Mustang Island State Park

Open — Open year-round. Park gate open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended as the park often reaches capacity.

About

Mustang Island State Park provides a quintessential Texas Gulf Coast camping experience along more than five miles of unspoiled barrier island coastline. Located near Port Aransas and Corpus Christi, the park serves as both a beach recreation destination and a critical stopover for migratory birds along the Central Texas Coast Birding Trail. The park offers two distinct camping experiences: 48 water and electric campsites with 50-amp hookups positioned about one-third of a mile from the beach behind protective sand dunes, and 50 primitive drive-up sites located directly on a 1.5-mile stretch of beachfront where campers can fall asleep to the sound of waves. The developed campsites include shade shelters, picnic tables, and nearby restrooms with hot showers, while primitive beach campsites offer a more rugged experience with portable toilets located 50 yards to 1.5 miles away. Beyond camping, the park offers excellent opportunities for coastal recreation. The 20-mile Mustang Island Paddling Trail follows the western shoreline through Corpus Christi Bay, passing through productive shallow-water fishing areas. Beach activities include swimming, surfing, beachcombing, and fishing. The park is particularly popular with birders during migration seasons. While campfires are not permitted at the developed campsites, beach campfires are allowed both at primitive sites and on the beach for those camping in developed areas.

Directions

From Houston: Take Hwy 59 South to Victoria, then Hwy 77 South to Corpus Christi. Take SH 358 East to Park Road 22 to Padre Island, then north on SH 361 for 5 miles. Alternatively, from Hwy 77 at Sinton, take Hwy 181 to Gregory, then SH 361 to Port Aransas, then 13 miles south to the park.

Nearby Campgrounds