The Top 15 Beaches in Padre Island, Texas

Beach (0) in Padre Island, Texas

There’s no question that Padre Island, Texas is a beautiful state, home to stunning beaches and coastal towns. If you’re looking for the perfect beach to relax on this summer, you’ll want to check out our list of the top 15 best beaches in Padre Island, Texas. Based on ratings and reviews from various sources, these beaches offer something for everyone, from swimming and sunbathing to fishing and kayaking. So pack your sunscreen and head on down to one of these amazing seaside havens!

Beach (2) in Padre Island, Texas
Beach (2) in Padre Island, Texas

Best Beach in Padre Island, Texas

Whitecap Beach

  • Address: Whitecap Beach, 14802 Whitecap Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78418, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (2174)
  • Phone: +1 361-826-3469
  • Website: Link
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: Open 24 hours
    Tuesday: Open 24 hours
    Wednesday: Open 24 hours
    Thursday: Open 24 hours
    Friday: Open 24 hours
    Saturday: Open 24 hours
    Sunday: Open 24 hours

What People Are Saying: 5 Customer Reviews

  1. Nice sandy beach! The sand is so fine and soft here. Great beach for playing in the sand and little waves that constantly roll in. The water was brownish, but I think it was because of the fine sand that gets swept in and out and not something murky (if that makes sense lol). I’m sure it gets clearer if you go out further.

    We loved how you can pull your vehicle right up on the beach! We were able to find a spot right at the entrance which was nice because we only had our family van and wasn’t sure if we could go further in. We did see a lot of cars making it though tho, so maybe it just depends if the sand is packed down or not?

    We also loved how there were a lot of families that were hanging around. Felt very family friendly!

  2. We have had some memorable times at this beach although at the time we visited in June 2023, seaweed had filled the shores on one of the days. Still it is one of our favorite beaches in the area. A few things to know:

    (1) You can drive and park on the beach and even open your SUV or hatchback and relax in the back. Watch for vehicles especially if you have young kids running around on the beach.

    (2) Remember to get a beach permit before you park though ($12 or so for a year) – available at the local IGA Market, Stripes stores or gas stations and avoid a hefty fine.

    (3) Great place to run or walk in the morning around 6:30 or 7:00 am and watch the sunrise

    (4) Come early between 9:00-10:00 am and avoid the crowds

    (5) Lot of good restaurants in the area also.

    (6) There are multiple entrances and exits to this beach and the beach is free to use (no entry fees)

    Enjoy!

  3. We went on a weekend and were surprised to find not a lot of people and plenty of parking. It turns out we needed a pass to enjoy this beach, which we didn’t find out about until the end of our excursion! I’m not sure how or where to get a beach pass, but I do recommend you finding out more about it because this place is beautiful! Maybe the pass deters crowds from entering because it was a great experience without all the people.

  4. Awesome beach that you can drive and park next to you. There wasn’t any seaweed when we were there. My only suggestion is more rest rooms. Great sand and it’s shallow that children can enjoy the water with less fear. Golf cart friendly as well.

  5. It was a great beach. My husband and son worse shirts in the water because someone had been stung by a jellyfish right before we went out. We had a great time! Do not forget sunblock!

Comments are closed.

Stay Safe at the Beach: 10 Essential Tips

Here are some safety tips for a holiday at the beach:

  1. Always swim in designated areas. These areas are patrolled by lifeguards who can help you if you get into trouble.
  2. Don’t swim alone. Always have someone with you, especially if you’re not a strong swimmer.
  3. Don’t swim after drinking alcohol. Alcohol can impair your judgment and make it more difficult to swim safely.
  4. Be aware of the tides and currents. Strong currents can quickly pull you out to sea, so it’s important to be aware of them and swim in areas that are protected from strong currents.
  5. Check for rip currents before you go in the water. Rip currents are strong currents that can pull you out to sea. If you see a rip current, swim parallel to the shore to get out of it.
  6. Don’t swim in areas where there are jellyfish or other marine life. Some jellyfish can sting, and others can be dangerous.
  7. Apply sunscreen liberally and often, even on cloudy days. The sun’s rays can be strong even when it’s not sunny, and sunburn can be painful and dangerous.
  8. Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from the sun.
  9. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. It’s easy to get dehydrated in the sun, so make sure you drink plenty of water or other fluids.
  10. Watch your children closely at all times. Children can get into trouble quickly at the beach, so it’s important to watch them closely and keep them within arm’s reach.

Here are some additional tips for staying safe at the beach:

  • Check the weather forecast before you go. If there is a storm coming, it’s best to stay away from the beach.
  • If you are caught in a rip current, don’t panic. Swim parallel to the shore to get out of it.
  • If you see someone who is in trouble, call for help immediately.

By following these tips, you can help ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday at the beach.

Top 15 Most Beautiful Beaches in Padre Island, Texas

Beach (3) in Padre Island, Texas
Beach (3) in Padre Island, Texas

Andy Bowie County Park

  • Address: 7300 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.4 (1145)
  • Phone: +1 956-761-3704
  • Website: Link
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
    Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
    Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
    Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
    Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
    Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
    Sunday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
  • Reviews:
    Jim Bennett✭✭✭✭
    a year ago
    Beach was well groomed, and clean. The sand was white and very powdered like white powdered sugar. There must have been 6 or more shades ow blue to green clean water, with nice white caps rolling into the beach. Nice area to visit; South Padre Islands!
    Madelyne Apodaca✭✭✭✭
    2 years ago
    The beach was very clean! They have bathrooms where you park. Only downside was when we went, they didn’t have soap. Other than that it was a great experience.
    People were maintaining their distance, which was awesome. Most were not wearing masks though. We did make sure to wear our mask when people started getting closer and walking by us. It was not crowded at all, which me it very easy to social distance.
    Tara Pagan✭✭✭✭✭
    4 years ago
    Lovely park, nice welcoming friendly staff, ample parking, clean property, $10 entry, but close at 5:30pm Sundays, can’t even watch the sunset? That is much too early to close. People smoking cigarettes on the beach gave me a headache, $10 to get a headache, be nice if smoking on the beach was banned, even if it isn’t, please don’t.
    Claudia Campos✭✭✭✭
    4 weeks ago
    Not crowded Beach was really nice The only thing is The Facilities They need to fix the playground The bathrooms need some serious Remodeling Even the Table area Picnic area Paid $15 just to park basically and it’s a long walk so be prepared and you have to leave by 7pm
    Julie Diggs✭✭✭✭✭
    6 years ago
    Absolutely stunning. Over all very clean and decent parking. Plenty of rental areas if you need chairs or lounge chairs. Great place to watch the fireworks on Fridays and Saturdays. $10 for my car load and it was good all day so I could come and go as i needed to. The guy in the booth was excellent as well. He an answered all my questions honestly and was very patient with me.

North Padre Seawall

  • Address: 616500451400, Corpus Christi, TX 78418, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (929)
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: Open 24 hours
    Tuesday: Open 24 hours
    Wednesday: Open 24 hours
    Thursday: Open 24 hours
    Friday: Open 24 hours
    Saturday: Open 24 hours
    Sunday: Open 24 hours
  • Reviews:
    Erica P.✭✭✭✭✭
    2 weeks ago
    Great beach! Clean, spacious, great views, very swimmable. Bathrooms and outdoor showers (for rinsing sand) available. Cars are allowed on the beach, but are kept far back so they’re not intrusive.

    Chair and umbrella rentals available from a couple local companies.

    Robert A Jones✭✭✭✭✭
    a month ago
    My favorite place to fish is here, usually never get skunked, avoid weekends as it gets crowded here if you like few and far in between. Nights are usually pretty desolate which is nice.
    c “cfl” lane✭✭✭✭✭
    6 months ago
    Beautiful place for a walk next to the beach. Or just jump onto the beach and stroll along there as well. Views are good, plenty of space and heavily trafficked area close to hotels and rentals in this area. Good way to start, end or enjoy your day at the beach!
    Glafiro Garcia✭✭✭✭✭
    2 weeks ago
    For me and my family we had fun first time ever coming to Corpus Christi. I would recommend you save $$$ enough money to rent A T V. Or a Jetski. That is something that we did not do but we are planning to come back and do it.
    Julian Cruz III✭✭✭✭✭
    2 months ago
    I’ve never seen the water so still and the way the sun rose this morning was really amazingly beautiful and yet there was a small sense of eerie in the air. Kinda like Dawn of the zombie apocalypse. LIVE!
    But yeah, I’m not used to seeing such vibrant colors with the sunrise. Moments like this are mandatory to get on video or photos.

JP Luby Beach

  • Address: Corpus Christi, TX 78418, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (300)

Beach Access #16 – Neptune Circle

  • Address: South Padre Island, TX 78597, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (280)

Isla Blanca Beach

  • Address: Isla Blanca Beach, Texas 78597, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.6 (236)

Beach Access #13 Moonlight Circle

  • Address: Gulf Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.6 (193)

Mustang Beach

  • Address: Access Rd No 3, Corpus Christi, TX 78418, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.6 (191)

Beach Access #1 Harbor

  • Address: Harbor St, South Padre Island, TX 78597, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.8 (190)

Beach Access #3 – Gulf Circle

  • Address: 1900 Gulf Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (162)

Beach Access #6 Seaside Circle

  • Address: 2412 Gulf Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.8 (134)

UFO Beach

  • Address: S PADRE ISLE, TX 78597, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.6 (89)

Beach Access #4 – Beach Circle

  • Address: 2100 Gulf Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.8 (60)

Natural Beach

  • Address: North, Padre Island, TX 78418, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (48)

Beach Access #23 Sapphire

  • Address: 5901 Gulf Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.6 (47)

Big Shell Beach

  • Address: Big Shell Beach, Corpus Christi, TX 78418, United States
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (41)

That’s it for our list of the best beaches in Padre Island, Texas! If you have any arguments or additional information, please leave a comment. We love to hear from our readers. And don’t forget to check out some of the other posts on our blog for more travel inspiration. Happy beachcombing!

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