--- title: "Camping Near Austin TX | Riverside Tent Sites 45 Min Away" description: "Riverside tent camping just 45 minutes from Austin — BYO tent sites from $29, bell tents, fire pits and the spring-fed San Marcos River at Son's River Ranch." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's River Ranch", "alternateName": [ "Sons River Ranch", "SRR Kingsbury", "Son's River Ranch Kingsbury" ], "url": "https://sonsriverranch.com", "logo": "https://sonsriverranch.com/logo.png", "description": "Family-friendly riverside resort with private river access on the 72-degree spring-fed San Marcos River. Glamping, air-conditioned cabins, tubing and kayaking in Kingsbury, TX — 45 minutes from Austin and San Antonio.", "parentOrganization": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Getaways", "url": "https://sonsgetaways.com" }, "knowsAbout": [ "San Marcos River tubing", "private river access glamping", "Kingsbury TX lodging", "72-degree spring-fed river", "family river getaways", "air-conditioned cabin glamping", "San Marcos River vs Guadalupe", "San Marcos River vs Comal" ], "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "1400 Sherrill Rd", "addressLocality": "Kingsbury", "addressRegion": "TX", "postalCode": "78638", "addressCountry": "US" }, "telephone": "877-577-7667", "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/sonsriverranch", "https://www.instagram.com/sonsriverranch", "https://www.tiktok.com/@sonsriverranch", "https://www.bluerivercamp.com/", "https://sonsisland.com/", "https://www.sonsgeronimo.com/", "https://www.sonsriocibolo.com/", "https://www.sonsguadalupe.com/" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Camping Near Austin: Riverside Tent Sites & Bell Tents on the San Marcos River", "description": "Everything Austin campers need to know about riverside tent camping at Son's River Ranch — pricing, gear, fire pits, and how it compares to Hill Country state parks.", "url": "https://sonsriverranch.com/blog/camping-near-austin", "image": "https://sonsriverranch.com/og-image.jpg", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's River Ranch" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's River Ranch", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sonsriverranch.com/logo.png" } }, "datePublished": "2026-05-07", "dateModified": "2026-05-07", "keywords": "camping near Austin, tent camping Austin TX, BYO tent sites Austin, riverside camping near Austin, San Marcos River camping" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sonsriverranch.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://sonsriverranch.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Camping Near Austin", "item": "https://sonsriverranch.com/blog/camping-near-austin" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How far is the closest riverside camping to Austin?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Son's River Ranch in Kingsbury, TX is just 45 minutes south of downtown Austin via I-35 — the closest spring-fed riverside tent camping to Austin." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much does tent camping near Austin cost?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "BYO Tent sites at Son's River Ranch start at $29/night on weekdays and $49/night on weekends." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I have a campfire?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — every tent site includes a fire pit, BBQ pit and picnic table when burn bans are not in effect. Firewood is sold on-site." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is it better than driving to a Hill Country state park?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "For Austin campers who want clear 72°F spring water without a 3-4 hour drive, yes — and you can upgrade to a bell tent or A/C cabin if the weather turns." } } ] } ] --- [ 🎉 Join us for Sunday Fun Day - $79 Cabanas! Includes Entry for 8! — BOOK NOW! 🎉 Join us for Sunday Fun Day - $79 Cabanas! Includes Entry for 8! — BOOK NOW! ](/book-now) [![Son's River Ranch - Tubing, Live Music, Glamping](/assets/logo-cpd7QRHR.png)Texas River Paradise ](/) [Stay Overnight](/stay-overnight) [Day Rentals](/day-rentals) [Tubing & Kayaking](/day-rentals#tubing-kayaking) [Property Map](/property-map) [Plan Your Visit](/plan-your-visit) [About](/about) [Specials](/specials) [Contact](/contact)[877-577-7667](tel:877-577-7667)Book Now Book Now ![Camping near Austin TX — riverside tent on the spring-fed San Marcos River at Son's River Ranch](/assets/bell-tent-riverside-CupRQ8IO.webp) [Back to Blog](/blog)Local Guide # Camping Near Austin: Riverside Tent Sites & Bell Tents on the San Marcos River Skip the long Hill Country drive — the closest spring-fed riverside camping to Austin is just 45 minutes south. May 7, 2026 8 min read Kingsbury, TX When Austinites think **camping near Austin**, they usually picture a packed Pedernales Falls reservation page or a four-hour haul to Garner. There's a closer, quieter, clearer-water option: [Son's River Ranch](/), a 168-acre family ranch on the spring-fed San Marcos River — just 45 minutes from downtown Austin in Kingsbury, TX. ## Why camp here instead of a state park? State parks like [Blanco](https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/blanco) and [Pedernales Falls](https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/pedernales-falls) book up months in advance and can be brutally hot without water access. Our [riverside campsites](/camping) sit on a stretch of spring-fed water that stays a refreshing 72°F year-round — small rapids, no dams, and a calm current that makes it one of the safest places to camp with kids. Compared to the [other Austin-area camping options](/campingaustin), Son's River Ranch is private property — no day-use crowds wandering through your site, no hunting for parking, no rules against fires when burn bans are off. ![Fire pit at a riverside campsite near Austin TX](/assets/gallery-firepit-wPyge74Z.webp) ## BYO Tent sites: $29 weekdays, $49 weekends Bring-Your-Own-Tent sites are the most affordable way to camp near Austin. Each site comes with a **fire pit, picnic table, BBQ pit** and shared bathhouse access. Pitch on grass, walk to the river, and you're done. [See all overnight options](/stay-overnight) if you'd rather skip setup entirely. ## Don't want to pitch your own? Bell Tents. ![Pre-pitched bell tent at Son's River Ranch — glamping near Austin](/assets/bell-tent-2-fBcYpLDs.webp) Bell Tents are pre-pitched canvas tents with real beds inside — pure outdoors feel without the work. They sit a short walk from the river and pair perfectly with a [riverside cabana](/cabanas) day rental for shade. ## What to pack for camping near Austin - Tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag - Cooler with ice (no glass at the river) - Drinking water (gallon per person per day) - Headlamp + extra batteries - Bug spray and reef-safe sunscreen - Tubes or kayaks (or rent ours — overnight guests get **25% off day rentals**) - Marshmallows. Always marshmallows. ![Family picnic at riverside campsite near Austin](/assets/gallery-family-picnic-IQdbWKE4.webp) ## Add the river, the wristband, and a cabana Camping is the start. The reason you drove down: the water. Add an [Ultimate River Fun Wristband](/san-marcos-river-tubing) to your stay and float the spring-fed [San Marcos River](/tubing-kayaking) as many laps as you want. Want to know more about the river itself? Texas Parks & Wildlife has a great overview of the [San Marcos River](https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/rivers/san_marcos.phtml) and you can check live flow at the [USGS gauge](https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv?site_no=08172000). ## Heading further south? Try our sister property. If you're already on the road, our sister property [Son's Blue River Camp](https://www.sonsblueriver.com/) in Kendalia offers a similar spring-fed riverside camping experience on the Blanco River — same family, same standards. ### Ready to book a riverside tent site? Pick your dates and lock in your campsite — sites fill fast on summer weekends. [Book Now](/book-now/overnight)[Plan your visit →](/plan-your-visit) ## Related reads - [Glamping vs. Camping: which is right for your family?](/blog/glamping-vs-camping) - [Best tubing near Austin, TX](/blog/best-tubing-near-austin) - [10 tips for the perfect family river day](/blog/10-tips-family-river-day) SRR ### Son's River Ranch Paradise in Texas 168 acres of family-friendly river paradise on the San Marcos River. Float, grill, relax — then fall asleep to the sound of the river. 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