Mustang Island State Park Beach

Mustang Island State Park is a wonderful family destination by the sea offering a well-maintained and convenient setting for various outdoor activities, such as swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, making bonfires, fishing, birdwatching, strolling, shelling, watching sand crabs... It might also be a great idea to take your dog since dogs are welcome here as long as they’re leashed.

Mustang Beach is a good place for a beaching day as well as for a whole week of camping. If you travel in a motorhome, you’ll be glad to know they offer well-kept campsites with amenities. You’re also allowed to drive directly to the beach and camp there. The coastline is beautiful and pristine with clear water and clean fine sand, so good for barefooted walks. Enjoy!

Access and Parking

Note that entrance to the beach is charged and the fee costs $5 per person (children under 13 can pass for free). The chargeable entrance may be a bit unexpected, but the big plus is there aren’t too many visitors in comparison to other beaches in the area. Moreover, the beach is well maintained and cleaned regularly – the staff does their work quite diligently.

As for parking, you can either make use of a parking lot, or drive directly to the beach, or stay in the campground. Primitive campsites cost $10 per night while campsites with water and electric hookups cost $20 per night (or $120 for a week stay). The latter is located behind the dunes and, thus, are protected from the wind, which sometimes gets quite strong.

Rich Wildlife

Mustang Island State Park is a wonderful place for nature lovers and those interested to see animals in the wild. The local fauna is diverse and easy to notice in the sand and water as well as in the air. Apart from such typical beach inhabitants as crabs and dolphins, you’re also likely to spot sea turtles and even see how they lay their eggs on the shore (if you come during the period from April to July).

Beyond any doubt, birdwatchers will be delighted by their trip to this beach since there are more than 400 (!) bird species on Mustang Island, including a very rare Aplomado falcon. If you take kids, they’ll have a great time combing the beach – there are good chances to find various shells, fossils, and other treasures in the sand.

Summary

Overall, Mustang Island State Park Beach is a very family-friendly place providing good opportunities for outdoor activities and communing with nature at a reasonable cost. The place is well-maintained, clean, and regularly patrolled, so you can feel calm and safe here.

Driving Time

• 30 minutes from Corpus Christi, TX
• 1 hour 55 minutes from Victoria, TX
• 2 hours 30 minutes from San Antonio, 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:

• Nearby rentals from VRBO.
• Nearby rooms and properties from Booking.com.

Beaches nearby

Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Mustang Island State Park Beach which you can visit:

• Newport Pass Beach (3 miles)
• North Packery Beach (J.P. Luby Surf Park) (4 miles)
• South Packery Channel Beach (Jetty Beach) (5 miles)
• North Padre Island Beach (Seawall Beach) (5 miles)
• Michael J. Ellis Beach & Seawall (5 miles)