#SOUTH PADRE NATIONAL SEASHORE MAP PLUS#

They are about five times bigger than the mosquitoes I’m used to and have stingers about a quarter inch long, which means they can get to you right through your pants and shirt. They say things are bigger in Texas, and they aren’t joking. I was camping at Malaquite Campground, and when the wind was blowing there wasn’t a mosquito in sight, but when it died down, they were perched on the outside of my tent just daring me to come out.

However, there’s no way I’d camp here from June through September.ĭuring the warmer months, if the wind isn’t blowing, mosquitoes are a big problem everywhere on Padre Island. I camped in late October, and it was extremely hot during the day with the sun beating down, but the night wasn’t too bad. With no shade, even mildly hot summer days can be brutal. One thing to keep in mind when deciding to camp at Padre Island National Seashore is that there isn’t a shade tree in the entire park. The primitive campground and all beach camping is free, but you do need to fill out a permit. There is a fee at the two developed campgrounds, and these are paid at the self-service pay stations at the entrances. There is, however, a dump station at the entrance to the Malaquite Campground that is available to all campers.Īll campsites are taken on a first come, first served basis. Amenities are sparse even at the developed campgrounds, and while RVs are welcome, there are no electric or water hook-ups anywhere in the park.

#SOUTH PADRE NATIONAL SEASHORE MAP PLUS#

There are two developed campgrounds (Malaquite and Bird Island Basin) and one primitive campground (Yarborough Pass) at Padre Island National Seashore, plus you can camp anywhere on the 60-mile-long South Beach or the 1-mile-long North Beach. There are also poisonous rattlesnakes in the dunes, grasslands, and mud flats.Tent camping on South Beach, Padre Island National Seashore Safety - Swimmers and those walking barefoot on the beach should watch out for the Portuguese man-of-war, a blue jellyfish that can cause an extremely painful sting. September to November is a good time to visit, when it is still usually warm enough for swimming but not nearly as hot or crowded as summer. Hurricane season (June-Oct) is the rainiest time of the year and also has the highest surf. Only occasionally does the temperature drop below 40☏ (4☌), and a freeze is extremely rare. Winters are mild, with highs from the 50s to the 70s (teens to the 20s Celsius), and lows in the 40s and 50s (single digits to the teens Celsius). Sea breezes in late afternoon and evening help moderate the heat. When to Go - Summer is the busiest time here, although it is generally hot (highs in the 90s/30s Celsius) and very humid. Although driving off-road is permitted on some sections of beach, the dunes, grasslands, and tidal flats are closed to all vehicles.

Pets must be leashed and are not permitted on the swimming beach in front of the visitor center. Regulations here are much like those at other National Park Service properties, which essentially require that visitors not disturb wildlife or damage the site's natural features and facilities. In addition, there is a $5 user fee at Bird Island Basin. The visitor center is open from 8:30am to 6pm Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, and from 8:30am to 4:30pm the rest of the year (closed Dec 25), and the store is usually open similar hours.įees & Regulations - Entry for up to 7 days costs $10 per vehicle (good for 7 days) or $5 per individual on foot or bike. 361/949-9368) sells camping and fishing supplies and gift items, and rents chairs, umbrellas, body boards, and other beach toys. In the same complex, Padre Island Park Company (tel. The visitor center complex, along Park Road 22 at Malaquite Beach, has an observation deck, a bookstore, and a variety of exhibits, including one on the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle. 361/949-8068 The Park Service also maintains a recorded beach- and road-condition information line (tel.

Visitor Information - For information, contact Padre Island National Seashore, P.O. 358 (South Padre Island Dr.) southeast across the JFK Causeway to Padre Island, and follow Park Road 22 south to the national seashore. Getting There - From Corpus Christi take Tex.

South padre national seashore map