Blanco State Park

Blanco State Park is a small Texas state park on the Blanco River in the town of Blanco, in Blanco County, about an hour from both San Antonio and Austin. It’s best for river swimming at its 1930s stone dams, winter trout fishing and easy hookup camping a short walk from the town square. Summer weekends get busy, so reserve a day pass before driving out.

On This Page

• Swimming at the Dams
• Fishing and Trout Stocking
• Paddling and Tubing
• Trails and Wildlife
• Camping
• Screened Shelters
• Picnic Areas and CCC History
• Best Time to Visit
• What Visitors Say
• Getting There
• Know Before You Go
• Nearby Parks
• FAQ
• Sources and Official Links

Swimming at the Dams

Swimming is allowed almost anywhere along the 1-mile stretch of the Blanco River inside Blanco State Park, at the swimmer’s own risk with no lifeguard on duty. Most people swim at the Falls, where the river spills over a stone dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s.

Where to Swim

Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) allows swimming anywhere along the river except one marked area.

• Above the dams: the pools behind the park’s two CCC dams hold the deepest water. Visitors report 6 to 7 feet at the top of the Falls dam
• Wading pool: TPWD lists a shallow wading pool for small children next to Falls Dam. One visitor in July 2026 found parts of it at least 4 feet deep, so stay close to small kids
• Closed area: the park map marks one stretch of river where entering the water is not allowed. Check the map at headquarters
• Getting in: reviewers say the day-use (north) side has the easiest access; banks elsewhere are steep or weedy

Safety and Water Quality

The river is calm most days, but reviews repeat a few hazards.

• The dam top is slick with algae, and visitors report hard falls. Water shoes help
• An adult must supervise children, and glass is not allowed in the river. TPWD recommends life jackets for children and weak swimmers
• Visitors describe clear, blue-green water in spring and green, algae-tinged water in late summer. Stay out after heavy rain, when the river runs muddy and fast

Fishing and Trout Stocking

Fishing is one of the top reasons people visit Blanco State Park, and no fishing license is needed to fish from the shore inside the park. TPWD lists largemouth and Guadalupe bass, channel catfish, sunfish and rainbow trout, which are stocked in winter.

• Trout stocking: TPWD stocked rainbow trout at two spots in the park on Nov. 29 and Dec. 13, 2025, and on March 2, 2026. The 2026–27 dates were not posted as of late October 2026
• Look Out for Trout: the park’s biggest fishing event is on Dec. 19, 2026, with rods and bait provided
• Fishing 101: free beginner programs on Nov. 14, 2026 and Jan. 9, 2027
• Rules: pole and line only, no more than 2 poles, and no fishing from the low-water crossing. The park tip sheet sets a bag limit of 5 fish of all species combined, with 1 black bass of 14 inches or longer
• Gear: loaner rods and reels are available at headquarters when on hand. Visitors say no live bait is sold in the park

Paddling and Tubing

Blanco State Park allows canoes, kayaks and boats with electric motors only, but visitors need to bring their own. The park stopped renting gear in 2025: kayak rentals were gone from its page by May 2025 and tube rentals by October 2025.

• Launch: an accessible kayak launch with two rails sits at the end of a wide sidewalk from the parking lot
• The water: the dams back up slow, calm pools. Visitors paddle kayaks, canoes and paddleboards there and float on their own tubes and rafts
• Programs: park staff run free kayak programs such as beginner kayaking, kayak birding and turtle paddles. Registration is required
• Old listings: the reservation site still lists watercraft rentals, but TPWD’s own pages no longer do

Trails and Wildlife

Blanco State Park has two short, easy trails totaling 1.1 miles round trip, so it suits a stroll more than a hike. Visitors who want longer trails drive about 35 minutes to Pedernales Falls State Park.

Miles as TPWD lists them. Reviewers also use a paved walkway along the north bank toward town.

• Bird blind: the Pumphouse Trail has a bird blind with a ramp and benches. Visitors like the bird pictures on its walls for identifying species
• Wildlife: TPWD lists great blue and green herons, red-eared sliders, spiny softshell turtles, river cooters and four kinds of bats. Visitors also report deer, ducks and water snakes
• Flood marks: trees still lean downstream from the 2015 flood, and debris piles remain along the trails

Camping

All camping at Blanco State Park is at hookup sites in one loop near the river, plus 7 screened shelters. There are no cabins and no primitive campsites (sites with no water, electricity or restrooms, usually reached on foot).

Campsite Types

Prices are TPWD’s per-night rates, plus the daily entry fee.

• Full hookup, 50-amp (8 sites, $25): sites 3–10, with water, 50/30-amp electric and sewer; back-in spurs of 45 to 54 feet
• Full hookup, 30-amp (9 sites, $23): water, electric and sewer; back-in spurs of 61 to 66 feet, plus site 16, a 120-foot pull-through
• Water and electric (12 sites, $20): 30-amp electric and water; back-in spurs from 29 to 68 feet

Every campsite has a picnic table, shade shelter, lantern post and fire ring with grill, with restrooms and showers nearby. TPWD lists 29 campsites; the reservation site shows 28 that can be booked online.

Reservations and Camp Rules

Sites are limited, and reviewers say they fill fast on busy-season weekends.

• Campsites open for booking 5 months ahead at 8 a.m.; same-day bookings close at 4 p.m.
• Check-in is 2 p.m. and check-out is noon
• Up to 8 people and 2 vehicles per site; RVs and trailers count as vehicles
• There is no gate. Late arrivals find their site on a list on the headquarters door and check in by 9 a.m.
• Campground restrooms and showers are for overnight guests. A dump station is on site

Campers praise the shade from big oaks and the clean bathhouse. The common complaints are sites close together with little privacy, and traffic noise from US 281 at night.

Screened Shelters

Blanco State Park has no cabins. The closest thing is its 7 screened shelters (numbers 41–47) overlooking the river, at $30 a night plus entry, and reviewers often call them cabins.

• Inside: a picnic table, a light and a ceiling fan on a concrete floor, behind a lockable door. No beds or air conditioning are listed, so bring cots or an air mattress and bedding
• Outside: water, electricity, a lantern post and a fire ring with grill, with restrooms nearby
• Capacity: up to 8 people. Tents are allowed at shelter sites, but RVs are not
• Pets: not allowed inside the shelters
• Accessible: shelters 43 and 47

Picnic Areas and CCC History

Blanco State Park was created in 1933 from land that local ranchers donated or sold, and it was one of the first four Texas parks to get a Civilian Conservation Corps company. Much of what visitors use today is CCC stonework.

CCC Company 854, 177 men, arrived on June 16, 1933 and worked for 11 months. They built the stone picnic pavilion, walks and stairs to the river, picnic tables, two stone dams, bridges, roads and a pump house, and the stonework has survived many floods since.

Picnic and Group Areas

The day-use side has picnic sites, picnic shelters, a playground and a scenic overlook. Two group areas book by phone at (512) 389-8920.

• Group Picnic Area (“the Long Table”): built by the CCC, for up to 50 people, $20 a day plus entry, with a rock grill and river view
• Pavilion with Kitchen (“the Clubhouse”): the rock CCC pavilion with a fireplace and full kitchen, for up to 75 people. $125 a day Friday to Sunday and holidays, $75 Monday to Thursday, plus entry and a $100 refundable deposit

The 2015 Flood

On May 23, 2015, 10 to 13 inches of rain fell at the headwaters of the Blanco River. The river rose about 30 feet through the park and touched the bottom of the US 281 bridge. The south side reopened Aug. 1, 2015, and the whole park reopened on Oct. 24, 2015.

Best Time to Visit

Late spring and early fall give the best swimming at Blanco State Park without the peak summer crowds, and winter is trout season. TPWD calls March through November the busy season, with summer the most crowded.

• Spring (March to May): the busy season starts in March. Visitors report the clearest water in spring, though the river runs low some years and turns muddy after storms
• Summer (June to August): the most crowded season, with full swimming spots on weekend afternoons. Late summer brings green, algae-tinged water
• Fall (September to November): bald cypress turn color in October or November. Entry is free at every state park on Texas State Parks Day, Nov. 1, 2026, and campsite rates drop to non-peak in November
• Winter (December to February): trout stocking, the Look Out for Trout event and quiet weekdays. TPWD lists a January average low of 46°F

What Visitors Say

Blanco State Park averages 4.7 stars across 489 Google reviews from late October 2024 to October 2026, and 4.6 stars across about 2,870 reviews in all. Most visitors call it small but well kept, and the complaints are consistent.

• Size: the most common word is “small.” Visitors walk the whole park in under an hour and use it for a day trip or a relaxed weekend base
• Swimming: the dams and wading pool are the main draw, especially for families. Reviewers warn about the slippery dam and the deep water above it
• Water: opinions split on clarity, and several visitors were let down by green or murky water in summer
• Restrooms: the campground bathhouse gets frequent praise for being clean. Day visitors report portable toilets on the picnic side
• Noise: US 281 runs past the park, and campers report road noise at night and early morning
• Staff and town: friendly staff, frequent patrols and an easy walk to the square in Blanco for food and coffee
• Wi-Fi and cell: reports are mixed. Several found good Verizon coverage; park Wi-Fi worked for some in 2025 and was down for others in 2026

Getting There

Blanco State Park sits in the town of Blanco at the US 281 bridge over the Blanco River, four blocks south of the town square. From Austin, take US 290 west about 48 miles to US 281, then go about 8 miles south. From San Antonio, take US 281 north about 40 miles.

Turn onto Park Road 23 from Main Street (US 281). From the Austin side, the entrance is on the right just before the river bridge; from San Antonio, it is on the left just after the bridge.

Drive times to the park:

• San Antonio: about 1 hour
• Austin: about 1 hour 5 minutes
• Houston: about 3 hours 50 minutes
• Dallas: about 4.5 hours

A few things to know before driving out:

• Floods: the low-water crossing inside the park closes after heavy rain (it closed July 15, 2026), and Park Road 23 floods when the Blanco River gauge at Blanco reaches 21 feet
• Big RVs: there is little room to turn around at the entrance, and one visitor with a 55-foot rig was turned away without a reservation. Book ahead and check the site length
• On foot: campers walk or bike into town, but the entry road and bridge have no sidewalk

Know Before You Go

Blanco State Park is small and easy to reach, but these fees, rules and conditions matter.

• Fees and passes: $5 a day for ages 13 and older; children 12 and under get in free. The Texas State Parks Pass ($70 a year) covers entry. The Texas Parklands Passport gives half-price entry to Texans 65 and older and free entry to veterans. Confirm current fees on TPWD’s fee page
• Booking: day passes go on sale 1 month ahead. TPWD advises reserving before visiting; passes are also sold at the park when any are left. Campsites open 5 months ahead
• Hours: open daily; closes at 10 p.m. except to campers. TPWD does not publish regular headquarters hours, so call ahead; a self-pay station covers entry when it is closed
• Dogs: allowed on a leash of 6 feet or less, but not in any building, including the screened shelters and pavilion. Statewide rules keep pets out of designated swimming areas
• Alcohol: public drinking or display of alcohol is not allowed
• Fires: fires only in the fire rings, with firewood sold at the park host site (no gathering). Burn bans came in March 2025, September 2025 and February 2026; the county lifted the last one on April 14, 2026
• Screwworm notice: since June 2026, TPWD asks visitors at every state park to check pets for wounds and report wildlife with open wounds
• What to bring: water shoes, life jackets for kids, a canopy for sunny picnic tables and a kayak or tube

Nearby Parks

Five other TrekTexas guides are within about an hour and a half of Blanco State Park.

• Pedernales Falls State Park: about 25 miles away, where the Pedernales River flows over wide steps of layered limestone
• Guadalupe River State Park: about 31 miles away, for swimming, tubing and paddling on the Guadalupe
• Hamilton Pool Preserve: about 40 miles away, a Travis County preserve that requires reservations every day
• Krause Springs: about 42 miles away in Spicewood, a privately owned spring-fed swimming hole with camping
• Enchanted Rock State Natural Area: about 62 miles away, known for its 425-foot pink granite dome
• More parks: Parks Near San Antonio and Parks Near Austin

FAQ

Does Blanco State Park have cabins?

No. It has 7 screened shelters with a table, light, ceiling fan and electricity, but no beds or air conditioning are listed.

Can dogs swim at Blanco State Park?

TPWD does not publish a Blanco-specific rule. Statewide rules keep pets out of designated swimming areas, so keep dogs away from the busy spots by the dams and ask at headquarters.

Does Blanco State Park rent kayaks or tubes?

Not anymore. Rentals ended in 2025, so bring gear.

Can visitors walk from Blanco State Park into town?

Yes. The town square is about four blocks north, with restaurants and coffee shops, though the entry road and bridge have no sidewalk.

Sources and Official Links

Facts in this guide were last checked in October 2026 against these sources.

• Blanco State Park (TPWD)
• Entrance fees (TPWD)
• Campsites, screened shelters and group facilities (TPWD)
• Trail list and park map (PDF) (TPWD)
• Park history (TPWD)
• Trout stocking schedule and park events (TPWD)
• Texas State Parks reservations
• Blanco River at Blanco gauge (National Weather Service)
• Park feature, January/February 2026 (Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine)

Featured photo: Ashton Brown