Camping options near El Lago, Texas range from full-service RV resorts to beachfront dispersed sites, with most facilities concentrated along Galveston Bay and the Gulf Coast. The area features several developed campgrounds with cabin accommodations, including Galveston Island State Park, USA RV Resorts Marina Bay, and Brickhouse RV Resort. Most campgrounds provide concrete pads with full hookups for RVs, while tent camping is permitted at select locations like Jackie's Place RV Resort and Galveston Island State Park, which offers both beachside and bayside camping areas.
Weather conditions significantly impact the camping experience in this coastal region, with high humidity and temperatures during summer months. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly for weekend stays and during peak tourist seasons. Hurricane season (June through November) may affect availability and safety at coastal sites. Bolivar Flats offers one of the few dispersed camping options in the area, requiring a permit from the local courthouse. Access to most campgrounds is straightforward via paved roads, though beach camping areas may require vehicles capable of driving on sand. A visitor noted, "Great place to stay in the beach in Texas," regarding the Bolivar Flats dispersed camping area.
Waterfront access represents the primary draw for most campers in the El Lago area. Galveston Island State Park provides direct beach access with both bay and gulf side camping options. Several visitors mentioned the value of staying on the bay side for a quieter experience with fewer crowds. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the region, with bird watching particularly popular. Fort Anahuac Park, offering primitive camping for up to three nights, provides unique historical context and views of Houston's skyline across the bay. Mosquitoes present a common challenge, especially during warmer months, with one camper reporting they were "worse at Surfside at night." Most developed campgrounds feature swimming pools, laundry facilities, and clubhouses to enhance comfort during the hot Texas summers.
$49 - $79 / night
"Pool is located next to Jarbo Bayou for birdwatching, kayaking and fishing. There is a convenient laundry facility on site as well as a clubhouse. Staff is very friendly."
"The location in Kemah is walking distance to several good restaurants and musical entertainment. Across the street is Clear Lake Shores. A bayside community with boats."
"There’s a nice club house for parties, laundry facilities, a pool next to the bayou, fishing and kayaking/canoeing in the bayou and a friendly staff that keeps the park clean and cared for."
$15 - $35 / night
"Tents are allowed at Surfside sites but they are more difficult to get reservations then at the tent sites a couple miles from the surf. we stayed in the tent sites away from the surf."
"Friendly staff, clean facilities, and great beach walks definitely contribute to a positive impression. It's wise to prefer the bay side sites for a quieter atmosphere and fewer crowds."
$45 - $67 / night
"Located in BACLIFF, Texas Galveston County… North Shore of Galveston Bay… Short Golf Cart Ride from Bay… Fenced Dog Park and Pool a must for Gulf Coast Heat…. Lots of places to eat and/or hang out."
"We needed a place for 3 nights near Bacliff, TX and this was it. When we arrived the office was closed but the maintenance worker escorted us to a site and said we could register later."
$40 - $55 / night
"Bay RV Park is just two blocks away from Galveston Bay. We have huge, Texas-size sites with full hook-ups (20, 30 and 50 amp) and we also offer easy park pull-through sites. "
"Great place to stay in the beach in Texas."
"Adjacent to a preserve. Excellent."
$35 - $40 / night
"There is also a dog park surrounded by water. Restrooms are small but clean. Staff was very helpful. If we were planning a return trip we would definitely stay there again."
"Nice friendly staff, short drive to Galveston Island. Nice seafood restaurants in the area. Fishing pier available short walk across the street."
GuideIt's not the prettiest beach. Looks like the highway used to go through here and collapsed. It's free and there is garbage cans. We parked on an open blacktop area. The beach seems pretty solid maybe for a trailer or smaller RV. We are 30' class C towing so we stayed pretty close to the entrance. The highway does run right by
GuideGreat beach camping. From the east edge of Surfside Beach city limits up the coast about 6-7 miles is all open beach with Great hard pack for driving any vehicle on. Free. 14 day limit. Trash cans at each beach entrance. Please help keep the beach clean and free. Parks & Rec teams do a fantastic job of keeping the beach clean and maintained. They drove by several times each day. I was here for 2 weeks in February. Good verizon signal. No skeeters until the last few days when it got into the upper 70s and was very humid.
RangerThis was a great spot. Our site was level and easy to get set up. It was off season so the office was closed early when we arrived but they did call us to let us know and it all was pretty smooth.
Power, water, sewer great just as expected no surprises or problems. We loved our spot and the proximity to the beach do sunrises and walks to the Seawall. So many options for dining and we did love visiting Galveston.
We went to Seawall Church, the Farmers Market, Kite Shop and enjoyed Happy Hour watching the cruise ships pass by.
The Sandpiper has nice laundry room and community room. And a very nice pool, but it was too cold to enjoy. We would def stay again!
RangerThe pad had 50 Amp and Water, there is a dump station as you come in or leave.
The pictures on their website don’t show how large and nicely paved the area is. The table is under a large covering and you have plenty of space to enjoy the ocean breeze!
The beach is very nice and quiet (in February) and we enjoyed wonderful sunrises and walking/beach combing.
There were a few mosquitos at dusk…but the seems to disappear. The walkway to beach is very smooth and accessible. There are other RV parks in the area that you have to cross the road to get to the beach, we appreciated that it was on the beach! Bath houses were nice. Seemed pretty well kept and recently built. (A couple years maybe?)
GuideWe wanted to be close to the city so we could cycle around the sights of Galveston. The cheaper sites are actually on the street, with no fence around them and it was very noisy. We were able to move to a different site though which was great. The bathrooms were clean and well appointed. Happy to recommend a stay here but just be aware of the noise on the street.
TravelerWe stayed for 6 nights. Don’t be intimidated by staying on the beach! As others have suggested, the sand is packed more like dirt on this beach, which made it very comfortable to drive in. Our truck and trailer were safe throughout the week. We lucked out with good weather.
Things to note: there are trash cans right near the entrance of the beach only. No water near the beach, but if you drive to San Luis Pass County Park, ask the parks staff you’re staying on the beach and hopefully they’ll let you fill up (they let us!). Otherwise, gas stations nearby are good options. This was something that may be obvious to many, but we were very surprised by the moisture on this beach. Everything was totally soaked by dusk each day, and remained wet through night due to dew/ humidity. Recommend a car/rig self-wash right as you leave at TJ’s in Clute/Freeport. As others have noted, just watch the tide predictions, and you should be good. The tide never reached us, not even close.
During the weekdays, we were sometimes the only folks we could see anywhere on the beach, which was cool. It felt nice when other campers showed up at night, tho. They mostly kept a nice distance, so it felt nice and private. It was very often patrolled by parks staff. Highly recommend if you have off-grid power capabilities and don’t mind the humidity. Enjoy!
ScoutThis is a free park but you must be self contained. Email for a permit. Email parks@chamberstx.gov. Include your name, dates you want to stay, and email address. Attach a photo of your drivers license and license plate.
ScoutThe Dyrt is a go-to platform for campers who want honest, crowd-sourced info about where to pitch a tent or park an RV. It blends user reviews, photos, video and tips with maps of campgrounds across the U.S., from national parks to hidden boondocking spots. What makes it stand out is the real-world detail—people share what cell service is like, how noisy it gets, and whether a spot actually feels worth the drive. Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or a long road trip, The Dyrt helps turn guesswork into confidence before you head outdoors.
GuideStayed one week during the Freeze of Winter 2026! They communicated via email very well on the status of water. The facilities are very nice! The spots are tightly spaced together but there's plenty of room still to spread out.
Campgrounds near El Lago, Texas offer versatile options for outdoor stays within proximity to Galveston Bay and coastal amenities. The region sits at an elevation near sea level with a subtropical climate marked by high humidity year-round and average summer temperatures reaching 90°F. Winter camping from December through February provides more comfortable conditions with temperatures ranging from 45-65°F and significantly fewer insects.
Fishing opportunities: At Bolivar Flats Dispersed Camping, campers can fish directly from the shoreline. "Great time fishing here," notes one visitor, with the added benefit of "beautiful location. You can park right up to the water."
Birdwatching: The coastal location near Brickhouse RV Resort provides excellent bird viewing opportunities. "Pool is located next to Jarbo Bayou for birdwatching, kayaking and fishing," according to a reviewer who rated the experience five stars.
Watersports: Many campsites offer direct water access for kayaking and other activities. "The adult part of the pool rule wasn't enforced because when I walked over to it there were several families in the pool," reports a camper at USA RV Resorts Marina Bay, indicating multiple water recreation options.
Beach activities: Beyond swimming, the beaches provide space for relaxation away from crowds. At Galveston Island State Park Campground, "campsites are concrete, level, with a very nice shelter. We stayed on the beach side and easy access to the beach from pretty much any site."
Quiet weekday camping: For those seeking solitude, timing matters significantly. At Bolivar Flats, "the weekends are loud and busy, during the week it calms down and gets quiet. There are also paramotors that fly over head, they are fun to watch."
Well-maintained facilities: Galveston Island State Park Campground receives consistent praise for cleanliness. "Restrooms are clean and well maintained all park. Rangers were very friendly and helpful. With such close proximity to Houston, it is a great weekend getaway!"
Concrete pads: Level, solid camping surfaces appear frequently in positive reviews. At Jackie's Place RV Resort, "Pads are all cement with room to park next to your rig. All sites are back so use some spotters to get in safely. Beautiful pool, clean restrooms and showers."
Waterfront views: Bay views rank highly among camper preferences. At Tropical Gardens RV Park & Resort, visitors appreciate the "beautiful views and especially the sunrises."
Permit requirements: For dispersed camping at Bolivar Flats, permits may be seasonal. "We stayed here in early December without a permit, and it was fine. The permits you buy are valid from January to December and we had heard that they don't really enforce the permit rule this late in the year."
Weather considerations: Wind and tide conditions can affect coastal camping experiences. One Bolivar Flats camper noted, "Wind was blowing around 30mph from the south so the waves were amazing to listen and watch."
Biting insects: Coastal areas typically have significant insect populations. "Only gave 4 stars because of the biting flies... They were swarming out dog, we had to keep her in the tent most of the time," reports a Bolivar Flats visitor.
Electrical issues: Check connections carefully at some parks. At Palms RV Park, one camper warned of "incorrect wiring with the 50 amp service destroyed our fridges and microwave."
Pool options: Multiple campgrounds offer swimming pools as alternatives to beach swimming. At USA RV Resorts Marina Bay, "They have an adult pool and a family pool," providing separate recreation spaces for different age groups.
Beach access convenience: When camping with children, proximity to beaches matters. At Galveston Island State Park, "The beach is a short walk from campground," and "the beach had clear water really nice sand."
Entertainment proximity: Space Center RV Park provides convenient access to NASA attractions. "We uber to NASA and it was so convenient. We also had a shipt delivery to us for groceries!"
Shade importance: Summer temperatures require cooling options. At USA RV Resorts Marina Bay, "There isn't any shade so it makes it hot during the summer with all of the concrete etc reflecting the sunlight back on you camper."
Site layout: Back-in sites dominate the region's RV parks. At Brickhouse RV Resort, expect "level concrete pads with room to park. Very tightly packed together."
Parking challenges: Some parks have congestion issues. "Only real problem was the people park on the main thruway making getting in and out with the trailer difficult," notes a visitor at Brickhouse RV Resort.
Beach driving conditions: For beach camping, vehicle capabilities matter. At Bolivar Flats, "We're about 17k pounds and had no issues driving and setting up on the sand."
RV size considerations: When selecting a campsite near El Lago, check site dimensions. At Big Spot RV Resort, one reviewer noted it's a "VERY NICE RV RESORT" with accommodations for larger rigs, featuring "clean restrooms, pool area and hot tub."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near El Lago, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, El Lago, TX offers a wide range of camping options, with 219 campgrounds and RV parks near El Lago, TX and 10 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near El Lago, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near El Lago, TX is Brickhouse RV Resort with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near El Lago, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near El Lago, TX.
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