Padre Island National Seashore is massive. At 130, 434 acres, it is the longest stretch of barrier island that remains undeveloped . . . not only in the United States, but in the world. Undeveloped as it is, the seashore is extremely important ecologically. The Kemp’s ridley, the world’s most endangered sea turtle, uses a stretch of Padre beach as its nesting site. Although this isn’t the only place the Kemp’s ridley nests, it is the most important such in the United States. Four other endangered species nest here: the Loggerhead sea turtle, the Green sea turtle, the Hawksbill sea turtle, and the Leatherback sea turtle.
Padre Island is also a flyway for birds, over 380 species worth. About 45 percent of the birds of North America have been documented here. Of these species, Brown Pelicans, Redheads, Least Terns, Piping Plovers, Reddish Egrets, and Peregrine Falcons occur in very significant numbers. Bird Island Basin is a popular site for marsh birds within this popular birding site, and the Gulf beach is full of gulls and shorebirds.
Beyond watching sea turtle releases and birding, star gazing is a popular pastime in the park. Padre Island has a star party once a month, usually during a new moon. And although there are no bicycle trails, bikers often take to the scenic roads alongside the motorists.
The Basics
Location:
Mustang Island
Hours:
Daily; daylight
Season:
Year-round
Price:
$5 - $10
Address:
9405 S. Padre Island Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
Phone:
361-949-8068
Map
Directions
The seashore is located southeast of the city of Corpus Christi, Texas. Visitors to Corpus Christi should head East through the city on South Padre Island Drive (Highway 358). After crossing the JFK Causeway and the bridge onto Padre Island, continue about 10 miles south on Park Road 22. The physical address for the Malaquite Visitor Center is 20402 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, TX 78418.
Climate
During summer daytime highs can reach into the 90s (Fahrenheit) on the island, but rarely into the 100s. During winter highs are usually between 50-70 (Fahrenheit)and occasionally drop into the upper 30s. The weather is usually dry and clear with the most rain occurring in winter. Average windspeed throughout the year is about 5 to 25 miles per hour.
Annual Park Pass Fees: $20.00 - Annual Bicycle/Walking Entry Fee: $5.00 - 7 Days Vehicle Entry Fees: $10.00
For Kids
The park conducts a number of programs during the year. These include beach walks, mini-talks, campfire programs, and bird-watching walks, among others. Most programs originate from the Visitors Center. Please call 361-949-8068 for program information.
Visit the news section on the front page of the website or visit www.servicetoamerica.org to learn about how Padre Island National Seashore is teaming with Eastern National to promote community service among boy and girl scouts by offering the Service to America badge.
Junior Ranger Program
The program is intended for children from 5-13. A small booklet is furnished at no charge. The booklet contains questions about the park's natural and human history, the answers to which can be found in the exhibit area. It also contains games such as matching wildlife to its habitat. There is also a short interview with a ranger, which the child can conduct using pre-determined questions such as "What is your favorite animal?". After completion, which normally takes a little over two hours at a relaxed pace, the child gives the booklet to a ranger, not necessarily the same ranger as interviewed, and he/she will look over the booklet to make certain all questions have been addressed. Incorrect answers are politely addressed with the intent of teaching the child about the seashore and the environment. The ranger then signs and dates the back cover, which can be used as a certificate, and the child is issued a plastic junior ranger badge of the same size and similar appearance to a real ranger badge.
Now you can be a ranger even if you are not able to visit a national park. Just by logging on, you become a member of a growing group of young people who are interested in the world around them and involved with their nation's heritage...The WebRangers! WebRangers is a web-safe environment where children can explore the parks. No personal information is collected, and none is required for participation in WebRangers.
Outdoor Camping
All camping is first-come, first-served; no reservations are accepted. There are no public R/V hook-ups anywhere in the park, but an R/V dump station and a water filling station are available. Camping is permitted only in the five camping areas available for public use (however, these five areas cover a huge area). All campgrounds are open year-round. All camping is primitive, except for the Malaquite Campground, which is semi-developed. All campers must have a camping permit available from the Malaquite Visitor Center, the Malaquite Campground host, or any patrolling ranger. A camping fee is charged for the Malaquite Campground and a Use fee is charged for Bird Island Basin, but fees are not charged for camping anywhere else. Please see the individual campground descriptions below for more details. More information is available from the Malaquite Visitor Center at (361) 949-8068.
Bird Island Basin A camping permit is required and is available at the Malaquite Visitor Center. No reservations are taken for camping, but space is usually available. There are chemical toilets only. Suitable for both RV and tent camping. A fee is charged in addition to the park entrance fee: $5 per day, or a $10 annual fee. Bird Island Basin is located on the Laguna Madre approximately four miles from the visitors center. In addition to camping, Bird Island Basin has a windsurfing area (ranked by Windsurfing Magazine as the best flat water sailing site in the continental USA) and a boat-launching ramp.
Malaquite 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). An $8 fee is required; $4 with a Golden Age or Golden Access passport. There are no hook-ups. There is a gray water dump station and potable water filling station prior to entering the campground. Please do not run generators after 10 p.m. For security, the area is patrolled by rangers. Camping is accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted. The campground is seldom full; during fall, winter, and spring usually less than half the sites are occupied. 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. Campsites are located less than 100 feet (33 meters) from the beach and have an unobstructed view of the Gulf. The Visitors Center is 1/2 mile south along the beach.
North Beach Open to RV and tent camping. There are no facilities and no designated sites. Camping is permitted from the dunes to the water's edge (about a 100 ft. distance) and from the park's northern boundary to the northern barricade of Closed beach (about a 1 mile distance). Campers may choose a location and stake out a claim. 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. 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.
South Beach No reservations are accepted; space is always available. Camping is on the beach within 100 feet of the water's edge. There are no designated sites. Campers may choose any location they desire and stake out a claim. 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. There are no roads; all driving is on the beach. The first five miles after the end of the park road are open to two-wheel-drive vehicles. The lower 55 miles are open only to four-wheel-drive vehicles. The beginning of the four-wheel-drive area is marked.
Please note that in Texas beaches are considered highways and all vehicles on them must be street-legal and licensed. 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. Some areas within the four-wheel-drive area (particularly Little Shell and Big Shell beaches) usually have very loose sand. A site bulletin on how to prepare for driving down island are available by contacting the Visitors Center. Contact the Visitors Center before driving down island to check on beach conditions. Driving off the beach and into the dunes, grasslands, and mudflats is not permitted.
Yarborough Pass Located on the Laguna Madre 15.5 miles south of the visitors center. No fee is charged for use. Access to this campground is possible only through the four-wheel drive area of South Beach.
To find the campground drive to the 15 mile marker then backtrack approximately 100 yards and look for a notch in the fore-island dune ridge. Driving through the notch places one on a caliche road, parts of which are sometimes flooded by marshes. Follow the road approx. 1-2 miles to the campground. Be aware that the notch through the dunes is sometimes filled with exceptionally deep and loose sand in which even four-wheel-drive vehicles become stuck occasionally. The flooded areas may be deep. Use caution when crossing to avoid flooding engine or exhaust.
Do not drive in the mudflats surrounding the campground. The upper layers of the mud dry first, giving the appearance of solid ground, but leave soft mud underneath in which it is easy to become bogged down. Fines for damaging the mudflats are heavy.
The park has one visitor center and five designated camping areas (please note that camping outside the designated areas is prohibited). Most are located in the northern eight miles of the park.
One campground (South Beach) extends for sixty miles. Most of it and the campground at Yarborough Pass can be reached only via four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Please note that there are no water or electrical or sewage hook-ups in the park. RVs may use a communal water-filling station and gray water dumpstation located just outside the developed Malaquite campground.
Potable water for filling water bottles may be obtained from two exterior faucets at the Malaquite Visitor Center.
