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500 Waves on the Llano River

99%
·
· Llano, Llano, Texas
2 acres hosted by Jason S.
1 motorhome/tent pitch
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The best beaches in Texas are not on the coast. Secluded beaches. Clear, spring-fed water on the Llano River. 500 Waves is more than a camp site. 500 Waves is the river. Close to Austin and Fredericksburg. North of Enchanted Rock and on the way to Big Bend. Private camp site with exclusive bathroom, shade and electricity right on the river. No need to drive to the river, you are at the river. Perfect for families and couples seeking a fun, easy, socially distant retreat on a quiet country road. Adventure awaits. Terrific birding and wildlife viewing all year with an ever-changing array of critters. When it is warm, your children will see tadpoles during the day and go to sleep to the sound of hundreds of frogs. In fall and winter the riverbed is a superhighway for deer, foxes, and flocks of migratory geese and other birds. "A slice of beachy heaven on the Llano River." Austin American-StatesmanThe best beaches in Texas are not on the coast. Secluded beaches. Clear, spring-fed water on the Llano River. 500 Waves is more than a camp site.  500 Waves is a good time. Close to Austin and Fredericksburg. North of Enchanted Rock and on the way to Big Bend. Private camp site with shade and electricity right on the river. No need to drive to the river, you are at the river. Perfect for families and couples seeking a fun, easy, socially distant retreat on a quiet country road. Adventure awaits. "A slice of beachy heaven on the Llano River." Austin American-Statesman 500 Waves Beach Camp sits right smack on the Llano River and offers a huge covered deck with table, chairs, and a big view of the river.  Texas-sized riverfront fire pit and gas grill are available. You have private and exclusive access to a flush toilet and hand washing sink in our newly constructed bathroom.   Camping Details:  Four people or one nuclear family maximum.  No groups.  No teeny bopper parties. (You'll totally get busted.) Tent site and campfire pit are 200 yards from car park. We have a wagon to help you move your stuff up and down the small hill.  In summer come prepared for the heat, especially if you are tent camping or your RV does not have AC. Welcome, wanderers!  In addition to campers on weekend getaways, 500 Waves hosts lots of visitors on a grand North American road trip or Texans taking the scenic route to Big Bend or New Mexico. If you want to get off the beaten path and see the real Texas, let us know and we can offer tips and advice for a truly Texas odyssey that includes some time on the beach at 500 Waves.   KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Our small camper (the white egg-looking Casita in some of the pictures) lives at 500 Waves and thus may be parked on site during your visit. If so, the covered spot right next to the cabin will not be available for your RV.  There is plenty of room much closer to the electrical outlet for your rig.   We have neighbors.  Repeat:  We have neighbors so set your expectations accordingly.  You will be the only campers on site and will have no difficulty keeping a safe and social distance from anyone else.  500 Waves Beach Camp is a big lot on a quiet river road with a few scattered small cabins. If you're looking for absolute seclusion, be aware that this is the country with people doing country stuff not the wilderness. That said, there are usually very few (if any) other people in the riverbed or on this section of the Llano River - especially on weekdays and in winter and fall.   WHAT CAN WE DO WHILE AT 500 WAVES BEACH CAMP? Nothing. And that's ok. Really. Just sit and enjoy the quiet. Your phone probably will not work very well and that is good. Soak up the spring-fed Llano River.  500 Waves Beach Camp is on the riverfront and has direct access to private beaches, fishing, wading, and tubing year round.  If the river isn't flowing, we will say so in this description.  (But it is always flowing.) Terrific birding and wildlife viewing all year with an ever-changing array of critters. When it is warm, your children will see tadpoles during the day and go to sleep to the sound of hundreds of frogs.  In fall and winter the riverbed is a superhighway for deer, foxes, and flocks of migratory geese and other birds. Bring your yoga mat to greet the sunrise on your private beach. And pack fixings for your favorite cocktail and watch the sun set into the Llano River from the shade of your covered deck or from a riverfront campfire (burn ban permitting).  Take a stroll to a historic granite low-water crossing and ponder the infinite expanse of time.  Bring your telescope, binoculars, or the naked eye to view our dark skies.  Plan your visit around a new moon for darkness or a full moon for howling. Kayak down the river to your camp site for just the right mix of rapids and slow paddling.  Stand up paddle boards available for rent on the river downtown. Hike the riverbed for miles upriver or downriver and find your own hidden swimming hole.   Play tetherball, corn hole, and giant Jenga.  Create family memories and give your other hand something to do while you drink beer.  Bike or drive historic gravel backroads and make friends with Llano County's many cows.   Cruise into small town Llano for live music, local vodka, craft beer, mesquite-flamed pizza, shopping, and the best BBQ in Texas.   In the spring and on into early summer our wildflowers will make you weep.  It sounds corny, but 500 Waves Beach Camp is more than a campsite. It's an experience and a miniature vacation in and of itself.  You could take your kids to a hotel with a pool or one of those crowded, icky, and expensive water parks.  Or you could take them to nature's closest equivalent.   Let's talk COVID-19.  We will sanitize the camp site between visitors.  This includes bathroom, grill, table, and chairs.  We are asking folks to wipe things down upon arrival and again upon departure.  We assume campers would do this regardless but we want to be crystal clear. This has worked really well so far, please pass the wipe down. FAQs: - No dogs or pets. We know your dog is awesome and that you are a great dog owner but no exceptions. We work hard to protect wildlife habitat. - No groups and 1 RV/camping unit greatly preferred. Our neighbors are amazing and we want to respect them. Please don't ask to add additional guests after making your reservation. Please, it's just awkward. - Private bathroom with sink and flush toilet. No showers. Bring water. - No kitchen or dishwashing facility. Bring water. Gas grill available for cooking.   - No potable water and no RV dump station.  Bring lots of water and dump in Llano. - 30 amp and standard electrical outlets for RVs. Extension cord may be helpful. - Price may increase on holidays and weekends during wildflower season. Price is determined not by the market but by our desire to be at our own land.  If you're there, we can't be.  And - as you will see - that's a bummer.
Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Paddling
Natural features
Beach
River, stream, or creek
Swimming hole
Waterfall
99%
112 Ratings · 90 reviews
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Hunter C.recommends
April 2, 2024
500 Waves RV and Tent Camping
Perfect
This camp site is one of my favorite places in the world. So many thanks to Jason for sharing this gem.
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Shelby B.recommends
August 8, 2023
500 Waves RV and Tent Camping
Great getaway
500 Waves had everything we needed for a quiet getaway. The setup was very convenient providing shade, a deck for stargazing, and a cute little bathroom. There are also outdoor lights and plugs which make cooking dinner easy. The gas grill is a great convenience, as well as the tables & chairs already on the property. The owner's small RV was parked at the site (as mentioned in the listing) but it was not a bother whatsoever. We had plenty of room! The river was quite low when we went but we can see how absolutely incredible it would be when the Llano is flowing nicely. The location is perfect- just out of town but only a few miles from some other great river crossings and the Castell General Store. The river crossing closest to the site is about a 5-10 min walk down the street. We can't wait to return and see how gorgeous it is when the river is flowing back to normal. We'll be back for sure! It's a special place.
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Darren M.recommends
July 5, 2023
500 Waves RV and Tent Camping
Great stay!
Great spot, was surprisingly private river access on a Holiday weekend. Jason provided a lot of good info for the site and local areas.
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Becky B.recommends
June 26, 2023
500 Waves RV and Tent Camping
Camping near the Llano River
We just spent 3 days at 500 waves in late June 2023. After we navigated the driveway and settled into our spot, we REALLY enjoyed all that the property had to offer. Each day we would go down to our favorite spot on the river, sit and float in the water and relax. We DID NOT see people for 3 days except just a few off in the distance. I reccomend walking up river a bit towards the bridge to where the rocks pop up and there are a few rapids and moving water. It took us about 10ish minutes to walk there each day. The spot is very clean and the bathroom is tidy and clean also. It feels new. Since it was SO hot while we were there, we skipped making dinner and drove into Llano each night. Gio’s was fantastic ! The place really was dreamy….if only the water temp was cooler. I know, I know….I am a little spoiled by the Comal River. Even so, my husband and I really enjoyed the river, the landscape, the sunsets, the stars, the cows, etc etc.
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Sandra H.recommends
June 18, 2023
500 Waves RV and Tent Camping
Love it
Great place, love the deck and there were more butterflies and birds than we could count. Great to have the nice clean bathroom and the table and chairs already there. Will definitely be coming back.
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Frederick H.
June 14, 2023
500 Waves RV and Tent Camping
Beautiful River but not worth $110
I really liked this place, the rivers and wildflowers were lovely and the owner was attentive and communicative. It is however overpriced for what you get. We paid $230 for 2 nights, should it have been half of that I’d have no problem giving it full marks. My key points/feedback: If you RV, you will be next to the road (and we have a teardrop) and neighbors were quite noisy during our stay playing music. The owner keeps his own RV there so you can’t take advantage of the cover. Which on a 100+ weekend is a challenge. There’s no cover by the river so in summer it’s unusable during the day unless you bring a Gazebo. From other places I’ve stayed nearby, here is my recommendation to make this worth the money, create a path to bring small trailers/cars closer to the river in non-flood season. Some shelter by the river as well. Move your RV round the side of the property, would be easy to do. Hope this helps.
Location
Llano, Llano, Texas, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Jumanos, Nʉmʉnʉʉ Sookobitʉ (Comanche), Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa (Lipan Apache), and Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo) First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Jason S.

Joined in November 2019
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