Best Tent Camping near Chapman Ranch, TX

People friendly. Tent camping on beach.could be quite sandy. Sand will go through mosquito netting. Keep pets leashed!

Not the best for tent camping in the middle of summer. Had fun but not used to the humidity

Can’t say enough good things about this place. First time to Texas and was pleasantly surprised with the national park and this specific camp ground. The beach was closed for camping (September 17-21) due to high tides so I decided to stay at bird island basin. 20+ RV spots (without electric hookup so bring that generator) and a designated tent camping area on a small beach in the back of the grounds. Toilets at either side of the camp ground. Boat ramp and kayak launch 100 yards from the tent camping area. Also, if you’re a windsurfer, their is a rental shop and world class windsurfing 5 ft from your camp ground. I stayed for 5 nights and the cost was 40$ plus the 10$ park entrance fee for a weeks access. The intercoastal channel runs directly parallel to the beach and its teeming with redfish and plenty other species of saltwater fish. Showers are a 2 minute drive down the road to Malaquite beach and they also have a gift shop that sells ice (7.50 for 20 lbs). The only downside is their is no cell service until you leave the national park and the closest gas station and reasonably priced ice is 12 miles away. Also bring a canopy because their are only 3 spots with shade and they fill up fast.

Camp on a little strip of land right on the gulf. White sand, gentle waves,wildlife, sunrises, not too crowded. Primitive tent camping close to the water. Very basic but clean facilities. Sites are very close but the views make it worthwhile, though there are some other camping options in this park. Feels almost like parts of Florida. Worth shaking sand out of your sleeping bag for months...

I'm not from a coastal area so I don't know if the wind is constant, changing w/season, weather or what BUT, very strong wind while I was there! Very clean and well maintained, staff was informative and helpful. 5$ to get in, plus your site fee. Bring your own shade. There were little gazebo sleds but no guarantee you'll get one. Tent camping was right on the beach, RV camping basically a parking lot....showers under the visitor center.

I camped here 25 years ago and it was just as lovely as I remembered. Lots of walking trails, some bird feeders and a great place to stay to go out to Aransas Reserve with Rockport Adventures boat tour. Captain Tommy knew his birds, not just Whooping Cranes.

The tent site is a "walk-in" but it was only a few feet to the site. The bathrooms and showers were clean.

Early spring 21 just went and had a blast. Fairly packed now that the state opened up fully. Over all though that time was perfect weather for kayaking and hiking the short trails that this park has. Tent camping is great and the spots are well payed out with plenty of space between them. Shower and bathroom facilities are in decent shape and do the job. Was impressed for havi g never heard of it prior to arrival. Online reservations available to make it easier.

This is one of two established campgrounds on Padre Island, and definitely the more desirable one. After camping on the sand in the dispersed area along the coast, for over a week, a gale force warning inspired us to move into this paved campground, which offered a bit more protection. 

It’s not much more than a glorified parking lot, but it has direct beach access to the north end of the national seashore and some amenities. Some sites have grills, others don’t. All seemed to have picnic tables. Showers (only cold water) and bathrooms are relatively clean, but a little outdated. There are just 3 tent sites on the far north end and they are some of the nicest spots!

Glorious views of the ocean, lovely sunsets over the dunes, and some of the most amazing shells and sea creatures regularly wash up on the beach. Birds galore, too!  We spent a lot of time on beaches and near the ocean and have never seen this type of diversity.

On the downside, there is also a lot of storm surge trash, so bring a few bags and do your part to help clean up YOUR park.

There are no electrical hook-ups, so come prepared with your solar panel. There is ice available at the Visitor’s Center and water at the campground, but groceries/gas is about 10-12 miles away, so come prepared to chill the heck out at this beachside campground.

We spend a couple months camping at tons of parks around Texas and this was by far my favorite scenery from the site- the waves crashing :) The sites were quite close together, but the park was not very busy when we visited. They did allow tents to set up in the designated site or more near the beach which was great. The camping area is right near the dunes. For the low price of a site we were more than pleased with the facilities cleanliness. Not very primitive or private, but near the water is a BIG draw!

Just outside of Corpus Christi in a slightly more remote stretch of Texas coast rests Padre Island National Seashore, a beachfront land preserve operated by the United States Park System that offered a variety of camping and recreation options.

Amongst those, Malaquite Beach Campground, a small but nice facility less than a quarter mile up the beach from the visitors center. This campground boasts around 50 campsites, many featuring a picnic table, BBQ and shade structure.

No reservations can be made so the facility is a first come first come Campground which uses a camping kiosk or account for availability. Campsites are $8 per night and do include handicap options.

While the individual sites do not offer amenities such as running water or electricity, there is a nice bathroom and shower facility located mid-camp. These showers are free and boast cold water showers, something you will more than crave in the humid Texas air.

Campsites are located amongst the grassy dunes about 200 yards from the coastal waters but upon paying you can park in your designated site and set up your tent anywhere within the area including beachside.

We arrived late in the evening just before sunset. Following sunset Campground is very dark, no security lights to disrupt the coastal star views so it can be a bit tricky to navigate. Do not forget a flashlight if you are camping here for sure!

The humidity of the coast was intense so it made for a bit of a hot evening camping though the breeze passing through the tent was very helpful. Make sure your have a fully venting tent when camping here to keep cooler at night and pack lightweight items for sleeping.

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All in all I would give Malaquite Campground 4 of 5 Bunnies. The facilities were clean, Campground host was helpful and location was ideal for beach combing away from some of the crowds. I do suggest this to be a weekday excursion however as they did mention because of the low cost it does fill up quickly on weekends.

The only downside, lighting is sparse at night which makes it a bit difficult to navigate the grounds. Again for safety remember to bring a flashlight! And this campsite is very windy, nothing you can do about this though because it is nature, but that can make for difficulty in setting up or using bbqs.

For a video of the campsite and a little more about Malaquite Beach check out this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFW9mi4iE2Y&t=8s

Make sure to fill up on gas, water and ice before heading out on the 63 miles of available beach! You can drive for hours along sparkling waves with shell laden sand, passing isolated camps and groups fishing. If you want privacy, this is it! You must take all you need The cell reception is spotty, around mile 25.5 if you walk towards the bayside you’ll get a signal best with Verizon, and at Mansfield Cut. Any Texas beach camping is not for the inexperienced... BEACHES ARE WINDY, CAMP LIKE YOU’RE IN A TORNADO! METAL POLE TENTS WITH SAND RATED STAKES, & SECURE EVERYTHING!! Solar yard lights are great to set perimeters to late night drivers. There are jellyfish, wear long pants or bring meat tenderizer for the stings!! The Turtle Patrol passes several times a day. Yes there is strewn garbage, it’s deposited every high tide from all around the world, bring a rake, garbage bag and a reality check. People do speed, pay attention. Showers, dumpsters and toilets are only at the entrance to the beach/Malaquite Visitors Center. This is our favorite place to go because of the privacy, beauty and the fishing. Nights are gorgeous with starry skies, waves, and a fire. Make the time to check this place out, sit and pretend you’re the only person on your private island, you will be hooked!

Best thing about this camping area is day use people are Not Allowed! Both tent and RV , WITH a shower right there. Well maintained area and not far from the visitors center. Enjoyed this area.

It’s windy most of the time. Perfect for windsurfing and fishing. There’s about a 50 foot waist high depth off of your campsite which is right next to the water. the wind is brutal to tents so be weary.

It’s not bad for a Texas beach campground. Very little shade, picnic areas could be a bit bigger- it’s texas a s it’s hot, shade is a must.

This spot gets 4 stars based on location, though it does have limited sites. If you prefer your space, book in advance and secure one of the few beach primitive spots where you can pick your tent pitch locale. Great location for sunset/sunrise with fun adventures close by: walk the jetty, ride a horse along the beach, or visit the Sea Turtle Rescue site further down the coast.

We’ve stayed at all the campsites along Padre Island over the years, they’re all pretty similar for views but they have different facilities. In a tent you can camp out at the beach or right next to the picnic table/parking lot. The breeze off the ocean is great. This is a very basic campground, they just have water and toilets, and it’s all very open and close quarters but you are right on the beach so it’s still nice. Not far from the main entrance but still a bit of a drive from “civilization.”

We’ve stayed at all the campsites along Padre Island over the years, they’re all pretty similar for views but they have different facilities. In a tent you can camp out at the beach or right next to the picnic table/parking lot. The breeze off the ocean is great. This is a very basic campground, they just have water and toilets, and it’s all very open and close quarters but you are right on the beach so it’s still nice. Not far from the main entrance but still a bit of a drive from “civilization.”

Spent a week in the developed campsite area of the park in December of 2015. Wonderfully maintained table, grill, and tent area. The showers left something to be desired, but I had never been beach camping - so that might be normal.

Loved that the beach was walking distance from camp, but the sites were guarded by the dunes. Really helped fend off the wind.

One of my favorite places in the park was the recreational area further inland. Beautiful sunset (see picture) and lots of crabs to catch!

What a lovely beach! I had a great time visiting last summer. There's a $5 entrance fee per person for day use. They also offer camping for both RV's ($20/night) and tents ($10/night).

We got there pretty early in the day, and were able to secure one of the little hut/gazebo things for our belongings. If you see one of them available, grab it! It's nice to have a shady spot to retreat to. The beach was very clean, and much less crowded than I was expecting.

There are porta potties and outdoor showers by the beach, and indoor facilities closer to the road.

Goose Island SP is a great little hidden gem of a park on the Texas Gulf Coast.  The camping area is small, but they've arranged the spots very well, with good vegetation between each spot that hides your spot from your neighbor.  They offer both 30 amp and 50 amp service, water, fire ring, table on cement pad and nice flat spots.  Good day use spots and excellent boat ramp with a fish cleaning table.  Yes there are bugs, but this is in the middle of reclaimed wetlands, so be prepared!  This is their world and we must adapt.  The bay-side camping area is the island part of the park and is still being renovated (as of Aug 2020), but according to park staff, they should be open by Nov 2020.  There is also a brand new, huge pier with boat access and fishing that will be open soon.  Near-by there is "The Big Tree", purported the oldest tree in Texas (1000-2000 years old!) and Rockport beach and all the other Texas coast attractions.   Highly recommend and we will be returning soon.

This is a great RV park with very close access to the beach in Port Aransas and the wonderful gulf coast in Texas. The host and maintenance crew were wonderful and were very helpful with everything we needed at the park and the beach was fantastic! Highly recommended!

Being that this is Texas, it's super hot all day and all night long. It's worse when there is no shade to shield you. Although the breeze is great off of the water, shade would be nice. The area is clean, the beach is clean, and it is about what you can expect from a Corpus Christi beach area camp site. Nothing special, just enough.

We had planned to spend 3 nights here at the beginning of a months-long road trip and loved it so much that we ended up staying 8 nights! Nice, long, level concrete pads, well-maintained hookups, good laundry facilities and rec hall. Super friendly and helpful staff and it's beautiful to boot. Would definitely stay here again when we're back on the Texas coast.