We pulled into Cleburne State Park on a cold January weekend not really knowing what to expect. We'd been meaning to check it out — it's only about 45 minutes from us in Burleson — but kept putting it off because "close to home" doesn't feel like a real trip. That's the wrong way to think about it.
This park is a genuine escape. In January, the place was damn near empty. Peaceful doesn't do it justice. You could hear the wind through the cedars and not much else. If you're looking for a quick winter reset without burning a tank of diesel getting there, put this one on your list.
The Park Itself
Cleburne State Park sits on about 528 acres with a 116-acre spring-fed lake right in the middle of it. It's heavily wooded — lots of cedar and oak — and the sites have decent spacing between them. You're not staring into your neighbor's bedroom window like some of these private RV parks love to cram you in.
There are several camping loops. Full hookup sites are available if you want sewer, or you can go electric-only for cheaper. The roads are paved and manageable. Our Venture Stratus fit fine, though I'd imagine some of the bigger fifth wheels might have to pick their spots carefully, especially in the Keyhole area where the terrain gets a little creative with your leveling blocks.
Pro tip: If you've got a bigger rig, check the site map before you book. Some of the loops have tighter turns and the pads can slope. We were fine with the travel trailer but I've read about folks with 40+ footers having to get creative.
📌 Quick Details
- Location: About 10 miles southwest of Cleburne, TX off Park Road 21
- Sites: Electric and full hookup available
- Cost: ~$20-42/night depending on hookup level (Texas State Parks Pass saves you the $6/person entry fee)
- Reservations: Book through Texas State Parks — sites open 5 months out
- Cell signal: Decent enough. We had 3-4 bars on T-Mobile
- Noise note: There's a lime plant near the park entrance. We didn't notice it from our site, but if you're a light sleeper, book further into the park
What's Nearby — and Why It Matters
Here's the thing about Cleburne State Park: it's a solid 15-20 minute drive to the nearest town. That's great for peace and quiet. That's bad if you forgot the hot dog buns. Make sure you have everything before you settle in. There's no quick run to the store here.
That said, if you do want to make a day trip out of it, Glen Rose is right down the road and absolutely worth the visit. The historic downtown square has some genuinely cool stuff — not just tourist trap junk.
If you take one piece of advice from this whole review, it's this: go to Shoo-Fly Soda Shop on the courthouse square in Glen Rose and order the banana split. My wife and I split one (pun intended) and it was one of those moments where you look at each other and say "why don't we do this more often?" It's a 1950s-style soda fountain with homemade waffle cones, nostalgic candy, and a vibe that makes you slow down whether you planned to or not.
The square also has some nice boutiques worth walking through if your partner enjoys that kind of weekend shopping. We spent a couple hours just wandering around and it felt like a vacation, not an errand.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is also a short drive away — it's a drive-through safari-style wildlife refuge where you can feed giraffes out your window. If you've got kids or grandkids, it's a must. Even without kids, it's pretty cool to have a giraffe eat out of your hand in the middle of Texas.
Glen Rose is also known as the "Dinosaur Capital of Texas" — there are real dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River at Dinosaur Valley State Park, which is close enough to make it a day trip from your Cleburne site. Two state parks, one trip. Not bad.
The Honest Downsides
Nothing's perfect. Here's what I'd want to know before booking:
- The lime plant near the entrance can produce some noise and dust depending on wind direction. We were fine further in the park, but it's worth knowing about.
- Leveling can be a challenge on some sites — bring extra blocks if you're picky about being flat.
- No generators allowed without superintendent approval, so plan your power accordingly.
- Fishing was... well, we didn't catch much. The lake is pretty but the fish weren't interested in January.
Bottom Line
Cleburne State Park is one of those hidden gems that's hiding in plain sight. If you live anywhere in the DFW area and you haven't been, you're sleeping on it. Especially in the off-season when the crowds thin out and the rates drop. It's a real park with real trees and real quiet, and it's close enough that you don't have to burn a vacation day to enjoy it.
We'll be back. Probably in spring when the trails are at their best. Definitely hitting Shoo-Fly again.