#Padre island national seashore camping full

Some areas within the four-wheel-drive area (particularly Little Shell and Big Shell beaches) usually have very deep sand. Be aware that driving conditions on the beach may vary with the weather and sometimes areas of soft sand may be found in the two-wheel-drive area making driving difficult and becoming stuck possible. Please note that in Texas beaches are considered highways and all vehicles on them must be street-legal and licensed. The beginning of the four-wheel-drive area is marked. The lower 55 miles are open only to four-wheel-drive vehicles. The first five miles after the end of the park road are open to two-wheel-drive vehicles. There are no roads all driving is on the beach. The camping area extends from the dunes to the water and from the end of Park Road 22 down 60 miles to the southern boundary of the park at the Mansfield Channel. Campers may choose any location they desire and stake out a claim. Camping is on the beach within 100 feet of the water's edge. No reservations are accepted space is always available. A camping permit is required and is available from the information desk at the Malaquite Visitor Center. Be aware that this stretch is often used by people traveling from the park to a nearby fishing pier (out of the park) and that there is a moderate safety risk because of the traffic flow. Open to two-wheel-drive vehicles, however, beach conditions may vary with weather and campers should always use caution to avoid becoming stuck in unexpectedly deep sand. Campers may choose a location and stake out a claim. distance) and from the park's northern boundary to the northern barricade of Closed beach (about a 1 mile distance). Camping is permitted from the dunes to the water's edge (about a 100 ft. There are no facilities and no designated sites.

No reservations are taken for camping, but none are needed as space is always available. A camping permit is required and is available from the Malaquite Visitor Center. The Visitors Center is 1/2 mile south along the beach. Campsites are located less than 100 feet (33 meters) from the beach and have an unobstructed view of the Gulf. A camping permit is required and is available from the campground host, patrolling rangers, the entrance station, or from the information desk at the Malaquite Visitor Center.

#Padre island national seashore camping full

The campground is rarely full during fall, winter, and spring usually less than half the sites are occupied. Camping is accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. For security, the area is patrolled by rangers. Please do not run generators after 10 p.m. There is a gray water dump station and potable water filling station prior to entering the campground. An $8 fee is required $4 with a Golden Age or Golden Access passport. Semi-primitive, providing only toilets, rinse showers, picnic tables and 50 designated sites (8 sites are for tent camping only, 26 are for tent or RV camping, and 16 are for RV's only). Camping is $8 per night, $4 with a Golden Age or Golden Access pass. Plan to arrive early, especially if traveling during the spring and summer months.The developed campground at Malaquite Beach Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. If planning to camp, reservations are not accepted. The five campgrounds within the park are also open year-round though there may be closures due to poor weather or surf conditions. Padre Island National Seashore is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. During the winter, thousands of birds migrate through the park making it a popular spot for birdwatching. Year-round beachcombers enjoy discovering treasures that the currents have washed to shore. Enjoy windsurfing on the Laguna Madre which is one of the top windsurfing locations in the United States. The National Seashore is a nesting beach for endangered sea turtles with its efforts to recover the populations of five species.ĭuring the summer months, plan your visit around the hatching of sea turtle nests and watch as they are released to the wild. The park consists of 70 miles of shoreline, sand dunes, and prairies. The Laguna Madre, a saltwater lagoon, is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the undeveloped National Seashore.

The park is accessible from a causeway connecting Corpus Christi and Padre Island. Padre Island National Seashore is located about 25 minutes away from Corpus Christi, Texas.