Wintering in Texas Need advice

[Sundance3200]

Sold the house, now to the next stage of our lives, We are looking for a campground in the Rockport, Aransas Pass, Port Aransas area to winter in this year. I have looked at all of them on RV Parks and Reviews and have worn out the page, I now look to all of you that winter in Texas and ask your advice. Wife retires 9/30 and after the Tennessee Samboree in Oct we will leave for Texas. We will keep Domicle residence in Tennessee as we have a street address here. We will need to winter in Texas from Nov. until April. Any advice is welcome and we thank you in advance.

[ralper]

I have been traveling all around this great USA of ours without reservations since 7/06. Pick out a decent looking CG in the area you want to go to and then when settled in one for a few days or a week look for the one you really want to stay in and move into it.

I have stayed in very few CG's that have been full in the last 3 years. Some were lucky if they were 40% occupied.

[Hipshot]

We stayed a week at Colonia Del Rey in Flower Bluff, thats about 40 miles south of Rock Port. Nice place good people sites are kinda tight. 10 Minutes from Corpus Christi 10 minitutes from the beach. Also stayed at Goose Island State Park in Rock Port. Electric and water only at sites with dump stations. Goose Island has sites on the water or in the trees. The official rule is 2 weeks max stay, but in the winter it is unofficialy relaxed. Try this Texas RV Park Finder Welcome to Texas

[mikf]

we stayed at Island Resort on Mustang Island a few years ago. it was very nice. beach parking looks tempting, but I would think the salt and sand would be to hard on the RV. unless you are set on Port Aransas area I would recomend going on down south to Harlengen area or South Padre Island. much better weather there, and there are numerous parks in the area. join Passport and you can visit a lot of different parks.

[ljr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hipshot ...Also stayed at Goose Island State Park in Rock Port. Electric and water only at sites with dump stations. Goose Island has sites on the water or in the trees. The official rule is 2 weeks max stay, but in the winter it is unofficialy relaxed.

Goose Island is a nice one. What I like is that the "beach" is hard packed coral sand behind a retaining wall so even the heaviest rigs can park literally feet from the bay. It is windy there but that goes with being near the ocean.

I stayed for 3 weeks in January and talked to others who were there all Winter. They didn't even blink when I asked about breaking the 2 week limit.

Matagorda Bay and Quintana Beach are two nice county parks farther up the coast almost to Galveston. I plan on spending some time at both this Winter.

[Elkhartjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljr Goose Island is a nice one. What I like is that the "beach" is hard packed coral sand behind a retaining wall so even the heaviest rigs can park literally feet from the bay. It is windy there but that goes with being near the ocean. I stayed for 3 weeks in January and talked to others who were there all Winter. They didn't even blink when I asked about breaking the 2 week limit. Matagorda Bay and Quintana Beach are two nice county parks farther up the coast almost to Galveston. I plan on spending some time at both this Winter.

Well no wonder we can't get in there. I'm sorry, being a Texas resident and not being able to use our state parks because of overstays kinda goes against my grain. I'll shoot off an email to Parks and Wildlife about Goose Island not abiding by the same rules as we Texans have to abide by. Of course its kind of like the snowbird that dumped his gray water in the site next to us every three days and said the water came from a leaking faucet...with soap bubbles no less. Sorry folks, but that got my dander up.

[ljr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elkhartjim Well no wonder we can't get in there. I'm sorry, being a Texas resident and not being able to use our state parks because of overstays kinda goes against my grain. I'll shoot off an email to Parks and Wildlife about Goose Island not abiding by the same rules as we Texans have to abide by. Of course its kind of like the snowbird that dumped his gray water in the site next to us every three days and said the water came from a leaking faucet...with soap bubbles no less. Sorry folks, but that got my dander up.

During my January stays (there have been several) I never saw the park close to full even on weekends. During the week I was nearly alone. I don't think any locals were turned away because of my stay. The extra revenue probably helps keep the rates down when it is busy.

[Roadhawgs]

Beacon RV Park, 301 S. Fulton Beach Rd., Rockport, Tx., nothing fancy (no pool, etc), fair sized lots but some can get tight with slides out, most are grass (fairly level), bait house and fishing pier across the street, clean laundry and restrooms, Super Walmart and HEB within 2 miles, several resturants within walking distance, theatre 1 mile, current rates are $300 per month plus elect at .17 per kwh (30 & 50 amp), includes water, sewer, wifi, cable tv.

[Sundance3200]

Please keep them coming we are checking on them as you recommend them. We are looking at full hookups, and at least 4 months stay. Please bear in mind that under the Administration of SS we will be on a tight budget. Looking for clean, secure, friendly campgrounds. Thank you again for your comments.

[shadrack]

We wintered two years, 03 & 04 at Pioneer RV Park on Mustang Island. Nicest place we could find around there. But, to caution you. The closer you get to the gulf, the more beating your vehicles will take. The salt air just ruins everything. My Harley's chrome went south the first year really bad. And any exposed metal rusts real quick. The farther away from the gulf you get, the better it is on equipment. But, when you're right on the water, it sure is fun to just grab the fshing poles and walk a short distance to surf fish or just walk in the surf. Anyway you go, that is a nice area to winter. A lot of history down there.

[Campingman]

I lived in Corpus Christi for 10 years. I really love South Texas. Ya got the coast or any number of rivers and lakes or the mountains if you want to drive a little farther.

[docj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadrack We wintered two years, 03 & 04 at Pioneer RV Park on Mustang Island. Nicest place we could find around there. But, to caution you. The closer you get to the gulf, the more beating your vehicles will take. The salt air just ruins everything. My Harley's chrome went south the first year really bad. And any exposed metal rusts real quick. The farther away from the gulf you get, the better it is on equipment. But, when you're right on the water, it sure is fun to just grab the fshing poles and walk a short distance to surf fish or just walk in the surf. Anyway you go, that is a nice area to winter. A lot of history down there.

We spent 2 weeks at Pioneer this spring and have decided to stay there this next winter. The salt air is a bit hard on some metals; I think some aluminum alloys get pitted the worst, but covering wheels and mirrors seems to help, as does getting it washed and waxed periodically. Being right on the beach is a lot of fun and we're looking forward to staying there.

[preston56]

ive seen lots on the internet in the area you are interested in,i was searching for rv lots to buy,and what i found was alot of rentals and timeshares,these have all the hookups you would desire and even storage buildings on some of the lots.i dont remember the website address,but put in search for rv lots for sale in texas.it also had some with monthly,weekly or daily rentals.good luck im from texas and its beautiful there