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Corpus Christi BeachesIsland Beaches:Mustang Island State Park The Mustang Island State Park Paddling Trail is also available to visitors and consists of the North Trail, the Shamrock Loop Trail and the Ashum Trail. All of the trails follow the western shoreline of Mustang Island in Corpus Christi Bay, and pass through some of the best shallow-water fishing areas in Texas. The Ashum Trail follows the shoreline of Corpus Christi Bay over a firm sand bottom and allows for outstanding bird watching as well as sight casting opportunities. Directions: Once on Highway 358 in Corpus Christi, continue on TX State Park Road 22, then turn left onto TX Highway 361. Continue on for about 4 miles to Mustang Island State Park. Phone: 361-749-5246
Known as a hot surf spot for many years and growing as a popular kiteboarding area, JP Luby Surf Beach Park draws many young adults and teens to the beach for a variety of activities including sunbathing, playing volleyball, socializing, and barbecue gatherings. Many beach-goers particularly enjoy the convenient rental equipment opportunities by vendors set up along the beach during the summer months with kayaks, boogie boards, surf boards and jet skis. This free beach park offers public restrooms. Many visitors are drawn to J.P. Luby not only to catch a wave, but also to cast a line for that big catch in the surf. With warm Gulf waters year-round, bountiful fishing is promising for surf fishing. In spring and summer, this beach has one of the largest crowds enjoying fun in the sun. Visitors enjoy the freedom to drive on this stretch of beach in search of the perfect beach spot. Consistent offshore winds blow from the west northwest, provide promising surf at all stages of the tide. Kiteboarders are encouraged to launch from the north side of the jetty and land north of mile marker 205, no launching is permitted south of mile marker 205. On the south side of the jetty, launch and land south of mile marker 212, no launching or landing is permitted north of mile marker 212. Do not kiteboard in the swim zone from June-September. Launch off the beach, cross the swim zone carefully and stay at least 100 feet outside of the swim zone. Directions: Once on Highway 358 in Corpus Christi, continue on TX State Park Road 22, then turn left onto TX Highway 361. Turn right on Zahn Road.
Packery Channel, located on Padre Island, is a hot spot for fishing, surfing and birding. The channel, recently completed, now serves as a fresh waterway for Laguna Madre and Corpus Christi Bay. Within the flats at Packery Channel, one is bound to find shorebirds at low tide, American Oystercatcher and Long-billed Curlew in the flocks, as well as diving ducks at the edges of the channel. Anchoring is not permitted within the channel, but one can fish from the banks. This has become of the hot spots for surfers who catch waves on either side of the jetties. Packery Channel Park is located nearby. The park offers visitors great views of the channel. Oak mottes provide resting spots for migratory birds. Directions: Once on Highway 358 in Corpus Christi, continue on TX State Park Road 22, then turn left onto TX Highway 361. Turn right on Zahn Road.
Families and Fishing. This beach caters to both the family experience and the popular beach pastime. The jetties provide great fishing, surfing, windsurfing and kiteboarding and snorkeling. Plus, the currents created by the jetties make beachcombing and shelling at this beach perfect. This family friendly beach is less crowded and perfect for children. You can even catch a glimpse of the ample wildlife, such as deer, shore birds, coyotes and more. There are no restrooms or other facilities on the beach. Driving of vehicles is permitted on this stretch of beach until Mustang Island State Park. South Packery Jetty Beach is one of the beach areas created after Packery Channel, which is the dividing line between Mustang and Upper Padre Island, when the jetties were completed in 2006. The improvements divided one beach into two, the South Packery Jetty Beach and the North Packery Channel Beach. The South Packery Jetty Beach is the continuation of the beach at the Upper Padre Island Seawall. This beach is a local hotspot for water enthusiasts. Driving is allowed on this beach. Parking requires a beach parking permit, available at Stripes Convenience Stores and many Upper Padre Island retailers. Directions: Once on Highway 358 in Corpus Christi, continue on TX State Park Road 22. Enter this beach through Access Road 3A.
Directions: Take South Padre Island Drive into Upper Padre Island. Take a left on Windward Drive where you will find resorts, condominiums, restaurants and bars. The beach can be accessed most easily from Windward Beach Parking Lot.
Surfers treasure this stretch of beach with convenient parking in the Windward Beach Parking Lot. The beach can be accessed from this ADA-compliant parking lot with direct access to the Seawall via ramp and steps. The paved lot is appealing to visitors who don’t wish to drive in the sand along the beach or for those just wanting to take a stroll on the Seawall. The unique features of this parking lot provide both safety and convenience for all beachgoers.
Padre Island National Seashore consists of more than 130 thousand acres of undeveloped dunes, grasslands and sandy beaches. The Seashore is the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the entire world! Unlike most beaches throughout the United States, visitors of the Padre Island National Seashore are allowed 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 Malaquite Visitor’s Center houses exhibits on the natural history, cultural history of the park and an observation tower. Here, visitors can also learn about the rescue efforts of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. Kemp ridley’s are the most endangered sea turtle in the world and have been making their way to the Seashore, for nesting purposes, for decades. Each day volunteers patrol the beach looking for nesting spots in order to help save a species. Gather on the wind-swept beach to watch endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle hatchlings released into the wild. These tiny creatures make a beeline to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where they’ll begin a perilous journey to adulthood. 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. Many fisherman also choose to fish for shark; black-tipped shark are the most common to be caught. The Grasslands Nature Trail is .75 miles long and offers visitors a spectacular view of the sand dunes, grasslands and birding in the park. Nearly 400 different species of birds have been documented in the park. The best time for birding is in the early spring and fall months during migrations. There is a Park Entrance fee to enter the National Seashore which is valid for seven days. An annual pass may also be purchased at the entrance. Directions: Located on Padre Island. The National Seashore is located southeast of the city of Corpus Christi, Texas. Visitors to the area should head east through the city on Highway 358. After crossing the JFK Causeway onto Padre Island, Highway 358 changes to Park Road 22. Continue about 10 miles south on Park Road 22. Phone: 800.343.2368, Visitor Information (361) 949-8068
This 374.5 acres beach park includes some 54 paved campsites with all the amenities a camper would need including picnic tables, cabanas, and a bath house for visitor convenience. In addition there are 12 hardtop campsite areas for those wanting to pitch a tent with water and electrical hookups. Primitive camping is also permitted on the beach. Bob Hall Pier is another attractive feature to Padre Balli Park that is popular to the avid fisherman. The pier has long been revered as one of the best and most productive fishing piers on the entire US Gulf Coast. Its location, water depth, and abundance of fish species can make for an outstanding fishing experience. Riding the waves may be at the top of the list for most that enjoy this park, but many enjoy a bonfire on the beach and cast a line at the pier in hopes of catching a speckled trout. Directions: You can find Bob Hall Pier by taking Highway 358 from Corpus Christi, across the JFK Causeway until it dead ends into Park Road 22. Take Park Road 22 until you reach the Padre Balli Park, the pier is in the park.
A local favorite, Whitecap Beach runs about 1.5 miles long, and is the perfect beach area to enjoy a sunset on a beach blanket or the sunrise with a cup of coffee. This beach is often sparsely populated and very rarely has a crowd. Many locals can be seen surf fishing on this beach. It also offers a great place to view wildlife and explore the dunes. Driving is allowed. A beach parking permit is required and can be purchased at many stores on Upper Padre Island. Lifeguards during the summer months are on duty at Whitecap Beach. Two convenience stores sit at the entrance to Whitecap Beach and are a great stop for last-minute beach supplies. Directions: Whitecap Beach is located between Padre Balli Park and the beginning of the Upper Padre Island Seawall and is accessible from Park Road 22 by turning east onto Whitecap Boulevard. Beach Access Roads 3 and 4 also lead to Whitecap Beach.
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