ThePewterPalace Our Love Affair with Avions

There are just 34 campsites and at least a 1/3rd of them that are back in’s would be too short for our set up. We chose site 21 which is a nice pull through since we were only staying one night as well en-route to El Paso. The pull through sites are nice and long (ours was 70′), have only minimal curve to them and have water and electric plus a very nice covered casita with picnic table. This site is also at the end of the loop which is preferable so you never worry about being boxed in. The campground itself has undergone some nice recent improvements in the past 2 years and it is newly paved, sites are clearly marked, paved and have a small, maybe 3 inch high x 20 inch wide rumble-strip kind of planting along the road edge to delineate the campsite from the road- though in a fog at night this could be hard to see. From the photo above you can see there is NO privacy to any of the sites. It is very desert feeling, though we suspect in times other than winter (we were here in early December) the grasses may be greener and there is some desert foliage and also trees over by the swimming and picnic areas.

Here are some more shots of our campsite #21. Note, the replanting going on of desert flora is the reason for the snow fencing paths leading to the bath house, etc. from sites.

In December, 2024 we paid* $20 site fee (water/electric only) plus a $7 pp park entry fee for a total of $34+ tx. If you plan to stay at several TX state parks in a 12 mo period you are better off to purchase a state park visitor pass so that the per person park fee is waived.

*We did not use their bath house or dump facilities as we were only here one night but all looked modern, well designed and maintained.

For specific info about the campground, fees, to book sites, etc. click here.

Balmorhea State Park is well known and used in warm months as it boasts the largest fresh water, natural spring fed swimming hole in the country. It has beautiful grounds for walking and enjoying nature. It was built as a CCC project and the pool is huge! Caution,….it is very natural and has a natural flora, albeit mucky bottom and is home to turtles and fish, and perhaps the occasional snake. This time of year we could see the steam coming off the water as it does stay tepidly warm even in winter. You just have to prepare and have plenty of towels and warm wear once you get out. It was in the low 40s when we were there and so we did not attempt swimming on this trip but we can definitely see where taking our floaty tubes and going for a leisurely dip and float on the surface would be very, very nice.

The pool is fed by the San Solomon Spring. Learn more about this desert hot spring!

They also have beautiful buildings, looks like a summer time snack bar concession and picnic areas. As you enter the park, also built by the CCC is a one story ranch style motel where non campers can rent rooms. There are cute bridges that cross from there to the pool area. The water from the pool, via the hot spring winds its way through the entire park. In the campground area there is a built reclaimed wetland and water fowl area with viewing platforms that was very nice. The ducks we saw were clearly enjoying the warm water!

The rangers operate a nice camp store, especially geared towards swimming but they had some nice Texas souvenirs, and books, pamphlets about the park, area conservation, nature and history prints of the park that were really neat to see. The staff was super friendly. They were decorating for the first weekend in December where they invite the public to come and walk around the Christmas lights they put out along with some inflatables. Since there is not much in this area (literally nothing) I am sure that area families love coming here! We understand in the summer this place is packed! There were probably less than 10 campers here when we visited on a weekday in early Dec.

Would we come back and spend a few days here? yes, we would in spring or fall only though to avoid large crowds and a pool full of kids!

The park has some amazing history. Read about it here!

OUR TIPS:

• Book an end site for most ease of in and out and privacy
• Longer set ups like ours, book a pull through site for sure. Back in’s are too short
• Be sure to book a site that your casita and picnic table are on your patio side
• Bring a float mat or tube to use in pool to avoid too much bottom contact!
• Get there during check in hours and visit the store, nice things for a good cause!
• Buy a Texas State Park pass if visiting multiple state parks in one year to save $$.
• Stock up on groceries, etc. before arriving as there is nothing close by at all