Photo: Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0)
Goose Island State Park Campground
A Texas state park on Aransas and St. Charles bays, with 40 bayfront and 53 oak-shaded water-and-electric campsites, a 1,620-foot fishing pier and the centuries-old Big Tree.
Lamar, Texas · a state park about 20 minutes north of downtown Rockport
Season
Year-round
Reserve early for winter and spring weekends
Elevation
Near sea level
On the Lamar Peninsula between Aransas and St. Charles bays
Hookups
Water & electric
20/30/50 amp; 7 full-hookup sites, first come, first served
Big rigs
Varies by site
Listings show about 50 ft at the bayfront; low limbs on the entry road
Updated October 12, 2026 · Details checked against the park’s website
On the bay at Lamar
The Goose Island experience
A Texas state park on the Lamar Peninsula with water-and-electric campsites on the bayfront or under live oaks, a long fishing pier and some of the best birding on the coast, about 20 minutes north of Rockport.
Water & electric20/30/50 amp at 93 RV sites
Bayfront loop40 sites on Aransas Bay, most on the water
Wooded loop53 sites under live oaks, with grills and fire rings
Full-hookup sites7 premium sites; not reservable in advance
Fishing pier1,620 ft into the bay; no license needed from the pier
Restrooms & showersIn every camping loop
The Big TreeA State Champion coastal live oak, centuries old
Boat & kayak launchPlus a fish cleaning station
Tackle loaner programBorrow rods, reels and tackle
Park storeGifts and supplies at headquarters
Pets welcomeLeashed; not in park buildings
Burn ban (Aug 2026)No wood fires; propane and charcoal OK
Life at camp
What visitors say
The park report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores tell a clear story: campers love the bayfront sites, the pier and the birds, and the common gripes are wind, mosquitoes and weekend airboat noise.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report36 ft 2017
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GT-Mobile 4G/5GAT&T 4G
Last reported nightly rate$25 Apr 2026
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users. The Google, Yelp and Tripadvisor scores cover the whole state park, not just the campground. RV LIFE members reported paying $18–$36 a night in 2026, including entrance fees. Confirm site lengths and fees before you go.
Off SH-35 at Park Road 13
Getting there
Goose Island is just east of SH-35 on Park Road 13 (Palmetto St.), past the Copano Bay causeway north of Fulton.
From Rockport and the south: SH-35 north through Fulton and across the Copano Bay causeway, then right on Park Road 13 (Palmetto St.)From Victoria and the north: SH-35 south toward Rockport, then left on Park Road 13 just before the causeway
SH-35 · PARK ROAD 13
Set your GPS
202 S. Palmetto St., Rockport, TX 78382
To Fulton*About 15 min
To downtown RockportAbout 18 min
To Aransas NWRAbout 35 min
From Corpus ChristiAbout 42 min
Check the park alerts first. As of Aug 2026: a burn ban (no wood fires), campsite work with intermittent closures of sites 1–24, and a water-conservation notice.
Watch the trees on the way in. Campendium reviewers warn of overhanging limbs on the entrance road; tall rigs should go slowly.
*Drive times are from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Rockport
Around Rockport
Fulton, Rockport Beach and the harbor museums are 15–20 minutes south, and the whooping cranes of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge are about 35 minutes north.
Photo thanks to dwh1974 (CC BY 3.0)
Rockport Beach Park
Rockport’s sandy, family-friendly beach on Aransas Bay, next to the harbor, with picnic areas, fishing and bird-watching.
Photo thanks to Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0)
Texas Maritime Museum
Exhibits on the Texas coast’s seafaring past, from early explorers and shipbuilding to fishing and offshore oil, by Rockport Harbor.
Photo thanks to Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0)
Fulton Mansion
An 1870s Second Empire mansion on the bay in Fulton, now a Texas Historical Commission site with guided tours.
Photo thanks to Klaus Nigge / USFWS (CC BY 2.0)
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
The winter home of endangered whooping cranes, with a wildlife drive, trails and an observation tower.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
The three closest RV parks to Goose Island, by drive time.
Photo thanks to Rockport / Corpus Christi KOA Journey
Rockport / Corpus Christi KOA
A KOA on Salt Lake with two heated pools, a lighted fishing pier and concrete sites up to 105 ft.
Photo thanks to Copano Bay RV Resort
Copano Bay RV Resort
A bayside resort on Salt Lake with 152 paved full-hookup sites, a heated pool, a fishing pier and cottages.
Photo thanks to Ancient Oaks RV Park
Ancient Oaks RV Park
A big, oak-shaded park on Business 35 near downtown, with a heated pool and hot tub, a stocked pond and lots of Winter Texans.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Goose Island fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a classic Texas coast state park: bayfront sites with water views and breezes, shady oak sites inland, a long fishing pier and the Big Tree, all for about $20–$30 a night plus entry. Most sites have only water and electric, the bay side is windy and exposed, and weekends book up, so reserve early and bring bug spray.
Campsite feesFrom Texas Parks and Wildlife · checked Oct 12, 2026
Bayfront (water + electric)$25 /night
Wooded (water + electric)$20 /night
Full hookup, 50 amp$30 /night
Entrance, ages 13+$5 /person/day
Campsite fees don’t include the daily entrance fee of $5 per person 13 and older; kids 12 and under are free. A Texas State Parks Pass ($70 a year) covers entry for you and your guests. The seven full-hookup sites ($25–$30) can’t be reserved in advance; call the park. Overflow sites for self-contained rigs are $10.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the park’s campsites page or call (361) 729-2858.
Typical July afternoon
Rockport92°
Phoenix107°
Mild winters: January highs average about 66°, which is why Winter Texans fill Rockport’s parks; July runs about 92° and humid.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers keep coming back.
Open
Site types
$20–$30 a night plus $5 per adult a day.
Open
Rates & policies
Reservations, fires, pets, swimming and alerts.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you reserve.
Open
Goose Island State Park is run by Texas Parks and Wildlife on the Lamar Peninsula north of Rockport. It suits RVers who want water views, fishing and birding at state-park prices more than resort amenities and full hookups.
Best for
- Anglers: a 1,620-foot pier, a boat ramp, a kayak launch and a fish cleaning station, with no license needed from shore or the pier.
- Birders: the coast’s spring and fall migrations, with whooping cranes wintering in nearby bays and at Aransas NWR.
- Budget travelers: $20–$30 a night plus entry, among the cheapest hookups near Rockport.
- Big-tree fans: the Big Tree, a State Champion coastal live oak, is a short drive from the campground.
Consider this
- Most sites have water and electric only; use the dump station, or try for one of the 7 full-hookup sites.
- Bayfront sites get full wind and sun, and some sit across the road from the water.
- Swimming isn’t recommended: the shore has bulkheads, oyster shell and mud flats.
- Campers report mosquitoes, and airboat noise on weekends and in duck season.
Summer in Rockport
Typical July afternoon
92°
Rockport
Rockport station
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
15 degrees cooler than Phoenix, but humid, with nights near 79°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
The 93 RV sites have water and 20/30/50 amp electric, split between the Bayfront loop and the Wooded loop, plus seven full-hookup sites in the woods. Fees are per night, plus the daily entrance fee.
Bayfront $25/night
Most are on the waterfront; some sit across the road. Picnic table and shade shelter at each site.
Wooded $20/night
Tucked under the oaks, with an outdoor grill, a fire ring and a lantern post (fires follow the current burn ban).
Full hookup $25–$30/night
In the Wooded Area with sewer; not reservable in advance, so call the park for availability.
Entrance $5/adult/day
Paid on top of the campsite fee unless you hold a Texas State Parks Pass.
Bayfront$25Water + 20/30/50 amp electric
Wooded$20Water + electric, under oaks
Full hookup$25–$30Not reservable; call the park
Entrance$5 per adultPer day; 12 and under free
ReservationsTexas State ParksOnline or (512) 389-8900
FiresBurn banNo wood fires as of Aug 2026
PetsLeashedNot allowed in park buildings
SwimmingNot recommendedBulkheads, oyster shell, mud flats
FishingNo licenseFrom shore or the pier
WaterConservePark alert since Nov 2025
Checked against Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Goose Island pages and park alerts on October 12, 2026. Fees can change; book through Texas State Parks reservations or call (361) 729-2858.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Will my rig fit this site? Check the listed length for the exact site, and tell the park about tall rigs.
- Is the burn ban still on? Wood fires were banned in Aug 2026; propane rings are allowed.
- Are sites 1–24 open? Campsite work causes intermittent closures there.
- Can I get a full-hookup site? They’re first come, first served; call the park the morning you arrive.
- Do I need a park pass? Entry is $5 per adult per day, or buy the $70 Texas State Parks Pass.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready for a bayfront campsite?
Wake up to pelicans on the pier, fish the bay and visit the Big Tree, a short drive from your site. Reserve through Texas State Parks for current availability.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. The park photos are by Larry D. Moore via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0: Big Tree, campsite, pelicans, boardwalk, shelters and deer). Video: Dude RV on YouTube. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: dwh1974 (Rockport Beach; CC BY 3.0), Larry D. Moore (Texas Maritime Museum and Fulton Mansion; CC BY 4.0) and Klaus Nigge / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (whooping cranes; CC BY 2.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Rockport / Corpus Christi KOA Journey, Copano Bay RV Resort and Ancient Oaks 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 Goose Island State Park Campground 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 Goose Island State Park Campground at tpwd.texas.gov or (361) 729-2858. 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.