South Padre Island Beach is open to camping from Beach Access #5 and Beach Access #6 to any point north. During the on season Padre Island camping access by vehicle is $12 to enter, regardless of the length of stay. Offseason is free (from autumn until spring break). The first several miles are accessible by 2 wheel drive vehicles and RV’s. Miles 5-24 usually accessible by 4x4 only. Fires, pets, and fishing are allowed. There are no amenities, cell service can be spotty, and it is recommended to be aware of tides and weather conditions. The beach is patrolled by beach patrol and sea turtle patrol, and it is a favorite destination for windsurfing and dolphin watching. There is a large dumpster at the beach access to empty trash on leaving, and showers/restrooms at Beach Access #5.



Edwin King Atwood Park

This is one of my favorite places to camp in South Texas.  Cameron County recently made this into Edwin King Atwood Cameron County Park.  The site is just a few miles north of the convention center on the northern end of South Padre Island.  They have a controlled gate at the access #5 gate and charge a $10 fee.  Before you drive onto the beach they have bathrooms and a picnic facilities at this entrance.  You can camp anywhere north of this entrance.  We like to camp here in the off-season during the week to avoid the busy periods.  We have a 4x4 which can come in handy for the soft sand areas.  You can access with a truck or higher clearance passenger vehicle.   This is dispersed camping without designated sites.  They provide trash barrels but no other amenities.   We like this setup and appreciate the freedom of camping  at this type of site.  You will need to pack everything in to this site and bring your water, food, and toilet.  You camp along the beautiful seashore next to tall sand dunes with incredible views up and down the beach.  They have been making efforts to pickup trash on the beach which has been an issue in the past.  You can drive for miles down the beach which eventually ends at a jetty.  Beach drivers should monitor tide levels and check the NOAA tide tables.  We have been trapped after dark once with rising tides.   The sun and wind can be unforgiving along this beach.   So you need to time your visit and have the right equipment to protect against the elements.  The Laguna Madre is just to the west. This is great for kayaking, kite surfing, fishing, and bird watching.   

Awesome Beach Camping 

South Padre Island Beach has approximately 60 miles of primitive beach camping. This area can be accessed from Beach Access #5 and Beach Access #6 and you can camp anywhere north. During the on season access by vehicle is $12 to enter, regardless of the length of stay, though camping cannot exceed 14 days. Offseason is free (from autumn until spring break). During the off season north of access 6 is recommended 4x4 only. Fires, pets, and fishing are allowed, but keep in mind several miles of beach have a road on the other wide of the dunes so keep an eye on pets and children. There are also no amenities and it is recommended to be aware of tides and weather conditions as it can get quite windy on the beach.

Great primitive beach camping

Beach camping on South Padre Island (NOT to be confused with camping in one of the several campgrounds and resorts located ON South Padre Island) is free/fee camping (depending on time of year) available and unrestricted on the gulf side of the island, from Beach Access #5 and Beach Access #6, to any point north. There are about 24 miles of beach from Beach Access #6 to the northern terminus of the island at the Port Mansfield Channel (aka East Cut or North Jetties). This is a popular fishing destination. Depending on the recent weather and the beach condition, usually the first 3-5 miles of the beach are accessible by 2 wheel drive, trailers, campers, etc. North of that, the sand is less packed and generally requires 4x4 to access. In the days after hurricane Harvey I was actually able to drive all 24 miles in 2 wheel drive because the storm surge had leveled and packed down the beach, but that is extremely rare. Count on needing 4x4 if planning to camp north of the first few miles. Why go that far? During the on-season especially, and many weekends in the off-season, there are many people at the beach also camping, barbecueing, etc, and for the camper that enjoys a more secluded and wild experience, going just a few miles north gets you away from the crowds, and you can find your own stretch of beach to set up and enjoy nature.

Do not confuse South Padre Island with the Padre Island National Seashore - South Beach. Padre Island National Seashore is only accessible from Corpus Cristi, and has no direct access from South Padre Island because of the Port Mansfield Channel.

In addition to the normal stuff, always take a shovel and extra water. I have started taking traction boards, I have never had reason to use them myself, but every time I go I end up helping someone who is stuck, and since I have started carrying traction boards I rarely have to use my recovery strap.

It’s not hard to keep from getting stuck though - air down your tires, don’t stop moving when you start to bog down, know the limits of your vehicle, and try to stay on packed sand. DO NOT drive up on the dunes. This is illegal, even if you see others doing it. Also be aware of and watch for sea turtles and their nests, and report any you see and the closest mile marker.

Don’t forget to air back up to normal tire pressure once you’re back on the road or at the first service station in town just south.

Bugs come out in force for a short period as the sun sets if the breeze dies down in the summer, but this usually only lasts for about 30-45 minutes until the night breeze picks up from the gulf and sends them back into hiding. Depending on the time of year, it can get VERY windy at the island, especially there at the north end, so check conditions before you go.

Wildlife I have seen camping out there: Dolphins, Seabirds, Crabs (especially fun to find at night with a flashlight), Nilgai (an Asian Antelope that now lives wild in south Texas), Sting Rays, and Sea Turtles. I have seen the tracks of Coyotes, Jack Rabbits, Snakes, mice, and Lizards. There have also been sightings of Foxes, Deer, and very rarely, Bobcat. It’s very safe, but as mentioned above, keep your pets with you. This is common sense when camping anyway.

Campfires and bonfires are allowed, but you must pack in and out your own wood. Make sure to dig a hole, be aware of the wind, and most importantly, make sure the coals are completely put out with water and any logs are removed from the hole before completely covering the area back up when you’re done. Hot coals buried under sand remain hot for hours, and can significantly burn someone that steps on the spot later. Additionally logs left under the surface are a hazard to other vehicles.

When the fee booth is open, it is $12 entry, and they give you a trash bag. If you bring back the trash bag with trash and receipt before 7pm, they refund you $2\. This is irrelevant if staying overnight, since they don’t redeem for prior days. Military and Veterans are $6 to enter with ID. In the off season the fee booth is closed and access is free.

There are (outdoor beach style) showers and restrooms at Beach Access #5, at the newly built E.K. Atwood Park, and a large dumpster at both exits. No hookups or dump sites though, until you get back to the city of South Padre Island.

If you drive all the way north to the Channel, there is a trail that turns left and crosses the dunes, following the channel most of the way west across the island before entering restricted Laguna Atascosa NWA land (vehicle traffic is barred, and fines are heavy) and the track disappears beyond that in tidal flats. This area is more specifically what is referred to as the east cut, and while there is an awesome hidden camping site that is second to none, access is tricky, and it is VERY remote. These tidal flats have been the end of many trips, and are known as the 4x4 graveyard. They appear dry on the surface, and have thick watery silt and mud underneath. Once you’re stuck, water begins to fill in from the surrounding ground and it’s extremely difficult to self recover. Cell signal from a few miles north of the access is spotty or non-existent as well. Tow trucks do service even this far north, but the bill is usually $600-$1000+. Not worth it. If you’re going to go, be sure to be traveling in a group of more than one 4x4 high clearance vehicle, and the skills and equipment to self-recover. Stay on the path, and don’t trust how dry the ground make look off the path (except for the area immediately next to the Jetties, where you will want to camp).

That’s a book, but hopefully it’s enough to get started. Have fun and embrace the wild of it (take a portable toilet) and if you’re like me, you’ll become addicted and go back every chance you get for the opportunity to wake up to the sound of the waves, seabirds, and feeling of sand in your toes.

Keep in mind normal primitive camping rules, pack in and pack out everything, and leave the beach looking nicer than when you arrived, and we will continue to have this resource for years to come.

The beach camping destination with something for every level of camper. 

Enough beach to truly get away from everything. Definitely worth the trip.

My happy place

padre is a perfect place to go when you really want to get away from everything. great beach camping and you can drive down as far as you'd like. we are always able to find a spot with no one else around. there are no facilities or set camp sites so you set up wherever you want. be mindful of the weather and I would recommend a four wheel drive car if you plan to drive out very far. lots of people get stuck. we love camping here! 

great beach camping

Wow, such an amazing camping experience! We boondocked with our 36ft motorhome right on the beach.

$12 to get in and stay as much as you’d like. Busy on weekends but very quiet during the week.

They allow driving on the beach here from access #5 and north of it. Watch the tides, best to get in &amp; out when the tides are low. Some areas had very soft sand. We got stuck coming in but were able to get our using our leveling jacks and shoving things under the tires but on the way out we got barrier way deeper and needed assistance getting out using a truck that pulled us with towing straps. 

Good for tents, or small rigs or medium size rigs that are prepared for an adventure... not for newbies! 

We spent 5 amazing nights here on the beach, and can’t really beat camping right on the sand, with the sound of the waves and lots of sunshine.

