Ranch camping near Three Rivers with campfires

Equidistant from San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Three Rivers has both coast and city within easy reach. There are plenty of good reasons to stay local, though, most notably the Choke Canyon State Park, where camping comes with lake views. Set sail along the Choke Canyon Reservoir or cool off with a swim, try your luck fishing for largemouth bass and catfish, or explore the bird trails where Green Jay and Harris’s Hawk are common sightings. The town’s namesake rivers—Atascosa, Frio, and Nueces—are also bird-watching hotspots and dotted with RV parks and riverfront campgrounds.  

South San Antonio

San Antonio, with its bustling River Walk and UNESCO-listed Alamo, is just an hour north of Three Rivers. Campers can check into an RV park close to downtown, but more scenic options lie south of town. Pitch your tent by Calaveras Lake or Braunig Lake, and catch some catfish to cook over a lakeside campfire.  

Hill Country

The rugged peaks and lakes that hem in San Antonio’s northern boundaries mark your arrival in Texas Hill County. Adventurers should head to the Guadalupe River State Park, where river tubing and mountain biking are the activities of choice, while the Government Canyon State Natural Area has walk-in tent campsites surrounded by wilderness. To the east, the Hill Country State Natural Area has trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, as well as backcountry camping. 

South Coast

The sandy shores of the Gulf of Mexico lie just an hour’s drive south of Three Rivers. RV parks and beachside campgrounds pepper the coast around Corpus Christi, where you can fish, kayak, or enjoy water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. There’s camping right on the beach at Mustang Island State Park, while the Padre Island National Seashore is the place to hike through the dunes and spot dolphins and sea turtles along the coast.

Texan summers are hot and humid, so leave the tent at home and opt for an air-conditioned RV instead. Better yet, plan your camping trip for spring, fall, or winter, when the weather is better suited to outdoor activities. Choke Canyon State Park is busiest during the spring and fall migrations—this is the best time to work through your bird checklist, but campsites can fill up quickly, so book ahead. 

• There are no direct public transport links to Three Rivers from San Antonio or Corpus Christi. You’ll need your own transportation to get around. 
• Three Rivers has a selection of shops where you can purchase groceries, camping gear, and fishing supplies. Pick up everything you need in town before heading out to Choke Canyon. 
• Most Texas state parks require reservations for both day passes and campgrounds, and fishing permits are often required.