Best Glamping near Padre Island National Seashore

Gulf Waters RV Resort and Wilderness Oaks RV Resort house Texas coastal glamping accommodations with distinctive amenities near Padre Island National Seashore. Gulf Waters offers luxury glamping experiences with full hookups including electric, water, and sewer in a resort-style setting. Each glamping site includes a picnic table, and most feature personalized touches added by individual lot owners. Wilderness Oaks expands accommodation options with glamping sites and yurt rentals alongside their RV spaces. Their sites offer electric hookups, picnic tables, and access to clean restroom facilities with showers. Both resorts maintain trash collection services and allow pets, creating a comfortable extended stay environment. "Sites are privately owned and owners build their own character. Our sites both had outdoor cooking areas with a tiki hut like structure to protect from rain and sun. Really awesome."

Beach access remains a highlight for glamping visitors, with Gulf Waters providing a convenient boardwalk connecting glamping accommodations directly to the shoreline. The proximity to Padre Island National Seashore allows guests to experience stunning coastal scenery, wildlife viewing opportunities, and seasonal events like sea turtle releases. Winter visitors particularly appreciate the climate-controlled accommodations when unexpected weather arrives. One guest noted, "Stayed here when a freak cold front came through complete with gale force winds. Although the internet service was effected, all other utilities remained online thankfully!" Bathroom facilities at both resorts maintain cleanliness standards, with Gulf Waters earning particular praise for their modern shower buildings. While mosquitoes can be present in evenings around water features, the comfortable accommodations and beach proximity make these glamping resorts popular year-round destinations.

Best Glamping Sites Near Padre Island National Seashore (2)

    1. Gulf Waters RV Resort

    6 Reviews
    Port Aransas, TX
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (361) 749-4978

    $91 / night

    "The site I stayed in was level, sewer 30/50 amp, water, and had a tiki hut with a wet sink, but I didn’t use the latter much because of the cold snap. "

    "The best part is the short walk or golf cart ride to the beach and ocean!!! Now for the downside of this place that we have found !"

    2. Wilderness Oaks RV Resort

    3 Reviews
    Fulton, TX
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (361) 729-2307

    "They also have a wonderful salt water swimming pool which is heated in the winter. Bathrooms are individual family style."

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Glamping Reviews near Padre Island National Seashore

27 Reviews of 2 Padre Island National Seashore Campgrounds


  • Susan L.
    Jan. 27, 2022

    Gulf Waters RV Resort

    Steps from the beach

    Stayed here when a freak cold front came through complete with gale force winds. Although the internet service was effected, all other utilities remained online thankfully! As other reviews may have mentioned, this resort is comprised of privately owned lots, upgraded by the owners, and these are rented out when available. The site I stayed in was level, sewer 30/50 amp, water, and had a tiki hut with a wet sink, but I didn’t use the latter much because of the cold snap. 

    The resort sits in the middle of Mustang Island, so no walking to Padre or Port A. However, this makes it quiet and it is well cared for. I especially appreciated the beautiful mature palm trees, landscaping and the clean bath house with nice showers. There’s a laundry on site. $2 per load and the office has quarters. It’s quiet and friendly. If you stay 1 week or more, then there is a meter reading for the electric, on top of the rental fee. 

    The highlight for me was the proximity of this resort to the beach. Just a short walk to the boardwalk over the dunes and you’re there! Just beautiful. Very clean beach with portable potties available.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Gulf Waters RV Resort

    Beautiful Place

    It's a great place to stay !!! Staff is nice and very helpful. Showers are clean. Every lot is different and some are very unique !!! I would venture to say that they all have different owners and some are for sale. The best part is the short walk or golf cart ride to the beach and ocean!!! Now for the downside of this place that we have found ! Mosquitoes in the evenings and mornings are intense especially around the ponds and grassy areas. So if you have pets be prepared to get eaten !!! The pet areas are close to the ponds and are small to say the least !!! The pet areas are scattered around the camp sites. Some are close to some of the campers. There are two vacant lots on the very Eastside of the property that are ok. The problem with these are that they have stickers (sand burrs)and if you have small hairy dogs it could be a horrible experience for your pet!!!

    There are some full time owners/ residents/ guests. We have found a mix of campers. From the $30 k to the over $500 k plus crowd. Some people are friendly and some are not!!!! There is a private vibe to most of the crowd we feel!!!

    You can also rent golf carts and drive them to Port A. You will have to drive them on the beach if you want to go to town on them. They are not allowed on the Highway !!

    These are just our opinions and what we have experienced !! Have a great camping experience!!! That is all!!!

  • Lisa B.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 26, 2020

    Malaquite Campground - Padre Island National Seashore

    Miles of amazing beauty

    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!

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 7, 2025

    Wilderness Oaks RV Resort

    Great visit

    I have personally stayed at this park many times over the last 8 years and have hosted about 7 rallies for RVing Women. They have a great rally/community room with a full kitchen plus a separate game room. They also have a wonderful salt water swimming pool which is heated in the winter. Bathrooms are individual family style. Whether staying with a rally group or by yourself, the staff has always been great. They also honor Passport America and their individual and rally rates are very reasonable. I noticed that previous reviews complained about the airport. I would like to point out that it is a very small airport for small private planes and small Air National Guard planes. While the Guard planes do practice touch and go landings at times, they only fly during the day. Pull through sites are nearer the road so there is some traffic noise during morning and evening traffic times.

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 20, 2025

    Gulf Waters RV Resort

    Forever Campground

    Sites are privately owned and owners build their own character. we have stayed twice and will be back again. our sites both had outdoor cooking areas with a tiki hut like structure to protect from rain and sun. Really awesome.

  • F
    May. 12, 2019

    Malaquite Campground - Padre Island National Seashore

    Really on the Beach!

    As you drive on PR22 you feel yourself getting to a slower way of living! Once thru the main entrance enjoy the drive. You'll pass the Visitor center on your left, be sure to stop in. They have an excellent little gift shop, great displays & good information. It is also where you can shower. Several good overlooks of the beach also. Worth the stop!

    Once you reach the pavement and you're on the beach, just a couple of miles past the Visitor Center. There's a bathroom & dumpsters at that point.

    Continue on and you're driving on Padre Island beach! It's beautiful! The first 5 miles are where RV's & regular cars & vans can get with no issues. At the 5 mile point you'll see a sign that says high clearance, 4X4 only part this point. The sand gets heavier, deeper & harder to get thru at that point.

    1-4.5 miles from the road are the places to RV camp. Beyond is for the adventurous & tenters!

    I found a spot about 1 mile I . It was great! Got my RV 🚐 level, place to park my 4X4, breezy & beautiful!

    If you're a sun & sand person, you'll be in heaven! 🐸 LOL. For me, my favorite time is about 7pm to 8am! I cook quite easily! 🐸

    Not too many people during the week. Enough room the even on Cinco de Mayo weekend the beach was not packed...busy, but with room left over!

    If you do the beach, only fee is park entrance fee. You can stay up to 14 days. Be sure to pack it more teach than you generate to help the beach! Make sure you have extra clothes. I highly recommend either a good weather app on phone or a NOAA weather radio, or both!

    I spent 6 nights there...it was awesome! Would have stayed longer but weather got me! Between a storm front & wind driven tides, 7th morning woke up to the tide under me! 🐸 LOL! Called in the cavalry...my kids...to come help me dig it & pull me out! But it was grand!

    If you have the National Parks annual pass or the Senior Pass, it is free camping on the beach. If you need supplies it is about a 22 mile roundtrip to Wally & HEB.

    Would I recommend this beach - YES! Excellent views, great wildlife, peaceful & breathtaking!

    For more of my adventure, please go to... www.ayntsi.us or truckingfrog.blogspot.com

    Enjoy the Nature! 🐸

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2022

    Malaquite Campground - Padre Island National Seashore

    Great beach camping!

    Awesome place to pull up the beach, listen to waves and make a fire. No trash collection so make sure you pack it out. Also, I did see some rats or something running around the dunes so just be aware


Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Padre Island National Seashore?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Padre Island National Seashore is Gulf Waters RV Resort with a 5-star rating from 6 reviews.