txmud — Texas Offroad Trails
Park Road 22 ends at the South Beach driving entrance, Padre Island National Seashore.

Gulf Coast · Corpus Christi, Texas

Padre Island National Seashore — South Beach

SandBeach

Park Road 22 ends at the South Beach driving entrance, Padre Island National Seashore. Photo: National Park Service · Public domain . Resized / converted to WebP for display; display crops and color treatment. Adapted copies retain this license. View full-size photo

BEFORE YOU LOAD UP

The quick dirt.

Sources checked 2026-10-21

What it costs

$10 vehicle day pass / $25 seven days

Published NPS rates · reviewed 2026-10-30

Full fees & extras ↓

When to go

24 hours, year-round; closures can apply

Recheck operating hours; agency widget not readable during 2026-10-30 review

Gate & riding hours ↓

Vehicles & access

4x4

Not admitted: ATV, UTV, Unregistered OHV.

Where you can drive: Highway registration and a valid license plate are required. A Texas OHV plate does not qualify; unregistered ATVs and side-by-sides are prohibited. No dune driving.

Check permits & ground rules ↓
Official trail map Get directions Official park site

YOUR NEXT PATCH OF TEXAS

The lay of the land.

A long Gulf beach drive for highway-registered Jeeps, Broncos and other suitable 4x4s. South Beach stretches 60 miles from the end of Park Road 22, with changing sand, surf and remote camping.

Park overview

Fees & hours

OPERATOR INFORMATION
WHAT IT COSTS

$10 vehicle day pass / $25 seven days

Published NPS rates

  • One-day private-vehicle admission expires at midnight and cannot be used for overnight camping.
  • The $25 seven-day vehicle pass covers entrance and dispersed beach camping; annual and qualifying federal passes are alternatives.
  • Developed campgrounds and the boat ramp have separate charges. Corpus Christi beach parking stickers are not valid or required here.
Fee source
WHEN TO GO

24 hours, year-round; closures can apply

Park access is normally available around the clock. Entrance-station hours vary. Check park alerts, tide predictions and weather before driving down-island.

Hours & access source
Published information is not a live opening report. Confirm weather closures, event access and your complete admission cost before traveling.

DOWNLOAD BEFORE YOU LOSE SIGNAL

Maps & getting there

NPS interactive and brochure maps identify South Beach access and the island. These are park overview maps, not a guarantee that sand or tides permit passage. Download maps before leaving service.

Official maps Open address in Maps

South Beach entrance, end of Park Road 22, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, TX

KEEP THE GOOD PLACES OPEN

Know the ground rules.

  • Drive only the authorized beach route. Vegetation, dunes, tidal flats and wetlands are closed to vehicles.
  • Four-wheel drive is recommended; two-wheel-drive vehicles are limited to South Beach miles 0–5 and may still become stuck there.
  • Keep the main travel lane clear; northbound traffic has right of way.
  • Miles 0–2.5 have a 15 mph limit year-round. Farther south, posted limits vary by season; watch for sea turtles and visitors.
  • High tides can cover the travel lane. Carry recovery supplies, water and a tide-aware turnaround plan; park rangers do not tow private vehicles.
Permits & access: Valid park entrance pass plus highway registration and license plate. Dispersed South Beach camping requires a seven-day, annual or qualifying lifetime pass; a one-day pass is insufficient.
Full park rules Texas OHV requirements ↗

FROM THE ORIGINAL TXMUD

Padre Island was in the old trail book.

Original TXMUD Padre Island trail-page banner

The old listing identified the national seashore near Corpus Christi, with Malaquite and Bird Island Basin camping and a beach-driving trip toward Mansfield Channel. Its directions used Park Road 22, matching the national-seashore location rather than the town of South Padre Island.

Look back at Padre Island ↗

Recovered historical listing; snapshot date unknown. Old prices, contacts, maps and access advice are not current trip instructions.

Stay a little longer.

Primitive beach campingVault toilet at beach entranceTrash collection at entranceVisitor center nearbyNo water down-island

Check availability, reservations and facilities with the operator.

Facilities & camping

ON THE PARK CALENDAR

Upcoming events.

No upcoming dated events are currently verified for this park. Check the operator’s calendar before planning.

Browse all verified event dates ↗

GET A FEEL FOR THE RIDE

Watch before you go.

A specific operator video has not yet been verified for this guide.

Search YouTube for this park

Search results include independent rider videos. Check filming dates; footage does not establish current access or conditions.

BACK FROM THE TRAILS

How did it ride?

Real visits. Honest opinions. Share your experience at Padre Island National Seashore — South Beach and help the next rider plan a better day.

Ask riders & check recent conditions ↗

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Loading rider reviews…Ratings from approved reader reviews.

Rider reports describe a past visit, not current opening status or conditions. Confirm access with the park before you haul.

Checking sign-in…

Where the details come from

FeesPublished NPS rates · reviewed 2026-10-30View source
HoursRecheck operating hours; agency widget not readable during 2026-10-30 reviewView source
MapsOfficial park maps availableView source
PhotosCleared location photographView source

Sources checked 2026-10-21. TXMUD is an independent guide; the operator makes the final call on access.

Found a detail that has changed? Use the operator contact in the glovebox notes to confirm it. You can also share your experience in the rider reports above.

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