Matagorda Bay Nature Park — Attraction in Palacios

My family and I stayed at Matagorda Bay Nature Park from February 4 – 14, 2024. Nestled along the Texas Gulf Coast, this park is a hidden gem. This park is located where the Colorado River meets the Gulf of Mexico, that creates a stunning back drop for a picturesque view.

The staff and camp hosts were friendly and helpful, providing us with all the information we needed to make the most of our stay. You would see the camp hosts enjoying some of their time on the dock fishing and relaxing. We enjoyed talking to them about the area and their travel experiences on a couple of occasions.

We were in south loop site #12, a waterfront back-in with full hook-ups on a concrete pad, with a patio, that included a table set and pergola, and was surrounded by well-groomed grass. A perfect space to enjoy our evenings and watch the breathtaking sunsets over the bay. The site was spacious enough to accommodate our 42’ fifth wheel with our car parked in front of it. However, we had to park our truck in the designated extra parking area, as these spots are designed to fit only one vehicle in addition to the RV.

The amenities include Restrooms, shower facilities, a key code laundry room with 2 washers and 2 dryers, that you pay for in the visitor Gift/Souvenir Shop. They also have a 24-hour ice machine. The park is pet friendly, however there is no designated enclosed dog park, there is plenty of area to take your pets for long walks.

Matagorda Bay Nature Park offers a variety of amenities and activities for visitors. The park features a visitor center where you can learn about the local wildlife and ecosystem. There are also kayak and paddleboard rentals available for those looking to explore the bay from the water. For bird enthusiasts, the park is a haven with numerous bird-watching opportunities, especially during migration seasons. We were there when there were several storks and a couple of large cranes.

The beach access is another fantastic aspect of the park. We spent several afternoons walking along the sandy shores, collecting shells, and enjoying the sound of the waves. The park also provides picnic areas, playgrounds, and a mini golf course making it a great destination for families with children.

One of our favorite activities was walking along the granite jetty during sunset. The jetty, constructed with beautiful, huge sturdy granite stones, offers stunning views of the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The natural beauty of the granite, with the water crashing over the stones during sunset, made for unforgettable picturesque evening strolls.

*While our stay at Matagorda Bay Nature Park was indeed delightful, it's IMPORTANT TO NOTE a minor concern we encountered. During our time there, we observed that the water in the bay appeared brown in color, that left a slight film on our dishes when we left them out to dry. As a precautionary measure, we opted not to drink it and instead relied on our own water supply. While this did not significantly detract from our overall experience, it's worth considering for future visitors who may rely on the park's water sources. Nonetheless, this minor issue did little to dampen our enjoyment of the park's natural beauty and abundance of recreational activities.

If you are looking to stay in the Matagorda Bay area, I would...

Matagorda is popular mostly for its beaches and as a place to get away from the congestion of the large cities. It is located between Corpus Christi and Houston and besides the beaches, it is also known for Matagorda Bay Nature and RV Park.

With Matagorda Bay Nature Park, guests are treated to several attractions, among them fishing, an RV park, and a Natural Science Center. It is common to see RV parked here year- round, with some people visiting and setting up an away- from- home camp during the winter season and others visiting as part of summer vacation. The RV Park is situated adjacent to the Natural Science Center, which is very convenient for campers who discover they need basic supplies, snacks, etc since the Natural Science Center sells these items.

I visited the Matagorda Bay Nature Park with one of my teenage girls. We originally arrived here looking for a good beach scene and started off on the other side of Matagorda Beach. Unhappy with the larger than expected crowds, we walked back to where we parked our car and made our way down a different road. This is how we discovered Matagorda Bay Nature Park. We were happy to find that, yes, the beaches over here are less congested and there are fewer cars on the sand. We were also happy to discover the science nature center where we spent about half an hour wandering through, learning about the geography and wildlife unique to the area. We ended our short visit by purchasing a few ice cream treats then sitting on the outside porch for a while to enjoy them before heading back to the water.

They seem to keep the beaches here reasonably clean, and this is always a plus with any beach. There are public restrooms and picnic tables located right next to a large parking lot, so this is nice as well. The inside of these restrooms isn’t as clean as the beaches, but it is okay. As for other activities, it is common to find people fishing and there is a long, walkable pier that takes you out over the Gulf of Mexico.

Texas beaches are not as popular as those in states like Florida, South Carolina, or other states, but there are more things going on here on the Texas Coast than people realize and Matagorda Bay Nature Park is a good place to park your RV, spend time on the sandy beach, get educated in the nature center, and otherwise soak up the natural attractions around you. It’s a good place for a waterside getaway here on the...

Beautiful RV Park right near the beach. Property was immaculate and all facilities very well taken care of (including bathrooms). I didn't see ANY trash ANYWHERE. Quiet at night when it should be. I was the last reservation in spot 001 for a Saturday night, so the park was full. Loads of people and children around playing and having a good time. I left for a bit to get supplies, came back around 12:30 AM and the place was dead quiet. Management was as kind as could be about everything and helped me jump start my vehicle after I had let the battery drain too much while setting up camp. They were like good neighbors as opposed to overlords. The beach was very clean around the park as well. Yes, the mosquito's are an issue here, like anywhere along the Gulf Coast's wetlands, but grab yourself a couple cans of Cutter back yard repellent, or the like, spray that, and you're set. Shade is also non existent here, so bring your own. Lack of said shade is a small trade off for how clean and well-kept this place is. The price was very reasonable for the type of spot I paid for and the amenities I enjoyed. My visit was between 5/12/2018 and 5/14/2018. I...