“containing hundreds of acres of costal marshes”
Matagorda Bay Nature Park is a 1,600-acre park and preserve at the mouth of the Colorado River on the Matagorda Peninsula. LCRA developed the park to provide recreation, education, wetlands preservation and economic benefit to the region. The park has about two miles of Gulf of Mexico and two miles river frontage and hundreds of acres of coastal marshes and dunes. It is one of the best birding areas in the nation. LCRA acquired the property in 2001 as part of its commitment to preserve natural resources for future generations and to provide science education, recreation and nature tourism opportunities.
Reviews of Matagorda Bay Nature Park RV Park
23 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G/5G
Confirmed by 6 users | Last reported on July 22, 2023AT&T 4G/5G
Confirmed by 12 users | Last reported on December 10, 2023T-Mobile 4G/5G
Confirmed by 4 users | Last reported on January 07, 2024I believe this is a state facility with very nice campsites for RVers with asphalt roads and gravel pads. Water, elec. and sewer sites. Riverfront sites best by reservation. Located at the mouth of where the Colorado river enters the Gulf, just south of the neat little town of Matagorda, now a tourist/sportsmen's town. Full but limited service available here with larger cities 40 miles north.
If your timing is right, twice a year local cowboys herd cows thru the C/G to and from the wild island for the summer on the west side of the river. Great photos of the earlier cattle drive in the visitor center.
The never ending beach east is just a short drive (or walk) from the C/G. Your beach experience can be as communal or remote as you want to make it.
Nightly Rate: -
Days Stayed: 5
Site Number: -
The price above includes a daily park use fee for two people. When I got there I could hear but not see the G o M surf. It's an almost intimidating roar for those not used to it. The half mile long boardwalk that extends out over the pounding waves is an exciting experience.
The park is set up nicely with a mix of pull thrus and backins. There are 4 price tiers and the amenities are equal with some slight differences. The lowest tier($27) gets zero wi-fi and a sewer at the front of the drive and water and elec at the back. Not quite full hook up. There is no cable or o.t.a. tv. We had to pull up to the sewer outlet, prior to leaving, to dump our tanks. This also blocked the park road. We stayed in late Feb. 2018 so it was not a traffic problem as the park was 3/4 full. The Texas version of the Colorado river flows past most sites on it's way to the Gulf. This is not the same river that carved the Grand Canyon. I didn't feel unsafe but the park is very remote and wide open to anyone who wants to drive in. The office, bath, showers and laundry are in a building on stilts and all worked flawlessly. Access was via a security code on each door. We stayed in a 25' trailer.
Nightly Rate: $37.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 57
We stayed at Matagorda early March, 2018. The check in process was easy and someone was always around if we needed anything. We were on a concrete pad, full hook up site and it was well maintained. Our view included the river and a fishing dock; we watched the cattle graze on the island across from us. No dog park but laundry facilities and bathhouse (we didn't use either). The WiFi was adequate for me to work but we were close to the main office building.
The ocean was in easy walking distance and there were also paths to drive onto the beach. There was a very long fishing pier as well.
The views were gorgeous....and we had lots of wonderful walks on the beach. Other than walking and fishing, there isn't anything else to do (which we loved!). Take your grocery supplies with you - the closest major grocery was about 30 miles. There was a small market in Matagorda - about 10 miles away. Since we were in off season, there were not many restaurants open.
The only negative - which was no fault of anyone - were the mosquitos! Take repellent!!
Nightly Rate: $43.00
Days Stayed: 7
Site Number: -
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
The campground is exceptionally well maintained and the staff is very kind. Unfortunately, the problem of mosquitoes is real, as soon as the wind falls, have been literally attacked! We quickly decided to stay only one night! The drinking water is yellow and tastes pvc. WiFi is NOT working, just limited in building and even not very good. The price paid corresponds to the Passport America discount plus entrance fees to the park. This is the first time that the previous comments do not go at all in the same direction of our experience.
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 4
This isn't escapees and a Passport America park that gives 50% off Sunday through Thursday. We camped here on a weekend in January 2019. It was cold and very windy and so there were no mosquitoes. The staff was wonderful. I would love to come back on a nice day even with mosquitoes. There's a lot of marsh and water areas. Easy beach access. And Easy Bay access. We were on the South Loop and had a nice grassy area. We look right out into the bay. Some motor boat noise.
Nightly Rate: $38.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 9
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
We stay here at least three times a year, Friendly staff and always very clean. The staff cleans every site before it is available for the next guest. Pads are concrete and level with large grassy lots Fishing is outstanding and the beach is really close. Mosquito repellent is vey advisable. There are local shrimp fishermen who sell shrimp at reasonable prices.
Nightly Rate: $35.00
Days Stayed: 15
Site Number: 19
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
This is a great RV park for a relaxing get away. Friendly staff, easy check-in. The restroom/showers & dumpster was pretty far away but there were bathrooms closer to my site open 8-5p at the check in building. The RV park was very clean and well maintained. The park leading to the beach & pier was just across from the RV park. We stay in the south loop and headed to the beach 2 or 3 times a day. The walk to the beach using the fishing pier was our favorite part of the day, easy & scenic. The beach was full of shells, a shell hunters dream. The sunrise & sunsets were beautiful. I came prepared for mosquitoes especially due to heavy rains up river and at Matagorda. The steady winds and a good spraying kept them at bay. I will be back as this is a prefect long weekend get away from Austin, Tx.
Nightly Rate: $40.00
Days Stayed: 4
Site Number: 12
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
Dans le stationnement du centre d'information touristique, qui est situé sur le même site, stationnement 24 heures est autorisé aux VRs.
Surface asphaltée, majoritairement de niveau, toilettes, abris avec table, magnifique endroit pour marcher, pêcher et observer les oiseaux.
Avons passé une nuitée, très tranquille. Dans le centre d'information touristique, il y a une exposition et un espace style "salon" pour s'y détendre. Le personnel est très accueillant.
"In the parking lot of tourist information center, which is located on the same site, parking 24 hours is allowed to RVs.
Asphalted surface, mostly level, toilets, shelters with table, beautiful place to walk, fish and observe the birds.
Had a night, very quiet. In the tourist information center, there is an exhibition and a lounge area to relax. The staff is very welcoming."
Nightly Rate: $0.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: none
Cell Coverage Rating
T-Mobile 4G
Nice quiet park with knowledgeable, friendly personnel.
We planned our camping first trip to this LCRA park by making reservations 182 days prior to arriving, which we incurred a $6 online registration fee.
Arrived to a friendly and quick check-in on Friday at 230pm, where we also received info on a Saturday morning guided beach walk ($5/pp), free Saturday morning coffee and pastries and a goulash cook-off ($8) Saturday evening (we did not attend). Kayak rentals also available.
The LCRA campground is along the Colorado River with "waterfront" sites viewing the Colorado River. We could certainly hear the roar of the ocean in our North Loop campsite, but there is no ocean "view" from any of the campsites.
Absolutely no trees or vegetation between sites within this campground. Brisk ocean "breezes", made it impossible to deploy our trailer awning. Some sites are closer to one another than others.
Our back-in campsite was a very level concrete pad with two sewer outlets, electric and water, a large concrete picnic table and a lantern pole. No fire pit, but campfires are permitted with your own off-the-ground screened fire pit, which we had. Bring your own firewood as none sold by LCRA.
Very nice and very clean toilets/showers in an elevated building, accessible by a ramp. Code required for entry. Laundry facility in the same building as toilets/showers. It also required code for entry.
Nice Colorado River fishing piers with fish cleaning tables with freshwater spigot and a super pier over the beach/ocean.
Daily we saw the camp hosts working diligently, even hosing down and scrubbing bird poop from campsites. Everything was very well maintained.
Complimentary LCRA provided WiFi was weak and unreliable.
When the ocean "breeze" died down and the humidity was up, we were attacked by swarms of mosquitos (it was bad) which required us to heavily apply repellent.
Campground dark sky view impacted greatly by campground street lights and fishing pier lights.
The Saturday morning guided beach walk was an exceptional experience thanks to the two great guides. The walk was 1.5 hours for approximately 2 miles. Throughout the walk, Paige was getting pelted with questions from the 20 or so participants and she never missed a beat when answering! There was a plethora of information provided, not only about the sea life and beach shells but also about the area and the park.
Bay City, 20-minute drive, for the closest Walmart, HEB and other retailers and restaurants. Not much in the town of Matagorda and of those, not many operating in February.
Nightly Rate: $37.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 58
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
Nature park to me sounded like lush vegetation, secluded, etc. This Is a parking lot style rv with about 8 ft of cut grass between camp sites. There is no privacy outside your rig. The other negative point I noticed was the proximity to the restrooms and laundry. If you are at the end of the loop you have to walk through the rest of the park to access the building. Not convenient. But the biggest deal breaker are the mosquitoes. They swarm you like angry bees. We lost interest in going out after our wrists, ankles, and faces were swollen with bites. Spraying Deet didn't seem to help. Matagorda beach w/c is walking distance have signs that you get fined for swimming. We weren't fishing or crabbing so not much to do. There's quite a bit of trash all over the beach and people seemed to be okay with it.
Nightly Rate: $40.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 47
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
T-Mobile 4G
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Matagorda Bay Nature Park RV Park
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 6:00 am - 7:00 pm
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Good for bird watching, boating, and 3 more activities.
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- Other public land (TVA, DOD, county parks with campgrounds)
- Last Nightly Rate
- 37.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 40.0
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 0.0
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Fifty Amp
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Full Hookup
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Rec Facilities
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Pull Through
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Tent Sites
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Dump Station
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Big Rigs
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Open Seasonally
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Age Restricted
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Boondock
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Cabin Sites
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Dispersed Sites
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Firewood
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Fulltime Residents
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Group Tent Sites
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Laundry
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Mobile Homes
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Permit Required
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Potable Water
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Propane
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Public Water
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Showers
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Standard Tent Sites
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Water Hookup
Campground, Restrooms
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