Goliad State Park Campground

Gorgeous presidio, with a lot of the history of the Fannin massacre as well as the missions in the area.

Goliad State Park is located in the heart of some historic and life changing American history. When we first pulled into the park to check in, we couldn't help but notice the beautiful Mission Espiritu Santo; a historic mission right on the park property.

Check-in was quick and the staff we encountered were extremely friendly and helpful.
There are two campground loops with hook-ups. The Karankawa Loop is really nice. Situated amongst mature trees, all sites are pull-thru that are well spaced with fire rings. These premium W/E sites go for $20 a night. There are also sites with full hook-ups for $25 a night.

We stayed in the Jacales Loop for $15 a night (Nov. 2013). Loop would not describe this parking lot style of a campground. Our site was one of the few that our door opened to our picnic table and fire ring. The rest of the sites would find their table to the rear. This is also a great area for tenters or for those camping with a combo of RV and tent.

We were able to walk to a nearby mission; Presidio La Bahia as well as ride our bikes into the town of Goliad. We enjoyed our stay here very much but would make a reservation earlier to stay in the Karankawa Loop which is far nicer than the parking lot of Jacales Loop.

"Ma'am, you'll need to park your van perpendicular to the parking block and backed in to your site," the park ranger says to my wife.

I look at our "site", literally a space–two actually–in a parking lot. It's not the worst, there's a sheltered picnic table backing up to a meadow full of wild flowers, a grill and two fire pits. But it is just a parking lot, in the end.

Each site has two parking spaces. One for an RV, for example, and another for a vehicle. We're a tiny van, and we like to have our door facing our zone so we can listen for the kids at night. We're all four wheels on the pavement and entirely within our campsite.

She wasn't having it though, and well after dark, our left hand neighbors blaring music and the folks across the street throwing a smoke fest of a fire, no one is told to quiet down or control their fire. Their fifth wheels and pickup trucks take up way more space than our VW Bus. But we are made to secure everything down and move our little van.

And when I ask her if we can just wait until morning, she gives me a one liner.

"I told your wife to move it and so that's what you're gonna do."

The park was nice enough, and I don't even fault the campsite for being a parking lot, but the attitude of the ranger just killed me to where I couldn't imagine ever wanting to come back here.

In the morning we met another couple in a Vanagon who said te ranger was rude to them as well, making them take down their hook on tent and park in a mud puddle, despite the folks at the office telling them it was okay.

Perhaps it's a rare case of vintagevanidis, let's pray there's a cure.

Oh but I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there is, for whatever reason, WiFi at this campground. I can now peacefully die knowing I've seen it all. :P

Friendly staff
Pull through site
Full hook ups
Small state park with limited hiking/biking trails
Surrounded by historic monuments

Stayed only one night, but would love to come back! The sites are spacious and very clean.

We camped here in the FHU campground with reservations made 333 days prior to arriving for the 34th Annual Reenactment and Living History Program at Presidio La Bahia (not to be confused with Mission Espiritu Santo) which was a one mile walk from the campground on improved trails. There is also access to the San Antonio River in the park and some paddling trails.
Easy road access. Some highway noise. All FHU sites are pull thru. Very level asphalt pad. Very clean and neatly mowed sites. Sites are pretty much open without much shade. Restrooms/showers in FHU campground are pretty worn, but clean. There were two job johnnies placed outside the restrooms, so don't know what that was about. Campfire wood was available at Park HQs for purchase.
Park staff very friendly and extremely helpful with area recommendations. FHU campground nearest to front gate (which closes at 10pm) and Mission Espiritu Santo State Historic Site, which was restored by the CCC. WIFI was relatively good while in restroom/shower building.
Don't miss touring Presidio La Bahia and learning about the Texas heroes that were massacred there. A very small grocery store in Goliad. A few restaurants, Dairy Queen and Whataburger close in Goliad. 30 minute drive to Victoria where there is a HEB and Wal-Mart along with numerous restaurants

Stayed here the last full week in December '19 including Christmas and chose the full hook up area with it's proximity to the Mission and it's pull through loop sites vs the parking area in the electric only area. A very nice park in which to spend time with the Mission and it's history as well as the two historical stops on the other side of SH 183. The trail from the Park into the town of Goliad is an interesting and enjoyable one, chose the bicycle for a Christmas day ride and found the town empty & quiet, and only slightly more active when things reopened after the Holiday. The Museum in town was a very good stop, spending at least two hours within including a very informational and interesting chat on the area and places to go. The town of Goliad has a nice laundromat and a market, with Victoria a short drive away for more extensive in town needs/desires. The site, #7, was level and spacious.

Park limited RV spots due to COVID, but provided a site in the (normally) group camping area. Wonderful historic park with lots of history in and near park. Town of Golaid is small, but wonderful history and quaint shops in courthouse square area. Will come back here again when COVID is over, to full explore town and area.

Stayed 2 nights in route to Padre Island. Several historical sites in the area. Can visit all easily in 1 full day.

Others have written about the history and it's true, very interesting! At first the "parking lot" style of parking was off putting, but you do back up to your grassy area with fire pit, BBQ grill, Covered picnic table on a cement slab and trees behind all of that. So it's not so bad, nothing separating you from the neighbors but it's a chance to talk to people more! Some noise from the highway but not bad. Park rangers and volunteers are wonderful! We would stay here again and it's a great set up if you travel with friends and can all park together!