Georgetown Lake is an unusually scenic, serpentine reservoir near Georgetown in the south-east region of the state of Texas. The reservoir is bordered on several stretches of its shores with shrub-covered, white limestone cliffs and surrounded by low-lying prairie lands for almost as far as the eye can see. It's the perfect RV camping escape for anyone living in the busy cities of Austin or Temple. Georgetown Lake formed as a result of the US Army Corps of Engineers damming the north fork of the San Gabriel River in the late 1970s to assist with flood control and provide a water supply for the nearby urbanizations. The immense reservoir covers almost one-thousand, three-hundred acres, and can be anywhere up to eighty-five feet deep in places.
While Georgetown Lake fulfills an important role for many communities, it also provides a superb, all year round, recreational facility that is first class for outdoor activities. The reservoir's tranquil waters are a favorite with boating fans, and you'll see all types of craft out on the lake from motorized launches to stand-up paddleboards.
Around the shores and running through the parklands, there are miles and miles of trails for hikers and bikers to explore plus a pebble swim beach located on the mid-north shore for taking a refreshing dip. The Hunt Hollow Wildlife Management Area at the lake gives hunters one thousand acres to stalk small game, and anglers will be pleased to know Georgetown Lake is renowned for its bass fishing. Whatever your favorite outdoor pastime is, camp out in your RV at Georgetown Lake, and you'll be in the ideal place to enjoy it.
If you're motoring up to Georgetown Lake from San Antonio or heading that way from the south of the state after spending a few days RV camping on the coast at the Mustang Island State Park, once you're away from the city suburbs, you'll be in for a two-hour drive on the I 35. It's a practically straight run north along major highways that shouldn't cause you too much hassle unless you encounter highway maintenance in action. From Austin to Georgetown Lake is just a forty minute drive, so you'll be pitching camp before your RV engine has even had time to get warm.
Anyone driving down from Dallas, Fort Worth, or the Dinosaur Valley State Park in the north of the state can expect to be behind the wheel of their rig for around three hours before they reach the campgrounds at Georgetown Lake. Two of the four corps campgrounds at Georgetown Lake are tent-only so you'll be heading to either the Jim Hogg Park Campground or the Cedar Breaks Park Campground. The campgrounds are on opposite shores of the lake. To get to both sites, you'll need to take the DB Wood Road out of Georgetown along which you'll find signposts to direct you to the campgrounds.
The Jim Hogg Park Campground has over one-hundred and forty campsites for RVs distributed around a double loop system. The paved pitches are standard electric hook-ups with water and sanitation hook-ups being available on-site for general use. All campsites are furnished with individual picnic tables, grills and fire pits. The campground has a full array of amenities including a fishing dock and boat ramp with trailer parking as well as the usual restrooms and showers.
It's peak season twelve months of the year at the Jim Hogg Park Campground so no matter what month you're planning to camp there, you'll need to reserve your campsite before you go.
There are just under sixty campsites situated around a single loop at the Cedar Breaks Park Campground for RVs. The back-in paved pitches all have standard electric hook-ups, picnic tables, fire rings, and barbecues. The campground has good amenities including showers and restrooms as well as a fishing pier and boat ramp. Reservations are required all year round.
The tree cover here is fairly sparse. It's enough to give you some shade from the hot Texas sun, but there's little in the way of undergrowth for privacy. Still, in an RV that doesn't matter too much, but it's something to be aware of.
Take a hike or cycle around the shores of Georgetown Lake on the San Gabriel River Trail. The trail covers twenty-six miles of varied terrain and completes a full circuit of the reservoir. While it might sound arduous, it's a paved trail with seating for rest stops and even restrooms at various points.
If you want to complete a shorter section winding through grasslands and juniper forests, join the trailhead in Overlook Park and head eastwards toward the river. It's a great hike or cycle any time of the year, though spring and fall see the area's flora at its best.
Georgetown Lake is a great lake to navigate no matter what type of craft you have. Its rugged shores make for exciting canoeing and kayaking while the water is more than calm enough for paddleboarding. You can launch a motorized craft from one of three boat ramps at the lake, all of which have trailer parking.
Boaters wanting to use the ramps should be aware that there's a first-come-first-served system in place for parking at the ramps. When the parking spaces are full no more boats are permitted to enter the water, so get there early.
Head to Georgetown Lake to dangle a hook into the water, and you could land yourself a record size bass. Both shore and boat fishing are popular at the reservoir, but if you prefer to cast from a fishing dock, there's one in the Cedar Breaks Park, which is fully ADA accessible. As well as bass, you could reel in some crappie, several species of catfish, or some stripers.
If you want to go hunting at Georgetown Lake, you'll need to apply for a permit via the Georgetown Lake Project Office well in advance of getting there. Hunting at the lake is in the Hunt Hollow Wildlife Management Area and restricted to small game and deer during the relevant seasons. There are also special archery-only areas which only those with the adequate permit for archery hunting are permitted to use.
Make the trip into Georgetown to view the incredible Inner Space Cavern. The immense subterranean karst cave system is one of nature's spectacular formations and full of stalagmites and stalactites.
Inside the caverns, initially discovered in the early 1960s, there are several fossilized skeletons of Ice Age mammals. Take a guided tour or if you're brave enough, go spelunking through the passageways with a guide leading the way.
Georgetown Lake is located in an area of Texas with a very diverse history. Discover more about the bygone days of Williamson County at the Williamson Museum in Georgetown. The museum houses fascinating interactive exhibitions on law and order, the Klan trails, important women of the region, and much more.
The museum is open to the public from Wednesday to Friday from midday to five in the afternoon and on Saturdays from ten in the morning until five.
