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GuideBayou Oaks RV Park
Basic campgrounds with no frills. But full 50a hookups with security gate, level sites, and fishing allowed in bayou.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Matagorda, TX
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Matagorda Bay Nature Park offers full hookup sites for pet owners along the Colorado River, with concrete pads and picnic tables where dogs can relax while staying leashed. The park maintains clean facilities with coded-entry restrooms and showers, though many visitors note strong mosquitoes and recommend bringing repellent for evening dog walks. Several pet-friendly campgrounds in the area welcome dogs, including Lighthouse RV Park, Riverside Park, and Serendipity Bay RV Resort, all providing water and electric hookups for RVs and designated areas for pet waste disposal. Recent visitors report the park is well-maintained with daily cleaning, including regular hosing of bird droppings from campsites.
Beach access for dogs exists at Matagorda Beach Dispersed Camping, where pets can run freely along the shoreline and owners can gather driftwood for bonfires. A $10 beach parking permit is required, purchased at the gas station before crossing the bridge. Most camping areas lack shade, so summer visitors should prepare for heat exposure when walking dogs, especially on concrete pads that heat up during the day. The Colorado River fishing piers provide excellent spots for fishing with pets nearby, though the abundance of street lights throughout the campgrounds means limited dark sky viewing. Walking trails connect the campgrounds to the beach, offering morning exercise opportunities, though the area's prevalent thorns can injure dog paws if not carefully monitored.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Matagorda (62)
1. Matagorda Bay Nature Park
"This park is located inside the Matagorda Nature Preserve and located directly on the ICW with a beautiful view from pretty much every camp site."
"This location is absolutely awesome. Right where the Colorado River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The fishing is awesome and the sunsets are spectacular! "
Check Availabilityfrom $27 - $50 / night
2. Matagorda Bay Nature and RV Park
"Saturday morning 1.5 hour guided Gulf beach walk($5/pp) by Paige and Whitley. Paige knew her“stuff” as she was pelted continuously with questions and she never missed a beat!"
"Fishing right outside your RV. Walk to the beach or there is access to drive on the beach I would advise a 4wheel drivevehicle. I’ve been to this campground a few times."
3. Matagorda Beach Dispersed Camping
"This is camping in the sand on Matagorda Beach. No accommodations. Will need 4 x 4 to get out and down the beach."
4. Lighthouse RV Park
5. FM 521 River Park
"Besides the highway being so close, it's really nice. Can't complain...it's freeeee! Happy New Year everyone."
6. Serendipity Bay RV Resort
"Nice big bathrooms with showers, laundry, pool, playground, gym room, small fenced dog run and large heated community room. No pets allowed in laundry/community room."
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $50 / night
7. Riverside Park
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $35 / night
8. Matagorda Fishing Paradise
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $110 / night
9. Harbor View RV Resort
10. Gorda River Lot
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $75 / night
Drive Time
- 1 hr 31 min from Victoria, TX
- 1 hr 47 min from Houston, TX
- 2 hrs 34 min from Corpus Christi, TX
- 2 hrs 40 min from College Station, TX
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Matagorda, TX
20 Photos of 62 Matagorda Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Matagorda, TX
161 Reviews of 62 Matagorda Campgrounds
msdjonz
ScoutCarl Park
Just a boat ramp
Boat ramp with multiple tables and piers. No overnight camping allowed. Nice for Day camp for free.
Matt K.ScoutEl Campo Lost Lagoon
For Drinkers and Partiers
If you are a drinker who likes to party and pay for over priced, watered down drinks, then this place is right up your alley. The weekends are full of loud, obnoxious people driving around in illuminated golf carts blaring loud, explicit music and screaming to each other across sites. On Sundays, everyone leaves and the place becomes a ghost town with only a few sites occupied the rest of the week. They close everything up early during the week because of it, typically an hour early. We drank one night and was served arguably the worst margaritas we've ever had served in a small, clear plastic cup that was filled to the brim with ice. There are no posted prices anywhere and I found out those horrible drinks cost$10 each. This concept is clearly built into their business model because they have you pay for all the amenities with your wristband that's linked to your credit card so when you buy something, they scan your wristband and don't inherently inform you how much they are pulling. You have to explicitly ask every time. The pool layout is designed with the drinkers in mind with two pool side bars, band stage, and lots of tables and cabanas(additional fees to use of course). It's not conducive for kids playing or anything like that. The lazy river is a terrible design because the ledge is continuous sharp rocks that catch your raft/floatie and sounds like it's going to pop it. It also contains several areas where you have to watch your head from contacting low bridges, rocks, etc., and then at the end, it spits you out into the pool with all the tables and you bump into people eating and drinking. In order to return, you have to paddle your way back to the entrance, through the people and tables, or get off and walk over. The experience is hardly a lazy or relaxing one. Another fundamental complaint about this place is that almost everything costs additional money above your base site fee, including WiFi, RC cars, pool obstacle course, arcade, floaties/rafts, etc. Also, the place claims it's completely cashless, but that's not 100% true. The laundry takes coins and so does the arcade. I wasn't fond of the staff either, because they were rude and snooty. The El Campo and Wharton areas have a lot of nice, down-to-earth people...they just don't work here. The bugs are REALLY bad here too on top of everything else. There is simply WAY too much competition in this areas of Texas to sell yourself short and stay at El Campo Lost Lagoon and get eaten alive by fire ants and flying insects.
Trent R.ScoutEl Campo Lost Lagoon
A Non-Family Friendly Money Grab
My wife posted a review after our stay, and the owner responded to it. The response was later removed, but we captured a screenshot beforehand for documentation. I am adding this review to provide a clear record of our experience and the sequence of events. Prior to arrival, we spoke with a staff member named Barbie, who quoted a monthly rate of$1,300 plus a$200 event fee for the weekend of September 11. During that conversation, we asked whether the initial payment could be applied toward the monthly rate if we chose to extend our stay. We were told this would be possible. After the weekend, I returned to the office to request the monthly rate and apply the amount already paid, but management declined to honor that verbal agreement. The amenities differed from what we expected based on the website and photos. Many features require additional fees, including Wi‑Fi, and several amenities are limited unless those fees are paid. During our stay, the park was significantly busier on weekends than weekdays. We observed approximately five to ten occupied sites out of more than 200 during weekdays. Because of the lower weekday activity, certain facilities—such as the kitchen being closed during the week, pools closing earlier than expected, and hot tub jets not being available—made the experience comparable to a standard RV park rather than a resort. The site length also differed from our expectations. The park advertises 80‑foot sites, but our 40‑foot RV plus 20‑foot trailer left very limited space for our vehicle. At other locations with 80‑foot sites, we can park our vehicle normally and parallel to the RV without issue. At this location, we had to park the vehicle sideways to fit, which suggests the listed site length may not reflect the usable space. We also attempted to use the on‑site propane service. Staff were unable to fill our tank and suggested the issue was with the tank itself. We later had the tank filled at Love’s in Wharton, where it accepted 23 gallons without issue. For visitors primarily interested in weekend recreation, social activities, or events—and who plan to use the paid amenities—this location may be a good fit. Our experience differed due to the length of our stay, the change in the verbal agreement, the limitations of the amenities during weekdays, and the owner’s now‑removed response to my wife’s review.
Lisa L.ScoutEl Campo Lost Lagoon
What RVers Should Know: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly After 3 Weeks
We stayed at El Campo Lost Lagoon for three weeks, including multiple weekends and Labor Day, so our experience wasn't based on a single busy weekend. There are positives. The property is new, the main pool is nice, and we genuinely enjoyed the live music. Unfortunately, the overall experience—particularly the pricing and handling of a serious incident involving minors—left us unwilling to return. PRICING: We were quoted$1,500 for a month. Because we didn't know how long we'd need to stay due to my husband's job, we specifically asked whether our weekly payments could be rolled into the monthly rate if we stayed longer. We were told YES. We therefore booked at$650/week. We ultimately needed three weeks, but management refused to convert us to the monthly rate. We paid$1,950 for THREE weeks—$450 more than we'd been quoted for FOUR weeks. Different weekly/monthly rates are normal; our issue is that we specifically asked beforehand and were told the payments could roll over. Extended-stay RVers: get your rate arrangement in writing. AMENITIES/INTERNET: We weren't told when booking or checking in that essentially everything except the main pool would be closed. The hot tub required asking an employee to turn on the jets, which didn't always happen, and over Labor Day weekend bar staff told us it wasn't working. There was no included campground Wi-Fi available to us. We purchased the third-party service we were given information for and found it terrible. Bring your own hotspot if reliable internet matters. POOL/WEEKENDS: We enjoyed the live music, but during performances the main pool becomes much more of an event/party area. The stage and reserved tables, combined with people gathering near the stage, substantially reduce swimming space, and the speakers were so loud that normal conversation in the pool area was difficult. Across multiple weekends—not just Labor Day—we observed guests who appeared highly intoxicated, loud golf-cart music, profanity/adult language around children, and groups socializing beyond the resort's 10 p.m. music cutoff. Adults drinking and having fun isn't our complaint. Our concern was the lack of consistent enforcement and balance for a property marketed toward families. OUR BIGGEST CONCERN: During Labor Day weekend, our minor son's property was vandalized by another minor camper. When our son attempted to address it with the child's family, an adult family member became extremely aggressive toward him and appeared highly intoxicated when we arrived. Multiple minors witnessed the incident, including children 13 and younger. Management's immediate focus when we arrived was how quickly my husband had driven through the campground to reach our son. He was pulled aside, leaving me, our minor son, another minor child and the aggressive adult while the underlying situation remained unresolved. We ultimately called law enforcement. Multiple minor witnesses spoke with officers, and one child had recorded the incident and provided the video directly to police. Afterward, that child expressed fear of retaliation. Our son walked him safely back to his campsite, where I instructed my son to remain until I personally picked him up after another camper reported that members of the other family were driving around looking for the boys and asking where they were staying. We cannot speak to anyone's intentions, but given what had just happened, we took it seriously. Despite law enforcement responding to an incident involving multiple minors, we received no follow-up from management asking whether the children were okay or whether there were continuing safety concerns. The matter is currently being investigated by a detective. Because the investigation is active and minors are involved, we aren't publicly posting the video or other evidence at this time.bAfter I posted our experience on Google, the business account initially responded,“Sounds about right….😒” The response was later removed. I’ve included the original screenshot with this review and will allow readers to interpret the response for themselvesOTHER RV NOTES: The property is new, so there are essentially no mature trees or natural shade. We experienced a tremendous number of bugs. We also regularly heard repeated gunfire during the day; there is an outdoor gun/rifle range in the El Campo area, although we cannot say it was the source. You'll also hear nearby cows and roosters. BOTTOM LINE: The pool and live music were enjoyable and the property has potential. But after paying$1,950 for three weeks after being told our weekly payments could roll into a$1,500 monthly rate, unavailable amenities, poor paid internet, the recurring weekend atmosphere, and especially management's handling of the incident involving minors outweighed the positives for our family. We would not stay here again.
Real E.GuideMagnolia Beach RV Park
Coastal Quiet Haven
We were doing a little Texas coastal crawl and wanted a quiet place to use as our home base for about a week. Magnolia Beach RV Park turned out to be exactly what we were looking for. If you're expecting a big resort with lots of activities, this isn't it, and that's exactly why we enjoyed it so much. The park was peaceful, well maintained, and never felt crowded. It was the perfect place to come back to after spending the day exploring the coast, fishing, or just relaxing by the water. One of the things we appreciated most was being within walking distance of Magnolia Beach. It was easy to head down to the shoreline (shell beach) whenever we wanted. We'd definitely stay here again the next time we're exploring the Texas coast. Their weekly rates were really low!
Nicole R.ScoutSerendipity Bay RV Resort
Serendiy by the bay 100%
Love it here the best rv park we have been to they have honestly everything you could ask or need to vacation here its the place to be and very family-friendly
- PPatrick B.Scout
El Campo Lost Lagoon
RV park built around the pool
The pool is the center piece for sure. With a swim up bar, lazy river, hot tub, rope swing, and water slides.
We stayed in the cottages. (Bring extra pillows and coffee, they wont give you any)
Staff was friendly I did feel a bit nickel and dimed I mean I had to buy a basketball in order to play on their court ($17.99)
Overall a great time, great place to have a family meet up!
Ramon H.ScoutSunrise on Mag RV Park
Easy access | Awesome views
Great place to stay. I rented one of the RV spots for a few of days, while my friends booked one of their vintage RVs. We had a blast, we fished right in front of the place and on the public pier steps away from the site. We made a camp fire, s'mores, the views of the stars was amazing too. Easy to park the RV, 100 ft from the water, 50 Amps connection, water spigot, septic, WiFi and trash. Beautiful views, friendly people, cool vibe. Highly recommend!
Guide to Matagorda
Matagorda sits at the convergence of the Colorado River and Gulf of Mexico, with an average elevation of 13 feet above sea level. The coastal prairie ecosystem features salt marshes and sand dunes, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F. Camping options include both established RV parks with full hookups and primitive beach camping where vehicles require 4-wheel drive to navigate sandy terrain.
What to do
Beach exploration and shell collecting: At Matagorda Beach Dispersed Camping, the shoreline offers abundant shell collecting opportunities. "Plenty of driftwood to gather for huge bonfires that we do every time we go. Very secluded, usually no one passes by if you down far enough," notes NickFromTexas, who recommends getting "a beach parking permit from the gas station before crossing the bridge, costs $10."
Fishing from various access points: The junction of river and Gulf provides multiple fishing environments. At Jetty Park, Crystal E. describes it as a "Great location at the junction of the Colorado River and the Gulf of Mexico," while Jenise notes the campground has "2 large wooden Colorado River fishing piers which are lighted from dusk to dawn" with dedicated fish cleaning stations.
Interactive nature exhibits: Visit the nature center at Matagorda Bay Nature Park for educational displays. "Nature center with interactive exhibits, gift shop, snacks, mini golf and 5 minute walk to beach. Great sunset viewing," mentions Crystal E., while Joel B. adds it's a "Clean park with nice amenities. Great location. Easy beach access."
What campers like
Waterfront camping views: Riverside sites offer prime sunset viewing locations. At FM 521 River Park, Ang W. describes it as a "Beautiful place" where despite "the highway being so close, it's really nice. Can't complain...it's freeeee!" Larry R. from Riverside Park appreciates how one camping loop "has electricity and water on the Hossey Slough and is accessed on a gravel road and the sites are also gravel. It has a very rustic feel and is beautiful."
Morning coffee with waterfront views: Many campgrounds position sites to maximize water views. At Serendipity Bay RV Resort, Jon L. "Enjoyed the peaceful sunrises and sunsets and the constant breeze was a plus to keep the humidity and heat down," while Leticia M. from Jetty Park states "The view to drink coffee to in the morning was priceless."
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Regular maintenance keeps amenities functional. At Riverside Park, Larry R. notes "The bathrooms are older, but spacious and clean," while Joel B. describes Matagorda Bay Nature Park as a "Clean park with nice amenities."
What you should know
Mosquitoes require preparation: Coastal humidity creates ideal conditions for insects. Jon L. from Serendipity Bay RV Resort advises to "Take plenty of anti-mosquito repellent, as around mid-morning and late afternoon, the mosquitoes come out in force," while Leticia M. warns "The mosquitoes at night were insane."
Limited shade throughout the area: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Matagorda lack significant tree cover. At Jetty Park, Dan D. notes "their is absolutely no shade at all but other than that it's a beautiful little spot," while Debbie J. suggests "I think it's best to go in the fall or spring" because of the lack of shade.
Thorny vegetation can injure pet paws: Pet owners should monitor their dogs closely when walking. Debbie J. cautions "There are a lot of prickly thorns, so need to be careful walking dogs, as they tend to pick up thorns easily," making protective booties advisable for pet-friendly camping near Matagorda.
Tips for camping with families
Beach access with children: Some beaches require additional planning for safe access. Karissa D. at Matagorda Bay Nature Park appreciated being "Close to the beach which made it easy to take a break to allow my toddler to take a nap," while Crystal E. notes it's only "5 minute walk to beach" from the nature center.
Playground facilities: Limited structured play areas exist in the region. 60 North RV Park received praise from Kartik K. who reports "we played sports and other physical games kids enjoyed very much there," noting the "ground was green" providing space for recreation.
Environmental education opportunities: Wildlife viewing opportunities abound for educational experiences. At Matagorda Bay Nature Park, Napunani mentions a "Saturday morning 1.5 hour guided Gulf beach walk ($5/pp) by Paige and Whitley. Paige knew her 'stuff' as she was pelted continuously with questions and she never missed a beat!"
Tips from RVers
Level concrete pads: Most established campgrounds provide stable parking surfaces. At Travelers Paradise RV Park, Matt B. highlights the "concrete spots, plenty of shade, wind blocks," along with being a "gated all the way around" facility, while Napunani at Matagorda Bay Nature Park mentions "Level concrete parking pad surrounded by grass. Back-ins and drive-thrus."
Sewer connection placement: Some sites offer flexibility with multiple connection points. Napunani notes "Two sewer hook-up outlets" at Matagorda Bay Nature Park, allowing for easier RV positioning depending on your rig's configuration.
Limited privacy between sites: Most pet friendly RV parks near Matagorda position sites close together. Jon L. from Serendipity Bay RV Resort cautions about "Sites very close together with little room to set up outside between RVs. Very little room to park vehicle once RV is in place and limited space to back in," while Napunani confirms "Absolutely no trees or vegetation between sites which equals NO SHADE and NO PRIVACY."
Electrical service options: Most parks offer 50-amp service for larger power requirements. Stuart K. at Serendipity Bay RV Resort paid "a few more dollars to have a pull thru site with FHU, cable & level concrete pad," while Matt B. notes Travelers Paradise offers "full hookups" along with shower, laundry and trash onsite.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Matagorda, TX is Matagorda Bay Nature Park with a 4.3-star rating from 10 reviews.
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