Guadalupe River State Park Camping & Day Use Guide (What to Know Before You Visit)
- Jessica Winters
- 22 hours ago
- 6 min read
Looking for a great place to cool off in the Texas Hill Country? Located less than an hour from San Antonio, Guadalupe River State Park offers camping, scenic limestone cliffs, swimming access, hiking trails, and family-friendly day-use areas. During our visit, we spent time exploring the river, checking out the park amenities, and camping overnight to see what the experience was really like.
In this guide, we're sharing our experience camping at Guadalupe River State Park, what we found at the day-use area, tips for swimming in the Guadalupe River, and a few things to know before planning your visit.
Watch Our Visit to Guadalupe River State Park
Join us as we camp and explore Guadalupe River State Park in the Texas Hill Country. Check out our video below to see the river, swimming areas, and some of the highlights from our visit.
Quick Facts
Location: Spring Branch, Texas
Distance from San Antonio: About 45 minutes
Date Visited: May 2026
Texas State Park Series: Park #14 of 93
Campsite: Site 51
Campground Loop: Turkey Sink Loop
Site Type: Electric Campsite
Activities: Camping, swimming, hiking, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and river access
Day Use Fee (at Time of Visit): $7 per adult (13+), children 12 and under free
Campsite Cost (at Time of Visit): $24 per night
Best For: Families, swimmers, campers, and anyone looking to cool off in the Texas Hill Country
Guadalupe River State Park Highlights
Swimming in the Guadalupe River
Beautiful limestone cliffs and Hill Country scenery
Family-friendly day-use area
Playground
Picnic tables and BBQ grills
Camping opportunities
Discovery Center
Hiking trails
Wildlife viewing
Official Park Information
For the latest park information, camping reservations, fees, operating hours, and park alerts, visit the official Guadalupe River State Park page:
We also recommend reserving both day passes and campsites in advance, especially during spring, summer, and holiday weekends.
Camping at Guadalupe River State Park
For our visit, we reserved Site 51 in the Turkey Sink Loop and spent one night camping at Guadalupe River State Park.
Our campsite was spacious and offered a good amount of shade during our visit. The site included an electric hookup and parking pad, while the picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad were set back from the parking area in a shaded section of the campsite. We really liked this layout because it created a more separate camping space and gave the site a little extra privacy. The nearby restrooms were clean and well maintained during our visit.
The Turkey Sink Loop is not located directly on the river, but river access at the day-use area is a short distance away. During our visit, we chose to drive from our campsite to the day-use area to enjoy the river, although some visitors may prefer to walk depending on their campsite location and comfort level.
If you're planning to camp at Guadalupe River State Park, we recommend making reservations in advance, especially during spring, summer, and holiday weekends. The park is a popular destination for families looking to enjoy the river and Texas Hill Country.
Cost of Visiting Guadalupe River State Park
Our campsite reservation for one night at Site 51 in the Turkey Sink Loop was $24.
At the time of our visit, day-use admission was $7 per adult (13+) and free for children 12 and under. We used our Texas State Parks Pass, which waived the adult day-use fees and saved our family $14 during this visit.
As always, fees can change over time. For the latest rates, hours, and reservations, visit the official Guadalupe River State Park website.
Swimming in the Guadalupe River
Swimming in the river was definitely the highlight of our visit.
During our trip, the water near the beach was clear and shallow. We thought it was perfect for sitting and relaxing while the kids splashed and played in the river. As we explored farther across, the water became a bit deeper and the current stronger. We also noticed some slippery rocks in the deeper sections of the river.
The beach is filled with river rocks. We found them smooth and pretty comfortable to lounge on, but we did prefer wearing water shoes as we explored. They made walking more comfortable and also helped with traction on slippery rocks.
The combination of clear water, beautiful scenery, and easy beach access made this one of our favorite river spots we've found so far in the Texas State Parks system.
Can Kids Swim Here?
Our kids enjoyed swimming in the river during our visit. The water was on the shallow side—so not quite swimming in a traditional pool sense, but definitely enough to splash around and have fun.
As with any water activity, we recommend keeping a close eye on young children and considering life jackets or safety vests for beginner swimmers.
Day Use Area
The day-use area was clean, family-friendly, and made visiting the river easy to enjoy.
Amenities we found during our visit included:
Clean restrooms
Vending machine
Changing areas
Picnic tables
BBQ grills
Playground
River access
Shaded areas to relax
The day-use area made it easy to spend the day enjoying the river and the beautiful Texas Hill Country scenery. Whether you want to swim, have a picnic, or simply relax by the water, there was plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the outdoors.
Is Guadalupe River State Park Good for Kids?
We think Guadalupe River State Park is a great option for families.
Between the river access, playground, Discovery Center, and open space to explore, there is plenty to keep kids entertained.
If your family enjoys spending time outdoors, swimming, and exploring nature, there's a good chance your family will enjoy Guadalupe River State Park too.
Food, Supplies & Discovery Center
One thing we noticed during our visit was that we did not see a traditional camp store selling food, drinks, or camping supplies. There were vending machines available near the restroom area, but we would recommend bringing supplies with you or stopping at a grocery store before arriving.
We stopped at an H-E-B located about 20 minutes from the park to pick up food and camping supplies.
The park also has a Discovery Center that looked like a really cute spot for families. Unfortunately, it was closed during our visit, but even from the outside it looked like a fun place for kids to explore. There was even a small kid-sized door built into the entrance that our kids immediately noticed.
How Much Time Do You Need?
How much time you spend at Guadalupe River State Park depends on what activities you're planning.
A few hours: Swimming and exploring the river
Half day: Swimming, picnic lunch, playground, and relaxing by the water
Full day: Swimming, hiking, picnicking, and exploring the park
Overnight: Camping and enjoying the park at a slower pace
During our visit, we arrived around 6 p.m., explored the park a bit, set up camp, and stayed overnight. The following day, we spent time swimming in the river before heading out in the afternoon. Even with an overnight stay, we felt like we could have easily spent a full day enjoying the river if our schedule had allowed.
What to Bring
Water shoes
Swimsuits
Towels
Sun protection
Water bottles
Picnic supplies
Camping gear (if staying overnight)
Life jackets for younger swimmers
Fishing gear (if fishing)
Tips for Visiting Guadalupe River State Park
Bring water shoes for the rocky riverbed.
Pack groceries and camping supplies before arriving.
Consider life jackets for younger or less experienced swimmers.
Check Discovery Center hours before your visit.
Book day passes and campsites in advance, especially during busy summer weekends.
Bring sun protection and plenty of water.
Looking for more Texas State Park ideas? We've also shared our experiences visiting Huntsville State Park, Lake Livingston State Park, and Atlanta State Park.
Is Guadalupe River State Park Worth Visiting?
We think so!
The scenery was beautiful, the water was refreshing, and the shallow areas near the shoreline gave the kids plenty of room to splash and play. It was easy to slow down, relax, and simply enjoy being outside. We would happily camp at Guadalupe River State Park again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Guadalupe River State Park?
Yes. Swimming is one of the most popular activities at Guadalupe River State Park and was a highlight of our visit.
Are there bathrooms near the swimming area?
Yes. We found clean restrooms and changing areas near the day-use section of the park.
Do you need water shoes?
We recommend them due to the rocky riverbed and slippery areas in parts of the river.
How far is Guadalupe River State Park from San Antonio?
Guadalupe River State Park is located about 45 minutes from San Antonio, making it a popular day trip and weekend getaway destination.
Does Guadalupe River State Park have a camp store?
We did not notice a traditional camp store during our visit, although vending machines were available.
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