Goliad State Park & Historic Site
RV Guide
Introduction
Three-hundred years of Texas history await you at Goliad State Park and Historic Site. Bring your RV here and enjoy many of the same activities that other areas of Texas have enjoyed for so very long.
For reasons we cannot understand, the storied Goliad mission is not actually in Goliad State Park. However, the fully-restored Mission Espíritu Santo is here. During the 1930s, Civilian Conservation Corps workers labored very hard to bring this mission back to its original 18th-century likeness. Other historical areas include part of the El Camino Real (“King’s Highway”). There’s also part of the Angel of Goliad Trail, which highlights some of the unsung heroes of the Texas Revolution.
If you like driving your rig to places where there are lots of outdoor activities, Goliad State Park and Historic Site is the place for you. RV visitors enjoy fishing, boating, and hiking. All the trees in this part of South Texas make birding a popular activity as well. On the weekends, join a ranger-led historic or nature tour.
Camping in your RV, camper, or trailer is the best way to experience Goliad State Park and Historic Site. Choose from sites that offer full utility hookups or a more rustic water-only RV campground.
RV Rentals in Goliad State Park & Historic Site
Transportation
Driving
Back in the day, the tiny town of Goliad was almost literally the Heart of Texas. In the 1830s, “Texas” was basically San Antonio and the former Moses Austin Colony, which stretched from Corpus Christi to what would later become Houston. So, Goliad was accessible back then, and it’s accessible today.
Most RVers take U.S. Highway 181/State Highway 239 from San Antonio to Goliad. This part of South Texas is not particularly scenic, but there are lots of small town along the way. These highways are mostly well-maintained, four-lane thoroughfares which are pretty wide and largely devoid of traffic.
Goliad State Park and Historic Sight is just south of town, along a rather large elbow bend in the San Antonio River. Inside the park, large vehicle parking is available near the canoe launch, near the mission, and near the bird blind.
Parking
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Goliad State Park & Historic Site
Campsites in Goliad State Park & Historic Site
Reservations camping
Victoria Coleto Creek Lake KOA
History-rich Victoria, TX is located between Houston (to the northeast) and Corpus Christi (to the southwest), making the Victoria Coleto Creek Lake KOA an ideal base to explore the Coastal Bend region. Settle in at a secluded, tree-lined loop site, or a site with a patio or a site near the bath house and pool. All sites offer full hookups and up to 50-amp service. Propane is available at the campground. Stay up-to-date with cable TV and Wi-Fi. Get outdoors with bike rentals and boating and fishing access to the nearby reservoir. Rigs up to 90' are welcome.
Jacales Camping Area
On the other side of the park, there are an additional 14 motorhome sites. Each one has electric and water hookups. Each site also has a picnic table and fire ring or barbecue grill. Campground amenities include a large group shelter, restroom and shower area, and an RV dump station.
Karankawa RV Camping Area
This campground loop has 20 full-hookup (water, sewer, and electric) pull-through sites. A short trail connects this quiet and shady park with the San Antonio River. These sites are pretty nice. Each one has a lantern stand, fire ring with a removable grill, and a picnic table. Monthly rates are available. This campground includes a large restroom and shower area, several screened group picnic shelters, and a nice childrens’ play area.
Seasonal activities in Goliad State Park & Historic Site
Off-Season
Learning about Zaragoza's Birthplace
Goliad is not just about Texas heroes. Ignacio Seguin Zaragoza led the Mexican Army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. His ragtag group of farmers and militia faced a large French army. Zaragoza inspired his troops to victory by saying “your foes are the first soldiers of the world, but you are the first sons of Mexico.” The stunning defeat of the French, which is today celebrated as Cinco de Mayo, guaranteed Mexican independence and changed the course of history in the Western Hemisphere. His humble birthplace is located near the Angel of Goliad statute.
Birding
Goliad State Park and Historic Site's bird blind is located not far from the Karankawa RV Camping Area. This part of Texas is one of the best birding areas in the state. There are lots of trees and lots of marshlands in these parts. The park is part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. RV campers can expect to see southern bald eagles, painted buntings, cardinals, wood ducks, and more. On the ground, look for deer, raccoons, and emus. More exotic land animals include jaguars and ocelots.
Hiking
Don't forget to pack your best hiking boots in your campervan. The 2.5-mile Angel of Goliad Trail is a don’t-miss trail. RVers who do not spend some time on this trail risk immediate deportation to Arkansas. The trail runs from the Angel of Goliad statute to the town itself. The trail is flat and easy. It’s basically an unpaved sidewalk. Most hikers spend some time in Goliad before they head back; most bikers just keep pedaling. Honorable mention goes to the one-mile San Antonio River Trail. It’s also flat and easy. This trail runs along the park-side bank.
In-Season
Visiting Mission Espíritu Santo
The Spanish originally built this mission, and a nearby presidio, in 1722. The Spanish moved this mission several times, finally relocating it to Goliad in 1749. For almost a hundred years the mission provided education and employment for various local Indian tribes. Comanche and Apache raids forced the mission to close around 1830. Beginning in 1935, Civilian Conservation Corps workers spent six years restoring the mission. Today, it’s available for weddings and other events.
Fishing
You do not need a license to fish from a dock or the shore in a Texas state park. In fact, you don’t need fishing equipment either, because loaners are available at park headquarters. Since the San Antonio River has some rather steep banks, most RV campers fish from the floating dock. You can also fish from a canoe or other unpowered boat out in deeper water. Bass, catfish, and sunfish are all plentiful here. So, find yourself a good spot and get ready to reel them in.
Boating
The meandering and easy-flowing San Antonio River is ideal for canoes and kayaks. This is the same body of water that slowly runs through downtown San Antonio as the Riverwalk. Put-ins are located near the Highway 59 bridge, which is a bit upstream from the park, or the Ferry Street Landing. Take out your boat at the park’s floating fishing dock. Explore the river on your own terms, or follow the 6.6-mile Goliad Paddling Trail. This two-hour floating trail goes through some cool parts of the South Texas floodplain.
