Don Swander originally sang, “The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas.” What better way to enjoy the stars than to stay the night at one of the below Texas State Park cabins? Plan a family getaway to spend some time together, enjoying the big, beautiful sky full of stars. This guide highlights state parks across Texas that offer cabin accommodations suitable for big families, along with nearby kid-friendly attractions to help you plan your next affordable adventure.
All state parks participate in the Junior Ranger program. Complete a certain number of activities (depending on their age) to earn a Junior Ranger pin. Check out the Junior Ranger Explorer Packs, each backpack comes with a pair of binoculars and a magnifying glass; an animal tracking key and guides to flowers, birds, butterflies, trees, rocks, wildflowers and plants; and pencil, crayons and watercolors along with a journal and sketchbook.
Texas allows free fishing without a license or stamps in 70 Texas state parks. If you don’t have any fishing gear, you can borrow some through the tackle loaner program.
- 1. Balmorhea State Park
- 2. Bastrop State Park
- 3. Caddo Lake State Park
- 4. Cooper Lake State Park
- 5. Daingerfield State Park
- 6. Davis Mountains State Park
- 7. Galveston Island State Park
- 8. Hill Country State Natural Area
- 9. Lake Brownwood State Park
- 10. Possum Kingdom State Park
- 11. Sea Rim State Park
- 12. Village Creek State Park
- 13. Bonus: Mother Neff State Park
1. Balmorhea State Park
Balmorhea State Park is located in West Texas, near the town of Toyahvale. Its standout feature is the San Solomon Springs-fed pool, one of the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pools, with clear, cool water ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The park’s desert setting offers unique views of the Davis Mountains and Chihuahuan Desert. Visitors can also enjoy nature watching, especially the local birds and aquatic life. There are no traditional hiking trails, but paved walkways and open desert areas allow for short walks with kids.
Balmorhea State Park Big Family Accommodations
Check out the San Solomon Courts, sixteen motel rooms that have three queen beds to sleep families of 6.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within an hour’s drive, families can explore the nearby town of Fort Davis and visit the Fort Davis National Historic Site, where kids can see restored buildings and living history programs. The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center offers easy trails, a cactus garden, and a mining exhibit. For scenic views and a short drive, Davis Mountains State Park provides hiking, wildlife viewing, and the Skyline Drive overlook. The McDonald Observatory, about 45 minutes away, hosts daytime solar programs and family-friendly star parties several nights a week. All are manageable half-day trips that pair well with a stay at the park.
2. Bastrop State Park
Bastrop State Park is located 32 miles southeast of Austin in Bastrop County. Over 75,000 acres of loblolly pines, known as the Lost Pines ecosystem, lie scattered across sections of five counties on the Texas Coastal Plain. Bastrop and Buescher state parks protect a portion of this pine forest. Your family can camp, picnic, swim, ride bikes, hike, fish, geocache, take in a nature program, and look for wildlife. Enjoy fishing in the ½-acre Lake Mina. Avoid the hassle of having to go out and purchase all the necessary finishing equipment because Bastrop State Park will lend it all to you and no fishing license is required because it is a community fishing lake. The Bastrop State Park Swimming Pool is the perfect place to relax and cool off during the warm months of May to September. Managed by the Bastrop YMCA, the pool offers aquatic programs such as public/private swim lessons for youth and adults, aqua fitness programs, party rentals, and lap swimming.
Bastrop State Park Big Family Cabins
Bastrop offers overnight accommodations including historic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, ranging from one to four bedrooms, accommodating up to eight people. Cabins include kitchens, bathrooms, and air conditioning. Reservations for a Friday or Saturday must include both nights; holiday weekends must also include the holiday.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within an hour’s drive, families can explore several attractions. McKinney Roughs Nature Park offers hiking, horseback riding, and zipline tours suitable for various age groups. Lake Bastrop South Shore Park provides opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and mini-golf, making it a fun spot for kids. In downtown Bastrop, visitors can enjoy local shops, eateries, and the historic Bastrop Opera House, which hosts family-friendly performances.
Caddo Lake State Park
3. Caddo Lake State Park
Caddo Lake State Park, located in East Texas near the Louisiana border, is renowned for its bayous and bald cypress trees draped with Spanish moss. Be aware that alligators live in the park. That may or may not be a deal-breaker for you. Located on the Texas/Louisiana border, Caddo Lake covers 25.400 acres. Because the vegetation is so lush, much of the lake is a maze of sloughs, bayous, and ponds. The park offers paddling, fishing, hiking, and geocaching. Families can explore the 2.5 miles of trails that wind through the forest and along the water’s edge.
Caddo Lake State Park Big Family Cabins
The cabins are approximately 1/2 mile from the waterfront. Cabins (#1, #5, and #9) are 800 square feet and have two bedrooms with one double bed in each room, A/C, heat, a bathroom with shower and hot water, a refrigerator, a two-burner stove, a microwave, and a gas fireplace. Eating and cooking utensils are not provided. Bring your own bedding for the fifth and sixth persons; so not permanent bedding for six, but we’re including this park on the list for families with littles in pack ‘n plays because the cabins are a decent size.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within an hour’s drive, families can explore the historic town of Jefferson, known for its antique shops and museums. The nearby town of Uncertain offers boat tours for a unique perspective of the lake’s ecosystem. For a more urban experience, Shreveport, Louisiana, is about an hour away and features attractions like the Shreveport Aquarium, which houses over 3,000 animals and offers interactive exhibits.
4. Cooper Lake State Park
Located northwest of Dallas, Cooper Lake State Park features Doctors Creek (on the north side of the lake) and South Sulphur (on the south side. The park sits where the Tallgrass Prairies and Post Oak Savannah ecosystems meet. The rolling hills of Cooper Lake State Park, from the steeper hills of the South Sulphur Unit to the more gradual slopes of the Doctor’s Creek Unit, offer spectacular views of Cooper Lake. You can fish, picnic, swim, boat, water-ski, hike, bike, and bird watching.
Cooper Lake State Park Big Family Cabins
Six cabins will sleep families of 6 with two double beds and a futon couch. Cabins include kitchens, an air conditioning unit, and indoor plumbing. Linens and towels are not provided.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within an hour’s drive, families can visit the Southwest Dairy Center and Museum, the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum, and local parks like Coleman Park and Buford Park.
5. Daingerfield State Park
Daingerfield State Park is located in northeast Texas, just outside the town of Daingerfield. The park features an 80-acre lake surrounded by towering pine trees, offering opportunities for swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating. Families can explore 3.4 miles of hiking trails that wind through the forested landscape. Additional park facilities include picnic areas, a playground, and a seasonal concession stand. Available rentals include paddle boats, paddleboards, canoes, kayaks (single and tandem), and flat-bottom boats. Life jackets and paddles are included.
Daingerfield State Park Big Family Cabins
The park has one cabin that will sleep six with 3 double beds. The cabin has three bedrooms, one bathroom, and a kitchen with a two-burner stove but no oven. Bring your own linens, towels, cooking utensils, dishes, and silverware, as they are not provided.
Bass Lodge has five bedrooms: one bedroom with a double bed, one bedroom with one double and one twin, two bedrooms with three twins, and one bedroom with two twins. It also has two baths, a living room, and a kitchen. The living room has four dining tables, 15 dining chairs, and two bench seats. It does not have a couch. Bring your own linens, towels, cooking utensils, dishes, and silverware, as they are not provided. Sleeps 13 and can accommodate up to 15 people.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within an hour’s drive, families can explore the Historic Perot Theatre in Texarkana, which occasionally hosts family-friendly shows and performances. Kids may also enjoy the Discovery Place Interactive Museum, also in Texarkana, offering hands-on science and history exhibits. In the nearby town of Pittsburg, the Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum includes a replica 1900s town and a working telegraph station. For a bigger city outing, the Shreveport Aquarium—about an hour away—features over 3,000 animals and interactive exhibits
Search State Cabins in 50 States
6. Davis Mountains State Park
Located in West Texas near the town of Fort Davis, Davis Mountains State Park offers a high-desert landscape with rugged mountain views and cooler temperatures compared to much of the region. The park features over 10 miles of hiking and biking trails, including the Skyline Drive Trail, which connects to the Fort Davis National Historic Site. Families can enjoy birdwatching, geocaching, and ranger-led programs.
Davis Mountains State Park Big Family Accommodations
Indian Lodge is a full-service hotel, with 39 rooms, a restaurant, and a swimming pool. This historic hotel was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Only one room will sleep 6. Lodge Room #121 is located in the Historic Section with furniture built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This room is known as the Lady Bird Johnson Suite. Amenities include an in-room coffee pot, hairdryer, and cable TV. This room has a bedroom with two double beds and a sitting room that has a sleeper sofa that opens to a double bed. There are two TVs – One in the sitting room and one in the bedroom. No kitchen facilities are available.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within an hour’s drive, families can explore the Fort Davis National Historic Site, where kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge while learning about frontier life. The nearby McDonald Observatory offers daytime tours and evening star parties that are both educational and engaging for children. The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center provides easy trails, a cactus garden, and a mining exhibit suitable for all ages. For a scenic experience, the 75-mile Davis Mountains Scenic Loop offers picturesque views and picnic spots.
7. Galveston Island State Park
Galveston Island State Park is situated on the western end of Galveston Island, offering access to both Gulf beaches and bayous. Enjoy swimming, fishing, kayaking, birdwatching, and hiking along its coastal and inland trails. Families can explore various ecosystems, from sandy shores to salt marshes. Families can enjoy kayak tours, beach and surf explorations, bird walks, nature field trips, and fishing clinics.
Galveston Island State Park Big Family Accommodations
Lodging for big families includes Ranch House which sleeps families of six in 3 bedrooms with a queen and 4 twin beds. A full kitchen, central A/C and heat, and washer and dryer are included. You will need to bring cooking and eating utensils, linens, and pillows. While the Stewart House sleeps families of up to 8 with a queen and four full-sized beds in two bedrooms. The cabin features a kitchen, central A/C and heat, and a washer and dryer.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within a short drive, families can visit Moody Gardens, which includes an aquarium, rainforest exhibit, and discovery center, offering interactive experiences for children. The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier features amusement rides and games suitable for various age groups . For a more educational outing, the Galveston Railroad Museum showcases vintage locomotives and offers train rides.
Search Big Family Friendly Hotels
8. Hill Country State Natural Area
Hill Country State Natural Area is located near Bandera in the Texas Hill Country, approximately 45 miles northwest of San Antonio. Spanning over 5,000 acres, the area offers a rugged landscape of limestone hills, canyons, and grasslands. Visitors can explore more than 40 miles of multi-use trails suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Hill Country State Natural Area Big Family Lodging
Group Lodge – This 1930s ranch house has four bedrooms and a kitchen and is available to equestrian and non-equestrian users. It has beds for nine people. Up to 12 can sleep in the house (bring cots for extra people). Up to 30 people can be in the area, including those sleeping inside and camping outside. Tents are allowed and five electric-only RV hookups are available. No linens or cooking utensils are provided.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within an hour’s drive, families can explore the town of Bandera, known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World,” offering attractions like the Frontier Times Museum and the Bandera Natural History Museum, which features life-sized dinosaur exhibits and global wildlife displays. Nearby, the Cave Without a Name provides guided tours through its impressive limestone formations, offering an educational experience for children. For a more urban outing, the San Antonio Zoo, located approximately 60 miles away, houses over 750 species and offers interactive exhibits.
9. Lake Brownwood State Park
Lake Brownwood State Park is located in central Texas, near the town of Brownwood. The park encompasses over 500 acres along the shore of the 7,300-acre Lake Brownwood, offering opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking. Families can explore nearly six miles of trails, including the 2.9-mile Nopales Ridge Trail, which is open to both hiking and biking.
Lake Brownwood State Park Big Family Accommodations
Loma Vista Lodge sleeps 8 with four double beds in two bedrooms. Fisherman’s Lodge will sleep 10 with a double in each of the five bedrooms. The Beach Lodge can sleep 26 with two large dormitory bedrooms with bunk beds, 12 in one and 14 in the other.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within a short drive, families can visit the Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum in Brownwood, which offers interactive exhibits and a mini train ride for children. The Brown County Museum of History, housed in a historic jail building, features exhibits on local history and a Kidz Zone with hands-on displays. Riverside Park, located along the Pecan Bayou, offers a playground, sand volleyball court, nature trails, and a disc golf course
10. Possum Kingdom State Park
Possum Kingdom State Park is located in the rugged canyon country of the Palo Pinto Mountains and Brazos River Valley. It is adjacent to Possum Kingdom Lake, with 20,000 acres of clear, blue water. The picturesque cliffs and 310 miles of shoreline offer shelter from the Texas winds for skiing, snorkeling, tubing, wakeboarding, and more. Possum Kingdom State Park also offers hiking, biking, nature study, and fishing. Watercraft rentals are available at nearby marinas.
Possum Kingdom State Park Big Family Cabins
The park has one cabin that will sleep families of up to 8 with four double beds in two bedrooms. The Longhorn Lodge overlooks the fishing pier. Bring your cooking utensils, bed, and bath linens, as they are not provided.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within an hour’s drive, families can explore several attractions. Lake Mineral Wells State Park offers opportunities for boating, fishing, rock climbing, and exploring unique geological features like Penitentiary Hollow. The Clark Gardens Botanical Park, a 50-acre oasis, features beautiful plants, flowers, waterfalls, and ponds, providing a relaxing environment for all ages. Additionally, the Mineral Wells Fossil Park allows visitors to hunt for fossils of ancient sea creatures, offering an educational and hands-on experience.
11. Sea Rim State Park
Sea Rim State Park is located in southeast Texas near Sabine Pass, encompassing over 4,000 acres of marshlands and 5.2 miles of Gulf shoreline. The park offers a variety of activities, including swimming, fishing, kayaking, birdwatching, and hiking along boardwalks through the marsh. Families can explore the Gambusia Nature Trail Boardwalk and paddle one of the park’s water trails, ranging from 1.79 to 9.59 miles in length.
Sea Rim State Park Big Family Cabins
One cabin is available that sleeps six. Bedding consists of two bunk beds of a single over double. The cabin is adjacent to the park’s boat ramp and has a scenic view down the marsh canal. You must provide your own bedding, cooking, and eating utensils.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within a short drive, families can visit the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge. The nearby Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site provides a glimpse into Civil War history with its interpretive pavilion and monument . In Port Arthur, the Museum of the Gulf Coast features exhibits on regional history and notable figures from the area.
12. Village Creek State Park
Village Creek State Park’s 1,090 heavily forested acres are located in the Located in the Piney Woods of East Texas near Lumberton, Village Creek State Park spans 2,466 acres along the free-flowing Village Creek. The park offers a variety of activities, including swimming, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking. Families can explore approximately eight miles of trails, with options suitable for all ages, such as the Lil’ Paws Nature Trail for younger children and the Water Oak Trail for a moderate hike. Hardin County town of Lumberton, 10 miles north of Beaumont. The park sits along Village Creek, one of the few free-flowing creeks in Texas.
Village Creek State Park Cabin
The cabin at Village Creek State Park sleeps 6 and features a fully modernized interior with a bathroom, kitchen, electric fireplace, and screened porch, offering sleeping accommodations for six people through a queen bed in the main bedroom, two twin beds in the loft, and a queen sofa bed in the living room. Recently remodeled after Hurricane Harvey damage in 2017, the cabin provides modern amenities while being nestled in a quiet grove by the creek, though guests need to bring their own cookware, linens, and towels, and pets are not allowed.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within a short drive, families can explore the Big Thicket National Preserve, offering opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and canoeing through diverse ecosystems. The nearby Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary provides additional trails and educational programs focused on the region’s unique flora and fauna. In the city of Beaumont, attractions such as the Gator Country Adventure Park and the Beaumont Children’s Museum.
13. Bonus: Mother Neff State Park
Mother Neff State Park, located near Moody, Texas, is recognized as the first state park in Texas, established in 1937. The park spans 259 acres along the Leon River and offers approximately 3.5 miles of hiking trails suitable for families. Notable features include the CCC-built Rock Tower, a cave once used by the Tonkawa tribe, and the Wash Pond Trail. Swimming is not permitted within the park
Mother Neff State Park Big Family Cabins
The Lodge sleeps up to 8 people inside the cabin and another 8 are allowed to sleep outside in tents. It has four bedrooms with four twin beds, one full bed, and a king-sized bed. The cabin has a full kitchen, but you will need to bring cooking and eating utensils, dish-washing supplies, and a coffee maker, as well as linens, towels, and pillows.
Nearby Kid-Friendly Activities
Within a short drive, families can explore the town of McGregor, which offers several kid-friendly attractions. Tonkawa Falls Park features a waterfall, picnic areas, and sports courts, providing a fun outdoor experience. Amsler Park includes a playground, disc golf course, and a duck pond.
Texas state parks offer an affordable and memorable way for big families to enjoy the outdoors, with roomy cabins, diverse landscapes, and activities for all ages. Whether it’s paddling through bayous, hiking in the Hill Country, or swimming in spring-fed pools, these parks provide family-friendly lodging options that can accommodate 5, 6, or more people. Need more ideas? Explore our National Park Guides for Families or browse Texas Hotels for Big Families to find the perfect fit for your crew.
