Goose Island State Park Campground

I was looking for a warm place to stay during spring break with my pop up camper, but didn’t decide until late in the game to find a campsite. Despite that, we landed a spot on the water (complete with dolphin viewing), which was great. In talking with a local, the weather can still be hit and miss this time of year, but we hit the jackpot.

I don’t have a lot of needs, so I found this site very satisfying. Only noise to speak of was the occasional airboat, but that is a part of the culture. I didn’t find them too objectionable. Showers were hot and clean and campground host was friendly and knowledgeable.

We used the campsite as a base for exploring the area. Our four day stay was about right. We visited the Aransas Wildlife Refuge (alligators, birds, and a Cottonmouth), local restaurants, a public swimming beach, the pier, and the tree.

The trip served its purpose!

While this state park is beautiful with good birding and fishing it is not maintained well enough. They warn you about some of the sites having low branches, but they did not warn us about the loop roads themselves having low branches. So instead of spending the afternoon birdwatching and hiking we had to borrow a tall ladder and tape a plastic bag around the refrigerator vent and caulk up the bathroom skylight in preparation for the big rainstorm coming in. And we just have a travel trailer which is not as tall as fifth wheels and motorhomes. I don't understand why the maintenance staff doesn't trim the branches back away from the road.
Then when we went to hook up to the electric there was crackling sounds and nothing worked. They had to come and replace the circuit breaker.
The bathrooms are nice with wheelchair accessible showers.
And it was fun watching the pelicans vying for fish heads at the fish cleaning station.

Numerous loud airboats launch from Goose Island State Park boat ramp. People in the wooded area and beachfront can hear them and are awaken by the loud noise every morning starting before 6AM.
Texas State Park Rules and Regulations are not being enforced at Goose Island:

…4) create a disturbance capable of negatively affecting other park users by causing excessive noise by any means.

…(o) Soliciting. It is an offense for any person to solicit funds or donation of any item, or offer to sell any goods, wares, merchandise, liquid, or edibles, or render any service for hire, or distribute written material, in a state park, except by authority of a concession agreement approved by the director.

…(6) moor, dock, or berth a commercial vessel at any part of a state park except by permit from the director.

I sent a complaint to park supervisor 'edwin.quintero@tpwd.texas.gov'
We would like to return to the park, but this violation must be stopped.
Visit tpwd website, bottom of page for more contact information.
Please help keep our state parks enjoyable for all.
Native Texan, Rae

It was a really nice park, tons of wildlife, close to the water. We had plans to stay in the wooded area for 3 nights and then the water front for 2 nights - but due to area flooding decided to head inland so we missed our water stay. But we did go down to the pier and fish one day. The mosquitos were super super bad in the wooded area. Couldn't even walk around but they seemed to be none near the water. Restrooms-showers were mainly clean, no complaints. We loved that we had a fire pit and grill and picnic table. Very reasonable pricing. We'd come here again!

I know there is a lot of great free beach camping on the south coast of Texas, but if you want an electric and water hookup with the convenience of a toilet block with free hot showers, then get a reservation here. LOTS of people fishing so this must be a go to location - both behind the campers and also our on the boardwalk. A 1,000+ year old oak tree is in the state park and is worth checking out. Sites are somewhat close together, but the dedicated shelters with picnic table provides privacy. Pets allowed.

We have stayed here before and this time was just as good. Showers are a bit of a gamble or I would have given 5 stars. This place is so pretty. We were allowed to pull our trailer in facing the bay, which gave us a wonderful view out the front window. Fishing was slow this year due to the freeze but still caught some. Crabbing was also slow due to colder temps.