Andy Bowie Park Beach

Sandy beach
Beach Access 2, South Padre Island, TX 78597, USA
273 miles from Houston, TX
Cleanliness
Water quality
Crowded
Impressions
Overall
Grades suggested by our reviewer
Water Quality

Beach amenities

  • WCPublic restrooms nearby
  • Public grillsGrills or fire pits
  • PlaygroundKids will have fun!
  • LifeguardsLifeguard on duty
  • Picnic tablesPicnic benches available
  • RestaurantsF&B places nearby
  • ShowerPublic showers available
  • ParkingCar parking nearby
  • Pet friendlyBring your little friends!
👉 Download a FREE PDF map

About this beach

Warnings and hazards

There is a riptide – be careful.

Andy Bowie Park is a small and quiet campground with complete hookups, friendly staff, and convenient beach location. The beach is a great family destination, long (about 30 miles!) and spacious enough for everyone to find a private spot, spread towels, set chairs, coolers, and umbrellas and chill out while the kids are looking for shells, building sandcastles or playing in the water. The beach is popular and does get crowded in the summer months, but you can always walk a little further to get more space.

Access and Parking

Andy Bowie Park boasts a good location and easy access. Convenient but limited parking is available and the parking fee is 10 dollars. If you want to save money, there is an option to park your vehicle at the beach entrance. In this case, you’ll have to walk about 10 minutes to the beach.

Campground

The campground offers the most basic amenities and full (though not perfectly maintained) hookups. Being $45 per night, the price is rather high, which could be a little bit more justified if there was a beach view and the sites were more spacious, but the view is nothing special and the sites are located quite close to each other.

Amenities and Vendors

There are well-maintained public restrooms and showers to rinse the sand off. There are vendor trucks with food and drinks visiting the beach – in case you get hungry. Note that their offers are overpriced, so probably it’s better to bring your own food and have a picnic – there are shaded picnic areas with barbecue grills where you’re welcome to cook something delicious for yourself and your family. By the way, there are also playground facilities to keep the children busy while you’re engaged in cooking – or chilling out.

Activities

This 30-mile beautiful beach with hard-packed sand is good for strolling and enjoying the views. You can take your dog if you have one. The local wildlife is quite diverse including seagulls, pelicans, cranes, egrets, different species of fish, and, of course, turtles. Laguna Madre Nature Trail is definitely a place of interest for birdwatchers, hikers, and, overall, those who want to commune with nature.

If you have kids, they’re going to have a blast looking for shells that are abundant on this beach. Swimming is enjoyable as well, the water is much better than in Galveston or Corpus Christi, the waves are gentle, and there are lifeguards on duty (in the entrance area), so you can feel safe. Nevertheless, keep in mind that there is a riptide.

Driving Time

  • 45 minutes from Brownsville, TX
  • 55 minutes from Harlingen, TX
  • 2 hours 50 minutes from Corpus Christi, TX

Hotels and rentals

If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:

Beaches nearby

Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Andy Bowie Park Beach which you can visit:

Beach reviewed by:
Daniel and Laura
Photos from Google Maps
Cars on the beachAndy Bowie Park BeachSeagullsSeagull over the Beach
Show rooms near this beach×

Andy Bowie Park Beach videos

Cycling on the beach from Isla Blanca Park to Andy Bowie Park
An amazing video of the beach and its surroundings
Kiteboarding at the Andy Bowie Park beach
A daring video of sportsmen entertaining themselves on the beach

Weather conditions

Current weather at the beach and 3 day forecast

Best times to visit

Average temperature (°F)
Beach map and directions
The beach is located in South Padre Island, Texas Beach Access 2, South Padre Island, TX 78597, USA (Open on Google Maps)
Drag and zoom the map to view lodging options near the beach.
Other beaches nearby
Explore other beaches near South Padre Island, Texas
Isla Blanca Park Beach
South Padre Island, Texas
5 mi away
Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, Texas
10 mi away
Andy Bowie Park Beach reviews and photos
Reviewed on: August 10, 2019