Palmetto State Park

Palmetto State Park sits on the San Marcos River at Ottine, between Luling and Gonzales in Gonzales County. It’s about 1 hour 10 minutes from Austin or San Antonio. Dwarf palmettos, a seasonal swamp and 1930s stone buildings make it look more like East Texas than Central Texas. The park often reaches capacity, so reserve a day pass or campsite before driving out.

On This Page

• Hiking the Palmetto and Swamp Trails
• Swimming in the San Marcos River and Oxbow Lake
• Fishing and Paddling
• CCC History
• Birds and Wildlife
• Camping and the Cabin
• Best Time to Visit
• What Visitors Say
• Getting There
• Know Before You Go
• Nearby Parks
• FAQ
• Sources and Official Links

Hiking the Palmetto and Swamp Trails

The trails are the best way to see what makes Palmetto State Park different: dwarf palmettos growing thick under oaks around a seasonal swamp. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) lists eight short trails, about 5 miles in all, on flat gravel. Every trail is open to hikers and cyclists.

The park is named for the dwarf palmetto, a plant found mainly in East and Southeast Texas. TPWD says eastern and western plant and animal ranges meet here.

Trail List

Miles and ratings as TPWD lists them. TPWD publishes no park total; the list adds up to about 5 miles. See the trails map (PDF).

Trail Tips

A few things help on the trails at Palmetto.

• Time: visitors say every trail fits into one morning. A popular flat loop of about 3 miles links the San Marcos River Trail and the Ottine Swamp Trail
• Easy access: TPWD lists the Oxbow Lake, Palmetto Interpretive and Mesquite Flats trails as wheelchair and stroller friendly
• The swamp: it fills with rain and dries out in drought. Reviewers in 2025 found it nearly dry
• Bikes: the trails are easy gravel, not mountain bike terrain. Families report kids riding every trail. TPWD recommends a helmet
• Bugs and snakes: bring insect repellent, and watch the path near the river, where hikers have reported cottonmouths

Swimming in the San Marcos River and Oxbow Lake

Swimming is allowed at Palmetto State Park in both the San Marcos River and the 4-acre Oxbow Lake. There are no lifeguards, and TPWD asks swimmers to use designated areas.

• The river: visitors describe it as shallow, cool and good for small kids at normal levels, and some bring river chairs and floats. It runs low and slow in drought
• Oxbow Lake: a cut-off bend of the river, now separate from it. Reviewers call it the deeper water, though one found it murky
• Flash floods: TPWD warns there is no dam upstream to hold back floodwater. The river by the low-water crossing can go from calm to a torrent in minutes. Leave the river area as soon as the water rises
• Rules: no pets or glass in swimming areas, under statewide park rules

Fishing and Paddling

Palmetto State Park has fishing in Oxbow Lake, from its fishing pier and shore, and in the San Marcos River. No fishing license is needed to fish from the shore or a pier in a Texas state park, and the park loans some fishing gear.

• Trout: TPWD stocks rainbow trout in winter, including 750 in the Artesian Pond in February 2025. Reviewers reported good trout fishing in January 2026
• Catfish: visitors report catfish in the river, including a large flathead caught at night in July 2026

Paddling

The park no longer rents kayaks, paddleboards or other boats, so bring a boat. TPWD closed rentals in September 2025 while it rebuilt the fishing pier and kayak launch, and visitors in 2026 reported the new piers and launch in place.

• Oxbow Lake: small and calm, an easy first paddle
• San Marcos River: a steady current with no rapids at the park. Experienced paddlers can put in at Luling City Park for a 6- to 7-hour trip down to the park, according to TPWD. That stretch is about 14 river miles
• Shuttles: paddlers arrange their own. Private land lines the river, so put-ins and take-outs are limited
• Portages: Texas Water Safari course notes show a dam portage near Luling, and the bridge at the park is a portage at most water levels. Check river conditions with the park first

CCC History

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built Palmetto State Park between 1934 and 1937, and it opened in 1936. Its sandstone buildings are one of the park’s quiet highlights, and reviewers often single them out.

• The refectory: now the group pavilion, first roofed with palmetto thatch. It rents for gatherings of up to 75 people, $125 a day, booked at (512) 389-8920
• The water tower: its pump went in in 1936 and still feeds a 1930s cistern and the wetlands along the Palmetto Interpretive Trail
• Other CCC work: Park Road 11, the low-water crossing on the river, and the old residence that now serves as park headquarters
• Mud boils: the area’s natural mud boils have been dry since the 1970s. A CCC-built artesian well keeps water in three ponds

Birds and Wildlife

Palmetto State Park is a stop on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, and TPWD counts more than 240 bird species seen here. It’s the westernmost nesting spot for some eastern birds, including the pileated woodpecker, Kentucky warbler and prothonotary warbler.

• Birds TPWD lists often: crested caracara, red-shouldered hawk and, in spring and summer, painted buntings
• Mammals: white-tailed deer, armadillos, squirrels and raccoons. Visitors also report coyotes, bats and turtles on river snags
• Alligators: a few visitors think they heard or saw signs of one, but TPWD lists none and no sighting has been confirmed

Camping and the Cabin

Palmetto State Park has developed campsites with water, some with electricity, plus one cabin and one group camp. There are no primitive or hike-in sites. Restrooms with showers and a dump station are on site.

Campsite Types

Prices are TPWD’s nightly rates, plus the daily entry fee. Up to 8 people per campsite.

• Water sites (19 sites, $12): tent sites with water nearby, a picnic table, grill and fire ring, and room for several tents. Some sit right on Oxbow Lake
• Electric sites (17 sites, $18): water plus 30- and 50-amp electric, all back-in, one tent per site. No sewer hookups. TPWD lists a 65-foot maximum length, but the longest site on the reservation system is 55 feet
• Group camp (1 site, $60): up to 25 people, bordered by the river on three sides, with parking for only 12 cars. Book by phone at (512) 389-8920

Campers with long rigs say the electric loop is tight to back into, and short sites leave little room for a tow vehicle. Some reviewers find the sites close together.

The Cabin

The park has one cabin, on the San Marcos River near Oxbow Lake. It sleeps 6 and costs $55 a night, or $65 on Friday and Saturday nights.

• Inside: air conditioning, heat, a ceiling fan, a microwave and a refrigerator, with a full bed and a full bunk bed and a wraparound porch
• No bathroom: the nearest restroom is about 100 yards away. No cooking inside except the microwave
• Rules: no pets. Check-in is 3 p.m. and check-out is 11 a.m., with an $80 cleaning deposit paid by card at check-in

Reservations and Camp Rules

Book early: TPWD advises reserving at least two to three weeks ahead from March to November.

• Campsites and the cabin open for booking 5 months ahead at 8 a.m., online or at (512) 389-8900
• Reviewers say fall weekends and electric sites book out first. Walk-up sites may be held for emergencies only
• Campsite check-out is noon
• Vehicles stay on the pavement, and day visitors may not picnic in numbered campsites

Best Time to Visit

Spring and fall are the best seasons at Palmetto State Park, with mild weather for the trails and active birds. Summer is hot and buggy, though the trails are well shaded.

• Spring (March to May): warm days, migrating birds and painted buntings. Campsites start to fill on weekends
• Summer (June to August): July averages a high of 96°F. Hike early, then cool off in the river or lake. Bring bug spray
• Fall (October to November): cooler hiking and the weekends visitors find hardest to book. The park closes Dec. 11–14, 2026 for a hunt
• Winter (December to February): January averages a high of 61°F. Quiet trails and winter trout fishing

What Visitors Say

Palmetto State Park averages 4.7 stars across 400 Google reviews from November 2024 to October 2026. Most visitors love its jungle look and quiet, and the complaints are consistent.

• The look: the most repeated praise. Visitors compare the palmetto trails to a jungle or the tropics and say it does not feel like Texas
• Size: a small park. Families and casual walkers love the flat, shady trails, but hikers wanting a long day find it too short
• Restrooms: the main complaint through mid-2025. Renovated restrooms were open by early 2026, and the newer complaint is waiting for a shower
• Noise: some campers hear road traffic, music from a neighboring property or gunfire outside the park. Weekend groups near the lake can be loud
• Staff: rangers and camp hosts get frequent praise for help and local knowledge
• Value: the $3 entry fee makes it a popular stop on a road trip, often paired with barbecue in Luling or Lockhart

Getting There

Palmetto State Park is at 78 Park Road 11 South, Gonzales, at the village of Ottine. From Luling, take US 183 southeast 6 miles, then Park Road 11 southwest for 2 miles. From Gonzales, take US 183 northwest 10 miles to FM 1586, go west 2 miles to Ottine, then south on Park Road 11.

Drive times to park headquarters:

• Austin: about 1 hour 10 minutes (52 miles)
• San Antonio: about 1 hour 10 minutes (62 miles)
• Houston: about 2 hours 35 minutes (142 miles)
• Dallas: about 4 hours 20 minutes (247 miles)

A few things to know before driving out:

• Headquarters: visitors say it sits a little apart from the main park area and can be easy to miss. Stop there first for the day pass and a map
• Floods: the gate closes when the park floods. In June and July 2026, flooding closed the low-water bridge that divides the park
• Supplies: Luling, about 8 miles north, is the nearest town for gas and groceries

Know Before You Go

Palmetto State Park is small and easy to visit, but it sits on a river that floods. These fees, rules and tips matter most.

• Fees and passes: $3 a day for adults 13 and older; children 12 and under get in free. The Texas State Parks Pass covers entry. Confirm current fees on the TPWD fees page
• Booking: TPWD says the park often reaches capacity and recommends reserving day passes, which open 1 month ahead. Campsites and the cabin open 5 months ahead
• Hours: the park is open daily, and day visitors must leave by 10 p.m. Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. TPWD doesn’t publish headquarters hours, so call ahead for check-in questions
• Dogs: allowed on a leash of 6 feet or less, but not in buildings, the cabin, the group pavilion or swimming areas
• Fires: burn ban since Aug. 25, 2026; no wood or charcoal fires, propane stoves only
• Hunt closure: the whole park closes from 8 a.m. Dec. 11 to 8 a.m. Dec. 14, 2026
• River safety: no lifeguards, and no dam upstream to hold back floods. Stay out of the river when it rises or turns muddy
• Wildlife: mosquitoes, flies and fire ants in warm months, and cottonmouths near the water
• Cell signal: campers report usable Verizon and AT&T service and weak T-Mobile service
• Facilities: restrooms with showers, a dump station, a playground, the fishing pier and a park store at headquarters with snacks and souvenirs
• What to bring: insect repellent, a quart of water per person per hour on the trail, and a kayak or canoe for the water

Nearby Parks

Four other TrekTexas guides are within about an hour of Palmetto State Park.

• Lockhart State Park: about 25 miles north (40 minutes), with a nine-hole golf course and a summer pool
• McKinney Falls State Park: about 45 miles north in Austin, with waterfalls on Onion Creek
• Buescher State Park: about 50 miles northeast near Smithville, a quiet Lost Pines park with a fishing lake
• Bastrop State Park: about 50 miles northeast, known for its 1930s stone cabins and the Lost Pines Loop
• More parks within reach: Parks Near Austin and Parks Near San Antonio

FAQ

Is Palmetto State Park the same as Palmetto Island State Park?

No. Palmetto State Park is in Gonzales County, Texas. Palmetto Island State Park is a different park in Louisiana.

How big is Palmetto State Park?

The park covers about 270 acres, so the whole trail system fits into a half-day visit.

Does Palmetto State Park have full hookups?

No. The electric sites have water and electricity but no sewer hookups. A dump station is on site.

Is Palmetto State Park open today?

The park is open daily except when it floods or closes for a hunt. Check the park alerts page or call (830) 672-3266 on the day.

Sources and Official Links

Facts in this guide were last checked in October 2026 against these sources.

• Palmetto State Park (TPWD)
• Entrance fees, campsites, cabin and group facilities (TPWD)
• Trail list, trails map (PDF) and park map (PDF) (TPWD)
• Park alerts (TPWD)
• Nature and bird checklist (PDF) (TPWD)
• Texas State Parks reservations
• Palmetto CCC history (Texas CCC Parks)
• Texas Water Safari course description

Featured photo: Ashton Brown