![]() (Note that driving behind the dunes is STRICTLY prohibited there are delicate ecosystems here. The park itself is about 70 miles long, but the actual coastline of the park is 65.5 miles of mostly runnable sand. This is where South Beach begins-from this point, there are 60 miles of open beach waiting to be explored. Padre Island National Seashore (PINS), encompassing 130,434 acres, is the longest remaining undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world, and offers a wide variety of flora, fauna, and recreation. From the five-mile marker south the beaches become more natural and remote with access by four-wheel. To get to the part of the park where you can drive on the beach, continue on Park Road 22 (the main paved road) until the pavement ends. and facilities for beach visitors, anglers, and others. If you have a high-clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle, exploring the island’s most remote areas by car is a uniquely thrilling experience. Annual entrance passes are valid for one year. 7-day entrance passes are valid for seven days from the date of purchase. 1-day entrance passes are valid until midnight on the date of purchase. Padre Island National Seashore offers 1-day, 7-day, and annual entrance passes. You can take your own kayak or canoe, or rent one from the park’s concessionaire. Park entrance fees are required year-round, for all areas of the park. One of just a few hypersaline lagoons in the world, the Laguna Madre offers great kayaking and canoeing opportunities. Or go beachcombing along the seashore-there are always treasures to be found here. Is there anything better than a leisurely hike or bike ride along the ocean’s edge? Bring your bicycle and ride it along South Beach, where you’ll likely have most of the shores to yourself (depending on how far down you go). Visitors may fish along the entire length of the Gulf, in the Laguna Madre, and at Bird Island Basin and Yarborough Pass. To fish anywhere in the park, you must have a valid Texas fishing license and a saltwater stamp, both of which you can acquire outside of the park at a local tackle shop or gas station. ![]() Call the Malaquite Visitor Center (36) to schedule a tour with a volunteer birding guide. There have been more than 380 species of birds sighted at the park, which represents nearly half of all the documented bird species in North America. Padre Island is an important destination for migratory birds, and as such, it’s an exceptional place for birdwatching. ![]() (Because the park can’t predict when a sea turtle will hatch, check their Current Nesting Season page and the Sea Turtle Program Facebook page for up-to-date info on releases.) Most hatchling releases occur from mid-June through August. During the summer, staff members release sea turtle hatchlings from nests laid in the park and along the coast, and visitors can sometimes catch these if the timing is right. Since 1978, the park has been a participant in the effort to save the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. Never swim alone and always use extreme caution when swimming currents can be strong. Visitors can swim in the recreation area at Bird Island Basin or in the Gulf, but do note that there are no lifeguards on duty.
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