Are you planning to go beach camping in Texas? Then, we have got you covered! In this article, we will be sharing with you the best beach campsites in Texas.
Texas is a huge state that is filled with beautiful attractions and weekend getaways for visitors to enjoy. From state parks to national parks, to camping beaches in Texas, you can find it all here.
One of the best things about beach camping on the gulf coast of Texas is that you have so many beach towns to visit. With over 350 miles of coastline, you can choose to enjoy a long vacation or a short weekend camping trip with your family to any of these places in Texas.
Texas beach camping is the perfect way to enjoy an outdoor adventure with your friends or family. You can sleep under the stars, swim in the water, relax on the beach, and do so much more.
So, if you are confused about where to go beach camping in Texas, we have listed down the 9 best camping beaches in Texas. This list includes camping beaches that offer both primitive camping and RV parking site, allowing you to choose the perfect beach camping experience for yourself.
9 Best Places for Beach Camping in Texas (Tent, RV and More!)
Mustang Island State Park
One of the best places for beach camping in Texas is Mustang Island State Park. With over 5 miles of coastline, there are a lot of outdoor activities to enjoy on this island in Texas.
You can enjoy hiking, go birdwatching, spend time on the beautiful beaches, go fishing, and so on. One of the best things about the Mustang Island camping on the beach experience is that you also have the option to dine at a restaurant in Port Aransas or Padre Island if you don’t feel like cooking at the campsite.
It is a great place for camping on the beach in Texas as you are within feet of the beachfront. If that isn’t enough, Mustang Island State Park also offers hookup amenities and a bathroom to allow visitors to set up their RV on the beach.
They also have dry camps for a primitive camping experience, so you can choose the type of camping experience you wish to enjoy. Everyone has access to hot water here, even primitive campsites. Also, if you are looking for a unique, fun experience then you can check out the 20 miles of paddling trail through the waters of Mustang Island.
One thing to keep in mind is that this is a popular camping site, so make your reservations in advance. Overall, this is one of the best Texas beach camping sites to visit.
North Beach, Padre Island National Seashore
Visitors can enjoy the best beach camping in Corpus Christi at the north beach of Padre Island National Seashore. The amazing water and the gorgeous beach attract tourists from all over the state, making it a popular beach in Corpus Christi.
You can get your RV and park right on the beach for free. Yes, you heard me right! This is one of the few places for free beach camping in Texas. You only need to pay the entrance fee to the beach and then you can enjoy free camping.
Since this is a free camping site, you won’t find any amenities here including hookups, gas, camp stores, and more. Make sure you grab all the necessities before leaving for the beach and do fill up on gas and grocery supplies as the nearest shop is a 30-minute drive.
If you want to use the bathroom or the shower during normal business hours, then you can head to the Malaquite Visitor Center. It is a short walk from North Beach and a great place to visit to watch turtle hatching in the summers.
North Beach on the Padre Island National Seashore is the best choice for a primitive beach camping experience in the state.
On the Beach RV Park, Port Aransas
On the Beach RV Park is one of the best Port Aransas RV Parks on the beach to check out for camping with your family or friends. This RV park offers direct access to the beautiful beaches of Mustang Island and is perfect to enjoy beach camping in Texas.
Here, you can enjoy a day of surfing, kayaking, or fishing, while enjoying all the comforts of your home. This RV beach park is great for a weekend camping trip, a week-long vacation, or a monthly visit.
There are both RV hookup sites and tent sites available here with all the basic amenities. From hot showers to laundry, to WiFi, you can get it all over here. But do make sure you book your spot in advance as this is a popular camping ground for tourists and tends to get sold out early.
Apart from spending time on the beach, you can also go boating or enjoy free birdwatching tours around this park. This is one of the best RV parks in Port Aransas to experience camping in Texas.
Galveston Island State Park
Another great place for beach camping in Texas is Galveston Island State Park. There are around 30 campsites available here, out of which you will find many sites for camping on the beach in Galveston too.
There are both campsites with electricity or water where visitors can hookup their RVs or set up their tents. RV parks are separate from the tent camping area to allow privacy to the visitors. However, each site features picnic tables, a fire ring with a grill, restrooms with showers, and so on to use during their camping trip.
There is a fee associated with camping at this park but you don’t have to worry about the basic amenities. Since this park features both bay and beachside, there is something fun for everyone to do here.
You can go fishing, kayaking, paddling, canoeing, etc. in the water. You do not need a fishing license to enjoy fishing here but you will need to bring your own kayak or canoe as they don’t rent it out in the park. Apart from the water activities, there are miles of hiking and biking trails that visitors can enjoy here as well.
This is why Galveston Island State Park offers the best beach camping in Texas experience for all kinds of campers.
Andy Bowie Park, South Padre Island
One of the best South Padre Island beach camping sites to explore, Andy Bowie County Park offers 20 miles of beachfront access for visitors to enjoy.
You need to pay an entrance fee to enter this park and then you can camp anywhere on the beach here. There are full RV hookup sites and tent sites where visitors can set up their camps to spend the night on the beach.
Apart from that, this park also offers many camping amenities such as picnic and BBQ pavilions, food concessions, beach rental concessions, fishing areas, and more. There are many restrooms and showers in the area too that you can access during your stay here.
With beach access, visitors can also go swimming here and make the most of their camping trip in this park. One of the best things about this park is that it offers peace and solitude to the visitors as there are fewer crowds here, especially in the fall season.
So, if you want to enjoy camping on the beach in South Padre Island, then Andy Bowie County Park is a perfect choice.
Pioneer RV Beach Resort
Looking for Port Aransas RV Parks on the beach for your camping trip? Then, look no more. Pioneer RV Beach Resort in Port Aransas is one of the premier RV parks to enjoy in Texas.
For luxury beach camping in Texas, Pioneer RV Beach Resort is perfect. It is surrounded by sand dunes and offers an RV parking area in front of a remote beach on the Gulf of Mexico.
Pioneer RV Resort, Port Aransas features over 363 full RV hookup sites and 10 cabins that visitors can reserve for their camping trip. They also offer all kinds of amenities here including concrete pads, fish cleaning houses, bathhouses, on-site grocery store, gas, WiFi, game room, swimming pools, hot tubs, and more.
From beachcombing to fishing, there are a lot of activities to enjoy at this RV park in Port Aransas. If you are looking for a comfortable camping trip in Texas, then Pioneer RV Beach Resort is a great choice!
South Beach, Padre Island National Seashore
One of the best Corpus Christi beach camping sites is the South Beach in Padre Island National Seashore. You can camp on the beach and enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets on the beach with no one to disturb you.
Similar to North Beach, this beach doesn’t have any amenities or hookups so, you need to prepare accordingly. Carry all your camping equipment, food, and other necessities so that you don’t have to return too soon from the beach.
If you are planning to camp for a long time on this beach, then the dumpster and the chemical toilet at the entrance to this beach can come in handy.
One of the best things about this beach is that it offers over 60 miles of coastline where the visitors can drive to find the perfect place to set up their camps. So, if you want to enjoy beach camping in Texas, then this beach is one of the best sites to do so.
Matagorda Nature Preserve
Looking for a good Matagorda Beach RV Park to go beach camping in Texas? Then, you should visit Matagorda Nature Preserve.
This park features an area of over 1,333 acres and offers plenty of beach campsites in Texas for visitors to choose from. If you wish to enjoy some peace and quiet away from the people and take in the natural surrounding around you, then you should go to primitive camping sites here.
For those who have an RV, there are plenty of RV hookup sites here for you to choose from while enjoying a beautiful view of Matagorda beach.
When you are camping here, you can relax on the beach, enjoy a stroll along the seashore, find the seashells that get washed up during the day, and so on here. There are many other activities to enjoy here as well including kayaking, horseback riding, making sandcastles, and more.
So, regardless of which type of camping experience you want, Matagorda Nature Preserve is the best place to experience camping on the beach in Texas!
Magnolia Beach
One of the most popular beaches in Texas for boondocking, Magnolia Beach is a beautiful beach to visit for camping. The beach features 2 miles of dense sand that make for the perfect site to enjoy free beach camping in Texas.
This is one of the best beach campsites in Texas where you don’t have designated camping sites. You can camp wherever you want, just keep sufficient space between your tent or RV and your neighbor’s.
While you won’t get any amenities here, there are several bathrooms and picnic areas that you can enjoy. There are lots of outdoor activities to explore here as well such as swimming, fishing, walking on the beach, and more. You can also look for unique shells on the seashore of this beach and make a fun game out of it.
Trust me, if you are looking for the best beach camping in Texas experience, then head to Magnolia Beach.
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