Photo thanks to The Palapa RV Beach Resort
The Palapa RV Beach Resort
A small, gated RV park in Gilchrist with 36 concrete full-hookup sites, a heated “sky pool,” a clubhouse and a private golf-cart path over the dunes to the beach.
Gilchrist, Texas · on the Bolivar Peninsula, about 12 minutes east of Crystal Beach
Season
Year-round
Winter Oct 1–Apr 1; summer Apr 2–Sept 30
Elevation
Near sea level
On the Bolivar Peninsula, across TX-87 from the beach
Hookups
Full hookups
20/30/50 amp on concrete pads
Big rigs
Up to 55 ft
B side fits 55 ft, A side 40 ft; Class A turnaround
Updated October 12, 2026 · Details checked against the park’s website
Gilchrist, across from the beach
The Palapa experience
A gated, 36-site park in Gilchrist on the Bolivar Peninsula, with concrete full-hookup sites, a heated pool raised above the dunes, a clubhouse and a private golf-cart path to the Gulf.
Full hookups20/30/50 amp, water and sewer
Rigs up to 55 ftB side 55 ft, A side 40 ft; a 90 ft cul-de-sac for Class As
Path to the beachPrivate concrete golf-cart path and dune bridge
Heated sky poolRaised 26 ft above sea level, with Gulf views
Serenity DeckAdults-only deck 40 ft up
ClubhouseCommunity room plus a TV and game room
Private showersSeparate men’s and women’s showers
LaundryOn site
Free Wi-FiNot guaranteed; peninsula internet can drop out
PlaygroundFor the kids
Birding areaA private spot for birders, plus a community garden
Gated entrySatellite-friendly sites
Pets welcomePet walking area at the back of the park
Golf cart rentals6-passenger lifted carts; call for prices
Trailer lotSeparate parking for cart and UTV trailers
Life at camp
What guests say
The park report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores tell a clear story: RVers rave about the clean bathhouse, the pool and the friendly owners, and the gripes are tight sites, so-so Wi-Fi and crossing the highway to the beach.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report43 ft Nov 2023
Cell signal reportedAT&T 4G/5GVerizon 4G/5G
Last reported nightly rate$60 Jan 2026
As reported by Campendium, Campspot and RV LIFE users. Campendium’s scores come from four reviews (2019–2026); its listing shows a 27 ft longest rig, but a 2023 reviewer fit a 43 ft fifth wheel. Confirm rates and policies with the park before you go.
Off TX-87 in Gilchrist
Getting there
The Palapa sits on the bay side of TX-87 in Gilchrist, about 12 minutes east of Crystal Beach and 20 minutes from the free Galveston ferry.
From Houston via I-10: exit 828 at Winnie, TX-124 south to High Island, then TX-87 west down the peninsula (no ferry)From Galveston and I-45: the free Galveston–Port Bolivar ferry, then TX-87 east
TX-87 · GILCHRIST
Set your GPS
731 TX-87, Gilchrist, TX 77617
To the beach (golf-cart path)*Across TX-87
To Crystal BeachAbout 12 min
To High IslandAbout 20 min
From downtown HoustonAbout 2 hr
Pick your side. B-side sites fit rigs up to 55 ft and A-side sites up to 40 ft; a 90 ft cul-de-sac lets Class As with a tow car turn around. RVs must be 15 years old or newer.
Coming from Houston? I-10 to Winnie and TX-124 to High Island skips the ferry line; The Palapa is about 20 minutes west of High Island on TX-87.
*Drive times are from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate; the ferry adds its crossing and any wait. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around the peninsula
Around the Bolivar Peninsula
The ferry, Fort Travis and Bolivar Flats are about 20 minutes west, and High Island’s bird sanctuaries are about 20 minutes east.
Photo thanks to Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0)
Galveston–Port Bolivar Ferry
Free TxDOT ferries cross to Galveston around the clock in about 18 minutes; watch for dolphins, and expect long lines on summer weekends.
Photo thanks to Jim Evans (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Fort Travis Seashore Park
A free Galveston County park at Port Bolivar with the concrete gun batteries of a historic coastal fort, picnic shelters and a playground; day use only.
Photo thanks to Bettina Arrigoni (CC BY 2.0)
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary
Houston Audubon’s tidal flats at the tip of the peninsula, where huge flocks of shorebirds feed; park at the vehicle barrier and walk in.
Photo thanks to Bettina Arrigoni (CC BY 2.0)
High Island bird sanctuaries
Houston Audubon’s Smith Oaks and Boy Scout Woods sanctuaries, famous for spring songbird migration and a rookery of spoonbills and egrets.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
Three more Bolivar Peninsula places to stay, by drive time.
Photo thanks to Sun N’ Fun RV Park
Sun N’ Fun RV Park
Twenty-two RV sites on the beach side of TX-87 in Gilchrist, with front-row spots right behind the sand.
Photo thanks to Bolivar Peninsula RV Park
Bolivar Peninsula RV Park
A 40-acre park on TX-87 with grassy pull-thru and lakefront sites, a big dog park and a pavilion, a quarter mile from the beach.
Photo thanks to Lazy Pelican RV Park
Lazy Pelican RV Park
A quiet, owner-run park off Sea Spray Drive with level concrete full-hookup pads, a palapa and pergola, and the beach a short walk away.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether The Palapa fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a small, spotless park with resort touches: a heated pool above the dunes, a clubhouse and its own golf-cart path to the beach, at fair prices. Sites are close together and you cross TX-87 to reach the sand, so it suits RVers who want quiet and a friendly crowd more than a beachfront pad.
Park ratesFrom the park’s website · checked Oct 12, 2026
Winter, A side$50 /night
Winter, B side$60 /night
Summer, A side$75 /night
Summer, B side$85 /night
Winter weekly$350–420 /week
Winter monthly$700 /month + electric
Winter runs Oct 1–Apr 1 and summer Apr 2–Sept 30; in summer the 7th night of a week is free. Rates include utilities except on monthly stays, which pay electric, and may change for holidays and events. Monthly stays are booked by phone.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the park’s rates page or call (409) 974-0064.
Typical July afternoon
Galveston91°
Phoenix107°
Mild winters: January highs average about 63°, which is why Winter Texans fill the Bolivar Peninsula’s parks; July runs about 91° and humid, with a Gulf breeze.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why RVers keep coming back.
Open
Site types
From $50 a night in winter, or $700 a month plus electric.
Open
Rates & policies
Check-in, cancellations, pets, carts and rig rules.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you reserve.
Open
The Palapa RV Beach Resort (formerly Bolivar RV Resort) is a 36-site, gated RV park on 46 acres in Gilchrist, on the Bolivar Peninsula. It suits RVers who want a quiet, well-kept base with a pool and clubhouse, and an easy golf-cart ride to a quieter stretch of beach.
Best for
- Golf-cart beach days: the park’s own concrete path and dune bridge lead to the sand, with no trail fee.
- Pool lovers: a heated pool 26 ft above sea level and an adults-only deck with Gulf views.
- Big rigs: B-side pads fit 55 ft, and a 90 ft cul-de-sac handles a Class A with a tow car.
- Winter Texans: $50–60 a night in winter, or $700 a month plus electric.
Consider this
- The beach is across TX-87; the sites themselves aren’t beachfront.
- RVers say the sites are close together, and the front of the park hears highway noise.
- RVs must be 15 years old or newer, and there are no tents.
- Cancel less than 30 days out and there’s no refund.
Summer on Bolivar
Typical July afternoon
91°
Galveston
Galveston station
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
16 degrees cooler than Phoenix, but humid, with nights near 80°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
Every site has 20/30/50 amp electric, water and sewer on a concrete pad, with concrete streets and a spot for your tow vehicle. Prices depend on the side of the park and the season.
A side $50/night
17×45 ft concrete pads; $350 a week in winter.
B side $60/night
17×52 ft concrete pads for bigger rigs; $420 a week in winter.
Cul-de-sac $50/night
Three sites around the turnaround at the end of the A side.
Monthly $700/month
Monthly stays, both sides, plus electric; call the office.
Check-in3 p.m.Per Campspot; another listing says 2 p.m.
Check-out11 a.m.Office open 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Cancellation30+ days: $25 feeNo refund within 30 days
PetsUp to 2Leashed, never alone; no barking dogs
Quiet hours9 p.m.–8 a.m.Per the park’s Campspot terms
Rigs15 years or newerManagement can turn away rigs in poor shape
PeopleUp to 6Campspot terms include 4; ask about extras
Vehicles2 per siteOverflow lot next to the park
Golf cartsWelcomeStay off the grass; no trail fee to the beach
PaymentBefore arrivalLate fees apply
Checked against palaparvbeachresort.com (rates, facilities and park map) and the park’s Campspot policies on October 12, 2026. Book online or call (409) 974-0064 for monthly stays.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Which side fits my rig? A side fits 40 ft, B side 55 ft.
- How many pets? The park’s rates page says two; its Campspot terms say one.
- When is check-in? Campspot lists 3 p.m.; another listing says 2 p.m.
- Are there extra fees? Ask about extra guests, pets and golf carts.
- Is there a holiday rate? Rates may change for holidays and events.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready for a quiet beach week?
Golf-cart to the beach, swim in a pool with a Gulf view and trade stories at happy hour. Book online, or call The Palapa for monthly stays.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. The park photos come from The Palapa RV Beach Resort, with our thanks, and the video tour is by Family Harmony Travel Adventures. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Larry D. Moore (the ferry Robert C. Lanier; CC BY 4.0), Jim Evans (Fort Travis; CC BY-SA 4.0) and Bettina Arrigoni (shorebirds at Bolivar Flats and a roseate spoonbill at Smith Oaks; CC BY 2.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Sun N’ Fun RV Park, Bolivar Peninsula RV Park, Lazy Pelican RV Park. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with The Palapa RV Beach Resort unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the park’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the park and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with The Palapa RV Beach Resort at palaparvbeachresort.com or (409) 974-0064. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.