Palmetto State Park image

Palmetto State Park

Tourist attraction Park Nature preserve State park

One of the Best Places To Visits in Gonzales County


Address

78 Park Rd 11, Gonzales, TX 78629, United States

Website

www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Contact

+1 830-672-3266

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (1.7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 6 am to 10 pm
  • Monday: 6 am to 10 pm
  • Tuesday: 6 am to 10 pm
  • Wednesday: 6 am to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 6 am to 10 pm
  • Friday: 6 am to 10 pm
  • Saturday: 6 am to 10 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: park (20) trails (14) camping (10) water (10) great (7) swimming (7) lake (6) shower (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Isabella S. 1 year ago on Google
    Palmetto state park is a stunning (and frankly underrated) park that I will definitely return to in the future. There is a small lake where you can swim and rent kayaks/paddle boards. Some trails go near the San Marcos river which is very calming. There are many trails throughout the park all with a diverse array of birds. If you are quiet and early enough, you can spot some deer as well. This is a great park for folks who are new to hiking since all the trails are pretty easy to traverse. This park was not crowded at all despite being rather close to Austin and San Antonio. The staff in the main office are really friendly and helpful.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 jay c. 9 months ago on Google
    We loved the trails and rode our bikes on each one. The trials are about 75% shade, if not more. We went last weekend, and the RV sites are mostly shaded as well. The San Marcos River was flowing, and we enjoyed cooling off in it. We are hoping to reserve more weekends there. On our way to the State Park, we stopped in Lockhart for some BBQ!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Katelynn K. 8 months ago on Google
    I arrived Friday evening and stayed through Sunday morning at campsite 29 in the tent camping section. I found the site easily and while setting up I noticed most, if not all the campsites were shaded, which was a blessing because it was almost 100 degrees this weekend. I liked that each campsite had a good amount of space because just about every space was reserved for the weekend. Friday I hiked around the lake on the Oxbow trail, which is about 3/4 mile and it was really pretty, easy to navigate, and easy to walk. On Saturday, I headed out to hike the other trails. It was really hot but thankfully the trails offered a lot of shade. When I got back from my hike I was drenched in sweat despite it being an easy hike and only about 3.2 miles. I was a bit confused about where to go swimming because I saw on the park signs to only swim in designated areas, but didn't see any signs that said designated swimming area so I was just hoping to see other people. Idk if the river was just really low at this time, but there wasn't really any spot to "swim" in the river as it was only about knee deep. None-the-less, I got in and laid down because it felt great. The water was clean and warm (but not too warm!). I brought a paddleboard, which I took up to the Oxbow lake by the campsite and got in the water there as well. There's not a clear area to put your board in or to walk in for swimming, you just kind of have to climb down the ladder on the dock and see if it's deep enough for swimming which was kind of odd. The lake though, was big enough for the people on it to be kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming without being on top of one another. My biggest complaint of my visit was the restrooms/shower. The restrooms were run down, and unfortunately, the women's restroom looked like one of the toilets overflowed and there was still water and toilet paper all over the floor. The showers were only in the RV section of the park, which was a LONG walk from tent camping section, which doesn't make much sense to me as most RVers have shower options and tent campers do not so that was odd. There was also only 2 women's shower stall for the entire park and one was out of order. The shower stall didn't have a bench to set your things on while showering, it looked like there used to be one but it was broken, but the water pressure and water temperature were wonderful. Although I saw a lot of wildlife (2 armadillos, 1 white tailed deer, 1 snake, multiple squirrels & lizards), the trails were well maintained, and the palmettos were pretty, I'd probably put this near the bottom of my Texas state parks list. That being said, it's very family-friendly! If I had children, I think my opinion would change quite a bit because there is a great playground, plenty of space for kids to play and it had a very family-friendly feel.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christine Ashenfelter (Hadewig W. 6 months ago on Google
    Pretty site, went to look at potential camping and pavilion use. Camping sites look cozy, flat, well kept, standard amenities. Pavilion info: Six "door" openings are 7ft by 8 ft. Eight picnic tables that seat about 8 each are inside, and 2 larger picnic tables on back deck seat about 10 each. There's an enclosed kitchen and enclosed "dining room" with fireplace attached on the right side of the pavilion. There's 1 electrical outlet in the main part and bathrooms on the left side. It has 4 ceiling fans and 2 chandeliers, lightswitch not visible, probably in locked dining room/kitchen. Two electrical outlets are visible in (locked) bathroom section. RV camping is close by, and day-use areas are adjacent to the parking lot (about 25 spots) and around pavilion. There are ramps for wheelchairs. There's also a water spigot outside and San Marcos river access.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 P K. 6 months ago on Google
    Unique state park with interesting trails and plants. Saw wild turkeys, deer, water snakes, and various birds. The facilities were well maintained, although one shower did not work. Very friendly park hosts.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Norma O. 7 months ago on Google
    Great experience, lovely facility, extremely clean campgrounds! Neighbors came and went while we stayed and were a friendly bunch. All ages and stages of life, neat conversations. Many different options of camping experiences tio choose from.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 la vente s. 1 year ago on Google
    Such a beautiful park, clean & peaceful. Showers are the absolute BEST! Hot water & great pressure. Whether you are wanting a quiet getaway, hiking trails, water views, fishing, kayaking, playground for kiddos, this park has it all plus awesome amenities. My first time but will definitely be back! Thank you Palmetto State Park & thanks to the wonderful workers! To my fellow Nomads, this park is wonderful for overnights or even day visits. 👌🏽
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mark R. 1 year ago on Google
    A beautiful place. Many good hiking trails (easy to moderate) where you can take in some of the most photogenic scenery in Texas. Friendly staff and nice modern park facilities. Easy access fishing dock on Oxbow lake. It's a very popular park so it's difficult to find available RV camping spots in the short term. I recommend booking a campsite at least a couple months in advance.

  • 5/5 Randy R. 1 year ago on Google
    One of my favorite places to hike or camp, this little gem is a very short drive from the San Antonio or New Braunfels areas and worth the trip. Pro tip—the northernmost series of trails are much less trafficked, as the San Marcos River trail is nearer the campground. This makes for more peaceful solitude and enjoyment of the sights and sounds of nature. The swamp trail is still being rebuilt, but you can fin a couple of miles to explore. Easy, almost no elevation changes, and very well-maintained.

  • 5/5 Diane S. 1 year ago on Google
    A Fabulous State Park! Clean...altho we had to do a little spring cleaning before staying in the cabin. Wish they had showers or at least an outdoor shower on this side of the park. Can't have everything! But very peaceful & relaxing...♡ the lush green & all the Palmettos. Good trails...the Refectory was beautifully built. The water tower was a bonus! Nice...Nice very nice!

  • 4/5 Oleg R. 11 months ago on Google
    The primitive camping sites are nicely spaced out, but the camper & RV sites are a bit too close to each other. A small lake is good for kayaking and fishing. The area is known for flooding; there are many flood level markers and warning signs that advise you to keep your head on a swivel.

  • 5/5 Dylan B. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful park with lush plant life and unique structures. The hikes are short and simple for the most part, with your worst enemy being some mosquitos and a little mud. Lots of insects, birds, and a few other critters. Picnic benches, bathrooms and playground included in the park. There is a pond that offers paddle boarding and kayaking, as well as swimming (at your own risk). $3 to enter the park, and you are given a day pass.

  • 5/5 David G. 4 months ago on Google
    Amazing Park! I highly recommend it. It's a great option to visit if you have toddlers because they have hot showers, restrooms, and playgrounds, and you can borrow an explorer kit for you little ones.

  • 5/5 Jon W. 5 months ago on Google
    Lots of great trails to hike. Lots of wildlife also. Great place to take the family camping for the weekend.

  • 5/5 Nick M. 8 months ago on Google
    Wonderful little park, expertly designed trails and lots of space for camping. Incredible value at $3/person over 12 (kids under 12 completely free)! Exploring the saw palmetto landscape is a great experience, couldn't be more different in feel and only ~1hr away from Austin and San Antonio. I only had a couple hours to explore this time, but I cant wait to return and do some more hiking, swimming, and kayaking over the course of a couple day camping trip.


Call +1 830-672-3266 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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