Padre Island National Seashore

Located just south of Corpus Christi, Padre Island National Seashore consists of more than 130 thousand acres of undeveloped dunes, grasslands and sandy beaches. The Seashore, which takes up the vast bulk of North Padre Island, is the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the entire world!

Unlike most beaches, Padre Island National Seashore allows visitors to drive on its sandy beaches to access remote areas of the park. The Seashore also provides beachcombers plenty of chances to collect shells and build sandcastles.

The Padre Island National Seashore visitors center houses exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the park, along with an observation tower. Here, visitors can also learn about the rescuing of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. Kemp’s ridleys are the most endangered sea turtle in the world and have been making their way to the seashore on North Padre Island for nesting purposes for decades. Each day volunteers patrol the beach looking for nesting spots in order to help save a species. For the Sea Turtle Hatching Hotline, please call: 361-949-7163.

Fishing is permitted within the Seashore. In order to fish in the park, a valid Texas fishing license and saltwater stamp are required. One can expect to catch red drum, black drum, trout, saltwater catfish and many more kinds of fish in the waters around North Padre Island. Many fisherman also choose to fish for shark; black-tipped shark are the most frequently caught.

The Grasslands Nature Trail is 0.75 miles long and offers visitors a spectacular view of the sand dunes, grasslands and bird activity in the park. Nearly 400 different species of birds have been documented in the Padre Island National Seashore. The best time for birding around Corpus Christi is in the early spring and fall months.

Request More Information on Corpus Christi

As spectacular as it is, North Padre Island’s National Seashore is just one of the many reasons to visit Corpus Christi. Our free Visitors Guide can give you information on the many other beaches and attractions in the area, as well as lodging and dining options. You can also use our handy online reservation site to explore travel options for your visit to Corpus Christi.