Matagorda Bay Nature Park is literally at the end of the road south of the fishing village of Matagorda. FM 2031 runs into the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the Colorado River making for one of most diverse parks in the Lower Colorado River Authority’s inventory of parks.
Like many of LCRA’s more than 40 parks, Matagorda Bay is a multi-use recreation area. The mixture of wetlands, sandy beach, and river frontage provides a range of activities from bird watching to kayaking or driving your vehicle on the beach right to the water’s edge.
The visitor center offers an assortment of services including a gift shop, laundry and shower facilities, and a small museum. Most weekends the staff schedules events like guided hikes, nature talks, and children’s activities.
Fall and winter months are wonderful times to visit. In the cooler months the park is less buggy, and reservations are easier to get.
Shade in the campground is sparse and comes mostly from a few palm trees and pergola roofs over the concrete picnic tables. The well-spaced campsites come with full hookups and Wi-Fi. Sites next to the river are premium locations for good reason.
Don’t have any RV? Then stay in one of the park’s four Airstream trailers. These sleep up to four, are climate controlled, and have bathrooms and kitchens. Or you can cook on the outdoor grill on a patio facing the Colorado River.
In 2024, the park added 10 bungalows that go beyond glamping. Each of the apartments on stilts sleeps six or eight, and have all modern conveniences along with awesome views of the Gulf from your private patio. Some units are ADA accessible or pet friendly.
Matagorda Bay Nature Park is a scenic getaway about three hours from Austin. There is nothing quite like it for sunsets, adventure, or just a walk on the beach.
1,788th in a series. Everywhere is a day trip from somewhere. Follow “Day Trips & Beyond,” a travel blog, at austinchronicle.com/day-trips.
This article appears in January 9 • 2026.