Sewell Park Outdoor Center is a watercraft and camping gear rental facility located inside Sewell Park at Texas State University, next to Jowers Hall, along the crystal-clear 72-degree San Marcos River in San Marcos, Texas. Access is limited to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and their guests.
Watercraft available for rent (limited to two per account) includes single and tandem kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, canoes, tubes, and snorkel sets, with flexible rental periods spanning 2-hour quick adventures, 6-hour day trips, and overnight rentals. Camping gear is also available, including 3- and 6-person tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, camping stoves, and more, with special faculty/staff pricing and rental specials offered throughout the year.
Sewell Park itself is a beloved local destination beyond just the rentals, offering volleyball courts, picnic areas, and plenty of open space for frisbee, reading, or simply relaxing by the clear, cool river. Visitors consistently praise the park’s beauty and clean, well-maintained amenities, including restrooms and a concession stand — though it can get quite crowded during peak times like holidays.
Summer hours run 10am-8pm daily.
For Texas State University students, faculty, staff, and alumni looking for kayak, paddleboard, canoe, or tube rentals right on the San Marcos River, Sewell Park Outdoor Center offers a well-equipped campus resource in a genuinely beautiful natural setting.
