With visions of frozen roads and broken water pipes fresh in our heads, it may be hard for Central Texans to imagine going camping.

But on balance, those brutally cold days are not the norm. For most of the year, in fact, the outdoors are open for business in the Lone Star State, and winter-time camping can be as enjoyable as any other time of year. Plus, you’ll likely have your choice of campsites, because many parks and camping areas are sparsely populated during winter months.

Campgrounds are plentiful in the area, and now is a great time of year to set up camp and spend some quality time with family and friends. Whether you’re an experienced or a “once-in-a-while” camper, you can find campgrounds within an hour’s drive of Waco.

Tent camping remains an option in cold weather even when temperatures fall.
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Not everybody’s idea of camping is the same, but most area campgrounds offer different scratches for different itches. Camping can be roughing it in a tent or luxuriating in an RV, breaking away from everyday routine or updating Facebook from the woods, reading a book under a tree or going after the lake-record bass. But no matter what kind of camping appeals to you, Central Texas campgrounds have it on the menu.

Lake Waco, Lake Belton, Lake Georgetown, Stillhouse Hollow, Meridian State Park, Lake Whitney, Navarro Mills, and Mother Neff State Park are all within an easy drive. For those who don’t mind traveling a little farther, the awe-inspiring beauty of Enchanted Rock, Pedernales Falls, and the Hill Country lakes makes the longer drive worthwhile.

One of the area’s lesser-known camping treasures is Lake Meridian State Park. Although small, this scenic park boasts a 72-acre lake, hike-and-bike trails with beautiful views, picnic areas, screened shelter camping, tent sites, RV pads with water and electricity hookups, dining facilities with a kitchen, a playground and restrooms with showers.

Local anglers will tell you, too, that abundant bass, crappie, catfish and sunfish prowl Meridian’s waters. Like other lakes and streams in Texas state parks, no license is required to fish at Meridian.

Winter campers should remember that fish are cold-blooded, and their metabolic rates are influenced by water temperature and during the winter they typically don’t move as quickly, so slow down when reeling your lure back.

Build your campfire

Fire is more than heat and light — it’s the spirit of the campsite, like a good kitchen is to a house. Knowing the tricks to successful fire-building can make the trip more fun, provide warmth and light, give people a place to gather and talk, and can save a trip into town to pick up fried chicken for dinner.

A good fire starts with dry leaves, grass, pine needles, or other material that will burn easily. When these catch fire, add some small twigs, followed by increasingly larger ones. Fanning the flames with a piece of cardboard will intensify the heat and keep the fire burning. It’s a good idea to place wood onto the fire in a pyramid shape to keep it aerated and burning more efficiently.

Gathering firewood is prohibited in most parks and campgrounds, so bringing a load of wood is recommended. Most campsites have barbecue grills nearby, and campfire coals can be transferred to the grill using a camp shovel.

Proper attire and gear

Campers who head out in the winter months can allow themselves some amenities by taking an RV.
Todd Nafe photo

For the most part, packing for a winter campout is about the same as during other times of year, with the most obvious difference being clothing. Plan to be colder than you’d expect and wear insulated clothing and gloves, topped off with a warm hat.

Some other basics to take along include a reliable flashlight, first-aid kit, and a whistle. A cell phone isn’t much use if you’re lost in the woods, but people can hear the sound of a whistle from long distances.

Choosing your site

Like Meridian, each of the campgrounds in Central Texas has its own distinctions and character. Lake Whitney’s sun-bleached limestone bluffs make it one of the area’s most beautiful camping destinations, Lake Waco’s parks are abundant with wildlife, and Mother Neff is rich in history.

Even in winter, Central Texas campgrounds make it easy to get away from it all — without getting too far from home.