South Beach — Padre Island National Seashore, near Corpus Christi, Texas, is a unique spot for those who crave a more primitive camping experience right on the beach. With miles of sandy shoreline, you can set up your tent just steps from the surf, making it a perfect getaway for sunbathers, bird watchers, and anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

This area allows for beach fires, so you can dig a hole and enjoy a cozy fire right on the sand as the sun sets. Visitors have noted the clean chemical toilets and showers available at the visitor center, which are a welcome relief after a day of outdoor activities. One camper described it as “absolute heaven” to camp near the dunes, where you can enjoy the peacefulness of the beach at night.

For those who love wildlife, keep your eyes peeled for deer and coyotes that come out after dark. The area is also a haven for bird watchers and shell collectors, with plenty of opportunities to explore the natural beauty of the Texas coast. Just remember to bring your own supplies, as this location is quite primitive—water, food, and firewood are essential for a comfortable stay. Whether you're a seasoned camper or just looking for a weekend escape, South Beach offers a laid-back atmosphere that’s hard to beat.

South Beach — Padre Island National Seashore

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Padre Island National Seashore

The Best Camping Near Padre Island National Seashore, Texas

We've camped on the beach at Padre Island National Seashore twice.  The campground has always been fully booked but there is access to the beach and you can camp on the sand.  It gets a little crowded on holiday weekends but there are MILES of sand so you can just drive until you find a spot that suits your fancy.  I have a 2WD vehicle and was a little concerned about getting stuck.  Fortunately, there were plenty of people on their beach with 4WD who were more than willing to use their toy to pull me out.

I contemplated giving my review fewer stars because this is Texas and the beaches are not nearly as nice as those in other parts of the US.  We had issues with seaweed washing up both times but the water was clean.  There are no facilities on the beach but the visitors center has showers and flush toilets. 

Camping on the Beach

This campground and beach area is heavily trafficked by tourists and locals, but is still kept quite clean. There are basic amenities such as restrooms and trash facilities. Nothing fancy.

Heavily trafficked but clean

Tent or vehicle camping on the beach, what's not to like. The other area has electric and water hook up but call ahead and reserve. Whole area well maintained. Enjoyed my visit even though I'm more of a mountain person. 

Take your pick

This is one of a few campgrounds here that are “primitive” style meaning you have to bring your own water and just maybe there’s a vault toilet. Camping is free since they don’t provide you with any services. It’s a great place to camp but all our tents collapsed in the wind so you should bring a nicer tent. Wildflowers were lovely. 


Padre Island National Park 

Padre Island is an awesome place to camp on the beach. The sites here are primitive campsites, so you need to bring your own water and food. I prefer this style of camping, so it works for me!

I would definitely recommend this spot to anyone down in that area.  

Great place to camp on the beach!

This is PRIMITIVE (even 1 mile down there’s no luxuries)= bring plenty of H20, food, GAS, supplies and a 4wd for the farther down areas. Having some understanding of beach camping will serve you well! The wind can easily blow over fiberglass pole tents (metal is best w/sandbag type weights &amp; sand tent stakes, you will thank me!), the tide can sneak up and bury your tires while you sleep, read the beach and park accordingly.  A shovel for a level sleeping area, dig out or unfortunately removing the occasional trash is a good idea. Come prepared to go without cell service and resort to communicating with one another! Any style portable toilet is necessary! I use a Nemo  pressure shower to stay clean and sane. Pack it in, pack it out. Dumpster/toilets at beach entrance. The beach is a road, beware of speeding vacationers @ all hours. The Malaquite visitors center has showers and a park store. Rates are amazing for the experience trade off! Pay at the booth at the entrance or at the toilet/dumpster area (honor system). A great place to enjoy the beauty of the Texas coast! 

Beautiful and natural! 

You are able to drive down the beach to find your perfect spot to set up your tents by the dunes! Very clean chemical toilets are near the beach entrance and very clean showers are up at the visitors center. During the day you will have day visitors set up near you but not on top of you but at night it was like we were the only people on the beach! Dig a hole and you can have a fire right on the beach it is absolute heaven!

An absolutely stunning place to camp! 

I stayed here for a month. Just me and my back packing equipment. Just beautiful.

Padre Island 

There is a whole lot of Texas, but not a ton of public land lies therein. One exception to this is Padre Island National Seashore. With 63 miles of barrier island sand available to drive and camp on, it is impossible not to get away from it all.  And if you are a card carrying "America the Beautiful" pass holder, this place is FREE to camp!

  

Once you move away from the developed roads to the seaside sand, which is easy enough to drive on even with just front-wheel drive so long as you stay on the flats, you leave behind any services, water, electricity and toilets. Bring everything you need with you and you’ll be fine. We brought our solar panel and had all the electricity we could possibly want for 8 full days.

  

Park your rig just to the dune side of the highwater “roadway” and you’ll be out of the way for the many vehicles who come to fish, camp, or just explore this natural wonder. No OHV vehicles are allowed on the beach, which is considered a highway, so leave the toy-hauler behind. Opportunities to birdwatch, hike or bike along the beach, play in the surf or just lie in the sand are as numerous as the stars. We found some LTE by hiking up onto the high dunes, but just enough to call, text, or check email. 

  

Within 15 miles, the small community of Padre Island offers plenty of restaurants and gas stations but cross the bridge into Corpus Christi and you’re in full-blown suburban Texas. Ice and water kiosks are everywhere so bring your quarters to fill up.

Calling All Bird Watchers & Sea Shell Hounds...

Such a silly thing to realize. It is the beach, after all! 

But my brain didn't compute that wind + sand = sand in tents, food, pants, etc! 

But, still, this spot was easily accessible for our first night in the park (even with the coastal flood warning!). 

There was no one in the visitor's center when we arrived just after 5pm. But they do sell ice there if you need to stock up before heading down the beach. 

There's also water, trash bins, and a bathroom at that location. Just make sure you stock up on firewood before coming into the park! 

Be Ready For Sand Everywhere!

We've spent many winter months around the Corpus Christi, Texas area and visit South Beach frequently. Plenty to do; fishing,  sunbathing,  bird watching,  photography,  and on some evenings after dark you can spot deer and coyote come out of the sand dunes to feed on seaweed and fish remains. We prefer to camp at nearby Malequite campground for $5 a night with water, bathrooms and showers. The visitor's center has some supplies. 


Photos of South Beach — Padre Island National Seashore

Real photos from real campers