Searching for the best beaches in Corpus Christi? Well, no need to look anymore because we have you covered! We will be listing down some of the best Corpus Christi beaches for you to explore.
Corpus Christi is one of the most beautiful Texas cities and has miles of sandy coastline for you to choose from. There beaches are a 2-hour drive from San Antonio. You will find some of the best beach spots in Corpus Christi that offer varying activities for the visitors to enjoy.
Some of these beaches near Corpus Christi are great for families while some offer you much-needed privacy. And a few even have horseback riding for you to try your hands on.
If you are looking to enjoy your summers properly, then these Corpus Christi beaches in Texas can really help you. These beaches don’t need you to be summer-ready. All you need to do is be ready to spend some time on these sandy shores.
So, whether you are looking for the beaches in Corpus Christi or beaches near Corpus Christi, we have included them all.
Take a look and select the best beaches in Corpus Christi to enjoy time with your family or friends.
9 Best Beaches In Corpus Christi (And Nearby!)
North Beach
One of the most popular Corpus Christi beaches to explore is the North Beach. It is a 1.5-miles long beach that is perfect for enjoying a walk beside the ocean as there are no vehicles allowed on this beach.
What’s better is that it is one of the best beaches in Corpus Christi that is also home to the two biggest tourist attractions in Corpus Christi. Visitors can spend time at the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington before or after spending the day soaking up the sun on the beach.
USS Lexington also happens to be one of the most haunted places to visit in Texas. It is a decommissioned WWII aircraft carrier that is currently used as a museum. According to the stories, this museum is haunted by sailors and many guests have claimed to have seen, heard, or felt the ghost.
Apart from being home to a haunted attraction, North Beach also has a Ferris wheel which allows you to watch the stunning skyline. Stroll along the water on the boardwalk here and enjoy the scenic views.
Trust me, there is no shortage of things to do on this beach. You can also enjoy the fresh seafood served here or can catch a fish yourself from one of the piers here. This is why North Beach is one of the top beaches in Corpus Christi!
Mustang Island State Park
If you are looking for good beaches near Corpus Christi to hang out with your family or friends, then you should check out Mustang Island State Park.
This is one of the best family beaches in Corpus Christi that allows you to drive your vehicle on the beach and spend a night camping here.
Located 20 minutes from this cute beach town, Mustang Island is one of the closest beaches to Corpus Christi where you can enjoy time with your family or friends. During the peak season, it can get a little crowded but the 5 miles of coastline offers sufficient space for camping on this beach.
You can easily spend a complete day on this beach and never get bored. Furthermore, there are hiking trails and fishing piers available on the beach to keep the visitors entertained. For bird watching enthusiasts, spring and fall is a good time to visit this Texas city as you can watch the semi-annual migration here.
If you wish to camp for the night, you will find many water and electric campsites here. There are many primitive camping sites available for adventurers too. Visitors need to pay a small entry fee of $5 to enter the park. This money is used in cleaning and keeping the park functional throughout the year.
It is one of the top beaches near Corpus Christi that you must visit.
Whitecap Beach
Whitecap Beach is one of the prettiest Corpus Christi beaches that is located 1.5 miles from Padre Island Seawall and 23 miles from Corpus Christi town.
As the name suggests, this is a white sand beach and is one of the best beach spots in Corpus Christi to relax and enjoy the warm sun.
One of the best things about Whitecap Beach is that it is secluded and is a great place to enjoy a picnic during the afternoon. You can plan a quick afternoon trip to this beach to enjoy the views and the beach vibes.
Visitors can enjoy walking or biking on the beach and can even set up campfires here. However, make sure you pay attention to the notices that are related to campfires.
One can also take their car on the beach but you would need a parking permit for that. If you are looking for some secluded fun, then Whitecap Beach is one of the top beaches in Corpus Christi.
Malaquite Beach
Looking for the best beaches near Corpus Christi? Then, Malaquite Beach is the one to start with.
This beach is great for a fun family and friends’ outing and is a part of the Padre Island National Seashore, a protected national park. It is located at a distance of 45 minutes from Corpus Christi and is one of the cleanest beaches in Corpus Christi.
If you are visiting this beach for the first time, then you can check out the visitor’s center. Here, you will get all the important information about the beach along with public facilities.
It is one of the best swimming beaches in Corpus Christi along with being a great spot for surfing. The beach is vehicle free and features restrooms and showers where you can clean yourself up before heading to the town or the beach.
To enter this beach, you need to pay $10 but trust me, it is completely worth it.
McGee Beach
Located in the heart of downtown, McGee Beach is one of the best beach spots in Corpus Christi for families.
This beach is properly maintained and has several high-end, comfortable hotels where you can stay and enjoy beautiful bay views. This is one of the best swimming beaches in Corpus Christi for kids as the water is shallow and calm here.
The beach is a great place to spend the entire day with your family and is the best place to relax. Plus, there are playgrounds opposite to the beach where the kids can play once they get bored of the sand.
Since vehicles aren’t allowed on this beach as well, you don’t have to worry about it being crowded. Plus, there are several public restrooms and aquatic activities available on this beach to enjoy a day here.
McGee Beach is definitely one of the best beaches in Corpus Christi for families with small kids.
Padre Balli Surf Park
If you are searching for the closest beaches to Corpus Christi to spend a day on the coastline, then you should check out Padre Balli Surf Park. This is the one-stop-shop for activities that the entire family can enjoy.
This beach is perfect for kids as there are no vehicles on this beach. Moreover, you will find many restaurants nearby where you can enjoy a delicious and quick bite.
There are many public restrooms and showers available on this beach park as well. Also, the entry fee to Padre Balli Surf Park is free but you will need a parking permit to park your vehicle on the beach.
It is one of the best spots for camping in Corpus Christi as there are many water and electrical campsites available here. You will also find cabanas and picnic tables that can be used by the visitors. However, do remember that everything is on first-come-first-basis here.
Are you looking for fun beaches near Corpus Christi? Then, Padre Balli Surf Park is a great choice.
Padre Island Seawall Beach
Padre Island Seawall Beach ranges from Whitecap to South Packery Beach and is one of the closest beaches to Corpus Christi for visiting.
Since this beach doesn’t allow vehicular traffic, it is safe for families. You can park your vehicle nearby free of cost too. But if you wish to park it on the beach, then you will need to obtain a parking permit online or through the office.
Moreover, there are lots of fun activities to enjoy here apart from making sandcastles or playing on the beach. Since the seawall is 14 feet above, it is also a good place for biking and rollerblading close to the water.
This is one of the top beaches near Corpus Christi that offers beautiful views of the Gulf.
So, if you are looking for beaches that are close to this Texas beach town, then Padre Island Seawall Beach is a good choice.
Port Aransas Beach
Although Port Aransas Beach is not in Corpus Christi, it is just a short drive from the city. The beach is extremely beautiful and is definitely worth the drive.
One of the closest beaches to Corpus Christi, Port Aransas Beach is located across the bay and offers the same beach activities and facilities as the other Corpus Christi beaches.
What is amazing about this beach is that it is open to the visitors and quite spacious. Plus, there are a lot of Port Aransas resorts on this beach where you can spend a night to make the most of your time on this beach.
This is one of the best beach spots in Corpus Christi for families with kids as there is a lifeguard on-site to monitor all the activities.
If you are interested in camping or parking on the beach, then you have the option to do that as well. There are many free parking spots available on the beach and a few that require a permit too. Plus, you need permits for lighting up small campfires.
You can even get a yearly beach parking pass for $12. How cool is that?
Michael J. Ellis Beach
Michael J. Ellis is one of the best swimming beaches in Corpus Christi which makes it a popular beach spot among families and friends. There are both showers and restrooms available which make this beach convenient for the families.
This beach is located a mile from Padre Island Seawall beach and is a great place to relax.
You will find a lot of space to enjoy the sun on the beach and play with the sand. Moreover, it is not accessible to vehicular traffic so, it is safe to spend time on this beach.
This beach is perfect for swimming and surfing as well. Plus, there are lifeguards on the beach to ensure the safety of the visitors here. You will find a lot of vendors here selling food, drinks, and souvenirs that you can buy to enjoy your day out.
If you love riding bikes on a beach, then Michael J. Ellis Beach is perfect for it. Trust me, you are going to love the sunset bike rides on this beach.
This is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in Corpus Christi that you must visit at least once.
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