#PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE CAMPING WINDOWS#

Shark fishermen set out multiple lines from shore, so be sure to avoid them! When you see any vehicle parked near the surf, don’t drive in between them and the water.Never drive on or near the dunes – you can be fined for doing so.The sand is more hard-packed down toward the water. Also, don’t try to drive too far up toward the dunes. You may want to follow fresh ruts of other vehicles through deep sand.You’ll be glad if you brought a sun shelter or some other form of shade.Bring lots of mosquito spray – you’ll need it!.Sunscreen and a hat are must have items.Carry enough water for all of your party, including your pets.Using four-wheel drive will burn more fuel. Carry traction plates or boards, a shovel and tow strap, etc.

We had a couple bars of coverage for a bit farther down, thanks to our cell phone booster. Cell phone service for AT&T and Verizon end not far past the 10 mile mark.Four-wheel drive is a generally must-have for anything past about the 10 mile mark.Tips For Driving The Four Wheel Drive Area of Padre Island National Seashore Our nearest “neighbors” were about 5 miles down the beach, and other than the sound of the surf, it was nice and quiet. We soon forgot about the occasional mosquitoes that were buzzing around inside the tent and finally got some sleep. Around midnight, a big red moon – caused by the Saharan dust – came up over the water. That night the stars were amazing and we saw several shooting stars before drifting off to sleep. We doused ourselves with bug spray – sprayed the dogs with Wondercide and lit some Tiki torches, all which seemed to help keep them somewhat at bay. They pretty much left us alone until just after sunset, when they arrived in droves – even biting us way out in the water. It was a bit warm, staying in the 80’s even at night, yet the biggest downside was the mosquitoes. Also, our newest family member – Lizzy Lou – is a bit on the “fluffy side” and not as easy to lift up into the rooftop tent as Stevie Ray.

#PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE CAMPING WINDOWS#

We opted to set up our 4 person tent instead of using our rooftop tent, since it was way too hot for the dogs to sleep in the back seat of the truck, even with the windows rolled down. It was a great place to use the SUP board and to lie in the warm water and relax with our dogs. We drove all the way down to the Mansfield Cut, at the 60 mile marker, then drove back up to around the 40 mile marker where we found a nice section of beach with clear protected water – and a sandbar about 15′ off of the beach that was blocking the stronger waves.

We didn’t have to use four-wheel drive until just past the 30 mile marker, where the sand was deep, soft and rutted.Ĭamping On The Beach Lizzy Lou, digging a big hole inside our shelter at the beach. As you pass the 10 mile marker, the sand begins to get a bit deeper and more rutted, and by the time you’re at the 20 mile marker and beyond you’ll find that you may need to switch to four-wheel drive. South of the National Seashore Headquarters, the “road” along the beach is nice and smooth. This is another great four-wheel drive adventure, one for which we’ll be bringing you the details very soon. South Padre Island can be seen a few hundred yards off in the distance, but since there’s no ferry or bridge, the only way to get there is several hours of driving – all the way around and up the coast from Port Isabel. Mansfield Cut is a navigable channel leading from the Gulf of Mexico to the small fishing village of Port Mansfield. Because of the difficulty involved in getting there, it’s not the most crowded part of Padre Island – and that’s right up our alley for a “woof the beaten path” adventure! A bouy washed ashore on Padre Island National Seashore. Beyond the 10 mile marker, the path can be difficult to traverse – even for four wheel drive vehicles – depending on beach conditions. Padre Island is the world’s longest barrier island, stretching from near Corpus Christi, Texas to just northeast of Port Mansfield. We just go home from a trip down the four-wheel drive section at Padre Island National Seashore.

Padre island national seashore camping