Campfire at Pace Bend (Credit: Christopher Dawson)

True confession time: I’m not what you would call outdoorsy. I don’t own any fancy wilderness equipment. I would be hard pressed to start a fire without the aid of matches. And my survival skills all involve googling stuff. But the truth is, I love camping. I love having an excuse to get away from computer screens and just sit around a campfire chatting with friends. I love coming up with innovative ways to cook delicious things outside. And I love sleeping under the stars and waking up to the sound of chirping birds.

Camping near Austin is great for fair-weather campers like me. You don’t need a sub-zero-ready sleeping bag. Barring the hottest part of summer and occasional rainy day, the weather is on your side most of the year. Plus, there are so many great drive-up camping sites a short distance from the city. In fact, one of my favorite things about Austin is the fact that you can drive just a few miles outside the city center and feel like you’re miles from civilization. In no particular order, here’s a round-up of some great options for camping near Austin! [Read more…]