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Padre Island National Seashore, photo 1 of 4

Photo: William L. Farr / CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Beaches

Padre Island National Seashore

Corpus Christi, TX · Texas Gulf Coast$$25 per vehicle for 7 days; 1-day pass $10

About

Padre Island National Seashore covers 66 miles of Gulf beach at the end of Park Road 22 on North Padre Island, Texas. You can drive and camp right on the sand. Two-wheel drive is allowed on North Beach and the first five miles of South Beach. Past mile marker 5 you'll want four-wheel drive, and that's how you reach Little Shell and Big Shell, about 20 miles down South Beach, where shells pile up after a big storm or a very low tide. South Padre Island is a separate island across Mansfield Channel, three to four hours away by road. Between mid-June and August, Kemp's ridley hatchlings are usually released on Malaquite Beach at 6:45 a.m., and the Hatchling Hotline, (361) 949-7163, says which mornings.

Highlights

66 miles of Gulf coastlineLongest undeveloped barrier island in the USKemp's ridley releases, mid-June to AugustShells at Little Shell and Big ShellDrive and camp on the beach4WD recommended past mile 5

Getting there

20420 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, TX 78418

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