Padre Island National Seashore
National Seashore · TX
Caution · Canine distemper is believed to be present in the park.
Contact with saliva from wild animals can transmit distemper to pets, including from but not limited to water bowls, food bowls, trash etc. Distemper is not a threat to humans but can be deadly to pets. Ensure your pets are vaccinated or keep them home.
Caution · High tides forecasted for October. Check the tide chart.
Several days of over 2.0 ft tides are forecasted during the month of October, including 2.6 ft tides at the end of the month. Be sure to check the tide chart and weather forecast when planning your trip.
More information2 noticesfrom the National Park Service
Information · 4-wheel drive recommended for beach driving
4-wheel drive is recommended if driving on North and South Beach.
Information · Be aware of changing beach conditions
Beach conditions are changing frequently. Check current tide charts and weather forecasts before traveling on the beach.
More information
Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline Laguna Madre, tidal mud flats teem with life. Native Americans, Spanish explorers and cattle ranchers have walked along its shores. Padre Island National Seashore is waiting to be rediscovered.
- NPS site
- nps.gov/pais
- Location
- Padre Island National Seashore (27.054, -97.359)
Track your visit to Padre Island National Seashore
NP Tracker keeps a record of every National Park Service unit you visit — all 430-plus of them. Log visits with dates and photos, collect passport stamps, plan trips, and watch your map fill in. It's free.
Passport stamp locations
- Malaquite Visitor Center
Hours
Overall park access hourstoday: All Day
- Sat Oct 3All Day
- Sun Oct 4All Day
- Mon Oct 5All Day
- Tue Oct 6All Day
- Wed Oct 7All Day
- Thu Oct 8All Day
- Fri Oct 9All Day
The park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. However, park facilities are not open 24 hours per day. Hours for the entrance station, where the required entrance pass is sold, vary from day to day. If the entrance station is not open when you arrive, you can proceed into the park. If you are camping, go back to the entrance station the next morning and obtain an entrance pass. If not camping, pay the entrance fee as you leave if the entrance station is open.
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
1
- Malaquite Visitor Centertoday: 9:00AM - 5:00PMDirections
Self-guided tours
1
Grasslands Nature Trail30–60 minutes · 12 stops
This 0.75-mile (1.2 km) loop trail takes hikers through one of the last intact coastal prairie ecosystems in the United States and is fully paved to accommodate all visitors. Several benches with limited shade are located throughout the trail. Throughout the trail, numbered posts correspond to the tour stops on the NPS App that offers insight to the native plants growing in the grasslands.
Entrance fees
5
- Private Vehicle — $25.00
Admits the passholder and up to 15 passengers in the same private (non-commercial) vehicle. It expires one week from the date of purchase. For private vehicles, this entrance pass is required for overnight camping. A 1-day entrance pass is available for $10 per vehicle. 1-day entrance passes expire at midnight on the date of purchase and are not valid for overnight camping.
- Motorcycle — $20.00
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. For motorcyclists, this entrance pass is required for overnight camping. A 1-day entrance pass is available for $5. 1-day entrance passes expire at midnight on the date of purchase and are not valid for overnight camping.
- Per Person — $15.00
Admits one individual bicyclist, hiker, or pedestrian visiting the facility without a private vehicle. An individual pass is not required for visitors aged 15 and under. It expires one week from the date of purchase. For an individual, this entrance pass is required for overnight camping. A 1-day entrance pass is available for $5 per person. 1-day entrance passes expire at midnight on the date of purchase and are not valid for overnight camping.
- Non-commercial Groups — $15.00
Non-commercial groups traveling in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 persons or more are charged per person. This entrance pass is valid for one week from the date of purchase. Fees will not exceed the commercial fee for the same-sized vehicle. Youth 15 and younger are free. Individuals or families with any valid Annual or Lifetime pass may use their pass for entry.