Family guide
Camping at Goose Island State Park with kids
Goose Island State Park sits on the bay just north of Rockport, with shaded campsites, a long fishing pier and one of the biggest live oaks in the country. Fall and winter are its best camping seasons for families. Here is how to plan a stay.
The park at a glance
Goose Island State Park covers about 321 acres where St. Charles Bay meets Aransas Bay, on the Lamar Peninsula. From Rockport, take State Highway 35 north across the Copano Bay causeway and follow the park signs. The address is 202 S. Palmetto St., Rockport, and the park phone is (361) 729-2858.
- Hours: open daily, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Campers stay overnight; day visitors leave by 10 p.m.
- Entrance fee: $5 a day for everyone 13 and older. Kids 12 and under get in free. Campers pay this on top of the campsite fee.
Bayfront or wooded? Picking a campsite
Bayfront loop
These sites sit along the shoreline, with a few across the road from it. Each has a picnic table under a shade shelter, a waist-high grill, water and 20, 30 and 50-amp electric. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) lists them at $25 a night. Ground fires are not allowed here at any time. The bayfront is open to the wind, which matters during a cold front. TPWD's page for this loop says specific sites are assigned first-come, first-served, so call the park if a waterfront spot matters to you.
Wooded area
The wooded loops sit under large coastal live oaks. Sites have a picnic table, grill, fire ring, lantern post, water and electric, for $20 a night. The trees block much of the wind and the afternoon sun. With younger kids, this is usually the calmer, cooler choice.
Walk-in tent sites
For $10 a night, walk-in sites have water, a table, grill and fire ring, but no electricity. You park and carry gear up to 150 yards, so bring a wagon if you have toddlers and a lot of stuff.
Other options
A handful of full-hookup sites ($25–$30) cannot be reserved in advance; call the park about availability. Overflow sites ($10) are for self-contained RVs only, not tents. Every camping loop has restrooms with showers. Each site holds up to eight people.
Book early for fall and winter
TPWD says the park often fills up and recommends reservations for both camping and day passes. Its busy seasons are Memorial Day through Labor Day, October through Thanksgiving, and January through April. Reserve online through the Texas State Parks reservation site or by phone at (512) 389-8900. For a November weekend or winter break, book as soon as you know your dates.
Know before you go: current park alerts
When we checked in October 2026, the park had three notices posted:
- Burn ban. Wood fires are not allowed. You can still cook with charcoal briquettes, propane stoves and propane fire rings. If s'mores are part of the plan, bring a propane fire ring or a camp stove.
- Construction. Campsites 1–24 may have short closures and water interruptions, and work is under way at the headquarters parking lot.
- Water conservation. The park asks visitors to use water sparingly. Bring drinking water from home or buy bottled water at headquarters.
Alerts change, so read the park's alerts page on the TPWD website the week of your trip.
What kids can do at the park
See the Big Tree
The Big Tree is a coastal live oak that has stood on this coast for centuries. It was named the state champion coastal live oak in 1969. TPWD lists it at about 35 feet around the trunk, 44 feet tall and with a crown 90 feet across. It sits in the park's Big Tree Natural Area off Lamar Beach Road; follow the park signs. Have kids join hands around the trunk and count how many it takes.
Fish from the pier
The park's fishing pier stretches 1,620 feet into the bay, and there is a fish cleaning station nearby. Nobody needs a fishing license to fish from the shore or a pier inside a Texas state park, and kids under 17 never need one. The park runs a Tackle Loaner Program, so you can borrow rods, reels and tackle. Bag and size limits still apply. Our fishing with kids guide covers simple rigs, and our article on the fall flounder run explains the November 1 flounder closure.
Earn a Junior Ranger pin
Ask at headquarters for a free Texas State Parks Junior Ranger journal. Kids finish a set of activities to earn a pin. You can also ask to borrow a free Explorer Pack with binoculars, a magnifying glass and field guides.
Look for birds and whooping cranes
The park is a well-known birding spot. The endangered whooping cranes winter across St. Charles Bay at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, not inside the park itself, but some feed in wetlands on the Lamar Peninsula. They usually arrive in late October. Pack binoculars and read our whooping crane season guide.
A note on swimming
The park does not recommend swimming. The shoreline has concrete bulkheads, oyster shells, mud flats and marsh grass. For a swim, drive back to Rockport Beach. Alligators are occasionally seen in the park, so keep kids and pets back from the water's edge in marshy spots.
Christmas in the Park
In December the park holds Christmas in the Park. Campers decorate their sites and visitors drive through to see them, with crafts and a star party at the Recreation Hall. The Rockport-Fulton Chamber calendar lists the 2026 event for Saturday, December 12. Times had not been posted when we checked. Watch our upcoming events page for details.
A sample weekend
- Friday afternoon: check in, set up and walk to the pier to watch the sunset over the bay.
- Saturday morning: borrow tackle and fish the pier while it is calm, then drive to the Big Tree.
- Saturday afternoon: head into Rockport for the Texas Maritime Museum and the harbor, or the beach if it is warm.
- Sunday morning: breakfast and a last look for birds before you pack up. Ask at headquarters about any ranger programs that weekend.
Camp rules worth knowing
- Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Campfires go only in the fire rings, and only when no burn ban is in place. Do not gather firewood in the park.
- Keep pets on a leash no longer than six feet. Pets are not allowed inside park buildings.
- Do not feed wildlife. Animals learn fast, so store food and trash in your vehicle at night.
- Public display or consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Texas state parks.
Packing tips for fall and winter
Normal highs in Rockport are in the low 70s in November and the mid 60s in December and January, with lows in the 40s and 50s. A cold front can drop the temperature sharply in a few hours and bring strong north winds. Pack warm layers, a windproof jacket and extra socks for each child, plus solid tent stakes. Bring insect repellent too, since the wooded loops and marshes can be buggy at dawn and dusk. More ideas are on our family travel tips page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to camp at Goose Island?
Texas Parks and Wildlife lists $25 a night for bayfront sites with electricity, $20 for wooded sites with electricity and $10 for walk-in tent sites, plus the daily entrance fee of $5 for everyone 13 and older. Kids 12 and under get in free. Prices can change.
Are campfires allowed at Goose Island right now?
Not wood fires. The park has posted a burn ban. Charcoal, propane stoves and propane fire rings are still allowed. Check the park's alerts page before your trip, since bans are lifted when conditions improve.
Fees, alerts and park details in this guide were checked in October 2026 on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website. Burn bans, closures and prices change, so confirm with the park at (361) 729-2858 before you go.