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National Seashore

Padre Island National Seashore

  • South

Plan a Padre Island trip

About Padre Island

Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline Laguna Madre, tidal mud flats teem with life. Native Americans, Spanish explorers and cattle ranchers have walked along its shores. Padre Island National Seashore is waiting to be rediscovered.

From the National Park Service.

Region
South
State
Texas
Designation
National Seashore
Entrance fee
$25, private vehicle
  • Trail data for this park is still being added.
  • Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Padre Island.

Entrance fees

  • $25 Private Vehicle Admits the passholder and up to 15 passengers in the same private (non-commercial) vehicle. It expires one week from the date of purchase. For private vehicles, this entrance pass is required for overnight camping. A 1-day entrance pass is available for $10 p…
  • $20 Motorcycle
  • $15 Per Person
  • $15 Non-commercial Groups

Passes

  • $45 Annual Entrance - Park

Hours

Overall park access hours

Open 24 hours a day, every day.

The park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. However, park facilities are not open 24 hours per day. Hours for the entrance station, where the required entrance pass is sold, vary from day to day. If the entrance station is not open when you arrive, you can proceed into the park. If you are camping, go back to the entrance station the next morning and obtain an entrance pass. If not camping, pay the entrance fee as you leave if the entrance station is open.

Weather and when to go

Padre Island has long, hot summers and short, mild winters. Summers are very humid. Winter can bring strong cold fronts and gale force winds. Most rain falls near the beginning and end of hurricane season (Jun 1 - Nov 30). Average seasonal temperatures (Fahrenheit): Spring - high 70s-80s, low 50s-60s; Summer - high mid-90s, low 70s; Fall - high 70s-80s, low 50s-60s; Winter - high 50s-70s, low 30s-40s. Year-round, average wind speed ranges from 5-25 miles per hour. Relative humidity seldom drops below 70%.

Getting there

The National Seashore is located on North Padre Island, southeast of the city of Corpus Christi, Texas. Visitors to the area should head east through Corpus Christi on Highway 358. After crossing the JFK Causeway onto Padre Island, Highway 358 changes to Park Road 22. Continue about 10 miles south on Park Road 22 to reach the park entrance.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address
20420 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, TX 78418
Official site
nps.gov/pais

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Padre Island

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

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Things to do in Padre Island

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

  • Swimming

    Saltwater Swimming · about 45 min

    Splashing in the surf and bodyboarding are a favorite activity along the beach.

  • Ranger-led Programs at Padre Island

    Guided Tours · about 45 min · Reservation required

    Discover Padre Island National Seashore with free ranger-led programs like beach walks and deck talks! Explore nature, history, and wildlife while enjoying the Gulf shoreline or c…

  • Birding at Padre Island

    Birdwatching · about 45 min

    The 411 on birding at Padre Islands National Seashore. Where to go and what to bring!

  • Boating, Paddling, and Windsurfing

    Paddling · about 45 min

    Explore Padre Island National Seashore on the water.

  • Driving Down Island

    Scenic Driving · about 45 min

    One of the most popular activities to do when visiting the national seashore is to drive on the beach and travel down island. Venturing beyond the pavement can get you to some of…

  • Fishing at Padre Island National Seashore

    Saltwater Fishing · about 45 min

    Cast a line and soak in the day at Padre Island National Seashore.

  • Stargazing at Padre Island

    Stargazing · about 45 min

    See the stars at Padre Island National Seashore.

Campgrounds in Padre Island

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

  • Malaquite Campground

    48 first-come sites

    Malaquite Campground is open to tents and RVs on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservations). It is between the dunes with beach access. There are desig…

  • Bird Island Basin Campground

    34 first-come sites

    Bird Island Basin lies along Laguna Madre with easy access for fishing, birding, windsurfing, and kayaking. There are 35 RV and tent sites and 10 additional te…

What to pack for Padre Island

Gear & Essentials

Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:

The basics

Worth having in the car whatever the park.

For this trip

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