The Guadalupe River begins near Kerrville in Texas Hill Country and flows southeast for about 225 miles until it empties in the San Antonio Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. Several campgrounds and resorts are located along the riverbank with easy access for activities like tubing, kayaking and canoeing, and fishing for trout and bass.
Take a road trip following the Guadalupe River & plan your route using RV LIFE Trip Wizard
This road trip will take you to eight of the most popular locations along the Guadalupe River. Plan your trip on RV LIFE Trip Wizard to find all of the other great attractions and accommodations along the way.
1. Kerrville-Schreiner Park
Start your trip at Kerrville-Schreiner Park a few miles south of downtown Kerrville. This huge park is divided into two parts, with one side on the Guadalupe River and the other along the south “hill” side of Bandera Highway. The river side has RV sites with full hookups while the hill side campsites have 30-amp power and water only. Cabins, tent sites, and a furnished ranch house are also available for guests.
Kerrville-Schreiner Park
About seven and a half miles of hiking and biking trails run throughout the park. There is also a butterfly garden, picnic areas with grills, and canoe and kayak rentals in addition to the river access.
2. Cave Without A Name
Continue eastbound on Interstate 10 for less than an hour and you’ll reach Cave Without A Name in Boerne. This natural limestone cave is the 7th longest cavern in all of Texas and one of four stops on the Texas Cave Trail.
Take a walk around their six underground rooms to see the stalactites, stalagmites, rimstone dams, and draperies. The tour comes to an end at an underground stretch of the Guadalupe River.
Beneath the surface. The cave maintains a temperature of about 66 degrees year-round. Photo via website
In addition to cave tours, their large property has over a mile of hiking trails, picnic tables, gem panning, a family fun scavenger hunt, and campsites for visitors. The RV sites are $25 a night with electric hookups and nonpotable water. Some of the sites are pull-throughs and can accommodate larger RVs.
3. Guadalupe River State Park
About 20 miles east of Boerne, Guadalupe River State Park is a popular spot for tubing, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. The park also has over 13 miles of hiking and biking trails including some paths for horseback riders.
Guadalupe River State Park – Photo by Larry D. Moore
Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
There are three camping areas in the park, one of which (Cedar Sage) is currently closed for construction. The Turkey Sink area has 48 electric/water-only sites with nearby restrooms and showers. Primitive campers can also pitch a tent in their Wagon Ford walk-in tent area.
4. Potters Creek Park
Several dams are located along the course of the Guadalupe River, most notably the Canyon Dam which forms Canyon Lake. As you continue following the river’s path you’ll reach Canyon Lake where there are many campgrounds and RV resorts by the shore.
Potters Creek Park – Photo via TripAdvisor
Potters Creek Park is open year-round on the northern shore of the lake with a beach, two boat ramps, a fishing pier, and a campground. The RV sites are spacious and equipped with water and electric hookups. The upper sites are located in the woods, while sites closer to the lake are completely open with no shade.
5. River Ranch RV Resort (New Braunfels)
The Guadalupe River flows south through the city of New Braunfels, where it also connects with the Comal River. River Ranch RV Resort sits along the banks of the Guadalupe with easy access right off Interstate 35.
Their full hookup sites make a great home base while visiting the many attractions of the city like Schlitterbahn Waterpark and McKenna Children’s Museum. The resort is also close to the historic district of Gruene and less than an hour from San Antonio.
6. Lake Wood Recreation Area
If you continue east from New Braunfels, you’ll reach Lake Wood, another man-made lake on the Guadalupe River. This park on the northern shore provides lake access, in addition to 16 back-in sites with full hookups and a few pull-throughs with water/electric.
View of the dam on the Guadalupe River from the campground. Photo via Uncledon on RV LIFE Campgrounds
There is also a central dock facility where you can launch your boat and cruise around on the lake. The town of Gonzales is only about ten minutes away with some excellent restaurants and attractions like a free memorial museum.
7. Victoria Riverside City Park
The Guadalupe River continues southeast and winds its way through the city of Victoria. A huge 560-acre city park sits along four and a half miles of the shore. It’s home to several attractions including an RV park, a riverside stadium, a golf course, the Texas Zoo, trails, a boat ramp, a rose garden and more.
Floating on the Guadalupe River near Victoria, Texas. Photo via Parks and Recreation
Browse some of the local museums in Victoria like The Nave, which displays regionally-inspired artwork, and Museum Of The Coastal Bend where you can learn more about the heritage of the Gulf Bend region of Texas. Both museums are free to visit but donations are encouraged.
8. Calhoun’s Riverside RV Retreat
Wrap up your trip at Calhoun’s Riverside RV Retreat, about 30 miles southeast of Victoria. From here, the Guadalupe River continues for only about five miles before splitting into the North and South Forks and flowing into San Antonio Bay. Calhoun’s has RV sites and cabins as well as a private boat ramp where you can enjoy some quiet fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.
Calhoun’s Riverside RV Retreat – Photo via Facebook
Rates are $35-37 a night for 30/50-amp sites and $95 a night for a cabin. Weekly and monthly rates are also offered. Their location in sunny south Texas makes a great destination for snowbirds in the winter.
See also: 7 Reasons Why You Should Go RVing In Texas
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We have stayed at Kerrville-Schreiner Park multiple times and there are FHU sites in the larger area south of the Bandera Highway. Our last site was a nicely shaded pull-out. It had plenty of length for our 3/4-ton truck and fifth wheel and 30-20-15A electric, water, and sewer.