Texas City Refinery Turnaround Schedules 2026

If you're a contract worker heading to the Texas City industrial corridor, knowing when the big turnarounds are scheduled can mean the difference between landing a job and missing the window. Little Thicket RV Resort sits just minutes from the refinery gates — and we've put together this guide to help you plan your stay around the busiest work seasons on the Gulf Coast.

A turnaround (TA) is a planned, temporary shutdown of a refinery unit or entire facility for inspection, maintenance, and upgrades. They're massive undertakings — some bring in thousands of contract workers for weeks or months at a time. Turnarounds are the lifeblood of the contract workforce in Galveston County, and they happen on a rotating cycle at every major plant in the area.

Location: Texas City, TX (approx. 5 miles from Little Thicket)

BP's Texas City facility is one of the largest refineries in the United States, processing over 450,000 barrels per day. Major unit turnarounds typically run in spring (March–May) and fall (September–November), with smaller maintenance windows throughout the year. The 2026 cycle is expected to include a significant crude unit turnaround in the Q3–Q4 timeframe. Contract demand peaks at 1,500–3,000 workers during full-plant TAs.

Location: Texas City, TX (approx. 6 miles)

Marathon's Galveston Bay Refinery is the largest refinery in the U.S. by capacity. Turnarounds here are staggered across units, meaning there's nearly always some level of contract activity. Major scheduled work for 2026 is anticipated in the Q2 window (April–June), with secondary maintenance in Q4. Marathon typically brings in large craft crews — pipefitters, boilermakers, electricians, and scaffolders — for 4–10 week durations.

Location: Texas City, TX (approx. 7 miles)

Valero runs a 245,000 BPD refinery in Texas City with turnarounds historically scheduled on a 4–5 year major cycle and annual minor maintenance windows. Watch for activity in late Q3 and Q4 2026. Valero turnarounds tend to draw heavily from the pipefitter and insulator trades.

Location: La Porte, TX (approx. 28 miles)

INEOS operates a major olefins and chemical manufacturing complex at Battleground. Their turnaround schedule runs on a 3–4 year cycle, with the next major TA projected for 2026–2027. If you're in the chemical/petrochemical trades, this is one to watch closely. La Marque is a reasonable commute via I-45 and TX-225.

Location: Houston, TX (approx. 30 miles)

LyondellBasell's Houston refinery processes around 268,000 BPD. Turnaround windows typically fall in spring and fall, with 2026 maintenance activity expected in the Q2–Q3 range. The drive from La Marque via I-45 North runs about 35–40 minutes depending on traffic.

Location: Freeport, TX (approx. 35 miles)

While slightly outside the 30-mile radius, Dow's massive Freeport complex is worth mentioning for workers in the chemical trades. Turnarounds here are large, long-duration events that draw from across the Gulf Coast. The 2026 schedule includes planned maintenance on several units. Freeport is about a 45-minute drive south on TX-288.

Location: Thompsons, TX (approx. 20 miles)

Not a refinery, but WA Parish is one of the largest power plants in Texas and regularly schedules outage work that draws electricians, boilermakers, and millwrights. Outage windows typically run in spring and fall to avoid peak summer demand.

Based on historical patterns and industry intelligence, here's a general outlook for the Texas City corridor in 2026:

Book early. During peak turnaround season, RV sites near the Texas City refineries fill up fast. Monthly rates at Little Thicket start at $570/month (30 amp) and $590/month (50 amp) — far more affordable than extended-stay hotels.

Know your commute. Little Thicket is located at 408 Volney St. in La Marque, just off I-45. Most Texas City refinery gates are a 5–15 minute drive. For La Porte and Houston facilities, plan for 30–45 minutes via I-45 North.

Bring your rig. We accommodate rigs of all sizes with full hook-ups — 30 and 50 amp electric, water, and sewer on every site. Concrete pads and drives mean you're not dealing with mud after a long shift.

Stay connected. Free Wi-Fi is included with every site, so you can check job boards, communicate with your contractor, and stay in touch with family back home.

Bring your pets. We're pet-friendly (up to 2 pets, leashed). After a long day at the plant, there's nothing better than a walk through the shaded grounds with your dog.

Ready to lock in your spot before the next big TA? Call us at (409) 935-5375 or use the Book Now button at the top of the page to reserve through RoverPass. Monthly stays are our most popular option for turnaround workers — ask about availability when you call.

We've been housing Gulf Coast contract workers for years and know what you need: a clean site, reliable hook-ups, a pool to unwind in, and a short drive to the gate. We'll see you at Little Thicket.