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Stacy
Trip Date 09/05/2022 Posted On 09/14/2023 10:08:01 |
Camping | Texas | Gulf of Mexico | Galveston | Galveston Island | Galveston Beach | Galveston Island KOA Holiday | KOA | KOA Campgrounds | KOA Holiday | KOA Rewards | RV Resorts | Lazy River | Beach | Sunsets
After two visits (plus a third stay at the property prior to a recent ownership change), it just makes sense to share our camping experiences on Galveston Island. From our home near Austin, we can drive to Galveston, Texas in under five hours - even when pulling our travel trailer. Once at Galveston Island KOA Holiday, it's a chance to enjoy resort style amenities before capping the day off with beautiful evening sunsets.
With a swimming pool, hot tub and our favorite amenity, the Lazy River, it's the perfect place to fill your time with rest and relaxation. (Isn't that what RV resorts are meant for?) Plus, the sand and water of Galveston Beach is walking distance from the campground.
If you've never been to Galveston, this article will provide you with a brief introduction to this coastal community located on the Gulf of Mexico. You'll find a little history followed by a taste of what draws visitors to the island - it's not just the beach!
For those who are not regulars at KOA Campgrounds, we've also included an introduction to KOA Rewards, the loyalty program that we joined less than 2 1/2 years ago. (In that time, we have saved over $250.00 at KOA campgrounds.)
This quick read will let you know all about the campground (campsites, amenities and our pick of the best sites). You'll leave knowing what you can expect during a stay at this KOA Holiday.
Meet Galveston Island
Just 50 miles southeast of downtown Houston, Galveston got its name from a colonial governor of Spanish Louisiana, Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid. From its founding in 1839 until the end of the 19th century, the city grew rapidly and became a prominent trade port. The Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the country's deadliest natural disaster still to this day, had a drastic impact.
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Nearly 20 years later, tourism became popular as Prohibition era illegal gambling found a niche in Galveston. Although the Port of Houston surpassed Galveston's port in both size and traffic, the port continued to grow. In addition to cargo, there are now two cruise terminals that serve as home ports for five cruise lines at what has become the fourth busiest cruise port in the country.
The more than 30 miles of beaches are a big draw for visitors to Galveston today. Snowbirds leave the north and head for the warmer island temperatures each winter. The city of Galveston plays host to one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States. (Depending on who does the ranking, the island often ranks in the top ten and frequently as high as number three in the country.) The water rides and other attractions at Schlitterbahn Waterpark lure families during the summer (and some spring weekends). Galveston has architecture, art, history, tree sculptures, the Historic Pleasure Pier, Moody Gardens, the nearby Kemah Boardwalk and so much more.
Why Galveston Island KOA Holiday?
If resort style relaxation is your goal, Galveston Island KOA Holiday should be on your short list. The floating river is the perfect place to cool off when daytime temperatures are warm (or hot) - typical for Texas during much of the year. Just bring a pool noodle, inner tube or similar float and let the flow of the river do most of the work for you! (During our three stays at the property, not a day went by that we didn't spend the better part of it floating in the river.)Ranking right up near the lazy river in terms of popularity are the heated swimming pool and hot tub. The shallow pool (3 foot maximum depth) is also an excellent place to float and cool off. We noticed new lounge chairs in the "river" and pool areas - just one indication that regular improvements continue at the resort since the 2021 transition to the KOA family.
During our visits, the hot tub was usually more popular in the evenings. As the sun begins to set and temperatures finally start to subside, to the hot tub we would go!
For guests interested in a little competition or a more active stay, the resort has pickle ball, a basketball goal, horseshoes and several corn hole platforms. There's even a KampK9 dog park so all of the visiting dogs can enjoy some active off-leash time as well.
Anglers hoping to sneak in a little fishing practice have access to the park's private catch and release fishing pond.
One of the newest additions to the campground is a children's playground. Both the traditional playground equipment and inflated bounce pad were installed between our early September stays in 2021 and 2022.
The grounds within the resort have always been clean and well maintained. Centrally located dumpsters are available as are pet waste stations stocked with plastic waste bags. All lawns have been well manicured including individual campsites and all public areas. During daytime hours, it seemed that there were always staff members doing maintenance work of some kind.
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Because of the limited development to the west, there are a number of locations on the resort grounds with excellent sunset vantage points. As the sun begins to set, grab your camera to catch a shot to remember your stay!
More Conveniences Campers Love
There's a general store offering a variety of necessities that campers frequently forget or run out of while away from home. If your tank is running low on propane, on-site refills are even available. We can also attest to the tastiness of the wine based margarita and pina colada slushies offered during office hours!Additional amenities at the resort include individual shower rooms and a laundry room. Located on the second floor of the clubhouse building, shower rooms have a toilet, sink and shower with outside entrances.
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In addition to RV sites, there are 6 fully furnished cabins available for rental, making the resort a great place for family or group gatherings.
Easy Access to Galveston Beach
The beach is one of the biggest reasons that people head to "the island". Just a short distance in either direction from the resort's entrance, you'll find easy access to Galveston Beach. There's a parking area at each of the two closest access points, making it convenient for bringing all of your beach supplies. A short hike will also take you to the beach access crossing points on San Luis Pass Road (FM 3005). If you head out of the park to the right toward the water tower, make sure to look for the cows in the pasture!Whether you prefer morning, noon or dusk, you won't be the only person (or group) on the beach. Want to walk along the shore for some exercise in the mornings or early evenings when the temperatures are lower or people watch while sitting under beach umbrellas? You won't be alone! You'll usually see people enjoying the water, playing various ball games on the sand, building sand structures, fishing, eating picnic style meals, jogging ... the possibilities are endless for enjoying your time.
KOA Rewards
Since becoming a member of the KOA family in early 2021, Galveston Island KOA Holiday has been a participating campground in KOA Rewards. One of the many benefits for campers in the loyalty program is the annual KOA Rewards Appreciation Weekend each year in early September. In addition to the standard 10% discount on campsites for KOA Rewards members, campers who pay for their Friday night stay receive a complimentary Saturday night stay. We joined in on the Rewards Weekend fun during both 2021 and 2022.Additional benefits during our most recent Rewards Weekend stay included:
- an all weekend long scavenger hunt;
- Friday & Saturday afternoon and Saturday morning craft hours;
- Friday evening BINGO;
- Friday evening showing of "The Long, Long Trailer";
- Saturday morning appreciation hour with free mimosas, screwdrivers, Bloody Mary's and light bites; and
- Saturday afternoon cake, live music and beer sampling (courtesy of Galveston Island Brewing).
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During our 2022 stay, we met and had several conversations with the park's Director of Fun. She was responsible for organizing, coordinating and hosting all events during the weekend and throughout the summer. Even as adults, we enjoyed playing Bingo, watching the movie and a couple of the craft projects!
Camping, RVing and Glamping at Galveston Island KOA Holiday
Accommodating rigs up to 65 feet in length, the campground offers back-in RV/tent sites and pull-through RV sites. Complete with full hook-ups (30- & 50-amp electric, on-site sewer, water and cable), all sites have a large level concrete pad with a patio, a grill and an uncovered picnic table.The 194 RV sites within the campground are divided into four categories:
- 74 standard back-in sites
- 78 preferred back-in sites
- 3 preferred back-in sites with "KOA patio"
- 39 pull-through sites.
The minimum stay is only one day, and reservations can easily be made online. Sites are assigned upon arrival to the park. (Signage directs arriving guests to the clubhouse / office where limited parking for RVs is available for completion of the quick check-in process.)
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We were assigned sites 22 (2020), 216 (2021) and 83 (2022) for our three stays. With the campground's paved wide roads, and the paved level sites, back-in parking with our 33-foot trailer was quite easy in all three campsites. Although all of our reservations were for standard back-in sites, we were upgraded to a preferred back-in site for our second stay. (Between our two most recent stays, the addition of a KOA patio at the slightly larger corner site 216 makes it one of only three of the park's preferred sites with this new feature.)
It was during our stay in site 216 that our visit was cut short due to heavy winds and an imminent tropical storm/hurricane. As would be expected, many campground amenities started shutting down during what was to be the final afternoon of our stay. Rather than risk having to drive in even heavier winds, we opted to pack up and return home earlier than planned.
Some sites within the resort do have palm trees, but recent storms have caused damage to many of the trees. While some trees seem to be recovering from the strong winds, they can't currently be counted on to provide shade due to missing fronds. (Nothing can be tied to or hung from the trees, so they also can't be used to hang hammocks.)
In our opinion, the biggest difference between our three campsites was the site orientation. Even without trees, sites 22 and 83 offered early morning shade while site 216 was shaded in the afternoon.
Although wi-fi is advertised as an included service, the signal at all of our assigned sites was intermittent and service was extremely slow. The good news is that with our Verizon and T-Mobile cellular plans, we had both good phone and data service during our three stays. (There is an option to pay for upgraded internet, however we have never tried the service.)
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Our Picks for Future Stays
Even with three stays under our belt, in the case of Galveston Island KOA Holiday, it's not IF we will return, but WHEN, because we are sure that we'll return again!In our opinion, there are no "bad" sites in the resort. We do, however, tend to choose lesser priced ("standard" back-in) sites. When possible, we seek out sites which are oriented so we can best reap the benefits of afternoon shade! With that in mind (plus avoiding heavier traffic areas within the park), if we opted to request a site, we would select from the following ranges:
- Standard sites 78 - 84;
- Pull-through sites 51 - 63;
The orientation of standard sites 34 - 47 also provides afternoon shade, however due to possible street noise, these sites rank a little lower in our opinion.
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More Fun in Galveston
If you are up for a bit of a drive, the historic downtown area of Galveston is about 25 miles away. That's where you'll find The Strand, Pier 21 and the Pleasure Pier.Anyone interested in a meal will find plenty of local and popular chain restaurants from which to choose. During a future stay, we hope to dine at Mosquito Cafe, a highly recommended downtown restaurant.
Be sure to check out the Calendar of Events to see what is going on during your stay. You may luck out and get to experience something that you hadn't planned on! (Our first visit coincided with the Gulf Coast Volleyball Association Beach Tournament. We enjoyed walking along East Beach and stood on the sidelines to watch the juniors volleying back and forth.)
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More Texas Camping - in the Capitol City of Austin
If floating in an inner tube ranks high on your list, you might also want to consider a visit to McKinney Falls State Park. Located just over 10 miles from downtown Austin, when you are inside the park it's hard to believe that an urban area can be so close. Take a peak at our article, Spend Hours Floating or Hiking at McKinney Falls State Park for an introduction to what you can expect during a visit. As always, we've included plenty of pictures, ideas for how to spend your time and of course, tips to make the most of your stay!Camping on Galveston Island
What is your favorite campground / RV park on Galveston Island?Weather:80F Cloudy
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