The longest undeveloped barrier island in the world, Padre Island National Seashore is home to more than 70 miles of beaches, coastlines, prairies, and dunes—all brimming with pristine natural beauty and vibrant wildlife. The area is excellent for birdwatching, and is home to the most important nesting beach in the U.S. for the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. Visitors can camp along primitive stretches of sand; kayak or windsurf the Laguna Madre lagoon; scuba or surf along the shoreline; and hike or bike the Grassland Nature Trail, which offers a fantastic glimpse of life beyond the beach and behind the dunes. Be sure to stop by the Malaquite Visitor Center upon arrival.

Stretching 110 km along the coast featuring prairies, dunes, and wildlife, Padre Island National Seashore represents the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world. Most of the area is undeveloped and accessible only to four-wheel-drive vehicles. The park offers swimming, fishing, camping, surfing, and wildlife-watching opportunities. About 45 percent of all North American bird species can be spotted at the park. Start your tour at the visitor center, where you can also see exhibits, get food and water supplies, and obtain camping licenses. Choose among the numerous RV or tent camping spots in the wilderness, or at the beach. Work out when and for how long to visit Padre Island National Seashore and other Corpus Christi attractions using our handy Corpus Christi online road trip planner.

Peacefully residing on the North Padre Island, the Padre Island National Seashore is essentially famed for its untouched beaches, dunes, sea turtles, migratory birds, and other endangered species. This seashore divides the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre and has a few hypersaline lagoons which are very rare in the world. The National Seashore opened its doors in 1962 and is one of the few nesting places of the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle. A wonderland for birders, the entrancing seashore harbors diverse varieties of birds any day of the week on its freshwater ponds and lagoons. Some species include herons, egrets, terns and skimmers which inhabit this shore, a stirring amalgam of land and sea. A stunning natural as well as a geological marvel, this invigorating seashore represents marine biodiversity at its very best.