Entrance Fee
$25.00
/ Commercial Entrance - Sedan
Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Malaquite Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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About the Park
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.
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What to See & Do
Swimming
Splashing in the surf and bodyboarding are a favorite activity along the beach.
Ranger-led Programs at Padre Island
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 chatting over coffee with a ranger. Check the NPS App or visitor center for schedules and pop-up events.
Become a Padre Island Junior Ranger
Are you interested in exploring? Would you like to learn more about the national parks that belong to you? Do you want to learn how you can help protect these special places? If so, become a Padre Island Junior Ranger! The Junior Ranger activity books are appropriate for all ages and are a great way to learn about the natural wonders of the national seashore.
Check-out a Junior Ranger Discovery Pack
Families and groups with children can borrow a free Discovery Pack from the Malaquite Visitor Center to explore Padre Island. Each pack includes an activity guide, field guides, binoculars, magnifiers, and more.
Birding at Padre Island
The 411 on birding at Padre Islands National Seashore. Where to go and what to bring!
Boating, Paddling, and Windsurfing
Explore Padre Island National Seashore on the water.
Self-Guided Tours
Grasslands Nature Trail
This 0.75-mile (1.2 km) loop trail takes hikers through one of the last intact coastal prairie ecosystems in the United States and is fully paved to accommodate all visitors. Several benches with limited shade are located throughout the trail. Throughout the trail, numbered posts correspond to the tour stops on the NPS App that offers insight to the native plants growing in the grasslands.
Visitor Centers
Malaquite Visitor Center
The Malaquite Visitor Center includes an information desk, park store and an exhibit area with information about park history, plants, and animals. Ranger-led programs are available during the summer season. A shaded picnic area is available on the deck. Restrooms are available across the deck from the visitor center. Wheelchair users can borrow a special beach wheelchair from the visitor center at no charge. An accessible ramp goes from the deck down to Malaquite Beach.
Where to Stay
Malaquite Campground
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 designated paved and gravel camp sites, restrooms, cold water showers, and picnic tables. Some sites have grills and shade structures. No hookups but a dump station and potable water are on the road to the campground. Campers with a paid site in the campground can pitch a tent either at the site or on the beach in front of the campground.
Bird Island Basin Campground
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 tent-only sites. All sites are side by side on gravel. The tent-only sites are walk up to a sand flat. This area is also for day use activities. Vault toilets are available at the north and south ends with day use areas in between.
Parking & Access
Getting Here
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.
Official NPS directionsParking Lots
Bird Island Basin Boat Ramp
The Bird Island Basin Boat Ramp parking lot has 122 parking spaces that are for vehicle/trailer combinations only, 4 parking spaces that are for vehicles without trailers only, and 6 handicap parking spaces. The 6 handicap spaces include 2 spaces for vehicle/trailer combinations only, 2 spaces for vehicles without trailers only, and 2 spaces for vehicle or trailer combinations. All parking spaces are first come, first served. Overflow parking is available at the Malaquite Visitor Center parking lot.
Open in MapsGetting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
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.
Park Amenities
Permits & Reservations
Permits may be required
Some activities in Padre Island National Seashore — including backcountry camping, certain trails, and climbing routes — require advance permits. Check the official NPS website for current requirements before your visit.
Entrance Fees & Passes
Standard Fees
Commercial Entrance - Sedan
$25.00Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. The entry fees of commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicles that can carry seven or more passengers regardless of the actual number of passengers.
Commercial Entrance - Van
$40.00Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. The entry fees of commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicles that can carry seven or more passengers regardless of the actual number of passengers.
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
$40.00Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. The entry fees of commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicles that can carry seven or more passengers regardless of the actual number of passengers.
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$100.00Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. The entry fees of commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicles that can carry seven or more passengers regardless of the actual number of passengers.
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$25.00Admits 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 per vehicle. 1-day entrance passes expire at midnight on the date of purchase and are not valid for overnight camping.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$20.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. For motorcyclists, this entrance pass is required for overnight camping. A 1-day entrance pass is available for $5. 1-day entrance passes expire at midnight on the date of purchase and are not valid for overnight camping.
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Admits one individual bicyclist, hiker, or pedestrian visiting the facility without a private vehicle. An individual pass is not required for visitors aged 15 and under. It expires one week from the date of purchase. For an individual, this entrance pass is required for overnight camping. A 1-day entrance pass is available for $5 per person. 1-day entrance passes expire at midnight on the date of purchase and are not valid for overnight camping.
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups
$15.00Non-commercial groups traveling in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 persons or more are charged per person. This entrance pass is valid for one week from the date of purchase. Fees will not exceed the commercial fee for the same-sized vehicle. Youth 15 and younger are free. Individuals or families with any valid Annual or Lifetime pass may use their pass for entry.
Annual & Lifetime Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$45.00Admits the passholder and up to 15 passengers in the same private (non-commercial) vehicle or motorcycle. It expires one year from the month of purchase.
Operating Hours
Overall park access hours
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.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Photos
Small shell fragments in the sand long the beach.
Two deer feed on grass. Their antlers have velvet on them.
Several sea turtle hatchlings crawl on the sand towards the Gulf of Mexico.
A hawk like bird with an orange beak stands on a fence post.
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
1 day
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Planning Padre Island National Seashore
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