Padre Island National Seashore

[Len n Jeanne]

Hi everyone-- We are hoping to hear from some east Texans-- and those of you who have camped in or near the Padre Islands in February-March.

What are your favourite places to camp? Visit? What advice would you give a stranger to these parts?

Our camping style is that we love the great outdoors-- camping by a beach would be super. We are good with federal and state parks; but less so with massive RV parks with tightly packed RVs. Some small RV parks can be great. Boondocking is fine.

Hoping to hear from you! (And thanks in advance.)

[Lily&Me]

Love Padre Island NS.

Were there earlier this year, in February, when it happened to be extraordinarily cold. We stuck it out for 3 days, anyway, because we were there.

There are a couple of county campgrounds there you will find on the map, Padre Bali and Malaquite.

Unremarkable, but have electric, showers and a dump station.

I believe it is from Malaquite that you can drive right out onto the sand and camp, watch the sun rise and set. No charge for that, as I recall. Beautiful, glorious experience....our favorite.

Likely to be very hot there this time of year.


Maggie

[RickDavis]

We have camped on the beach at Padre. Be aware however all that salt air/spray is corrosive and did quite a pit of pitting on our older trailer that does not have clear coat.
Would be less of a problem on a newer unit, but be aware of it. A little further off the beach might make a big difference

[2Tex4Fun]

We have camped at the County Park on South Padre Island...very large Park. Some of the nice amenities are beach walking, free bus to town, good restaurants or fish market nearby. However, it is very close to the Gulf & as was mentioned salt spray is problematic to Airstreams.

Another favorite of ours on the TX Gulf is Matagorda Bay Park (see TX Parks for reservations)--run by LCRA. There doesn't seem to be the salt spray problem. Very nice campground with lots of beach walking and great fish shop-Buddy's in town. The town is very small, so if you go, take all your supplies.

Victoria

[cwf]

Our middle son works on Port Aransas... the island.... there is parking on the beach, boondock style...

I will not put my AS trailer on the beach... I plan to keep it..so do not need the salt damage...

We do visit and stay at one of the RV parks... close enough to get to the beach real easy...and no damage to the AS...

YMMV

[Len n Jeanne]

Really helpful advice, everyone. Thank you!

I take it, the best idea is to find a nice CG off the beach, and then just plan on day outings to the water's edge?

Maggie, it's great to see you posting again!

[Gnorts]

mustang island state park, north of padre - campground was full, so we towed the caravel out on the beach and spent 2 days, loved it, no sea salt damage, beach was easy to tow on in 4wd, we set up at the upper edge of the beach, dug a trench for the uphill wheel to get level. met some nice folks surf casting for redfish. memorable.