Abilene State Park

I loved the yurts! They're spacious and adorable. Some key points: The beds are very uncomfortable. We were there for the weekend, and my back, along with my neck, hurt 😅. They're very obviously not well insulated. The first night was rather cold, so take extra blankets if staying during the cold months. Since they are not well insulated, please be mindful of your neighbors. I stayed in yurt 3(fits 2 to 5), which is next to yurt 7(fits 8). There were 8 people in there being loud all weekend. That's not the parks' fault, and it doesn't take away the park's beauty, but it definitely ruined the vibe. The bathrooms were clean each time. Overall, it was fun and different.

I brought my elementary students to the park for a field trip. We had an outstanding experience with Ranger Chris. He presented the "Skins and Skulls" program and then took us on a guided nature hike. He was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and kind. My students were engaged the entire time and the parent chaperones commented many times about the high quality of the program, park and overall experience! The park was beautiful and clean. The trails were in terrific shape, the picnic areas were tidy, and all the water fountains worked well. The restrooms by the pool are old, but they were clean. We can't wait to come back!

Abilene State Park has some great things about it, such as the proximity to Abilene and the tour of historic buildings. There are lots of biking trails and two stock ponds to fish in. One of the ponds is called Abilene Lake, and the water is so low that the fishing dock is about 40 feet from the water's edge. The biggest drawback to this park for us was the noise. You're never going to feel like you've gotten away from the hustle and bustle because there's a very active road that goes right through the park. There was traffic noise all through the night. If you need a place to camp that's close to Abilene, then this is the spot. But, if you want to feel like you're getting away from it all out in the woods, you're going to have to drive a little farther.

We camped and hiked in Abilene park during this past Columbus long weekend. Both of the bathroom and the bathhouse we went to only had one sink. We had to wait to use the sink to brush our teeth or wait for showers. The hiking trails are short and easy for family with young kids. We found a snake shed on a tree and some cool bugs. The oak trees are everywhere at the campsite we stayed and around the playground. We enjoyed the shade a lot!! The water level of Lake Abilene is surprisingly low. The majority of the lake is like a little forest, covered with grass and bushes… wonder how long the lake has been like this. The pool is empty and it was not available. Downtown Abilene is about 25 minutes drive away from the park. We went to the mall and watched the movie Wild Bot after hiking. It was a fun and relaxing trip overall!

A very nice, established state campground. Many trails to explore, and the staff is welcoming. The sites are well spaced. However, they may challenge setting up your site if you have larger RVs or travel trailers as site depth on most campsites are a bit shallow.