Because the beach is a little more private, feel free to bring lawn chairs or extra towels to spread out!įor a more popular beach destination, Michael J. There is only one entrance onto the beach, you can park there with a permit. There is also fishing equipment available for rental near the water. You can go fishing off of the piers or you can spend time on the sand building sandcastles. It is the more laid back beach comparative to its northern twin. South Packery Jetty Beach separates Mustang Island from Padre Island. The beach is monitored by lifeguards which makes it a great place for families with young children! Additionally, there are permits available for small campfires. For $12 you can get a yearly beach parking pass. There are some free parking spots, as well as some that require a permit. There is a small $5 fee to enter which helps keep the parks clean and functional throughout the year! You can also camp here through their many electric and water campsites, or if you’re more daring you can camp out at the primitive sites. Sometimes during the spring and fall, you can also catch the semi-annual bird migrations.
In addition to the beach, there are also hiking trails and fishing piers. With over 5 miles of coastline, you can spend the whole day in this beautiful Texas state park and never get bored. Please make sure you pay attention to any posted notices in relation to campfires! If you’d like to park your car on site you will need to get a parking permit. There are areas to walk or ride a bike as well as set up a small campfire. If you’re only planning for a quick afternoon trip this is also the best place to bring a small picnic lunch. This tends to be a much more secluded beach than North Beach. Similar to McGee Beach this beach is more so dedicated to those that are looking for a spot to layout and relax. It is fully loaded with public restrooms and equipment rental for a myriad of aquatic activities!Īs you can probably tell from the name, Whitecap Beach is a white sand beach stretching for 1.5 miles near the Padre Island SeaWall. Similar to North Beach there is no vehicle traffic on the beach so there is less to worry about in terms of traffic. This beach is much more laid back and it’s more catered to families. The beach is fairly close to downtown, making it a great place to stake out a spot for the day. If you’re nervous about little (or big!) ones in the water for the first time this is a good place to go as the water is much calmer. McGee Beach is one of the most family-friendly beaches in Corpus Christi.