Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Padre Island National Seashore
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.
Camping & reservations
The booking button opens the official provider or park-specific camping instructions published by the NPS. Select the named campground and verify its dates, access and site rules.
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.
Reservations: Reservations are not accepted. All sites are first-come, first-served.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: Bird Island Basin has 34 primitive designated sites for RV or tent camping plus and an additional tent camping area. NPS lists an RV maximum of 45 feet. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather.
Fires: There are no charcoal grills or campfire rings. Wood burning fires are not allowed. You are permitted to use a personal propane or gas grill that can be shut off are allowed.
Site rules: Camping is by permit only in designated areas. No camping is allowed in dunes, grasslands, or mudflats. Place all trash in the designated bin near the day use area . Pets are allowed in camping areas but must be contained or kept on a leash that stretches no more than six feet from the owner at all times. Do not disturb or feed gulls, grackles, coyotes, or other wildlife. To avoid attracting unwelcome animals, put food and belongings in your vehicle’s trunk when they are not in use, and properly bag and dispose of all trash.
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.
Reservations: Reservations are not accepted. All sites are first-come, first-served.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: All sites are 40 feet long and 18 feet wide. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: Charcoal barbecue grills are available at designated sites. Ground campfires are permitted on the beach east of the vegetated dunes below the campground on open sand areas as long as they are built where flames or embers cannot threaten or blow into the grasslands, equipment, or property.
Site rules: This area is for camping only; day use is prohibited. You must have a permit to camp. Camping is permitted in designated areas only. No camping is allowed in dunes, grasslands, or mudflats. Do not leave or bury trash on the beach or toss it into the dunes. Pets are allowed in camping areas but must be contained or kept on a leash that stretches no more than six feet from the owner at all times. Do not allow pets to disturb other campers or chase wildlife. Be considerate of other visitors and the park by cleaning up after your pet. Do not disturb or feed gulls, coyotes, or other wildlife.…
Truck-camping & permitted overnight use
NPS lists RV access at Bird Island Basin Campground. Bird Island Basin has 34 primitive designated sites for RV or tent camping plus and an additional tent camping area.
Backcountry camping and vehicle camping require park-specific authorization; National Park Service land is not generally open to unrestricted roadside camping. Confirm designated sites, permits and food-storage rules with this unit.
Activities, hiking & trails
Arts and Culture, Auto and ATV, Auto Off-Roading. Official activities and trail-planning information ↗
NPS-listed recreation: Arts and Culture, Auto and ATV, Auto Off-Roading, Astronomy, Stargazing, Biking, Boating, Camping, Backcountry Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, RV Camping, Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Paddling, Canoeing, Kayaking, Junior Ranger Program, Swimming, Saltwater Swimming, Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching, Park Film, Museum Exhibits, Shopping, Bookstore and Park Store.
Maps & road access
Use the official NPS directions and current alerts. Check vehicle restrictions and campground approach roads before traveling.
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 directions / site access ↗
Before you travel
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%.
Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. National Park Service official information ↗
Photograph sources & licensing
Banner: Malaquite Beach
Yellow flowers bloom in the dunes along Malaquite Beach.
Credit: NPS Photo/ Thomas DiGiovannangelo. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Second large photograph: Shells on South Beach
Depending on the conditions, shells can be found along the gulf beaches.
Credit: NPS Photo/ Sue Wolfe. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.