RV Rental El Campo

El Campo is one of the largest cities in Wharton County, Texas and is located in the center of the Texas Coastal Plains, an area of bountiful native grasses. It was a popular location for the Spanish and the Mexicans to graze their cattle. After Texas won its independence, immigrants from Germany, Ireland, and Sweden moved in and continued the cattle trade. El Campo is located on an area where a railroad camp was set up in 1882; the camp was known as “Prairie Switch,” and by the mid-1880s, it had turned El Campo into the largest center for shipping prairie hay in the U.S. It was designated “The Pearl of the Prairie” by local cowboys because the section house lights looked like a pearl from a distance. Cattle intended for shipping to other markets were held at Prairie Switch which soon became known as “the Camp” or “El Campo.” By the beginning of the 20th century, farmers realized that the local soil could grow more than hay and the mainstay crops became cotton, rice, and corn. Oil and gas were discovered here in the 1930s and became the main source of El Campo's economy.

Book an RV in Wharton County, and you are ready to retrace the steps of the pioneers who settled this land. There are a few other towns that are worth visiting. Garwood was named by its creators after a Bastrop lawyer, Hiram Morgan Garwood, who never lived in the area. Sealy is the home of the Sealy Mattress Company, created in 1881 by Daniel Haynes. Van Vleck was originally known as Hardeman's Post Office, after Bailey Hardeman who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence (its name was changed in 1901). Edna has a statue on its courthouse lawn of Irwin Moore Laughter, a U.S. Navy serviceman who was killed while attempting to capture Pancho Villa. Yoakum became known as “the tomato capital of south central Texas” around 1926. Your El Campo travel trailer rental is your introduction to this historic and scenic area; where you go from there is up to you.

The Great Outdoors

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge began as a remote island when melting ice from continental glaciers raised the sea level; much later, river sediment created barrier lagoons and joined the island to the mainland once again. Today the area is a sanctuary for migrating bird species such as the whooping crane, which in 1941, numbered only 15. The park today consists of marshland, low sandy prairie, and oak woodlands; it hosts more than 400 bird species, turtles, and alligators, and a diverse variety of plant species. Visitors are allowed to hike and bike on the nature trails, go fishing and hunting and enjoy nature and wildlife observation.

San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for migrating and wintering bird species that stretches from the gulf to the Brazos and San Bernard River basins. The refuge is part of a group of nature preserves that includes Brazoria and Big Boggy, but it also serves as a public outdoor recreation area. Visitors can enjoy wildlife watching, participate in environmental education programs, or go fishing or hunting. Photography is another popular activity practiced within the park. Park your El Campo RV rental nearby and use it as a photography or viewing blind while sipping on a fresh cup of coffee.

Mad Island WMA (Wildlife Management Area) was created in 1987 and is part of a coastal wetlands ecosystem project providing biological conservation of all wildlife resources within the central coast of Texas. The area is open to the public for hunting and wildlife viewing; staff-guided tours are available by appointment, allowing visitors to view more than 300 bird species plus a wide variety of mammal, reptile, and amphibian species, such as gray fox raccoons, western diamondback rattlesnakes, and more. Visitors should carry water and bug spray, and wear waterproof footwear.

RV Parks

There are a number of RV parks and campgrounds in the area surrounding El Campo, and some of them may have mobile homes or long-term guests. Your El Campo RV trailer rental is your guarantee of a relaxing and comfortable vacation in Wharton County.

Pinchers RV Park is an RV campground that opened in the summer of 2012. It has restrooms and showers, laundry facilities, paved roads, and a restaurant/convenience store. Individual sites have back-in or pull-through access, concrete pads, and electrical hookups.

Exploring The City

There is lots to see and do when you book a campervan rental in El Campo, starting with a natural history museum. The museum has stuffed versions of some local wildlife displayed in exhibits that replicate their natural environment. Young children are allowed to touch the exhibits, and the staff on hand are friendly and willing to answer questions. The tour ends with some make-believe environments for young children, such as kids pretending to be veterinarians and tending to stuffed animals who may need medical attention. For adults, there is a wine bar where you can sample the local products and maybe even pick up something to have with your dinner. Don't forget that the best part of an RV vacation is hitting the open road, and your El Campo motorhome rental is your chance to do exactly that.

Now that the sun is setting, it is time to think about food and relaxation (you have most likely earned it). There are a number of barbecue establishments in town, and one of them is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This venue has a bakery and cheese section in addition to its smokehouse, and guests can purchase barbecue from the showcase if they choose. Guests dining here should try the Bison & Pork Summer Sausage with Cheese (you may not find this anywhere else).