“a perfect spot for day time relaxing”
Humans began occupying this area about 8,750 years ago. Artifacts found in the park illustrate a long and rich Native American history. Exactly which early groups were here is unknown. Some may have become part of modern tribes in Texas, such as the Tonkawa. From the late 1600s to the early 1800s, a portion of El Camino Real de los Tejas ran through what is now the park. Missionaries, friars, government officials, soldiers and traders travelled along various routes from Spanish-controlled Mexico into Texas and Louisiana during this period. Reasons for expeditions varied. Missionaries and friars hoped to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Government officials and soldiers wanted to defend Spain’s interests in the New World from the French. Traders used the routes for commerce. Historical evidence suggests some of these expeditions crossed Onion Creek just above the Lower Falls. By 1850, Thomas McKinney was living on this property along Onion Creek, near a crossing of the El Camino Real. Kentucky-born McKinney had settled in San Felipe de Austin in 1830 as one of Stephen F. Austin’s first 300 colonists before moving to Galveston. McKinney and Samuel May Williams entered into a business partnership in 1834 that was to have profound effects on Texas history. During the Texas Revolution, the McKinney-Williams firm was the primary source of men, money, and supplies for the Texas army. It financed over $150,000 - more than 10 percent of the total cost of the revolution. The McKinney-Williams ships formed a part of the quickly-assembled Texas Navy. Voters elected McKinney as a senator to the first legislature in Austin. During this time, he made plans for his new home on Onion Creek. Between 1850 and 1852, McKinney built a two-story limestone home, gristmill and dam on his ranch. Developed by McKinney’s slaves, his ranch continued to grow in number of structures, livestock and other assets. McKinney owned and bred a number of thoroughbred racehorses, and even had his own racetrack somewhere on the ranch. McKinney died on Oct. 2, 1873, at his home. He was deeply in debt. His peers remembered him fondly and gave him an elaborate funeral service on the steps of the Capitol building. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin. Look for the ruins of McKinney's homestead, his horse trainer's cabin, gristmill and stone walls in the park. The stabilized ruins of McKinney's homestead and his horse trainer's cabin are preserved in the park. Camping, hiking, mountain biking, road biking, picnicking, fishing and wildlife observation are popular activities. Swimming is allowed in Onion Creek; call (512) 243-1643 for current creek conditions.
Reviews of McKinney Falls State Park Campground
92 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G/5G
Confirmed by 53 users | Last reported on February 10, 2023AT&T 4G/5G
Confirmed by 37 users | Last reported on December 22, 2023T-Mobile 4G/5G
Confirmed by 11 users | Last reported on January 14, 2024Such a great park! We camped here for two weeks with our 20 foot Airstream. We had so much space. They don't have full hookups, but the dump station worked just fine. The rangers were very nice and helpful. We loved the trails and hiked around the falls a couple times. Plus it's super close to Austin. 15 minutes and you're on South Congress. Verizon and AT&T worked well here. The only bummer is that they close the gate at 10pm and it's a little tricky to open it. We saw lots of deer, pretty much every day. We would totally stay here again. We were in spot 62.
It's real pretty. It's real close to the city. There's lots of hiking and biking trails and swimming. The camping is fun. I would give it 5 stars, but the park rangers here are F**KING D**KS. I've been to a lot of state parks in Texas (I used to go camping once a month Sept-April for 5 years with my friends) and we have never encountered problems with rangers at any of them...except here. Just be on your absolute best behavior, I guess.
We stayed here for a weekend and it was great. We had a pull-through spot that was nice and level and had a huge picnic area and fire pit. The park trails were great to walk on, and it was really quiet!
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 52
We really enjoyed our stay at McKinney Falls SP. Although we had a reservation, we were allowed to drive around and pick our own site upon arrival. Since it was a Sunday there were lots of options and we ended up in a giant site with tons of privacy. The campground was quiet and peaceful and we loved all the hiking and biking trails. The distance to downtown Austin was not bad, about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic. The two downsides were the bathrooms - the showers were pretty gross looking and smelly - and the fact that in addition to the camping fee we also had to pay a $6/per person day use fee. I hate it when state parks do this. They do sell a yearly park pass that covers the fee, but if you're just passing through Texas as we were it doesn't do you much good. So we ended up paying $32/night for two people. A bit steep for a park with partial hook-ups in my opinion. Still a nice spot in Austin that we would camp at again.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 6
Site Number: 45
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
Felled limbs from live oak trees sleep in bundled clumps about the campground loops, destined to be sold as firewood in the coming weeks. Their sap and clinging liquid will ooze into the flames of stalwart campers not unwilling to spend the entire night fanning the fire or experimenting with obnoxious amounts of lighter fluid to continue some hope of warmth.
I stand above the lower falls one day, sit with friends along the upper falls another. The potential sound of laughter from locals as they frolic in the water come the more common warmer months haunts me as does the idea that I too may have enjoyed this campground more were it only slightly more spring or at least not the winter of humanity's apocalyptic never-warm, aka winter 2015.
Uber cabs provide relief as the great city of the southwest, Austin TX, promises grand beers and an abundance of average Americana bands. The park ranger informs me that we're exceeding our 14 days in, 14 days out maximum, but then notices my children, adorable, and permits us a pardon. The showers are hot, if touchy, and a coyote stares at my children hungrily as we find the occasional warm-enough hour to bike about.
I will return, should the moment prove opportune.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 15
Site Number: 1 & 53
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
We have stayed at McKinney Falls SP many times over the years, and keep returning. It's become one of our benchmarks for what a state park should be. You pick your own site upon arrival, which is awesome.
Most of the sites are huge and offer tons of privacy. It feels like you're moving into your own piece of land. You can enjoy a lot of solitude and tranquility, even if the park is full. Lots of hiking to do right from the campground.
The location is great if you need access to south Austin or downtown - but there's not terribly much super close by. But it is nice to be so close to the city, but yet be out in nature.
Surprised they haven't upgraded the entry gate to be a key pad, if you arrive back to the park after 10pm you have to fiddle with an annoying pad lock in the dark. That would be our only complaint.
Great cellular signal, access to one of the hippest cities in the country and out in nature. When traveling through Texas we just buy an annual pass and park hop, which makes $20/night a bargain for so much space around you.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 10
Site Number: 44
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
We had a superb time at Mckinney Falls. It was probably the most expensive site we stayed at on our road trip, but come on you are basically living right in Austin. Our site was $20 and there was a $6 entrance fee per person which brought it to $32.
The sites are spaced very generously and the bathroom facilities are nice and clean. Showers were hot, almost too hot. We didn't have a reservation for the 3rd night but the staff was very helpful in helping us be able to stay that final night.
The one trail we did was medicore at best, and the falls were not that impressive. But in my mind you stay here for its proximity to Austin or just to have a peaceful getaway in the woods.
Nightly Rate: $32.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: -
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
I've stayed at McKinney Falls State Park several times. Each time was wonderful. Although I recommend finding a shady campsite if you stay during the summer months. It can get pretty hot in Austin. The park is expansive. It has the upper and lower falls. The upper falls are great for swimming. There are loads of trails for bikes and hiking. I recommend getting a Texas State Parks pass if you are going to stay in any Texas State park for more than a few days. It will be worth it, and you can use it at any Texas State Park for a full year.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 8
Site Number: -
We stayed here during Austin City Limits. We liked that the park was about 20 minutes from anything in Austin. It was also extremely well maintained due to its proximity to the Texas State Park Headquarters. We made good use of the trail system, but the best trail was closed due to flooding damage. It will remain closed until sometime mid 2016. Cell service was adequate, but slower than expected for being inside Austin.
Verizon: 3 bars. Unboosted: 10mbps down, 1 mbps up. Boosted: 11mbps down, 10 mbps up.
AT&T: 2-3 Bars. Unboosted: 0.2mbps down, 0.2mbps up. Boosted: 0.2 mbps down, 0.2 mbps up.
I think AT&T was having backhaul issues or was overloaded due to ACL. Either way, it wasn't great throughout the city. Our Verizon backup saved our bacon and I was able to continue working throughout the week.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 14
Site Number: 33
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
I just left this morning after a huge thunderstorm last night, but the rangers were already picking up debris and cleaning the place up. I constantly saw the rangers every day and felt very safe.
Blue bonnets are in bloom right now and they are almost everywhere and are so beautiful!
I went on a couple bike rides and the trails were much longer than I anticipated, but they were beautiful and went around the entire park.
The falls were another great thing to see here! if you dare to walk across the water to the other side, you will see even more amazing views!
Over all, I loved this campground. I was not however fond of the Bathrooms, since there was a ton of bugs inside them and a light out on the guys side (at night), but I just used the shower in my Airstream instead.
The 2 way roads were kind of weird and if you go in the wrong way, you have to be wiz at backing the trailer and really sharp angles.
The location was great and there was a ton of space between each spot.
I will definitely come back in the future.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 4
Site Number: 31
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
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McKinney Falls State Park Campground
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
- Back In RV Sites Count
- 40
- Last Nightly Rate
- 20.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 50.0
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 7.0
- Max Length
- 40 ft
- Max Stay
- 14
- Sites Count
- 89
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Swimming Pool
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Paved Sites
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Fifty Amp
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Full Hookup
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Rec Facilities
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Pull Through
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Dump Station
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Big Rigs
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Open Seasonally
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Age Restricted
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Back In RV Sites
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Boondock
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Cabin Sites
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Dispersed Sites
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Firewood
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Fulltime Residents
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Group Tent Sites
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Laundry
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Mobile Homes
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Permit Required
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Potable Water
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Propane
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Public Water
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Showers
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Sites
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Vehicle Wash Permitted
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Water Hookup
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Outdoor Seating
Campground, Parking, Dining
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