Community Forums

Boeing Guy · 06-01-2012, 02:31 PM

We are going to Texas in a few days and will spend a few days in the San Antonio area. There are three (or more) military RV parks shown in the SA area. Is one better than the other? We may stay a night or two near New Brumsfels(sp) before going ot San Antonio. I see there are two rec areas near there. Or we might just find a FAMCAMP or RV ark in the SA area and drive to New Brunsfels. Not sire. I'd like ot get infor from anyone who has stayed inthe area if one place is preferrable to others. Thanks.

Diwizi · 06-01-2012, 03:31 PM

Randolph Canyon Lake Rec Area... Stayed there 3 days in November... Loved it... Our first rv trip abd were driving a 38'. It was so clean and although we dont have kids, there was a big playground that looked fine.... The deer are fearless, take some corn or dried dogfood the feed them... One time i counted 20 within 30 yds of us... It was very convenient to New Braunfels where we were visiting relatives.....

Wayne M · 06-01-2012, 08:47 PM

Fort Sam Houston (New name now as a Joint command) has wonderful sites. It is close to the downtown area and the Alamo, Riverwalk, and Mission Trial. A very historic city. It is an easy 46 mile ride to the Fort Sam Houston Recreation area and Randolf Canyon Lake Recreation Area and some Hill country scenery.

It's 74 miles to the Capitol, Austin, TX. The recreational areas are more centered for SA and Austin.

We personally prefer Fort Sam Houston and we never get tired of the Riverwalk.

Just don't get stuck on Hwy BS46 (Business) there is a low clearance 12' or less.

Enjoy the area. Lots to do.

4Knights · 06-01-2012, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

Fort Sam Houston (New name now as a Joint Command).

??? New name, what was the Old name? I went to 9 months of training in 1981 at Fort Sam Houston, right next to the botanical gardens, had the quadrangle and the Old BAMC. I knew they combined with the Air Force but is that now called FT Sam Houston as well?
I had heard rumors of it being renamed if / when the joint effort went through but not sure of new name.

The bases in Washington combined from Fort Lewis and McChord AFB into joint base Lewis McCord (JMLB)

Wayne M · 06-01-2012, 09:17 PM

The FamCamp is called something different now. I'll look it up and report back.

Edited: Okay, I looked it up (just for you) and it is now called:

"Joint Base San Antonio RV Park"

Double edit: I think the entire base has been re-designated, Joint Base San Antonio.

Aw heck! Triple edit: read it and weep JBSA

W4RLR · 06-02-2012, 12:25 AM

Why weep, Wayne? It works!

When I stay in San Antonio, I go to the Lackland AFB Famcamp. It's close to the club, the medical facilities, and the exchange and commissary. The base is right on the bus line, you can take the bus downtown and save some aggravation with parking. As I remember, the laundry was also free of charge, and there was wifi access, for about $20 a day.

The consensus of many military RVers seems to favor the campground at Fort Sam Houston, though.

TxRVMan · 06-02-2012, 06:04 AM

Good posts on the military campgrounds in and around SA.

Some good non-military ones are Blazing Star on 1604 and 151, especially if you are going to Sea World.

In New Braunfels, there is a RV Park right under I35 on the Guadalupe River that is nice, although there is some highway noise and may start getting crowded this time of year...River Ranch RV Park.

Wayne M · 06-02-2012, 11:06 AM

I could not even begin to list all the CG in and around SA.

Richard, Lackland is very nice. My only problem is that they don't have reservations like Fort Sam (Oops! JBSA) but this time of year there shouldn't be a problem.

We have stayed at Hill Top, New Braunfels, Rio Raft, New Braunfels and it is at the 4th landing of the Guadalupe River. They rent tubes and have shuttle to the 1st landing and you can ride the river back to the CG. Braunig Lake about 6 miles South of the Alamo but try to get the premium sites. Much biger and not crowded like the standard sites. It is a Passport America CG, but check as club affiliations can and do change. All I have mentioned I would stay at again, but Fort Sam is our first choice.

Boeing Guy · 06-02-2012, 04:15 PM

Thanks all,
This is our first trip without an agenda. I retired last year and every trip was well planned out due to time limiations. All I know is that we are leaving next week, going to Vicksburg (my wife is a Civil War nut) first, then to Longview TX, see a Shipmate from my Viet Nam days, who I haven't seen since 1968, and then just travel around Texas. I have been told to see Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, and Johnson's Ranch. I worked for Boeing and made a few trips to San Antonio area so I am familiar with it but mostly i was there on business so other than the River Walk, I haven't seen much else.
Does a GPS take you onto BR46 to get to JBSA, or whatever it is called these Days.
Jim

Diwizi · 06-02-2012, 06:40 PM

Really cheap nice rv park at obe of the Vicksburg casinos there... Just off of the interstate.. Dont have to gamble... One nice thing about Texas is the rest areas do allow overnighting, have free wifi, and security....

Boeing Guy · 06-03-2012, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diwizi

Really cheap nice rv park at obe of the Vicksburg casinos there... Just off of the interstate.. Dont have to gamble... One nice thing about Texas is the rest areas do allow overnighting, have free wifi, and security....

Thanks. My Finance Minister is looking at the Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg.
One of the purposes of the trip is to visit a shipmate from my Viet Nam days. He lives in Longview Texas. He offered to have us stay with them but he and his wife both smoke so my Secretary of War vetoed that. He offered to let us park in his driveway. I assume that it will be hot in Texas in June and we will have to run the genny for air Conditioning. We will only stay in Longview a day or two unless we find other things to do. Then it is on to DFW to visit friends (I used ot workin Ft. Worth), before we head south. Any othe rTexas suggestions will be appreciated.

4Knights · 06-03-2012, 11:16 AM

If you have time go to Port Angeles, nice beach, dolphin watching boat rides and you can go deep sea fishing if you want.

pagosajoe · 06-03-2012, 11:42 AM

A great resource for military active/retired is this app for either the Droid or iPhone:

Military Campgrounds FamCamps RV Parks

Free from Allstays.

akadeadeye · 06-03-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

Richard, Lackland is very nice. My only problem is that they don't have reservations like Fort Sam (Oops! JBSA) but this time of year there shouldn't be a problem.

JBSA?? may be the collective DOD term for all the remaining military installations in our City, but if you ask someone where it is you will get about 1.5 million blank looks. All the installations are still known as Ft. Sam, Lackland, and Randolph.

And, the Ft. Sam FAM is the choice of most. Lackland is about 12 miles from the downtown area although only about 6 miles from SeaWorld. Also, the area surrounding Lackland is the "bad" part of town.

Don