Galveston Island State Park is a 2,000-acre facility in the city limits. There is beach camping as well as inland camping. There are bathroom and shower facilities.
Some campsites have electricity available for tent campers. Other sites are for tent camping or for campers and have water available.
There is a boat ramp and fish-cleaning station as well as picnic facilities.
The state park has 4 miles of trails for hiking or mountain bikes, and these go on the beaches as well as in the marshes more inland.
There are many RV parks on Galveston Island, and quite a few are on the beach, but most cater to the RV crowd. Most do not allow tent camping. Jamaica Beach RV Park, Tiki Tom's RV Park and Dellanera RV Park allow tent camping. Those that do have an area for tents have electrical connections available as well as water.
Gone are the days when you could put down your tent anywhere on the beach and spend the night. City ordinances have banned camping between midnight and 5 a.m. on the beaches, except in approved campgrounds. You still can put up a tent on any public beach for day use. Parking overnight on the beaches is also prohibited. Fires are allowed only in certain areas and at certain times.
You may take a ferry to Bolivar Peninsula, just north of Galveston Island, to find a secluded camping getaway. Camping is allowed on Crystal Beach and at Fort Travis Seashore Park. Both are on the peninsula and operated by the Galveston County Department of Parks.
There are restrooms, showers, and water available. Camping is fairly primitive, with not many facilities. Water and electricity are available. The beach goes for miles and is not crowded most of the year.
There are many "fish camps" around Galveston, but they don't have anything to do with camping. They are essentially bait stores. People used to camp in these areas, fish all night and get their bait and supplies at these little stores. They were called fish camps. No one camps there anymore, but the names have stuck.
