camping awards

5 Texas parks win 2025 awards for best campgrounds in America

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Fredericksburg has a fun pool for children to swim.

Photo courtesy of Campspot

Camping season has begun in the Lone Star State, and five Texas parks have earned new recognition as must-visit destinations in the just-released 2025 Campspot Awards.

Award-winning parks are chosen based on campground search platform Campspot's "comprehensive evaluation" to determine the best parks that offer the most memorable experiences.

Though none of the parks are near the Houston area, three of the award-winning parks are located in the Hill Country, while the remaining two are based in North and West Texas.

"The Campspot Awards aim to recognize those parks that are delivering outstanding guest experiences and embodying the spirit of modern camping," said Campspot CMO Erin Stender in a press release. "This year’s winners represent the variety and depth of camping in North America. From peaceful retreats where you can disconnect to adrenaline-pumping destinations perfect for families, we’re thrilled to showcase parks that are truly exceptional. Every campground on this list provides a unique experience for campers, and they’ve earned their place as the best in the business."

Top Central Texas parks
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Fredericksburg, located about 227 miles west of Houston, topped the list as the No. 1 Top Campground in the U.S. for 2025. It also won an award as one of the top RV campgrounds.

The resort is loaded with amenities to keep campers and families happy, such as an arcade, a dog park, GaGa Ball pit, mini-golf area, an outdoor theater, and so much more. The park is also near some of the Hill Country's iconic wineries.

Campspot says Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park is one of the best family-friendly parks in the heart of Texas Wine Country.

"Whether you are looking for a family vacation spot or a place to stay while visiting the area's beautiful wineries, they offer accommodations and amenities to fit your needs," the park's profile says. "Take a dip in the pool, relax at Blue Bonnet Hall, or grab friends for a game of mini-golf! Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort at Fredericksburg, Texas has something for everyone!"

Hidden Valley RV Park in Von Ormy, a suburb of San Antonio, earned an award in the category for "Top Mid-Size Campgrounds."

The park is located 300 miles southwest of Houston, with Campspot showing 76 available RV sites available for campers. The park has many amenities, including a general store, laundry facilities, showers, bathrooms, a pavilion, and more.

According to its profile, Campspot says Hidden Valley feels like it's much farther away from San Antonio, tucked away in a "quiet country setting."

"Park your RV for a night, week, or month and enjoy the art, culture, and history that San Antonio has to offer," the profile says. "Onsite, enjoy a private creek for fishing, walking trails, bird and wildlife viewing, planned events, and more."

$\u200bHidden Valley RV Park$ Hidden Valley RV Park in Von Ormy is one of the best mid-size campgrounds, according to the report. Hidden Valley RV Park/hiddenvalleyrvpark.com

Reviews for the park praising its peaceful atmosphere, its bountiful fishing opportunities, and its overall cleanliness. One reviewer specifically appreciated the large dog park and friendly staff members.

"The park is beautiful! Large , green spots — some by the creek. Conveniently located to get into downtown San Antonio. It was only about a 20 [minute] drive to everything we wanted to do. We had great WiFi up near the office. The dog park is enormous and full of toys for your furry friends. The staff was very nice and stayed late to make sure we got into our spot," the review said.

The third Central Texas park to earn an award is Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, Guadalupe River in Kerrville. This park is 266 miles west of Houston, and was named one of the top campgrounds for glamping.

Other Texas parks
Buffalo Springs Lake Campground in Lubbock, about 500 miles northwest of Houston, topped the list as the No. 1 quiet getaway in the country. Campspot calls Buffalo Springs an oasis "for all sports recreation and fun at the lake."

"They offer RV and tent camping, as well as their Buffalo Bay Marina with lakeside rentals and two incredible beaches," the park's profiile says. "Whether you choose to enjoy the water by boat, jet ski, canoe, or kayak, they have you covered! Also onsite you will have access to ATV trails, nature trails, concerts, fishing and more!"

Lake Bonham Recreation Area also won an award in the category for "Top Quiet Getaways in the USA." The park is located 315 miles north of Houston on 1,200 acres of land in Fannin County, which is just south of the Texas-Oklahoma border. The park has a volleyball court, lots of water access, a recreational pavilion, and more. It has 4.7 stars across 269 reviews.

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New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history

Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum, San Antonio, tejano music

Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Roger Hernandez serves as board president of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum.

For a city that proudly calls itself the capital of Tejano music, San Antonio has long been missing a permanent place to honor the genre’s pioneers and preserve its history. That gap officially closed In December with the opening of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum at 1414 Fredericksburg Rd.

The music couldn’t have found a better steward than its founder and board president. Roger Hernandez has had his finger on the pulse of Tejano music for decades. His company, En Caliente Productions, has provided a platform for countless performing artists and songwriters in Tejano, conjunto, and regional Mexican music since 1982.

Hernandez says his wife, who ran a shop at Market Square years ago, would often get questions from visitors about the location of a physical Tejano music museum, a thing that simply did not exist. In 2022, he banded together with friends, family, and other local Tejano music supporters to make the nonprofit Hall of Fame a reality.

“I decided I've been in the music scene for over 40 years, it's time to do a museum,” Hernandez recalls.

Hernandez says a brick-and-mortar Tejano music museum has long been needed to remember musical acts and other individuals who grew the genre across Texas and northern Mexico, especially those who are aging. Recently, the community lost famed Tejano music producer Manny Guerra and Abraham Quintanilla, the renowned Tejano singer/songwriter and father of the late superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Both deaths occurred roughly one week after the Totally Tejano museum opened to the public.

“They're all dying. They're all getting older, and we need to acknowledge all these people,” Hernandez says.

The Totally Tejano Museum — named after Hernandez’s Totally Tejano Television Roku streaming — has 5,000 square feet of space packed with plaques, photos, promotional posters, musical instruments, and other memorabilia honoring the pioneers and stars of the beloved genre. Mannequins wear stage outfits from icons like Laura Canales and Flaco Jimenez, and a wall of photos remembers late greats. Totally Tejano Television plays legendary performances on a loop, bringing the exhibits to life.

The newly opened Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum includes a growing collection of memorabilia. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Hernandez says the museum will soon welcome permanent and rotating exhibits, including traveling shows, a Hall of Fame section, and an area paying homage to Chicano music crossovers, such as the late Johnny Rodriguez, the South Texas singer-songwriter who blended country with Tex-Mex music. Plans call for the organization to hold its inaugural Hall of Fame induction in February 2026.

Eventually, a 2,000 square feet back room will be converted into additional display space and host industry gatherings, community symposiums, and record and video release parties. The museum also plans to add a gift and record shop and a music learning room where visitors can listen to early Tejano music and browse archival photos. Hernandez is already talking with local school districts about educational field trips.

Much like Tejano itself, the museum is a grassroots production. Hernandez and fellow board members have used their own money to rent, renovate, develop, and maintain the museum space. The board also leads the selection of the Hall of Fame honorees and curates the exhibits.

Hernandez has been heartened by the museum’s reception, both from media outlets and music fans around Texas and beyond.

“We had a radio station come in this morning from Houston to interview us,” he says. “People have come in from Lubbock, Texas. We have had people from Midland, Texas. We have another person who emailed us who’s coming in from New York. People are learning all about us.”

That includes many of the musicians who helped shape the genre. Johnny Hernandez, Sunny Ozuna, Elida Reyna, and Danny Martinez from Danny and The Tejanos are among the luminaries who have already graced the halls.

The Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum is now open 10 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, and closed Monday. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Fans can call 210-314-1310 for more information.

san antonio tejano music museums hall of fame music openings

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New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history