Photo: National Park Service
North Beach, Padre Island National Seashore
Free primitive beach camping on 1.5 miles of Gulf sand at the north end of Padre Island National Seashore: no fees beyond the park pass, no hookups and no reservations, just the surf, the stars and a 14-night limit.
Padre Island National Seashore, Texas · 1 mile south of the park entrance sign on Park Road 22
Season
Year-round
May close for high tides and coastal flooding
Elevation
Sea level
On the Gulf beach of North Padre Island
Hookups
None
Dump and water next to Malaquite Campground
Big rigs
4WD advised
Soft sand; large two-wheel-drive RVs should use Malaquite or Bird Island Basin
Updated October 12, 2026 · Details checked against the National Park Service’s website
Free beach camping
The North Beach experience
Free primitive camping on 1.5 miles of Gulf beach at the north end of Padre Island National Seashore. There are no hookups and no reservations; you only need a park entrance pass.
Primitive beach camping1.5 miles of Gulf beach
Campfires on the beachBelow the high tide line
Pets on leashAt all times
Dump & water nearbyNext to Malaquite Campground
Trash dumpsterAt the beach
Fishing & swimmingNo lifeguards
Life at camp
What campers say
The beach report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores tell a clear story: campers rave about waking up on the beach for free, and warn about soft sand, high tides and wind.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report40 ft Dec 2018
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 4GT-Mobile 4G/5G
Last reported nightly rateFree Oct 2025
As reported by Campendium users. NPS says cell service is very limited in the park, so don’t count on a signal. Campendium’s listing says a free camping permit is needed, but the NPS North Beach page says none is required; check at the entrance station.
On Park Road 22
Getting there
North Beach starts about 1 mile south of the park entrance sign on Park Road 22, at the north end of the national seashore.
From Corpus Christi: SH-358 (South Padre Island Drive) east over the JFK Causeway, then south on Park Road 22 through the park entrance to the North Beach access roadFrom Port Aransas: TX-361 south along Mustang Island to the JFK Causeway junction, then Park Road 22 south into the national seashore
PARK ROAD 22 · PADRE ISLAND
Set your GPS
Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, TX 78418
To Malaquite Visitor Center*About 5 min
To Bird Island BasinAbout 7 min
To Mustang Island State ParkAbout 26 min
From downtown Corpus ChristiAbout 45 min
Four-wheel drive is recommended. NPS says 4WD is always recommended on North Beach and may be required; check the posted signs before you drive onto the sand.
Check the tides. Primitive beach camping can close for coastal flooding; check the weather report and tide chart before you go.
*Drive times are from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Padre Island
Around Padre Island
The Malaquite Visitor Center, the dump station and Bird Island Basin are all within about 7 minutes, and Mustang Island State Park is about 26 minutes north.
Photo: National Park Service
Malaquite Visitor Center
The park’s visitor center and paved beach, with exhibits, a park store, rinse showers, and the dump and water station next to Malaquite Campground.
Photo thanks to Jennifer Rangubphai (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Bird Island Basin
A developed campground and boat ramp on the calm Laguna Madre, one of the best windsurfing and kayaking spots on the Texas coast.
Photo: National Park Service
Sea Turtle Hatchling Releases
In summer, rangers release Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchlings at Malaquite Beach; public releases are announced on the park’s hotline.
Photo thanks to dwh1974 (CC BY 3.0)
Port Aransas Beach
Miles of wide, drive-on Gulf beach at the north end of Mustang Island, with the Horace Caldwell Pier and a lively beach town.
More places to stay
Other places worth a look
Three more beach-area places to stay, by drive time.
Photo thanks to William L. Farr (CC BY 4.0)
Mustang Island State Park Campground
A state park campground behind the dunes, with water-and-electric sites and five miles of Gulf beach.
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.
Before you go
Plan your stay
Everything we could verify about camping on North Beach, in one place.
Our take: the best free beach camping on the middle Texas coast: pull onto the sand, set up a few steps from the surf and stay up to 14 nights for the price of a park pass. There are no hookups or services, the sand can be soft and high tides can close the beach, so bring a capable rig, plenty of water and a plan B.
Fees & stay limitFrom NPS · checked Oct 12, 2026
CampingFree no camping fee
7-day vehicle pass$25 needed overnight
Annual park pass$45 or America the Beautiful
Stay limit14 nights then 14 away; 28 a year
Camping on North Beach is free, but you need a 7-day ($25) or annual ($45) park entrance pass for an overnight stay; a 1-day pass isn’t valid overnight. America the Beautiful passes, including Senior Passes, cover entry. 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 park’s fees page or call (361) 949-8068.
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
Free camping with a $25 7-day park pass.
Open
Rates & policies
Stay limit, driving, fires, generators and pets.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you go.
Open
North Beach is a 1.5-mile primitive camping area on the Gulf side of Padre Island National Seashore, run by the National Park Service. It suits self-contained RVers and van campers who want to camp right on the beach for free.
Best for
- Self-contained RVers: free camping right on the Gulf, up to 14 nights.
- Pass holders: an America the Beautiful pass covers entry.
- Beachcombers and anglers: shells, surf fishing and big sunrises.
- Families in summer: sea turtle hatchling releases at nearby Malaquite Beach.
Consider this
- No hookups, water or restrooms on the beach; the dump and water station is at Malaquite.
- Soft sand: 4WD is recommended and may be required.
- High tides and coastal flooding can close the beach without much notice.
- Cell service is very limited, and there are no reservations.
Summer on Padre Island
Typical July afternoon
89°
Padre 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.
Camping on North Beach is free and first come, first served. There are no hookups or designated sites; you camp on the sand along the Gulf.
Beach camping Free
Primitive camping on 1.5 miles of Gulf beach.
7-day vehicle pass $25/vehicle
Required for overnight stays; 1-day passes aren’t valid overnight.
Annual park pass $45/year
Covers entry for a year from the month of purchase.
America the Beautiful Covers entry
Any America the Beautiful pass works as your entrance pass.
Camping feeNoneEntrance pass required
Overnight pass7-day or annual$25 or $45
Stay limit14 nightsThen leave for 14; 28 a year
ReservationsNoneFirst come, first served
Speed limit15 mphNorthbound traffic has right of way
Quiet hours10 pm–6 amNo generators or idling
Generators60 dB maxAt 50 ft, outside quiet hours
FiresAllowedBelow the high tide line; douse with water
PetsLeashedAt all times
DunesKeep offNo driving behind dunes or on vegetation
Checked against the NPS North Beach, camping and fees pages on October 12, 2026. Conditions change with the tides; call the Malaquite Visitor Center at (361) 949-8068 before you drive onto the beach.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Is North Beach open? Call the visitor center about closures and conditions.
- Is 4WD required today? Check the posted signs at the beach access.
- Do I need a camping permit? NPS says no, but Campendium mentions a free kiosk permit; ask at the entrance station.
- When is high tide? Check the tide chart and park well above the high tide line.
- Are there turtle releases? In summer, ask about the hatchling release hotline.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the sand.
Season: Year-round
Ready to camp on the sand?
Pick up your park pass, roll onto North Beach and fall asleep to the surf. Check the tides and the camping rules with the National Park Service before you go.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Beach photos by the National Park Service (kiosk; Charles Sassine, RV and high water; Sue Wolfe, pelicans and shells; public domain) and Chris M Morris (Padre Island beach; CC BY 2.0; resized). The video is by Grand Adventure. Area photos: the National Park Service (Malaquite dunes by Thomas DiGiovannangelo; turtle release), Jennifer Rangubphai (Bird Island Basin; CC BY-SA 4.0) and dwh1974 (Port Aransas beach; CC BY 3.0). Other-park photos: William L. Farr (Mustang Island; CC BY 4.0), Gulf Waters Beach Front RV Resort and On The Beach RV Park. 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 North Beach, Padre Island National Seashore unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the National Park Service’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the National Park Service and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with North Beach, Padre Island National Seashore at nps.gov or (361) 949-8068. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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