Sunrise to Sunset: Beachfront Camping in Texas
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Beachfront camping in Texas
Camping on the beach has been a dream of mine since I started researching and building my campervan from a Ram ProMaster. I knew this was something I was going to add to my bucket list as we traveled across the United States. Since I knew we would be visiting Texas on one of our trips across the US, I decided to research places to camp along the ocean and I found these two locations to camp at during our summer 2021 trip.
Camping along the oceanfront in Texas combines the thrill of the outdoors with the soothing sounds of the sea. As we settle into our campsite along the beach, I am embraced by the warm air, salty breeze, and the gentle sounds of the waves hitting against the shore.
The Texas coastline offers many opportunities to enjoy the stunning sunrise and sunset, as you end your day around the campfire under a sky filled with stars. You will find many pristine beaches that offer camping escapes that promise relaxation and outdoor fun.
Beach camping in Port Aransas
Our first beach camping experience was in Port Aransas. I had hoped to take the Ferry to Port Aransas Island, but GPS rerouted me and I didn’t realize it until we were already at the beach. I thought the ferry would be a fun experience so it is something I will do next time.
Once we arrived at the beach, we scoped it out and then went to the closest convenience store to pick up a beach parking pass. Beach passes can be purchased at Port Aransas City Hall, Family Center IGA, and any convenience store. They are required so you can camp on the beach overnight.
Cost: $12 - the annual pass is good until the end of the calendar year!
Limitations: You can park for 3 nights on the beach within a three-week period of time. After the three weeks you can camp again. RV, tent camping and other self-contained camping is allowed.
Amenities: Port a potties, cold showers, trashcans and fires are allowed on the beach but no larger than 3 ft x 3 ft and must be extinguished with water when done.
Pets: allowed if on a leash
Ferry to Port Aransas
Ferry: Free to board the ferry that takes you on a 10-minute ride to Port Aransas. Ferry runs 24 hours/7 days a week. It may close due to weather conditions if needed. During the busy season it could be an hour or more wait to board the ferry. If you are traveling by RV or large trailer, check out the Ferry rules for weight limits.
There were enough small waves that the kids could use their stand up paddle board to surf. Although they were not very successful, they enjoyed trying.
Parking on the sand
Look how close we are to the ocean. We are parked on the beach!!!!! I was so excited to actually…be…camping….on…the…beach!!! I loved it!!! The bollards (wooden posts) let you know how close to the ocean you can camp. No parking is allowed by the red bollards. We stayed at this location for two nights. It was awesome to hear the waves crashing against the beach at night. We had no problem driving on the beach and I wasn’t worried about getting stuck at all, but I do take traction boards on all my trips just in case. There were several entrances for getting in and out of the beach. There is a small grocery store, Family Center IGA, and souvenir shops close by for convenience.
Grocery store: Family Center IGA Food Store. This is a smaller family-owned grocery store but we were able to find what we needed.
Address: 418 S Alister Street, Port Aransas. Hours: Sunday to Thursday 7am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 7am to 11pm (summer hours).
Beach camping at Padre Island National Seashore
Our next stop was Padre Island National Seashore which was about 46 minutes away from Port Aransas. We were able to stay directly on the beach in this location also.
Cost: There is a $25 fee for a seven-day pass. If you have a National Park Pass you can camp here for FREE.
Amenities: restrooms, cold showers, visitor center, kayaking/canoeing, fishing.
This area consists of 66 miles of wild coastline to enjoy. This coastal barrier island allows you to spend time at the beach, kayaking, camping, birding, fishing, and many more outdoor activities. Lots of beach allow you to drive about 5 miles on the beach in a campervan, per the attendant, without getting stuck. (If you ever plan to visit several National Parks in a year, I highly recommend purchasing a National Park pass for $80 a year which gets you into all the National parks and monuments for FREE.)
Again, purchase traction boards just in case you would get stuck while traveling. I carry these boards with us on each trip, but I am happy we have not had to use them.
Fishing: if you are fishing on the island, you will need a Texas fishing license and endorsement for ages 18 and over.
The map below shows the distance between Port Aransas and Padre Island.
Kayaking at Bird Island Basin
If you are up for kayaking or boating at Padre Island, head over to Bird Island Basin Day use area where you can go into the Laguna Madre where the water is a shallow 4 1/2 - 5 feet deep. There is no fee to launch your kayak or boat here. There are pit toilets in this area as well for convenience.
We used our inflatable kayaks and SUPs to kayak in this basin. We have used them several times and they have worked well for us. They are easy to blow up and deflate quickly. I highly recommend them. Their price fluctuates between $99-199 for the kayak’s depending on the season.
Kayaking Laguna Madre
We took our kayaks out in the lagoon to paddle around for a while. The trip out in the lagoon was easy but coming back to shore was quite the workout. Although we managed to make it back it took quite a bit of work. The current kept taking us back out, so you have to paddle hard to get back. Despite that struggle it was very peaceful and quiet once out away from the shore. As we were out in the water we kept encountering moon jellyfish. My then 5-year-old said it looked like a star was on their top. It was exciting to see them floating in the water as we kayaked. After some research it said these moon jellyfish were harmless, but their sting could cause a mild skin irritation so keep your body inside the kayak. PFDs are required to kayak in the lagoon. We use these lifejackets as we travel.
After we returned to shore, we quickly deflated our Kayaks, loaded them in the van and headed to the beach to relax.
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Camping on the beach
We had no problem driving on this beach, the sand is pretty compacted making it easy to drive on. Prior to parking, make sure to check for soft spots, so you do not get stuck. We were able to find a spot to park and set up camp easily. We are right on the beach again, so exciting!!!!! Don’t forget to bring a canopy for some shade if you are going to stay a couple days.
The kids were able to swim for several hours while I enjoyed hanging out in the sunshine! My youngest enjoyed playing in the sand and would play in the sand all day if I let him. The sand was pretty compacted due to all the driving on it but there was still enough loose sand to play in. Port-a-potties were located on both beaches and were located every 100 feet or so.
Campgrounds at Padre Island
If you prefer to camp in a campground, there are two campgrounds at Padre Island.
Malaquite Campground
tents and RV’s, paved and gravel sites
first come, first served
amenities: restrooms, cold showers, picnic tables and some sites have grills and shade structures.
no electric but there is dump station and water spigots along the road
beach access
$14 fee per night, Senior and Access pass card holders get 50% off
Bird Island Basin Campground
35 RV and tent sites, gravel sites with some sand only tent sites
first come, first served
no electric, vault toilets, trash. No fires allowed
$8 fee per night, Senior and Access pass card holders get 50% off
Campfires on the beach
In the evening the kids dug a hole in the sand and collected wood to start a campfire. Due to the wood being picked along the beach it wasn’t completely dry so it wouldn’t hold a fire. Luck fully a guy camping with his family next to us brought over some of his hot ash which helped get our fire going. The kids absolutely love campfires, so we were excited to sit by the fire at night and talk about things they have enjoyed about our trip up to that point. It is fun to listen to what each of them enjoyed and sometimes I am surprised by the simple things they loved. There is nothing more peaceful than sitting by a campfire, looking up at the stars and enjoying the peace and quiet of the night sky. Don’t forget your roasting sticks so you can enjoy roasting marshmallows for a sweet snack.
Showers, Restrooms and Visitor Center
Restrooms and showers are located at the Malaquite Visitor Center which is open from 9am to 5pm daily. We chose a few souvenirs and took advantage of the restrooms and showers which are open 24 hours a day except between 7am-9am when they are being cleaned. The Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
After camping on the beach for several days, there was sand everywhere in the van. I use a portable shower bag to rinse sand off of our feet before we enter the van which does help keep the sand to a minimum.
Mustang Island State Park
With 5-miles of unspoiled beach, you will have the opportunity to enjoy beach time, swimming, birding, camping and more.
Address: 9394 State Highway 361, Corpus Christi, Texas
Entrance Fee: $7 daily, 12 and younger are free
Hours: 8am to 5pm daily
Camping at Mustang Island State Park
Electric Sites
48 campsites located 400 yards from the ocean front on the other side of a sand dune
amenities: 50-amp service, water, picnic table, shaded shelter, restrooms with showers nearby.
$25 a night plus entrance fees
Non-electric sites
beach camping
50 non-reservable sites
restrooms nearby, small campfires on the beach
sites may close due to weather
$13 a night plus entrance fees
Paddling Trails at Mustang Island State Park
There are 20 miles of paddling trail in this park. Bring your kayak or canoe and enjoy the solitude of kayaking these trails while you fish or birdwatch. See below map.
Galveston Island State Park
Come to Galveston Island State Park to take advantage of the many outdoor activities. You can swim, hike, go fishing, mountain bike riding, kayaking trails, camping, ranger programs and more.
There are 116 campsites in Galveston Island State Park, 72 are electric and 34 include water hookups. Make camping reservations online.
Address: 14901 FM 3005, Galveston, Texas
GPS: 29.19078, -94.95953
amenities: restrooms with shower, picnic table, fire ring
$15 bayside water only, fire ring, picnic table, lantern hook, tents allowed
$20 bayside water and electric, fire ring, picnic table, tents allowed, paved
$20 beachside tent platform, fire ring
$15 beachside tent camping, water, picnic table, fire ring, lantern hook, tents allowed
$30 beachside water and electric, fire ring, picnic table, lantern hook, paved, tents allowed
Pets allowed
Galveston Island State Park Picture credit: tpwd.texas.gov
There were very few people that camped on the beach at both camping locations we stayed at (Padre Island and Port Aransas), so it was very quiet each night. Take advantage of the quietness and relax with a good book, enjoy family game time, or just sit quietly listening to the ocean sounds. I would have loved to stay longer on the beach, but my kids were ready to move on and we had so much more to see and do.
Check out these other Texas related articles
Spend a day at the Texas Rangers baseball game
Visit Magnolia Market in Waco and see the empire built by Chip and Joanna Gaines. Port Aransas is 5 hours from Waco, Texas.
While visiting Magnolia Market, you can stay at the Midway campground only a few minutes away.
Heading to New Mexico? Visit White Sands National Park for the most beautiful sand in the area.
Capturing the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico is a beautiful experience. Take time to stay the night next to the ocean and enjoy the tranquil sounds of the ocean as you fall asleep at night. Beachside campfires and star gazing complete this special experience. The simple parts of life spent on the beach allow you to unwind and linger as the days wind down, allowing peace to calm your soul and rediscover the wonders of beach life, even if only temporarily. I hope this post has inspired you to make a trip to the beach for the day or overnight. It is so worth the extra sand in your vehicle. Until next time….
Enjoy the journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I am a girl who loves to travel and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US. Picture taken at Forrest Gump Point in Utah.
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