A Goliad State Park Day Trip: Everything to Know

If you are in the Gulf Coast Area of Texas, Goliad State Park is the perfect place to take a day trip! Whether you want to hike some easy trails, go kayaking or just learn some interesting history about the Mission on site, there is something for everyone.

Just 2 hours from San Antonio, this little park is rich in history and a great place to visit for a few hours. If you go in the spring, there are Bluebonnets and other flowers blooming all over the place!

Let’s get you started with some important links and then we’ll dive into all the details about why Goliad State Park is a great place to take a day trip to!

Important Links

Goliad State Park website

Park Map

Goliad State Park Camping – Make Reservations Here

Paddling Trail in Goliad State Park

Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!

Camping Journal – Never Forget Your Camping Trips Details Again!

Texas State Parks Pass

Location

Just 2 hours from San Antonio, TX there is this beautiful state park that is rich in history. Goliad State Park is within 2.5 hours of many major Texas cities, making it the perfect day trip!

Goliad State Park is 2.5 hours from Houston, TX, just over 1 hour from Corpus Christi, TX, and a little over 2 hours from Austin, TX. If you live anywhere in the Gulf Coast area, you’ll love taking a day trip to Goliad!

Fees

All of Texas State Parks, including Goliad State Park, have a daily fee that will need to be paid upon entering the park. The daily fee is $4 per person (age 13+) and free to children (12 and under).

Unfortunately, the daily fee is still applied when you are camping here. So even if you book a week of camping and pay the camping fees in full, you’ll still have to pay the daily fee each day for each person camping. It can add up fast!

But don’t let that deter you from camping here! There is a Texas State Parks Pass that you can purchase for $70. The pass is good for 1 year from purchase, gets you discounts at the store/camping AND it waives all entrance fees for you and your car-full of guests. So if you want to camp in multiple Texas State Parks, this pass could save you a lot of money!

Hours

Open daily:

8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

HQ and Historic Buildings:

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Quick History

The Mission that is located on the grounds of Goliad State Park is known as the Mission Espíritu Santo. It was established at this location in 1749 by Spanish Missionaries who were looking to spread Catholicism to the area.

This Mission became a home to not only the Spanish people who moved here, but also several Native American tribes. They grew abundant amounts of grain here and became famous for being the first large cattle ranch in Texas with over 40,000 head of free-roaming cattle.

The Mission was surrounded by stone walls and housed rooms for the priests and the Native American families There were also workrooms, a granary, and a nearby forge.

By 1830 the Mission was facing repeated attacks from the nearby Apache and Comanche tribes. The priest made the decision to close the Mission and with neglect and plundering, there was almost nothing left of the original building.

Fast forward to about 100 years later when the Civilian Conservation Corps was sent to rebuild the Mission. After a few years of hard work, the Mission was restored and stands as the beautiful building that we see today.

What to Expect

From the moment you enter Goliad State Park, you’ll be greeted by a welcoming sign. You’ll very quickly come to the Visitor’s Center. You’ll have to get your parking pass where you’ll either pay the daily fee, or show your Texas State Parks Pass. Once you’ve paid, you can begin your adventure.

This park is well known for their restored, historical Mission. This area is a mix of restoration and ruins spread out in their original locations. So walk around and enjoy the gateway to the past!

They also have several great camping areas where you can park a camper or set up a tent. Whether you prefer to sleep on the ground or in a fluffy bed in your camper, there is something for every budget!

As far as activities, besides exploring the historical grounds, you have hiking/biking trails, a paddling trail, and a large picnic area. So if you come for the day, you’ll be able to enjoy some time in nature and history.

Hiking/Biking Trails

Throughout the park there are 2 hiking trails and one longer paved hiking/biking trail. You can find all the trails labeled with dotted lines on this state park map.

The Trails

San Antonio River Trail – 1 mile – Flat and easy, mostly shaded.
Aranama Trail – 0.25 miles – Flat nature trail
Angel of Goliad – 2.5 miles – Paved, little shade, and great for biking

Paddling

Along the San Antonio River Trail is a kayak launch that will give you easy access to the 6 mile Paddling Trail. You can either start and finish paddling here, or launch up-river and take out at this kayak area. Feel free to reference the Paddling Trail map above to get an idea about kayaking here!

Picnicking

Goliad State Park has a large and well-spaced picnic area. With several dozen picnic tables just below the Mission, you and your family can eat and enjoy the view.

Suggested Itinerary

Goliad State Park is only 188 acres, so while there are a couple trails, kayaking and the Mission to explore. I honestly think this park is a 4 – 6 hour park. Here is a suggested Itinerary depending on your interests!

8am – Arrive and Pay Daily Fee ($4 per person)
8:20am – Head to the Mission and explore the grounds/read the information. There may be a Park Ranger on the premise so you can ask questions.
9:30am – Hit the trails! There are 2 short hiking trails, and there is one paved biking/walking trail. Or check out the Paddling Trail!
12pm – Enjoy a nice picnic lunch in the Picnic Area
1pm – Drive over to the historic square of Goliad, TX (5 min drive). Walk around the shops, and read up on the history of the town.

Again, you might need more or less time depending on how quickly you and your party can move. But I would allow 4 – 6 hours to enjoy this park and the area.

The caveat being if you are planning on camping here! There are several great ways to camp and stay here, so let’s dive into the camping details.

Camping

There are several ways to camp in Goliad State Park. So let’s take a look at them, but then we’ll dive into a price comparison. From affordable tent camping to the pricier options with Full Hook-Up, there is something for everyone.

Campsites with Water

First up are the campsites with water. This is what people typically think of when they think of camping. These are tent sites where you can relax around a campfire and sleep on the ground.

There are 7 tent campsites in the Longhorn area and 7 tent sites in the Vaquero area. And an additional 10 tent sites in the Jacales area. Each site has a water spigot, a picnic table, a fire ring and a grill.

Campsites with Water/Electric

Next Up is the middle ground when it comes to price and amenities. There are 14 sites in the Jacales camping area that have water and electric hook-ups. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, grill and a spot to park your camper/tow vehicle.

The Jacales Camping area is essentially a parking lot with assigned parking spaces as the sites. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend camping in this area unless you are comfortable being just a few feet from your neighbor and being parked in a parking lot.

Full Hook-Up Sites

The fanciest way to camp in Goliad State Park is by booking a Full Hook-Up Site in the Karanawa Area of the park. There are 20 pull-through campsites that will accommodate up to a 45 foot camper, with water, sewer and electric hook-ups.

This section is just a short walk from any area of the park and is by far the nicest camping area. With some shaded spots and some in the sun, you can choose the type of spot you would like to camp in.

Screened Shelters

And finally we have the 5 screened shelters that are also located in the Karanawa camping area. These shelters are perfect for keeping the bugs at bay if you are planning on tent camping here. Or you can park a campervan or up to a 22 foot trailer here and have your own sheltered patio area.

Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, a fan within the shelter, and water/electric hook-ups outside. Dogs are allowed on the site, but not allowed in the shelter, so keep that in mind!

Price Comparison

Let’s take a look at the price point for each way to camp at Goliad State Park. These are the prices as of 5/2025 and they DO NOT include the daily fee. These prices are here to give you an idea for your budget.

Campsite w/Water (Walk-In)

$10 per night
$70 per week

Campsite w/Water

$10 per night
$70 per week

Campsites w/Water & Electric

$20 per night
$140 per week

Full Hook-Up Sites

$25 per night
$175 per week

Screened Shelters

$25 per night
$175 per week

Goliad, TX

Just a few miles down the road is the adorable historic square of Goliad, Texas. This adorable little town has restaurants, shops and their restored Courthouse.

The Courthouse was restored to resemble the original 1894 courthouse. This vintage neighborhood is shaded by old oak trees that are centuries old! One of the trees is specifically labeled as the “Hanging Tree” where they used to hang criminals in the 1800’s after a trial.

So if you have a few extra minutes to walk around, you definitely should. Or if you have a few hours to spare, there are some great restaurants or go shopping in the historic square.

Conclusion

If you are looking for Texas history as well as a great place to take a walk or go paddling, you’ll love Goliad State Park! This park is beautiful and offers an interesting insight into Texas ranching in the 1800’s.

There are also 4 different camping areas within the park that will fit any budget or style of camping. Whether you want to tent camp or have the largest fifth wheel in the Full Hook-Up area, there is something for you!

As always, feel free to email me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com if you have any questions about Goliad State Park.