TX State ParksAn independent field guide

Palmetto State Park

State park in Gonzales County, in the Prairies and Lakes region. Established 1936. 309 acres by TPWD boundary data.

A bog surrounded by dwarf palmettos ( Sabal minor ) at Palmetto State Park between Luling, Texas and Gonzales, Texas, United States.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Palmetto State Park is a little piece of the tropics between Gonzales and Luling, about an hour from Austin and San Antonio. Dwarf palmettos, the park's namesake, grow under the trees along the San Marcos River, an oxbow lake, an artesian well and swamps. You can swim, fish and paddle, but bring your own boat, and be careful in the river: rain upstream can cause flash floods.

Things to do

Palmetto Trail

The easy gravel Palmetto Trail winds through a stand of dwarf palmettos. The Ottine Swamp Trail is 1 mile.

Paddle the San Marcos

The river has a steady current but no rapids. Experienced paddlers can put in at Luling City Park for a six- to seven-hour trip to the park. Arrange your own shuttle; put-ins are limited because private land borders the river.

Fish

Fish the river or the oxbow lake's pier. No license is needed from shore, and the park loans some gear.

The western portion of Oxbow Lake in Palmetto State Park in Gonzales County, Texas, United States.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Lontra Canadensis, River Otter at Palmetto SP. Seen about 2 pm
Photo: En el nido (Nest), CC BY 3.0

Trails

Trails listed by TPWD, with its own distances and ratings.

TrailDistanceDifficultyTime
Palmetto Interpretive Trail0.3 miEasy30 min.
Oxbow Lake Trail0.7 miEasy45 min.
Mesquite Flats Trails1.1 miModerate1 hr.
Ottine Swamp Trail1 miModerate1 hr.
San Marcos River Trail1.3 miModerate1.5 hr.
Mossycup Spur0.3 miEasy30 min.
Canebrake Spur0.1 miEasy15 min.
Park HQ Trail0.2 miEasy30 min.

Source: TPWD trail list. TPWD doesn’t list trail surfaces. Printable trail map (PDF).

Camping

There are 19 tent sites, 17 RV sites, a group site for up to 24 people, and an air-conditioned cabin that sleeps six.

Site typeSitesSleepsPer night
Campsites with ElectricityWater and electric178$18
Campsites with WaterTent sites with water198$12
Group CampGroup25$60
CabinCabins18$65

Nightly rates are on top of the daily entrance fee. Book a site with Texas State Parks reservations, or call (512) 389-8900.

Visiting with dogs

Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Like every Texas state park, they can't go into park buildings or designated swimming areas.

Swimming

Swimming is allowed in designated areas. There are no lifeguards at Texas state parks.

Best time to go

Busy season
Make overnight reservations at least two to three weeks ahead of time from March to November
July high
96°F
Night sky
Bortle 4.5

TPWD suggests reserving overnight stays two to three weeks ahead from March to November.

Averages and busy season from TPWD. The Bortle scale runs from 1 (darkest sky) to 9 (inner city).

Getting there

78 Park Road 11 South
Gonzales, TX 78629-5180
(830) 672-3266

Open in OpenStreetMap (29.5969, -97.5851)

From the nearest cities in this guide
FromApprox. driveStraight line
Austin1 hr 15 min50 mi
San Antonio1 hr 17 min57 mi
Houston2 hr 34 min132 mi
Waco2 hr 51 min138 mi
The Woodlands2 hr 53 min131 mi
Corpus Christi3 hr 6 min130 mi
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Nearby parks

  1. Lockhart State Park19 miles away. $3 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  2. Bastrop State Park40 miles away. $5 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  3. Buescher State Park40 miles away. $5 per adult, kids 12 and under free.
  4. McKinney Falls State Park41 miles away. $6 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  5. Guadalupe River State Park58 miles away. $7 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.

Straight-line distance. See every park in the Prairies and Lakes.

Questions people ask

Can you swim at Palmetto State Park?

Yes, in the San Marcos River and the oxbow lake. Be careful in the river; rain upstream can cause flash flooding.

Can you rent canoes at Palmetto State Park?

No. The park no longer rents watercraft; bring your own.

Photo credits

Sources

Last checked October 14, 2026. Fees, hours and rules change; the official TPWD page for Palmetto has current alerts and closures.

  1. TPWD: Palmetto State Park, retrieved October 14, 2026
  2. TPWD state parks map (amenities, contact), retrieved October 14, 2026
  3. TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Public Areas, retrieved October 14, 2026
  4. TPWD: Bortle ratings by region, retrieved October 14, 2026
  5. TPWD: Palmetto State Park campsites, retrieved October 14, 2026
  6. TPWD: Palmetto State Park cabins and lodging, retrieved October 14, 2026
  7. TPWD: Palmetto State Park trails, retrieved October 14, 2026
  8. TPWD: Palmetto State Park history, retrieved October 14, 2026
  9. TPWD: state park rules (pets, swimming), retrieved October 14, 2026
  10. TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Boundaries (area computed from boundary), retrieved October 14, 2026
  11. Wikipedia: List of Texas state parks, retrieved October 14, 2026
  12. OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (approximate drive times), retrieved October 14, 2026
  13. Wikimedia Commons (photos), retrieved October 14, 2026