South Llano River or Pedernales Falls

I've been to all the parks you've mentioned. Pedernales Falls has more shade that S. Llano but I think the hiking and birdwatching from covered hideouts is great at S. Llano. I believe there is more to do by Pedernales since it's closer to Fredricksburg and the northern hill country.

Davis Mountains SP is wonderful. Great campsites, outstanding campsites and your kids would really like going through the fort. You can take them up to McDonald observatory also for star parties.

If you look at my signature Photolink you should be able to see Davis Mountain SP, S. Llano and a bunch of other stuff around TX.

The sites at South Llano River State Park are well spaced, but are not in the least bit private. There are lots of trails. They have some trails at campground level and some really nice ones that go up into the surrounding hills. There is absolutely no cell service in this park, but a drive of about a mile or two will get you some. If you need to check in to the world, the library in Junction has free WiFi.

The sites at Pedernales Falls are a bit more private. The trails are nice, but you have to wade across the river to get to the longer ones on the opposite side of the river. The Falls themselves are interesting to walk around and see. Don't think Niagra. These are gently little falls with lots of rock pools. Johnson City is not far away and has a grocery store and some other business to see you through. There if you walk the campsite loop, you might get a bar or two of cell service at one point. I did.

I want to recommend another park, that seems to meet your requirements. I live less than 45 minutes away from Guadalupe River State Park. The sites feel private to me. Since you will be tent camping, it will be more so, since the tent clearing or whatever you call it is farther back in the site. There are several trails for hiking. The river is in a canyon with rock walls on the opposite side. It is truly beautiful. There is a small nature center for kids. You can get cell phone service in the park, and at some spots there is Wifi. There is a large supermarket about 10 miles from the park and an old fashioned general store three miles in the other direction that has everything you can think of.

I don't think you can go wrong at either of these State Parks.

South Llano River is our favorite. Hands down we like it better than Pedernales. Junction is 5 miles away, neat little town, more restaurants, shopping and even a sporting goods store. Much more wild life than Pedernales. Great swiming hole near park entrance, maybe to cold for Easter. Have fun, KB
2012 Ford F350 PSD CC DRW
2011 Cameo 37RESLS

P.S. South Llano is spring fed, always has water, not the Pedernales

We stayed at South Llano SP in late November for one night, then got stormed out so we hit the road to head towards home w/o really enjoying the park much. But it definitely is on our list of TX parks to visit again.....you have a rural feeling and not a manicured city park feeling; it's a good place!

We camped at both of these parks some years ago when our two kids were youngsters. Both have youngsters now.

My memory of them are as others have said, Pedernales Falls as I remember has sites with more shrubbery & trees between and/or around them.

South Llano River were more open.

I liked our stay at South Llano River very much. We played in the river, we canoed from the park to Junction even. We didn't use the canoe at Pedernales Falls. In fact, we had a lot of rain after we got to Pedernales Falls. Remnants of a small hurricane down by Corpus Christi, we were going next & did in fact. We waited the storm out at Pedernales Falls.

We had been at Balmorhea State Park before South Llano River as well. Really enjoyed snorkeling at Balmorhea. Some low shrubbery & trees by some of the sites there as well.

We used Pedernales Falls as a base to go sight see some of the sites in Johnson City & Fredericksburg. Enjoyed out time there even with all the rain.

We were in a Bunkhouse TT.

Never been to Davis Mountains SP, but have visited Fort Davis a couple of times. Nice area up there. Have read many good reports on the State Park.

Big Bend Nat'l Pk is a neat place as well. Not sure if tent campers ever have any problems with the javelinas there or not. See a lot of them around the campgrounds anyway.

We have camped at South Llano River a number of times. It has a lot of wildlife and adjacent to it is a large state game preserve. The river is shallow, but you could probably tube in it in the Spring. Possibly fish there also along the river. Most sites have some shade and are well spaced. Don't remember any csmp sites that are very isolated by shrubs and bushes though.

I've visited Pedernales Falls, but not South Llano River.

The CG at Pedernales Falls is a big loop with a cut through the middle. Most of the campsites have a fair bit of low scrub and trees between the next campsite. The 'privacy' is better on the outside of the loop than on the inside.

Not really dense foliage like in the east, but pretty fair.

Lots of good trails. The campground is remote, the river nice. No cell service when we visited.

There is a Link to a photo page of a member of this forum from his visit to South Llano River SP