A Hundred Shooting Stars an Hour — No Ticket Required
By Gordon Cook · July 26, 2026
It's late July out here at the Hideaway, which means two things: the cicadas are singing their hearts out, and the best free show in Texas is about to start — straight overhead.
I'm talking about the Perseid meteor shower, and this year isn't just any year. The Perseids peak on the night of August 12–13, and in 2026 that peak lands right on a new moon. No moonlight washing out the sky. The folks who track this stuff are calling it the best viewing conditions in a decade. Under a properly dark sky, you can see up to 100 meteors an hour at the peak — and dark skies happen to be something we've got plenty of.
What Exactly Are the Perseids?
Every August, the Earth plows through a trail of dust left behind by a comet called Swift-Tuttle. Those little bits of dust hit our atmosphere going tens of thousands of miles an hour and burn up in streaks of light — shooting stars, and lots of them. The shower runs from mid-July clear through August 24, but the big night is August 12–13, with the best viewing after midnight and into the early morning hours.
You don't need a telescope. You don't need binoculars. You need a lawn chair, a blanket, and a sky without city lights. That last part is where most folks run into trouble — and where we can help.
Why the Hill Country Beats the Backyard
If you live in San Antonio, Austin, or Houston, the glow from the city washes out all but the very brightest meteors. Drive out our way — Pipe Creek sits between Bandera and Boerne, well past the city glow — and it's a different sky altogether. On a clear night here you can see the Milky Way stretched out over the campground like somebody spilled sugar across the sky. Guests tell us all the time it's the part of their stay they remember most.
Here's how I'd do it: get a fire going early, feed the family, let the little ones wear themselves out. Then along about midnight, kill the lantern, lean back, and give your eyes 20 or 30 minutes to adjust. Look northeast, be patient, and keep count — the kids will make a contest of it, guaranteed. A red flashlight helps if you need to move around without ruining your night vision.
Make a Midweek Getaway of It
The peak falls on a Wednesday night into Thursday morning this year, and I'll let you in on a little secret: midweek is the quiet season out here. Easier to book, fewer neighbors, and the campground settles down good and dark by the time the show starts. Come in Tuesday or Wednesday, stay a couple nights, and you've got the peak night plus a spare in case a cloud rolls through. The shower's still going strong the nights on either side, so you've got margin.
And if you want to make a full trip of it, Bandera's just 15 minutes down the road — Market Days fills Main Street with vendors on the first Saturday of the month, and there's always live music somewhere in the Cowboy Capital.
Where to Stay Under the Stars
We've got 13 handcrafted log cabins if you like your stargazing with air conditioning waiting afterward, 10 full-hookup RV sites, and 9 cowboy campsites if you want nothing but canvas — or nothing at all — between you and the meteors. We're pet-friendly with no pet fees, and no cleaning fees either. We're also the closest campground to the new Kronkosky State Natural Area taking shape just down Highway 46 — 3,800 acres of protected Hill Country that'll keep these skies dark for generations.
Book direct on our website and use promo code FUN for 10% off when you stay 2 or more nights. A two-night midweek stargazing trip is about the easiest vacation you'll plan all year.
A sky full of shooting stars, a fire pit, and not a streetlight in sight. Some shows you just can't buy tickets to.
Until next time…
Happy Trails.
Be Safe & God Bless.
— Al