Park Review – The Hill Top

Rating: 
Location: Brenham, TX
Type: Commercial
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: Asphalt roads with concrete pads. Propane is available on site. There’s also a pool, exercise room and clubhouse.
Access: From TX-36 take a right on north Park street then left at the first street.
Staff: Very friendly and super helpful.
Cellular/WiFi: Cellular service was strong and fast. The park had WiFi but we did not try it.
Restaurants:
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at nearby parks.
What we liked: Nice friendly park near town and great central point for all the nearby attractions.
What we didn’t like: Road noise on SH-36 is very loud if staying in the Southern most sites on the west side of the park. Sites farther north (at least 1/2 way down) should be much better.
Verdict: This is definitely a great place for longer stays in the Brenham area.

Park Review – Leisure Lane RV Resort

Rating: 1/2
Location: Grangerland, TX
Type: Commercial
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities:
Access: Easy access off FM 3083 on the south east side of Conroe.
Staff: Friendly and accommodating to our needs including discounting the monthly fee when we left before the end of the month.
Cellular/WiFi: They had WiFi in the park although we didn’t try to use it. At our site the signal was very weak. T-Mobile was 5 bars and achieved download speeds approaching 900 Mbps with upload speeds around 100 Mbps.
What we liked: Nice level sites (mostly) with a small amount of shade Reasonable rates for a long term stay. We were in one of their most expensive sites and it was $625 per month plus electric. Convenient to both Conroe and New Caney (we liked the Walmart there), as well as our friends Tammy and Peter. They have regular food trucks that come by and they offer a few activities although attendance tends to be sparse.
What we didn’t like: The well water had a bit of a bad smell although it tasted fine. Lawn maintenance could have been better, particularly in the flower beds. Some trailers in the park were in very bad shape and some clearly violated their rules but they were allowed to stay. Some sites within the park have drainage issues and some have septic smells. Luckily our site 27 was good. We were very close to the trash dumpsters and while that was convenient when they dumped them between 2 and 4 AM it wasn’t nice. Lots of people in the park still work and many of them have loud pickup trucks. Of course they always leave early in the morning too.
Verdict: We would stay here again if needed.

Rating: 
Location: Tyler, TX
Type: Commercial
Check-in/Check-out times: 2:00/12:00
Site Quality / Amenities: Concrete streets and pads. Full hookups with a concrete patio and a picnic table as well as a fire pit at each site.
Staff: Even though we stayed for 3 weeks, we did not interact with staff at all beyond a few waves. Booking was all done via email and when we arrived there was an envelope on the door with our information.
Cellular/WiFi: Excellent T-mobile service and nearly unobstructed sky for Starlink even though we had quite a bit of tree cover over our site. The park had WiFi but we didn’t use it.
What we liked: Convenient to the southern side of Tyler which in our opinion is the best side. Park was clean and well cared for. Lots of large trees. This is one of the most beautiful parks we have stayed in Texas.
What we didn’t like: Lack of personal contact with the owners who ran the park although we really didn’t have any issues where we needed them.
Verdict: We would definitely stay here again.

Rating: 
Location: Lubbock, TX
Type: Commercial
Check-in/Check-out times: 12:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: The roads are a mix of both asphalt and gravel and the sites are gravel or concrete. The sites at the very back of the park have concrete pads and seem to be used for transient guests. There are a couple of restroom with showers and laundry facilities. There is also a library, workout room, playground and picnic area as well as a dog park. Propane is available on site for sale.
Access: Easy access from exit 9 on I-27 north of Lubbock. Pay close attention to directions from the office back to your site as there are lots of turns and some trees.
Staff: The staff was very friendly and helpful.
Cellular/WiFi: 5 bars on T-mobile and about 340 Mbps downloads with 47 Mbps uploads. For Starlink there is generally good views of the sky to the north and from our site we saw speeds of about 192 Mbps download and 18.7 Mbps upload. I believe they had WiFi but we didn’t use it.
Restaurants: The Escondido Grill is very close by with many Texas favorites along with good steaks. As a bonus, the grounds are very nice and there are Peacocks outside on the patio area that can be fed.
Nearby parks: The Retreat RV Resort south of Lubbock on I-27 and Mesa Verde in Wolfforth on the west side.
What we liked: Sites at the back of the park (sites 116-121) have concrete pads and there is no noticeable noise from I-27 nearby. Other than occasional airport noise it is very quiet there.
What we didn’t like: Lots of stickers in the “grass” and gravel areas of the park. There are also prairie dogs around the sites in the back of the park. They didn’t cause us any problems but they can eat exposed wiring. The park is on the west side of the Lubbock airport so there can be some airplane noise although we didn’t find it too objectionable. It’s west Texas so be prepared for wind and dust!
Verdict: We would stay here again although our preference is either Mesa Verde or The Retreat because they are closer to the places we go when in town.

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.