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If you’re familiar with the Thousand Trails network of campgrounds, you know they’re not RV resorts with luxury amenities. But for many travelers, they provide the necessities to make a camping week enjoyable. Colorado River Thousand Trails is one of our favorite locations in Texas.
Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of this Texas Thousand Trails campground, and you can decide for yourself if it’s worth visiting the next time you’re in The Lonestar State!
What Is Thousand Trails?
Thousand Trails is a network of campgrounds across the United States and British Columbia. Over 80 campgrounds are included in this membership program and 100+ more in the Encore program.
You can purchase a camping pass, which gives you access to one of the five zones, or an upgraded membership that gives you access to all 80+ resorts.
Pricing ranges based on the membership type, but the least expensive option is the camping pass for $670/year, and the most expensive option with the most benefits is the Adventure Package which costs about $17,000 upfront with $670 annual dues.
Each membership offers different perks, but Thousand Trails members generally travel from park to park and stay anywhere from 14-21 days at a time without paying a nightly fee.
Pro Tip: You can save thousands of dollars by buying a used Thousand Trails membership. Read Where to Find a Thousand Trails Membership for Sale to learn more!
How Many Thousand Trails Locations Are There?
There are over 80 total campgrounds within the five camping zones. The Midwest has the least number of campgrounds, with eight, while the Southeast has the most, with 23 locations. Colorado River Thousand Trails is located in the Southeast zone.
In the Northwest zone, there’s a campground in British Columbia, Canada, and locations in Washington and Oregon offering 18 locations.
The Southwest includes campgrounds in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Colorado, offering 19 locations. Finally, the Northeast zone has 14 campgrounds in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Maine.
Where Is Colorado River Thousand Trails?
Address: 1062 Thousand Trails Lane, Columbus, TX 78934
Colorado River Thousand Trails is located in Columbus, Texas, about 50 miles west of Katy and 125 miles east of San Antonio. There isn’t much to do at this Thousand Trails location, which is why many campers enjoy it. It’s a more remote location with easy access to I-10 for day trips to local attractions.
How Many Thousand Trails Locations Are In Texas?
Thousand Trails has several locations in The Lonestar State. There are 7 Thousand Trails campgrounds and an additional 12 Encore RV resorts that members have access to with the Trails Collection add-on. However, most of these Encore parks in Texas are age-qualified resorts.
It’s important to note that the Texas Thousand Trails campgrounds usually require an upgrade fee of $3-5/night for 50amp service. This is paid upon arrival. But even if a member stays for a maximum of 21 days at $5/night, it’s still much cheaper for members to stay at a Thousand Trails location than at another campground.
The Pros of Colorado River Thousand Trails
Colorado River Thousand Trails is located along the Colorado River. It’s just off Highway 71 and is easily accessible for all rig sizes. They recently opened up dozens of new sites that are all 50amp, which is great for RVers wanting a spacious site with full hookups.
Lots of Campsites
Due to the recent additions, there are now over 220 campsites at Colorado River. The new section isn’t on the river, but there aren’t many campsites located near the river anymore because of the dangerous drop-off.
Only a handful of smaller sites even have a view of the Colorado River. However, the new gravel sites are nice and level.
Nice Amenities
The hot tub and swimming pool are in great condition. We will always schedule time to soak in the hot tub when we stay at this campground. The pool is outdoors, but the hot tub is indoors, with large windows overlooking the open field. If you’re lucky, you can watch the local deer graze while you soak your bones.
There’s also a mini golf course, a shuffleboard court, horseshoe pits, a fitness center, a game room, and more. Often during the camping season, the staff will host movie nights and potluck dinners.
The trails throughout the campground are also suitable for walking and biking. The trails are one of our favorite things about this park, as we use them every morning and evening walking our dog, Carmen.
Good Cell Coverage
Whether you use Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, the cell coverage isn’t bad. Starlink works well, too. So if you have to work on the road, Colorado River Thousand Trails is a good location to stay connected.
A good internet connection means you can stream movies, play games, and complete online school work without worrying about connectivity.
Updated Bathhouses
The bathhouses in the park have been recently updated. They’re beautiful, with well-designed shower stalls that are spacious and decorative. There’s plenty of room to get ready in the morning at the vanities.
The Cons of Colorado River Thousand Trails
But even with these pros, there are also cons to every campground. The biggest disadvantages at Colorado River Thousand Trails are the location, crowds, and laundry facilities.
Location
The location could be an advantage if you prefer to be in the middle of nowhere. There is a Walmart, but it’s small and doesn’t offer a produce or meat section in the grocery aisles.
There’s also an HEB, but unfortunately, it’s small too. You can get your basic shopping done, but you might want to stock up in Katy, about 45 minutes away.
Busy Campground
If you don’t get there early to grab a site, you’ll get what’s left over. Rarely are there sites unoccupied. Colorado River stays busy year-round, so the earlier you arrive, the more campsite choices you’ll have available. Most Thousand Trails campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Laundry
You have to leave the gate to get to the laundry, which means you have to enter the gate code just to return to your campsite. While this is a minor inconvenience, it’s still worth mentioning.
Additionally, there needs to be more washers and dryers for a campground this size. When they added campsites, they should have added another laundry facility. No matter where your campsite is located in the park, you’ll have to drive to get laundry done.
Is Colorado River Thousand Trails Worth Visiting?
We loved our stay at Colorado River Thousand Trails. It was a nice respite from the bustling campgrounds and cities of other Texas locations. It’s not a campground we would stay at for months, but it’s a great spot to enjoy some downtime. From the amenities to the spacious sites, we would certainly return to Colorado River.
Do you have a favorite Thousand Trails campground in Texas?
Thanks for the review.