The state of Texas is massive and not much of it is anywhere near the ocean. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a few amazing oceanfront campgrounds in Texas to take an incredible family vacation at. There are a few of those types of campgrounds available and you can get into a prime oceanfront or ocean view campsite if you plan your trip well enough in advance.
Best Texas Oceanfront and Oceanview Campgrounds
On the Beach RV Park
You can’t get much closer to the beach when you stay at On the Beach RV Park. This RV campground is in Port Aransas, Texas and near Mustang Island. There are only eight RV sites near the water, so you will want to make your reservations well in advance. Those eight RV sites are tucked behind the sand dunes, so you will have a slightly blocked view of the water and the sand. However, those dunes do add a little more visual appeal to your visit. This is an excellent place to go fishing, kayaking, surfing, swimming, and then relaxing when you are tired from everything else.
Beachfront RV Park and Resort
There are only a couple RV campsites near the ocean at this Texas RV park, but you can see the ocean from many of the others. It is also possible to hear the ocean’s waves at many of the other campsites, so you really can’t say there is a terrible spot throughout the Beachfront RV Park and Resort. When you are not at your RV, you will find yourself on the sand at Surfside Beach or at the nearby picnic area on the grassy lawn. If you forget to bring your kayak or surfboard with you, don’t worry! You can easily rent a kayak, surfboard, paddleboard, and even a chair and umbrella for those times you are relaxing in the sand. There is also a deck bar and grill for those nights when you are too tired to cook a meal.
Galveston Island State Park
There are quite a few campsites available at this campground on the Gulf of Mexico. However, only thirty-six of them can be found facing that same gorgeous water. Due to the location near the water, you must be prepared to have fellow campers really close by within either of the three loops you choose to stay in. If you can’t get a campsite near the Gulf, you might get lucky and find that one of the twenty RV campsites near the bay is available. When you are not enjoying your views, you can wander through the two thousand acres of space within the park. There are many trails to walk around and they are all excellent ways to see the prairie and salt marshes.
Palm Harbor RV Park
You will find Palm Harbor RV Park over near the Estes Flats in Rockport, Texas. You can park your RV right next to Aransas Bay, which leads right out to the ocean. There are plenty of kayaking spots for new adventures, but you may be too busy fishing to give kayaking another thought. When you are not relaxing or having fun in this RV campground, you can be out wandering through the nearby art galleries and museums. You can even venture over to Corpus Christi for some thrills.
San Luis Pass County Park
The beautiful bay leads to the Gulf of Mexico and while there are many RV sites at the San Luis Pass County Park, you will want the purple ones on the map for the best views of the water. While you can spend hours on the sand, you should also venture out on a boat for a little fishing. This is also a gated campground, so you will feel more secure during your visit.
Padre Balli Park
The Padre Balli park has a campground that is within more than three hundred acres on Padre Island, Texas. There are fifty-four campsites for RVs, but you must choose your site carefully if you want views of the water. You will love spending all your time out in the water, whether you are swimming, fishing, kayaking, or surfing. Later in the day, or even early in the morning, you can walk along the shoreline looking for the perfect seashells. There is also a pier that you can either walk down or fish from during your stay.
Goose Island State Park
The RV park at Goose Island State Park, Texas has plenty of campsites to choose from, but you will want to choose one of the bayside options if you want to see the water from your RV every day. During your visit, you will want to venture over to the Big Tree, which is one of the largest living oak trees in the state and the entire country. When you are not out on a boat or fishing, you can spend your time hiking and birdwatching. There are many ranger programs as well, so you will always have something to do during your visit.
Matagorda Bay Nature Park
The Matagorda Bay Nature Park has a small RV campground and you will want to book your stay early if you want one of the sites that offers views of the ocean. While a couple of the campsites look out towards the ocean, the rest of the nineteen looks toward the river. You will love the one thousand plus acres of the park and nature preserve but will most likely spend a lot of your time on the beach by the Gulf of Mexico. There are plenty of places to go paddling and you can rent kayaks if you don’t bring your own. There are also places to reserve times to do a little horseback riding, so you can see the views from different vantage points.
These are the best oceanfront campgrounds in Texas, and you will love the time you spend at any of them. While a couple of these campgrounds only have a few sites that face the ocean, the rest have plenty of options for you to choose from. You will want to reserve your stay well in advance of your visit for the best campsite option, but that will be the last thing you will need to do before you start packing for your trip and having lots of fun on your RV vacation!
