Video still: LivingOurDreamNow
Port Aransas Beach Camping
Free dry camping right on the Gulf beach in Port Aransas with a $12 beach parking permit, for up to three nights in any three weeks, with restrooms at the beach accesses and dump and water nearby.
Port Aransas, Texas · on the Gulf beach, between beach markers 0 and 62
Season
Year-round
Up to 3 nights in any 3-week period
Elevation
Sea level
On the Gulf beach, between markers 0 and 62
Hookups
None
Dry camping; dump and water at I.B. Magee ($10)
Big rigs
Drive-on sand
RVers report rigs to 44 ft; check tides and soft sand
Updated October 12, 2026 · Details checked against the city’s beach rules
On the Gulf beach
The beach camping experience
Free camping right on the Gulf beach in Port Aransas with a $12 beach parking permit, for up to three nights in any three-week period, between beach markers 0 and 62.
Camp on the sandBetween beach markers 0 and 62
RestroomsAt beach access points
Outdoor showersAvenue G and Beach Access Roads 1 and 1A
Small campfiresNatural wood, up to 3 × 3 ft
Dump & water nearbyAt I.B. Magee Beach Park, $10
Surf & pier fishingHorace Caldwell Pier at the north end
Life at camp
What campers say
The campsite report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but Campendium’s campers give it top marks for the price and the setting, with lower scores for noise and cleanliness on busy weekends.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report44 ft Mar 2019
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 4G/5GT-Mobile 4G/5G
Last reported nightly rateFree Dec 2024
As reported by Campendium users (22 reviews, the newest from July 2025). There’s no Google, Yelp, RV LIFE or Tripadvisor listing for beach camping itself. Beach rules and permit prices can change; check with the city before you go.
Between markers 0 and 62
Getting there
The camping beach runs south from I.B. Magee Beach Park; drive onto the sand at Avenue G or the numbered beach access roads off TX-361.
From Corpus Christi and the south: Park Road 22 and the JFK Causeway to Padre Island, then TX-361 north up Mustang Island to a Port Aransas beach access roadFrom Aransas Pass and the north: the free Port Aransas ferry, then through town to Avenue G or a beach access road
BEACH MARKERS 0–62 · PORT ARANSAS
Set your GPS
Port Aransas Beach, Port Aransas, TX 78373
To dump & water (I.B. Magee)*About 9 min
To the Port Aransas ferryAbout 9 min
To Mustang Island State ParkAbout 20 min
From downtown Corpus ChristiAbout 55 min
Watch the tide and the sand. Camp at least 50 ft from the water’s edge, check tide charts first, and stay on firm sand; soft spots can trap heavy rigs.
Arrive self-contained. There are no hookups; fill water and empty tanks at I.B. Magee ($10) before and after your stay.
*Drive times are from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Port Aransas
Around Port Aransas
Dump and water are at I.B. Magee, the birding center and ferry are about 9 minutes away, and Mustang Island State Park is about 20 minutes south.
Photo thanks to dwh1974 (CC BY 3.0)
Port Aransas Beach
Miles of wide, drive-on Gulf beach, with the Horace Caldwell Pier and its fishing, sunsets and beach-access parking.
Photo thanks to Alan Schmierer (CC0)
Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center
A free boardwalk over a wetland, where birders look for herons, ducks and the resident alligators, on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.
Photo thanks to Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0)
Port Aransas Ferry
Free TxDOT ferries cross the ship channel to Aransas Pass around the clock; watch for dolphins in the channel.
Photo thanks to Jonathan Cutrer (CC BY 2.0)
Mustang Island State Park
About five miles of undeveloped Gulf beach down the island, with paddling trails on the bay side and a beach campground.
More places to stay
Other places to stay nearby
The three closest Port Aransas RV parks with hookups, by drive time.
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 town, with a heated pool, a hot tub, a gym and a catch-and-release pond.
Photo thanks to LaFitte’s Hideout RV Resort
LaFitte’s Hideout RV Resort
A 96-site resort in the middle of town, two blocks from the free ferry, with concrete sites for 45 ft rigs, a pool and a clubhouse.
Before you go
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether beach camping fits your rig and your trip, in one place.
Our take: the cheapest beachfront stay on the Texas coast: drive onto the sand, park facing the Gulf and stay up to three nights for the price of a $12 beach permit. There are no hookups and the sand and tides decide where you can go, so arrive self-contained.
Fees & limitsFrom portaransas.org · checked Oct 12, 2026
CampingFree with permit
Beach parking permit$12 /year
Stay limit3 nights /3 weeks
Dump & water fill$10 at I.B. Magee
The beach parking permit is $12 per vehicle and valid through December 31 of the year you buy it. Buy it at the Port Aransas Welcome Center, City Hall, Ace Hardware, The Islander and participating stores. There are no hookups on the beach.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the city’s beach permit page or call (361) 749-4111.
Typical July afternoon
Port Aransas88°
Phoenix107°
Mild winters: January highs average about 62°, which is why Winter Texans fill Port Aransas’s parks; July runs about 88° 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 with a $12 permit, for up to 3 nights.
Open
Rates & policies
Where you can camp, fires, tides and facilities.
Open
Before you book
Questions to settle before you go.
Open
Port Aransas lets RVs and tents camp on its Gulf beach with a current beach parking permit, for up to three nights in any three weeks. It suits self-contained RVers who want to wake up facing the water and don’t need hookups.
Best for
- Beach lovers: park facing the Gulf with the surf a few yards away.
- Budget travelers: camping is free with a $12 beach parking permit.
- Self-contained rigs: you’ll need your own water, power and tank space.
- Short stops: up to three nights in any three-week period.
Consider this
- No hookups; dump and water are at I.B. Magee for $10.
- Soft sand and high tides can trap or flood a heavy rig.
- It can be windy, noisy and crowded on summer weekends and holidays.
- Strict setbacks: 50 ft from the water, 25 ft from the driving lane and 200 ft from access roads.
Summer in Port Aransas
Typical July afternoon
88°
Port Aransas
Port Aransas station
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
19 degrees cooler than Phoenix, but humid, with nights near 80°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
There are no sites and no hookups: you choose a spot on the sand between beach markers 0 and 62 that meets the setback rules. The only costs are the beach permit and any dump or water fill.
Beach camping Free
Camp on the sand between beach markers 0 and 62, following the setback rules.
Beach permit $12/year
Sold at the Welcome Center, City Hall, Ace Hardware, The Islander and participating stores.
Dump & fill $10
Nueces County’s beach park offers dump and water fill to campers staying elsewhere.
Stay limit 3 nights/3 weeks
Longer stays need a park; I.B. Magee and the in-town RV parks are minutes away.
Permit$12 per vehicleValid through Dec 31
WhereMarkers 0–62Port Aransas city beach
Stay limit3 nightsIn any 3-week period
Water’s edge50 ft awayCheck tide charts
Driving lane25 ft awayKeep the lane clear
Access roads200 ft awayNo camping near the roads
FiresSmall wood firesUp to 3 × 3 ft; no pallets
TentsSeaward onlyNot landward of the bollards
RestroomsAt beach accessesShowers at Ave G and Rds 1/1A
Dump & waterI.B. Magee$10 for beach campers
Checked against portaransas.org (beach camping, beach rules and parking permits) on October 12, 2026. Questions? Call Port Aransas City Hall at (361) 749-4111.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Is my permit current? It’s valid through December 31 of the year you buy it.
- What are the tides doing? Check tide charts before you set up.
- Can my rig handle the sand? Drive in on firm sand and avoid soft spots.
- Where will I dump and fill? I.B. Magee Beach Park, $10 for non-guests.
- Have I used my nights? Three nights in any three-week period.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready to camp on the sand?
Pick up a $12 beach permit, fill your tanks at I.B. Magee and park facing the Gulf for up to three nights. Read the city’s beach camping rules before you go.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. The beach-camping stills come from the video by LivingOurDreamNow, with our thanks. Beach photos via Wikimedia Commons: AudreyIski (Horace Caldwell Pier and the beach; CC BY-SA 3.0) and Spheroidite (South Jetty; CC BY-SA 4.0). Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: dwh1974 (Port Aransas beach; CC BY 3.0), Alan Schmierer (northern shovelers at the birding center; CC0), Larry D. Moore (Port Aransas ferry; CC BY 4.0) and Jonathan Cutrer (Mustang Island State Park; CC BY 2.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: On The Beach RV Park, Port A RV Resort and LaFitte’s Hideout 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 Port Aransas Beach Camping unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the city’s published beach rules and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the City of Port Aransas and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Port Aransas Beach Camping at portaransas.org or (361) 749-4111. 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.