Specialty Vehicles

Please read through the following information before bringing your specialty vehicle to a state park.

• Golf Carts
• Electric Bicycles
• Neighborhood Electric Vehicles/Low Speed Vehicles
• Off-Highway Vehicles
• Motor-Assisted Scooters
• Motorized Mobility Devices
• Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices
• Pocket Bikes/Mini-Motorbikes
• Motorcycles And Mopeds
• Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs)

Golf Carts

A golf cart is a motor vehicle designed to transport people on a golf course. We allow golf cart use in a few state parks, with restrictions.

• Golf carts are allowed on roads at Mustang Island, Goose Island and Blanco state parks, but must have current vehicle registration from the city where these parks are located.
• Golf carts can operate on a public or private beach that is open to vehicle traffic. This includes Sea Rim and Mustang Island state parks.
  • Carts must be trailered to Sea Rim State Park and unloaded onto the beach.
  • Carts are allowed on roads at Mustang Island, so trailering is not needed.
• Golf carts are allowed at Lockhart State Park with these restrictions:
  • The driver must have a valid driver’s license.
  • The cart may drive to and from the golf course during daytime (½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset) as long as it is no more than five miles from where it is usually parked.
  • It can only be used on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. It can cross roadways where the speed limit is also no more than 35 mph.
  • It must display a slow-moving vehicle emblem.
  • Liability insurance is not required.

Legal references: Transportation Code Secs. 551.402, 551.403, 551.405, 547.002 and 547.703.

E "Electric" Bicycles

An electric bicycle has an electric motor of less than 750 watts. It operates with motor power, only, or with motor and human power (pedaling). It cannot go faster than 28 mph when propelled only by the motor.

Electric bicycles are not allowed on park trails. This includes all classes of e-bikes.

You may use an electric bicycle on state park roads where a regular bicycle is allowed.

Legal references: Transportation Code Secs. 541.201, 551.002, and 664.001.

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles/Low Speed Vehicles

A neighborhood electric vehicle reaches a maximum speed of 35 mph on a paved level surface and otherwise complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500 (49 C.F.R. Section 571.500).

These vehicles, if street legal, can travel on state park roads and may cross at intersections of roads with a speed limit of 45 mph or less. The speed limit for an NEV is 35 mph or the posted speed limit, whichever is less.

The driver must have a driver’s license and proof of liability insurance.

Equipment requirements

An NEV/LSV that is operated on a state park road must have:

• seat belts
• head and taillights
• windshield and wiper
• parking brake
• turn signals
• horn
• rear-view mirror or passenger side mirror
• driver side mirror
• brake lights
• reflectors
• muffler (if gasoline engine)
• valid registration and license plates
• Slow-moving-vehicle emblem; and
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Legal references: Transportation Code Secs. 551.301 - 551.303.

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) and Utility Vehicles (Gators, Mules, etc.)

All-terrain vehicles and recreational off-highway vehicles are mainly for off-highway use, not for farming or lawn care.

• An ATV has three or four wheels and a saddle or seat for the rider (and passenger, if any).
• A recreational OHV has four wheels or more and a non-straddle seat.

All these types of vehicles, including Sand Rails, are off-highway vehicles.

You may operate off-highway vehicles on roads at Mustang Island and Goose Island state parks. Vehicles to be registered through the local authorities. You can also ride OHVs at Eisenhower State Park; you will need an OHV permit to ride there.

We don’t allow All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and Utility Vehicles (Gators, Mules, etc.) at any other state park.

Legal references: Transportation Code Secs. 551A.001 and P&W Code Sec. 29.003.

Motor-Assisted Scooters

A motor-assisted scooter is a self-propelled device with two or more wheels, brakes, a gas or electric motor not exceeding 40 cubic centimeters, and a deck on which the rider can stand or sit. A rider can also propel the scooter without the motor.

You may operate a motor-assisted scooter on state park roads where the speed limit is 35 mph or less. Scooters are not allowed on any state park trails.

Legal references: Transportation Code Secs. 551.351 and 551.352.

Motorized Mobility Devices

A motorized mobility device is for use by a person with physical disabilities. It has three or more wheels, a battery powered motor, only one forward gear, and cannot exceed eight miles per hour.

A person operating a wheelchair or a motorized mobility device is considered a pedestrian. They may operate a wheelchair or mobility device anywhere in a state park that a person is allowed to walk.

Legal reference: Transportation Code Sec. 552A.0101.

Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices

An electric personal assistive mobility device is a two non-tandem wheeled device for one rider. It is self-balancing with an electric propulsion system that has an average power of 750 watts or one horsepower.

Users can ride these on sidewalks and on state park roads without sidewalks where the posted speed limit is 30 mph or less.

These devices are not allowed on state park trails or on any road where the posted speed limit is over 30 mph.

Legal references: Transportation Code Secs. 551.201 - 551.203.

Pocket Bikes/Mini-Motorbikes

A pocket bike or mini motorbike is a two-wheeled vehicle. It has an electric motor or internal combustion engine with a piston displacement of less than 50 cubic centimeters and a seat or saddle. It is not designed for use on a highway and is ineligible for a certificate of title.

Pocket bikes and mini-motorbikes are not allowed on any state park roads, trails or sidewalks.

Legal references: Transportation Code Secs. 551.351 and 551.353

Motorcycles And Mopeds

A moped is a motor-driven cycle that cannot attain a speed in one mile of more than 30 miles per hour, has an engine which cannot produce more than five-brake horsepower, and has a piston displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less. Riders don’t have to shift gears.

Motorcycles and mopeds must be registered, display the appropriate plates, and be properly equipped for safe operation. Operators must have licenses.

You may operate street legal motorcycles and mopeds only on state park roads, not on trails or sidewalks.

Legal references: Transportation Code Secs. 521.001 (6-a), 521.085 and 541.201.

Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs)

Use of OPDMDs for people with disabilities is considered on a case-by-case basis. Please visit Accessibility to make a request for use of an OPDMD at a state park. 

Effective date: 01/2026

All information is subject to change by the Texas Legislature.