Photo thanks to William L. Farr (CC BY 4.0)
Mustang Island State Park Campground
A Texas state park campground behind the dunes on Mustang Island, with 48 water-and-electric sites, 50 drive-up beach sites and more than five miles of Gulf beach, about 20 minutes south of Port Aransas.
Mustang Island, Texas · on TX-361, about 14 miles south of Port Aransas
Season
Year-round
Busiest in spring and summer; reserve ahead
Elevation
8 ft
Behind the dunes on Mustang Island
Hookups
Water + 50 amp
No sewer at sites; dump station in the park
Big rigs
45 ft reported
Paved water-and-electric sites; an RVer reported a 45 ft rig in 2022
Updated October 12, 2026 · Details checked against Texas Parks and Wildlife’s website
Behind the dunes
The Mustang Island experience
A Texas state park on an unspoiled barrier island, with 48 water-and-electric sites behind the dunes, 50 drive-up primitive sites on the beach and more than five miles of Gulf coastline.
Water + 50 amp48 sites with electric and water
Gulf beachMore than five miles of coastline
Beach camping50 drive-up primitive sites
Shade sheltersAt every water-and-electric site
Grills & picnic tablesFires on the beach, not at sites
Hot showersRestrooms near the campground
Dump stationIn the park
Paddling trail20 miles on Corpus Christi Bay
BirdingBest in spring and fall migration
Pets on leashNot inside park buildings
Park storeSupplies and gifts
Ranger programsBirding, stargazing and beachcombing
Life at camp
What campers say
The campground report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores tell a clear story: campers love the beach, the birding and the price, while some mention the wind, the sand and sites close together.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report45 ft Dec 2022
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 4G/5GT-Mobile 4G/5G
Last reported nightly rate$25 Feb 2026
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users. The Google rating covers the whole state park, not just the campground. Campendium’s $25 is the nightly site fee; the daily entrance fee is extra. Confirm fees and rules with the park before you go.
On TX-361
Getting there
The park is on TX-361 in the middle of Mustang Island, between Port Aransas and the JFK Causeway to Corpus Christi.
From Corpus Christi: SH-358 (South Padre Island Drive) east over the JFK Causeway to the island, then north on TX-361 to the parkFrom Port Aransas and the north: take the free ferry from Aransas Pass, then TX-361 south through Port Aransas to the park
TX-361 · MUSTANG ISLAND
Set your GPS
9394 TX-361, Corpus Christi, TX 78418
To Port Aransas beach*About 19 min
To Padre Island National SeashoreAbout 33 min
To downtown Corpus ChristiAbout 31 min
From Aransas Pass (by ferry)About 35 min
Reserve early. The park often reaches capacity, especially in spring and summer; TPWD recommends reserving both campsites and day passes.
Entrance fees are extra. Adults pay $7 a day on top of the site fee; kids 12 and under are free. A Texas State Parks Pass covers entry.
*Drive times are from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Mustang Island
Around Mustang Island
Port Aransas is about 20 minutes north, Padre Island National Seashore about half an hour south, and downtown Corpus Christi about half an hour west.
Photo thanks to William L. Farr (CC BY 4.0)
Mustang Island Paddling Trail
Three marked paddling routes, about 20 miles in all, follow the island’s bay shore through some of the best shallow-water fishing in Texas.
Photo thanks to Matthew T Rader (CC BY-SA 4.0)
USS Lexington Museum
A World War II aircraft carrier turned museum on Corpus Christi Bay, with planes on the flight deck and tours below.
Photo: National Park Service
Padre Island National Seashore
The longest undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world, with Malaquite Beach, a visitor center and miles of drive-on sand.
Photo thanks to dwh1974 (CC BY 3.0)
Port Aransas Beach
Miles of wide, drive-on Gulf beach at the north end of the island, with the Horace Caldwell Pier and a lively beach town.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
Three Port Aransas RV parks a short drive north, by drive time.
Photo thanks to Gulf Waters Beach Front RV Resort
Gulf Waters Beach Front RV Resort
A large beachfront resort on TX-361 just south of Port Aransas, with a pool and a boardwalk over the dunes to the beach.
Photo thanks to On The Beach RV Park
On The Beach RV Park
A long-running park right behind the dunes, with trails to the sand, a bathhouse and a fish-cleaning house.
Photo thanks to Port A RV Resort
Port A RV Resort
A large resort on TX-361 at the south edge of Port Aransas, with a heated pool, a hot tub, a gym and a catch-and-release pond.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Mustang Island State Park fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: the best-value base on Mustang Island: $25 water-and-electric sites a short walk over the dunes from five miles of Gulf beach, or $13 drive-up sites right on the sand. There’s no sewer at the sites, entrance fees are extra and the park fills up, so reserve early and pack for wind and sand.
Park feesFrom TPWD · checked Oct 12, 2026
Water + electric$25 /night
Beach (primitive)$13 /night
Entrance, adults$7 /day
Kids 12 and underFree entry
Site fees are per night, plus the daily entrance fee for each adult. Water-and-electric sites can be reserved; drive-up beach sites are first come, first served. A Texas State Parks Pass covers entrance fees for a year. Fees can change.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the Texas State Parks campsites page or call (361) 749-5246.
Typical July afternoon
Mustang Island89°
Phoenix107°
Mild winters: January highs average about 63°; July runs about 89° and humid, with a steady Gulf breeze.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers keep coming back.
Open
Site types
From $13 a night on the beach or $25 with hookups.
Open
Rates & policies
Reservations, entrance fees, fires, pets and park rules.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you reserve.
Open
Mustang Island State Park is a Texas Parks and Wildlife park on a barrier island between Corpus Christi Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Its campground suits RVers who want a simple, affordable beach base with water and electric, not resort amenities.
Best for
- Beach lovers: more than five miles of Gulf coastline, a short walk over the dunes.
- Budget travelers: $25 a night with water and 50 amp electric, or $13 on the beach.
- Anglers and paddlers: surf fishing and 20 miles of paddling trails on the bay side.
- Birders: the island is busy with migrants in spring and fall.
Consider this
- No sewer at sites; use the dump station before you leave.
- Sites are about 400 yards from the water, behind the dunes, and fairly close together.
- No campfires at the hookup sites; small fires are allowed on the beach.
- Expect wind, sand and salt air; the park is exposed on a barrier island.
Summer on Mustang Island
Typical July afternoon
89°
Mustang Island
Mustang Island station
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
18 degrees cooler than Phoenix, but humid, with nights near 79°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
The park has two kinds of camping: 48 reservable sites with water and 50 amp electric, and 50 drive-up primitive sites on a 1.5-mile stretch of beach. Up to eight people can share a site.
Water + electric $25/night
Picnic table, grill and shade shelter; about 400 yards from the water.
Beach (drive-up) $13/night
Undesignated sites on the sand; small beach fires are OK.
Entrance $7/adult/day
Charged on top of the site fee for each adult, each day.
State Parks Pass Annual
Covers entrance fees at Texas state parks for a year.
BookingOnline or phone(512) 389-8900
Water + electric$25/nightPlus entrance fees
Beach sites$13/nightNon-reservable
Entrance$7/adult/dayKids 12 and under free
Occupancy8 peoplePer site
Day-use hours8 am–5 pmDaily
FiresBeach onlyNot at hookup sites; grills OK
PetsLeashedNot in park buildings
SwimmingNo lifeguardsSwim at your own risk
SewerDump stationNo sewer hookups at sites
Checked against the TPWD park and campsites pages on October 12, 2026. Reserve online or call the reservation center at (512) 389-8900; the park office is at (361) 749-5246.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Are beach sites open? They close from time to time for weather and tides; call the park before you go.
- Which site fits my rig? Give your full length when you reserve.
- What’s the cancellation policy? Check the Texas State Parks reservation terms when you book.
- Are there active alerts? TPWD posts closures and alerts on the park page.
- Do I need a day pass too? Your campsite reservation doesn’t include the daily entrance fee.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready for a week on the beach?
Watch the sun come up over the Gulf, fish the surf and paddle the bay, then head back to a site with water and power. Reserve your spot with Texas State Parks.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Park photos via Wikimedia Commons: William L. Farr (beach, grasslands and bay-side flats; CC BY 4.0), Shawn Hinsey (dunes, cropped; CC BY 2.0), Zereshk (surf; CC BY 3.0) and Jonathan Cutrer (beach; CC BY 2.0); the images were resized. The video tour and entrance still are by Country Lane. Area photos: Matthew T Rader (USS Lexington; CC BY-SA 4.0), the National Park Service / Thomas DiGiovannangelo (Malaquite dunes; public domain) and dwh1974 (Port Aransas beach; CC BY 3.0). Other-park photos: Gulf Waters Beach Front RV Resort, On The Beach RV Park and Port A RV Resort. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Mustang Island State Park Campground unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including Texas Parks and Wildlife’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by Texas Parks and Wildlife and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Mustang Island State Park Campground at tpwd.texas.gov or (361) 749-5246. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.