Camping
With 350 improved and 30 primitive campsites there are a number of ways that you can enjoy an overnight visit to Cedar Hill State Park. RVs, pop-up campers, fifth wheels, pickup trucks with inserts, and tents can all be accommodated by the park's camping facilities. You can check the availability of campsites and make reservations online or by phone (512)-389-8900.
The information below can help answer some of the questions you may have about camping in Cedar Hill State Park. Many of the pictures can be viewed as a larger image by clicking on the photo.
The improved camping areas.
You are assigned your campsite when you check in. If the park is very busy you will not have many choices but it never hurts to ask for particular site preferences (for example if you want to be close or far from the bathrooms, want a lakesite, prefer lots of shade, etc.). The folks who have checked me in were quite accommodating.
There is a parking area at each site for your vehicle(s). If you have a tent site there is parking for two cars. For a camper site the parking pad can accommodate an RV or pickup/camper arrangement. There are different sized pads so if you have some special requirements for your rig, you might want to call the park and see if they have a site that is right for your needs.
At the edge of each sites' parking area is an electrical box and a water faucet. If you would like to have electricity at your picnic table you will need to bring some extension cords. The camping sites I have stayed in (tent sites) had two regular electric outlets (like you have in your home) and a larger 30 amp outlet. The water faucet is a simple residential type spigot that will accept a lawn hose connection.
For the RVers.... The pictures above are of two different pull-in camper sites. I did not see any pull through sites so you will need to back your rig into your site. The pictures below are of the RV dumping stations. Both are pull through sites with large entrances and exits that are right off the road leading to the camping areas.The Bathrooms.
There are a lot of restrooms in Cedar Hill State Park, both in and out of the camping areas. The park literature says there are bathrooms within a short walking distance of every campsite and this seems to be true. The bathrooms I used were clean and well maintained and the showers had hot water. While I have never been in Cedar Hill State Park when the park is full, when I visited I found the facilities were kept very clean compared to other campgrounds I have visited.
Primitive campsites
The park literature states there are 30 primitive walk-in campsites in the park. Really there are two large grassy areas, located off of two different trails, that can accommodate tents. One of these sites is located in a section of undeveloped land found between two improved campsite areas (Hog Wallow and Coyote Crossing camping areas). This site is accessed via the Talala trail. The second area is found east of the main park road and is accessed from the Duck Pond Trail. The primitive camping areas each have a single, centrally located outhouse bathroom. If someone has camped at a primitive campsite in the the park and would like to share any details about your experience, I would love to hear from you.
Here is one camper's advice/experience regarding the primitive campsites (thank you for sharing this Kris!): "I camp at the one off Duck Pond fairly regularly. You can actually see the old numbered sites along the trails near the "meadow" that is now the actual site, but they are so overgrown that it'd be impossible to get in there unless you were willing to cut the growth/dead stuff back quite a bit. Also, the price is $10 plus the $5 'entrance' fee (which I feel is a misleading name, since you have to pay it every day) makes a total of $15 a night.
Also, I'd make sure you had some cord with you, I usually have to make a loop to keep the outhouse door closed if I need to use it.
I camp in a hammock, and so I go a few yards into the trees on the back side of the meadow so I can have a little more privacy if the meadow is in use. There's room for a small 2-person tent in some spots, too. The site has been passed by wildlife at night on some occasions, too, so one should keep their food secure."
Forget something at home?
One of the nice things about Cedar Hill's location is that there is a wall Mart ~ 3 miles from the main entrance of the park. Getting there is easy: leave the park and turn right onto F.M. 1382, go through a few traffic lights, and you will eventually see the entrance to the Wal-Mart parking lot off the right hand side of the road. I would recommend you do not forget anything though. Especially that nice, comfortable camping chair you get to settle into once your campground is all arranged. The last thing I want to do is to go run to Wal Mart once I get to lounging around. To make sure I show up with everything I need I have personalized a camping checklist to fit my own needs.
"Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong." - George Carlin