Goliad State Park Campground

We were unable to get reservations here so we stayed at Victoria City Park (we have a video of that park) and drove over here for a day visit and to checkout the camping options. We brought a picnic and had a wonderful time riding our bikes and exploring this great historic park, and adjacent historic sites. There was even a wooden trail that took us into town.

Check out our video of this park: https://youtu.be/z1oSXz4l7Xk

I initially came to the park to visit Mission Espiritu Santo, then head on down the road to Presidio La Bahia and be on my way. But the heat (and humidity) were extreme, so I grabbed a campsite (full hookup) for $25 a night. Enjoyed it so much that I stayed for a second night. Rangers were excellent in providing tours of the mission, children's activities and history, and I found that I could ride my bike to the other historic sites nearby (while the dog stayed in our air-conditioned RV), including the Presidio and the El Camino Real de las Tejas Visitor's Center.

The campsites were huge, as I have found with most state parks I stay in, and there were plenty of trees for shade and privacy between sites. The park even has five camping shelters for those who don't have an RV or tent but want to bed down in an enclosed structure.

I have AT&T for internet and had absolutely no problems getting fast speeds. But Verizon dropped my phone calls several times on 4G. The only reason I gave it four stars was the bathrooms - the bugs and creepy crawlies were hard to keep away. Otherwise, the facilities were fine.

Check-in at the park office, no drive thru kiosk. We stayed in the FHU pull thru area. They emailed me the gate code but I didn't see a gate. You can go straight to your site and go to the office later for your passes. Very nice wooded area on the outside of the loop. All utilities worked well. Access from Hwy 183 is excellent. Hwy 183 is the smoothest road we have driven.

Just a little sporadic highway noise.

AT&T cell service is good, 4-5 bars of 5G. No problem streaming.

The Jacales loop is really just a big parking lot with sites behind the parking spaces (2 large ones for each site).

Each site has a covered picnic table on a concrete slab and a charcoal grill, as well as water and electric. Dump station at end of the parking lot.

Bathrooms were old and small, and while clean enough overall, moldy shower curtains were gross. Also, only one shower in women's and men's.

Location is quiet and dark at night, bike trail through the area is great for visiting historic sites and downtown.

Nice park overall and great history lessons abound, but we wouldn't stay more than a couple of nights in the Jacales loop while checking out the area.

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!

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.

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