Mother Neff State Park RV & Campground Guide
Texas
Located a short distance southwest of Waco in Central Texas, Mother Neff State Park is a unique natural area that offers recreational activities, a tranquil atmosphere, and several fascinating landmarks. Most visitors to the park take the time to check out the impressive rock tower as well as the mysterious cave that was previously used by Native Americans. Mother Neff State Park is also home to several unique ecosystems; the area boasts a native grass prairie, limestone cliffs and canyons, and the mighty Leon River. Guests at the park regularly enjoy a variety of activities, including hiking, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, camping, and geocaching. During your visit, you can also learn more about the area and its history at the on-site visitor center.
Nearby Cities
Waco, TX
Killeen, TX
College Station, TX
Austin, TX
Spring 50-87 F
Summer 70-96 F
Fall 41-83 F
Winter 34-66 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Mother Neff State Park
Campground Accommodations
Mother Neff State Park Campground
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 41 feet
Other amenities: Flush toilets, drinking water, picnic area, playground, campground host, available firewood, park store, BBQ grills, fire rings, campsite tables, fireplace, grills, ranger station, recycling center, and gift shop
Mother Neff State Park Campground
At Mother Neff State Park Campground, 20 campsites that were built in 2014 offer campers a variety of camping options. Rates start at $25 per night.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Picnic table, fire ring
Bruceville Early RV Park
Located just off Interstate 35, this quiet campground is extremely clean with level sites.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Picnic table, laundromat
White Flint Campground
This Army Corps of Engineers campground near Belton Lake offers 13 camping sites along with screened cabins. Rates at White Flint Campground start at $24 per night.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Showers, dump station
Winkler Park Campground
This Bureau of Land Management campground offers 14 sites with paved parking. Rates start at $14 per night at Winkler Park Campground on Belton Lake. It's open from early March to mid-September.
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restroom, boat launch
What to Do at
Mother Neff State Park
Mother Neff State Park offers a little bit of everything. If you're looking to explore the park's scenic nature trails, you can hike to the Wash Pond, CCC Rock Tower, or the historical cave. While navigating the trails or camping at the park, keep your eyes open for the many birds, small mammals, and other wildlife species known to inhabit the area. You can also stop by the park's visitor center, which boasts plenty of interactive displays for children and adults alike. Depending on when you visit Mother Neff State Park, you may also be able to attend a special event, such as a seasonal tour, holiday celebration, or even a Dutch-oven cooking experience. Other popular activities for visitors include picnicking, geocaching, and camping.
Visitors to Mother Neff State Park can enjoy a wide variety of adventures, including cave exploration, hiking, wildlife viewing, and much more.
Inside Mother Neff State Park
This park is a wonderful place to go hiking because of the three diverse ecosystems that are found here. Part of the park is Washita prairie, another part includes limestone cliffs and canyons, and part of it lies along the Leon River. At least once a month, you can join in the fun of a special event, like Dutch-oven cooking, seasonal tours, and holiday celebrations. You can also see the rock tower constructed by the Civilian Corps of Engineers and go geocaching.
Fishing
While fishing isn't one of the more popular activities at Mother Neff State Park, there are opportunities for visitors to cast their fishing lines from the banks of the Leon River. Some of the fish known to inhabit the river include largemouth bass, white crappie, channel catfish, and white bass.
Geocaching
Geocaching is known to be a popular activity for guests at Mother Neff State Park. You may even be lucky enough to locate a hidden cache while exploring the park's ancient cave.
Nature Watching
Mother Neff State Park is home to a wide variety of cool wildlife species. While navigating the area's hiking routes, keep an eye out for nine-banded armadillos, white-tailed deer, and gray foxes. You may also spot a beaver along the riverbank. If you watch the skies above, you could get a glimpse of a black vulture, great blue heron, or red-tailed hawk.
Stargazing
On clear summer nights, many visitors enjoy the exceptional stargazing at Mother Neff State Park. The area is an excellent destination to observe the night sky.
Flora and Fauna
With multiple ecosystems in the area, Mother Neff State Park is home to many interesting plant species. The park contains a variety of majestic trees, including Ashe juniper, Texas oak, and plateau live oak. The park's grasslands are covered in sideoats grama and little bluestem.
Hiking
There are a couple of scenic hiking trails worth exploring around Mother Neff State Park. There's the Wash Pond and Tower Loop Trail, which takes hikers to the CCC Rock Tower. Another quality route is the Prairie Loop Trail. Both of these hiking routes are relatively easy to navigate and suitable for hikers of all skill levels.
Boating
If you're in the mood for a day out on the water, you can take a kayak or canoe out on the Leon River, which is located conveniently close to the park.
Swimming
On a scorching summer day, it's not uncommon for visitors to go for a refreshing swim in the Leon River at Mother Neff State Park.
How to Get to
Mother Neff State Park
To get to Mother Neff State Park from Waco, travel west on US-84 until you come to the town of McGregor, TX. Take a left onto TX-317 S for 3.6 miles, then turn right onto Mother Neff Pkwy. Stay on Mother Neff Pkwy for about 7 miles, and continue onto TX-236 S. Finally, take a right on State Park Rd 14, which will take you into the state park.
By Car
Entering Mother Neff State Park
Adults will need to pay a $2 entrance fee to enter Mother Neff State Park, but children under 12 can enter for free. There is visitor parking available in the park.
Since 1921 when Mother Neff gave 6 acres to the state, visitors have been coming to Mother Neff State Park near Moody, Texas. In 1933, the Civilian Corps of Engineers developed many of the trails through this small state park on the Leon River. Today, this park is an exciting place to interact with nature as the earliest inhabitants would have seen it. Around the park, many small towns will welcome you to come visit. If you have been to Mother Neff State Park, post your pictures and memories on your social media account. Then, tag RVshare.com. We would love to hear about your adventures in this area. You can also send your photos and stories to [email protected], and we'll pass on your tips to fellow RVers. Together, we can learn from your experiences at this state park where the prairie grass still blows in the wind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mother Neff State Park
If you want to avoid extreme heat, the best times to visit Mother Neff State Park are usually the spring and fall. These milder seasons will still provide warm weather, but it will be much more pleasant for activities like hiking and camping.
Mother Neff State Park is a great birdwatching destination, with creatures like great blue herons, northern cardinals, turkey vultures, and many other avian species inhabiting the skies. The park is also home to American beavers, nine-banded armadillos, gray foxes, and a variety of small mammals.
Yes, Mother Neff State Park Campground boasts 35 total campsites, with 20 being designated RV campsites with full RV hookups. These peaceful campsites are located along a scenic stretch of the beautiful Leon River.
Although reservations are not required to camp at Mother Neff State Park, it's advised that you reserve your campsite in advance to ensure availability. You can make your reservation online or over the phone, and there may be a small fee required.
Yes, Mother Neff State Park is a pet-friendly state park. If you bring your pets with you to the park, you'll need to keep them leashed at all times and clean up after them as needed.
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