Winter camping on Padre Island TX

[buckland]

Just starting to search for information on the pluses and minuses of camping with our Eagle on Padre Island for a week at a time and then move along the beach to a new spot. I searched here but it seems it is not a "destination" with tons of folks going. Am I not privy to some vital intel!? Still seeking quiet places to escape the NE winter. This year a non camper 4 week trip to little towns in NC and VA. DEFINITELY warmer than here (tonight -4F.... truck seat feels like sitting on a 2x10), but would like more warmth which equals more south. Maybe there are places in Florida that are warm and also remote-ish, but I haven't found them. Just pondering not planning.

 

[pods8]

I was down there last year about this time at Mustang Island State Park. We were in the trailer as a family so we camped in the campground portion but I drove my tuck out on the beach where the primative sites were and seemed like it'd work fine with a truck camper. If you happen to camp in the state park for any reason you're allowed to fish there for free FYI, no TX license required.

There was a moderate wind down there the whole time we were there. (both times we've been down there) and there are some bugs in the sand that can be bitey at times.

Its fun but I'd probably get bored after a couple days without mixing in more to do. There is an old air craft carrier there you can tour FYI. But if you're retired and down in that region there are plenty of other areas to check out too (talking TX, NM, etc.)

 

[Occidental]

We were there once, but flew there, so didn't have the camper. We spent a day fly casting for redfish on the inshore side, then drove a section of the beach, watched a big kite flying festival and cooked a seafood paella dinner over a fire. There were a lot of people out there dispersed camping (February of 2020). I believe you'd need to be prepared to be self contained, once you are out there a ways I don't think there are any facilities. If we made it back that way it would definitely be on my list to travel the length of it and camp in the camper.

 

[JWL]

All depends on where you go. Mustang Island has a State Park. Standard RV type camping, close together but has a nice bathroom facility with showers. It does get booked up so plan ahead. Next to that is a “primitive” area that is on the beach that is also a day use area. It is first come first serve so you kind of have to take your chances. Then there is Padre Island National Seashore. (PINS) 80 miles of just pure beach, and sand. Make sure you are up on driving in sand (some rather sugary) and make sure you know the tides and how to ream a tide schedule. It’s not uncommon for the tides to come all the way up to the dunes, sometimes in the middle of the night.

 

[DavidGraves]

Its a beach...MEH ??? Although it does provide a great opportunity to ruin your truck with chassis and component rust beyound even a New Englanders wildest nightmare.

Maybe you guys just need to wing it ...drive south till you are warm and then make the best of what you find. That is our plan along with a few birding festivals, family visits and a lot of EAST COAST.

DG
PS Lake Drummond, Phelps Lake, Lake Mattamuskeet, Okkefenokie, Dafuskie, ....

 

[Dipodomys]

I used to camp down there pretty often and I loved it! You've probably already noticed that North Padre and South Padre are not connected. You want the Padre Island National Seashore, aka North Padre Island, which is only accessible from the north end from the town of Corpus Christi. Once you're past the groomed beach and onto the 4WD-only section, you can really get some peace and quiet and camp anywhere you like. Unless things have changed you'll see a few people out fishing and very few other campers. Be careful not to get stuck in soft sand. There are a couple sections of beach that are almost entirely composed of shell fragments rather than sand. If you like birding, the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is very worthwhile, and is just a bit to the north.

p.s. Enjoy the wind. It keeps the mosquitos away!

 

[Dipodomys]

Its a beach...MEH ??? Although it does provide a great opportunity to ruin your truck with chassis and component rust beyound even a New Englanders wildest nightmare.

Definitely stop by a car wash to wash your rig (especially undercarriage) when you leave!

 

[yfarm]

South Padre also has dispersed beach camping north of the town. Had an midwest acquaintance years ago who would spend 3 months camping on the beach every winter, after the 3rd winter broke an axle on his way home, repair guy said the trailer undercarriage looked 30 yrs old. There is a surf fishing guide in Corpus who is on north padre frequently, sprays his tacoma underneath with boiled linseed oil twice a year, remains rust free.

 

[pods8]

,sprays his tacoma underneath with boiled linseed oil twice a year, remains rust free.

With this new truck I started using Blaster Surface Shield, not that this environment is very rust prone here in CO. Its similar to fluid film, etc. Its a combo of wool wax, lanolin, and petroleum jelly so you get a bit of each of those (which are all popular on their own to use). I hosed it down pretty thoroughly initially underside with 4-5cans, then go back through with a lighter touch up every year or so (again not too harsh of an environment in CO).

I did put down plastic on the driveway first and wore old clothes cause a mist of the above water repelling film falls down as you spray.

 

[softwaremom00]

Camping on Padre Island sounds like such fun. I am not there yet with my setup but a girl can always dream.