Things to Do in Bell County, Texas
Bell County is quieter than Austin and cheaper than the Hill Country, with two big lakes, two walkable downtowns, and a surprising amount of history inside a half-hour drive. This is what we point guests toward when they ask what to do on a day off.
Quick Answer
Near Journey's RV Park you can boat and fish Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake, launch free at the Leona Park ramp about a minute from the gate, hike Miller Springs Nature Area below Belton Dam, walk the trails at Miller Park in Temple, visit the Bell County Museum in Belton and the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, and browse historic Salado — with Waco and Austin both easy day trips.
Water and boating
Two Corps of Engineers reservoirs anchor recreation here. Belton Lake, formed by Belton Dam in 1954, covers about 12,300 acres and carries most of the boating traffic. Stillhouse Hollow Lake, south of Belton, runs clearer and usually quieter on holiday weekends.
The closest launch to Journey's is the Leona Park boat ramp, a Corps day-use area on the east shore roughly a mile up Hwy 36 — about a minute's drive from our gate. It has a two-lane ramp, courtesy dock, parking, and a restroom, and per the Corps and Texas Parks & Wildlife listings it is open year round, 24 hours a day, with no launch fee. It is public land, not part of Journey's. Iron Bridge Park is the other uplake ramp off Hwy 36, also two-lane and free.
- Leona Park ramp — closest access, free, open 24 hours
- Iron Bridge Park — second uplake ramp on the Leon River channel
- Westcliff Park — swim beach, ramp, playground on the southwest shore
- Cedar Ridge Park — north shore, next to Pier 36 Marina
- Live Oak Ridge — near the dam on the Belton side
- Zebra mussels are present: clean, drain, and dry your boat between lakes
Fishing
Bass, catfish, and crappie are the year-round targets on both lakes, from a boat or from the bank. Nolan Creek in Belton and the Leon River give you closer-in bank fishing when you do not feel like hitching up the trailer. A Texas freshwater fishing license is required — Texas Parks & Wildlife sells them online and at local retailers.
A fair share of our long-term residents fish, which is part of why boat and trailer parking on-site matters here. Tell us your trailer length when you call so we place you on a site that fits both.
Parks, trails, and hiking
Journey's walking trail
A private one-mile trail on the park's own ten acres — the everyday walk for residents.
Miller Springs Nature Area
Hiking along the Leon River, a restored historic bridge, and wildlife-viewing points. The best local hike that is not a lakeshore.
Miller Park
Walking paths, playgrounds, and community events through the year in central Temple.
Nolan Creek and the Chisholm Trail
Creekside walking that ties into downtown Belton and the county courthouse square.
Temple Lions Junction Park
Family park with a splash pad and playground, popular in the summer months.
Museums, downtowns, and history
The Bell County Museum sits in downtown Belton, a block off the 1884 courthouse square, and covers regional history from the county's founding forward. The Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum occupies the old Santa Fe depot and explains why Temple exists at all — the town was laid out as a railroad town in 1881, and the depot is still the center of gravity downtown.
Both downtowns are walkable and worth an hour on their own: Belton for the courthouse square and its shops, Temple for the restored depot district and the murals around it. Verify current hours with each museum before you drive over.
Eating out
Bell County food runs to barbecue, Tex-Mex, and small-town cafés rather than fine dining, and most of it is fifteen to twenty minutes from the park along Hwy 36 and Loop 363. Temple's downtown depot district has the densest cluster of independent restaurants; Belton's square is the smaller, quieter version.
Churches and community
Bell County has a deep bench of congregations across most traditions, in Temple, Belton, Morgan's Point Resort, and Moffat, so most guests find somewhere to land within a short drive. We are Christian-owned and happy to point you toward what neighbors here attend, without pushing anyone anywhere.
Beyond Sunday, the practical community resources most guests ask about are the Temple and Belton public libraries, the Bell County Expo Center in Belton for rodeos, trade shows, and events, and the farmers markets that run seasonally in both towns.
Family days out
- Splash pads and playgrounds in Temple and Belton city parks
- Swim beaches at developed Corps parks on Belton Lake in season
- Bell County Expo Center events, including the Central Texas rodeo calendar
- The Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, which lands well with kids
- Salado's shops, creek, and sculpture walk for an easy half day
Day trips within about an hour and a half
Salado for antiques, wineries, and the Stagecoach Inn is about 20 minutes south. Waco for Magnolia Market and the Dr Pepper Museum is roughly 40 minutes north on I-35. Austin — music, the capitol, the university — is about an hour south, and Fredericksburg and the Hill Country make a long but worthwhile Saturday. Drive times assume normal traffic; I-35 through Waco and north Austin is regularly under construction.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do near Journey's RV Park?
Belton Lake and the Leona Park boat ramp, Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Miller Springs Nature Area, Miller Park in Temple, the Bell County Museum, the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, and historic Salado are all within about 25 minutes.
Where is the closest boat ramp to Journey's RV Park?
The Leona Park ramp on the east shore of Belton Lake, roughly a mile up Hwy 36 — about a minute's drive. It is a free, two-lane Corps of Engineers ramp open 24 hours a day, and it is public land rather than part of the park.
Is there fishing nearby?
Yes. Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake both hold bass, catfish, and crappie year round, and Nolan Creek and the Leon River offer bank fishing closer to town. A Texas freshwater fishing license is required.
What is there to do with kids in Bell County?
City park playgrounds and splash pads in Temple and Belton, swim beaches at Corps parks in season, the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, and events at the Bell County Expo Center.
How far is Austin from Temple, TX?
About an hour south via I-35. Waco is roughly 40 minutes north and Salado about 20 minutes south.
Where can I hike near the park?
Miller Springs Nature Area below Belton Dam has river trails and a restored historic bridge, and Journey's has a private one-mile walking trail on its own ten acres.