
Site Quality / Amenities:
Access: Take Park Rd. 62 west from TX-6.
Staff: Very friendly and helpful.
Cellular/WiFi: T-Mobile was about 3 bars and it achieved about 100 Mbps downloads and 5 Mbps uploads. Starlink had an unobstructed view of the sky and speeds were about 223 Mbps downloads and 11 Mbps uploads. There is no WiFi available in the campground area.
Restaurants: The nearest town in Quanah and about 12 miles away and there are a few restaurants there but we didn’t eat out during our stay.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any nearby parks.
What we liked: Although the area is likely hot and dry in later parts of the summer, we visited in mid-May after a lot of rain fell in the area. We still had some hot days with temperatures reaching near 100 degrees, but everything was green and growing. Great hiking early in the day while the temperatures were still reasonable.
What we didn’t like: The camping sites are water and electric only, no sewer. The covered picnic table, the lantern ring and the fire pit are behind the pads and typically on the hook up side rather than being on the door side. The dump site is conveniently located in the Comanche Campground loop although it is harder to get to it from the campsites on the north or east side of the road (even sites plus site 13) because you need to be headed in the opposite direction.
Verdict: This is definitely someplace to stay for 4 days (due to lack of sewer) or more as the dump station is conveniently located in the Comanche Campground loop.

Rating: 
Location: Abilene, TX
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 12:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: Asphalt roads and gravel pads. We arrived just after a hard rain and there was a minimal amount of water standing around the park. The park has a dog park area, a pool with a playground, and community pergolas and fire pits.
Access: Easy access from Interstate 20 on the east side of Abilene.
Staff: The staff member we talked to was very friendly and efficient.
Cellular/WiFi: There are only small trees in the park so Starlink service was unobstructed. T-Mobile was 5 bars and achieved about 365 Mbps downloads and 10 Mbps uploads. The park has WiFi but we didn’t use it.
Restaurants: Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant – Decent Mexican food.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks this time but we have stayed just up the road at Whistle Stop.
What we liked: The interior roads are asphalt and the trailer pads are small gravel. Each site has a small area of artificial grass. Unlike nearby Whistle Stop, you can easily book sites online.
What we didn’t like: Most sites are somewhat un-level. Being right off I-20 there was some road noise. There are no site amenities like picnic tables or fire pits.
Verdict: We will definitely stay here again when passing through Abilene.

Mother Neff State Park is a small but historic state park located in Central Texas, near the town of Moody, about halfway between Waco and Temple. It’s actually the first and one of the oldest state parks in Texas, established in the 1930s, and it’s named after Isabella Eleanor Neff, the mother of former Texas Governor Pat Neff. He donated the land in her memory, and a lot of the original park infrastructure was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s, which adds a cool historical element to the place.

The park itself covers about 259 acres and is known for its peaceful, natural vibe. With about 3-1/2 miles of well marked hiking trails that wind through a mix of prairie, limestone bluff, and forested areas, plus neat features like a rock tower, which provides scenic views, and the Tonkawa Cave, a historic rock shelter used by Native Americans over 200 years ago for shelter.

It’s not a big park, but it’s a nice spot for a chill day hike, bird watching, or a low-key picnic. There’s also a campground with 20 full hookup sites featuring level cement pads, fire pits, and picnic tables. Just keep in mind that the park is in a floodplain area, so some parts of the park might be closed after heavy rain. In fact the lower 1/3 of the park was closed when we visited and appears to have been closed for some time. If you’re into nature, history, or just looking for a quiet spot to unwind, it’s definitely worth checking out.

For nature enthusiasts, the park offers bird watching opportunities, especially in the Washita prairie areas, and wildlife viewing near the man made Wash Pond or the Prairie Pond areas.

The park also has a small museum at the headquarters, showcasing the history of the area and the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps. While swimming and fishing aren’t currently allowed due to river conditions, there’s still plenty to see and do.

Park Review – Mother Neff State Park

Rating: 
Location: Near Moody, TX
Type: State Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 2:00/12:00
Site Quality / Amenities: Very large granite areas surrounding the trailer pads along with a lantern pole, a fire pit and a picnic table. The trailer pads are concrete and level. The roads in the park are asphalt. Everything is exceptionally well maintained.
Access: North west of Temple on TX-236 (Mother Neff Parkway). Easy access even for a big rig.
Staff: The staff were friendly and helpful.
Cellular/WiFi: T-Mobile varied between 1 and 2 bars and was fast enough to be functional. Starlink was unobstructed and good from our site (15).
Nearby parks: We didn’t check out any parks nearby.
What we liked: Site 15 was a double wide site so we had plenty of room for the trailer and truck. Nice large outdoor area.
What we didn’t like: There was some road noise from nearby TX-236 but it wasn’t too bad. We had a lot of sun on our picnic table in the afternoon but site 17 wasn’t too bad. Site 14 had lots of late day shade as did site 12 and even maybe site 16. Any of these are good options and should be long enough for a big rig. The granite from the areas surrounding the trailer pad is easy to track inside the rig.
Verdict: This is one of the nicest Texas State Parks we have visited. We would definitely return.

Rating: 1/2
Location: Fredericksburg, TX
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: This is a brand new park as of 2024 and everything is laid out very nicely for large or small rigs. Most sites have a long pad for the RV and an additional parking pad for a tow vehicle. The roads and pads are currently asphalt but they are going back and updating the pads to concrete. The office/clubhouse is gorgeous. There is a nice pool area and covered patio as well as an event lawn and pickleball courts.
Access: Easy access from TX-16 south of Fredericksburg (across the street from the Gillespie County airport). Take the southern most entrance to enter the park. Travel through Fredericksburg can be challenging for a big rig but if coming from the east on US-290 you can take Friendship Lane at the Walmart to bypass downtown.
Staff: Very professional and friendly.
Cellular/WiFi: There is Tengointernet in the park for WiFi but we didn’t use it. We were in site 47 and had an unobstructed view of the sky so Starlink worked well. Some sites do have large trees but I suspect Starlink would still work pretty well. T-Mobile was very strong and had download speeds of nearly 600 Mbps and upload speeds of a bit over 2 Mbps.
Restaurants: Hitchin’ Post – Good Steakhouse. BurgerBurger – Great burgers with a large variety. There are tons of other places in Fredericksburg but weekends can be quite busy.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at nearby parks although there are quite a few options.
What we liked: Wonderfully laid out park with top notch public spaces.
What we didn’t like: Only dirt and weeds between the sites but this is a new park as of 2025 and they may add grass. The patios for the sites are a bit small, just barely large enough to hold their picnic table. You are just off the flight path for the airport and there is some noise especially if they are taking off to the south and if you are on the southern side of the park. There is also some road noise from TX-16 but overall the noise level is not too bad. Fredericksburg can be a bit crowded on the weekends.
Verdict: This is one of the nicest places we have ever stayed. With the addition of some grass between the sites and completion of the conversion of pads from asphalt to concrete, this place will easily rate 5 stars. We definitely would stay here again when in this area.

Here are some of the other popular attractions in the area:

Fort Concho was established here in 1867 as part of the United States Army’s efforts to protect settlers and supply routes during the Reconstruction Era. It was originally built to provide security along the frontier and defend against Native American tribes who were resisting westward expansion. The fort played a significant role in the Indian Wars and the protection of mail and telegraph lines. It also provided a base for military operations in the region. Soldiers stationed here were known as “Buffalo Soldiers,” the term used for African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army in the post-Civil War period. Fort Concho was one of the main outposts in the defense of Texas during this time. The fort was abandoned in 1889 when the military no longer needed it due to changes in tactics and the closing of the frontier. The buildings and grounds eventually fell into disrepair, but several of the original structures were preserved and the fort is now a landmark.

Concho River Walk – Stroll along the Concho River Walk, a scenic 2.5-mile path that runs through downtown San Angelo. You’ll pass beautiful gardens, historic sites, and bridges while enjoying the peaceful surroundings.

The International Waterlily Collection – San Angelo is home to the largest collection of water lilies in the world. The beautiful, tranquil setting at Civic League Park offers a unique opportunity to admire these colorful aquatic plants.

Railroad Depot and History Museum – Learn about San Angelo’s history through its railroad heritage at the depot museum. The exhibits focus on the railroad’s role in the growth of the city and its economic significance.

San Angelo Nature Center – Perfect for nature lovers, this center features local wildlife exhibits, bird watching, and educational programs about the flora and fauna of the area.

Historic Downtown San Angelo – Explore the charming downtown area with its unique shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon, grabbing a coffee, browsing local boutiques, or enjoying the historic architecture.

Park Review – San Angelo State Park

San Angelo State Park was built on the west side of O.C. Fisher Lake. The lake was created by the construction of the O.C. Fisher Dam, which was completed in 1952 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The dam was built to provide flood control after the catastrophic flood of 1936, water supply, and recreation to the surrounding area. During our visit in April 2025, the lake was only 7.5% full. In 2012, it completely dried up during an intense Texas drought. If I recall correctly, the last (only?) time it was at 100% full was around 1958.

Rating: 1/2
Location: San Angelo, TX
Type: State Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 2:00/12:00
Site Quality / Amenities: We stayed in the Red Arroyo campground site 22. Sites are pretty basic with 50/30A electric and water but no sewer although there is a dump station in the park. Each site has a covered picnic table, a grill and a fire ring. Due to a severe drought, fires were prohibited. Most sites are level and the weeds and cactus are cut back nicely. If you have pets, there are likely sticker burrs but we didn’t have any problems with them.
Access: Enter the park at the South Entrance from FM 2288 on the west side of San Angelo.
Staff: We only spoke with the attendant at the entrance when checking in but she was friendly and helpful with directions to the site and with trail information.
Cellular/WiFi: Site 22 had a clear view of the sky giving us unobstructed and fast internet from Starlink. T-Mobile had 5 bars and achieved 467 Mbps download and 29 Mbps upload.
Restaurants: The Original Henry’s – Lunch prices were inexpensive and portions were huge. We both had lunch fajita’s and they were very good.
Nearby parks: We didn’t took at any nearby parks.
What we liked: The park seemed to be very well maintained and in April the park was only about 10% full so there was a lot of space between us and other campers. San Angelo is only about 4 miles away with restaurants and stores including Walmart, Sams and I believe even a Costco. The park includes at least 12 miles of hiking and biking trails but with little or no shade.
What we didn’t like: It was already hot with temperatures already reaching the upper 80’s and lower 90’s so I can’t imagine what it would be like hiking here in the summer months. Due to perpetually low lake levels I suspect fishing or other recreation would be difficult in the lake. The boat ramp in our campground was clearly unusable and had been that way for a very long time.
Verdict: We would stay here again for a few days if we happened to be in the area.

We stayed in site 22 in the Red Arroyo Camping Area. Sites 1-15 look like they have a better view of the lake and the valley to the north.