Bastrop / SE Austin / Colorado River KOA

The Great Outdoors

Just a stone’s throw away from the RV campground is Bastrop State Park in Bastrop. This piney woodland is a great representation of where the Piney Woods of East Texas end and the rocky Hill Country of Central Texas begins. Here, you can see a blending of two ecosystems with pine trees interspersed throughout oak trees and cacti. Whether you want to enjoy some on-shore fishing or hike through the unique habitat of the forests, there’s plenty to keep you enchanted in Bastrop State Park.If you’re looking to enjoy an idyllic hike alongside a winding river through a seemingly ancient forest, then McKinney Falls State Park in Austin is the stop for you. You can hike along with Onion Creek as you venture farther into the forest. Eventually, you will find yourself at the limestone outcrop that gives way to the waterfalls of McKinney Falls. You can even spend some time looking for the several historical and archaeological sites that are within the park grounds.Those looking for a true sense of the “American West” in central Texas can spend the day at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge in Marble Falls, Texas. Just on the other side of Austin, at Balcones, you’ll be able to see it all: lush grasslands, arid landscapes, limestone quarries and formations, and a raging river that cuts through everything. With several hiking trails and nature trails maintained for your exploratory curiosity, you’ll be able to venture into several different elements of Central Texas’ various landscapes in one day. And because the park is a wildlife refuge, if you’re lucky, you just might spot some famed Texas wildlife such as armadillo and coyote, or if you’re very lucky, maybe even a bobcat or antelope.

Explore the City

Those who enjoy learning a little more about the history of a new locale can spend some time at the Bastrop County Museum. In downtown Bastrop, this museum showcases permanent and rotating exhibits to help give locals and visitors a better understanding of this central Texas town. Much of the beginnings of Texas started in this region, and so the Bastrop County Museum has a wealth of knowledge covering the area’s agricultural and industrial history, the early history of Texas (both as country and state), and exhibits on the day-to-day life around the area.For a prehistoric fix, spend part of the day at the nearby Dinosaur Park. Artists and paleontologists have worked together to create this life-size and life-like outdoor sculpture garden showcasing nothing but dinosaurs. You’ll be able to walk among some of the largest animals that ever lived and get a different kind of understanding of how these creatures may have looked. You can pack a picnic and spend the day learning all about these once-living giants.For the adrenaline seekers out there, an outing to the Circuit of the Americas is in order. The racetrack, just between Bastrop and Austin, hosts various races, from Formula One to go-karts and streetcars. You can even reserve a spot on the track to learn how to drive just like a race car driver with one of the track’s stock sports cars. Not only that, but the Circuit of the Americas has an amphitheater and performance stage that often hosts musical artists from a wide range of genres and styles.When you have an RV rental around Bastrop, you will be happy to know that there are plenty of gas stations and grocery stores where you will be able to refuel and restock and keep your RV camping adventure moving.When you stay in the Texas Hill Country, you would be amiss not to try two of the region’s delicacies: sausage and kolaches made popular in the region by a huge influx of German and Hungarian immigrants. While sausage is pretty common, kolaches are breaded treats filled with either a sweet, fruity filling or with a savory meat and cheese filling. So, while the Tex-Mex and BBQ in the area are definitely better than anywhere else you’ll find it, the traditionally cured sausages and both sweet and savory kolaches are unforgettable treats.