Mustang Island State Park — Attraction in Corpus Christi

Overnight camping is STILL not allowed from the 2016 hurricane!

The place is a great location along the Texas Coast, it's the best state park on the Texas coast. Proclaiming 500+ beach front campsites on 5 miles of coastline. Remember to ALWAYS bring quality mosquito repellent and sun block!

We stayed Memorial Day weekend 2016 and the trash you see in the pictures continued up and down the beach (camper and day-use visitors).

Portable toilets are found on the beach (approx. every 1/6 mile) and occasionally you'll find a picnic table which visitors haven't turned into firewood (very few tables for the beach). Bath houses are found off the beach by the visitor center, however they need major maintenance (currently being rebuilt). Due to only one bath house, you may wait in line for an hour or two to get a shower.

The park requires more policing of the beaches by the rangers who can actually cite the lawless with fines. The public has a responsibility to help the Rangers know of the irresponsible parties. This can be challenging as the photo attest with trash strewn over the beach by weekend warriors who thought nothing of leaving the beach trashed.

Campsites aren't numbered along the beach area and are mixed with day-use visitors, so there's no way to hold accountable those who thrashed the park. I blame this fully on the culprits, but also on bad park management and under-funding the park(s). The park should have a beach camping only area with site numbers. Rangers should be required to check sites and recheck to make sure patrons abide by the park laws. I'm a firm believer fishermen and women should be checked for a license and catch requirements...you rarely see it happening on any state land.

The states generates $2 billion+ in sporting goods taxes and only 1 billion gets to TPWD...this is wrong and it's undermined our states public lands. Leaving parks to maintain themselves without human intervention has spelled a disaster for the TPWD and the...

Whether spring, summer or fall this beach is perfect for some ankle deep splashing. Dreamy castle sand and beautiful dunes to explore add hours to your adventure.

Brown pelicans, sandpipers, sea gulls, spotted ground squirrels, tiny crabs and fish of all sorts can be seen.

For city folks not wanting their tires in the sand, there is a paved lot where you’ll follow a path onto a day use beach with shaded picnic tables and ample shoreline - safe from vehicles.

For the adventurers, overnight campers, or families who enjoy a good tailgate style beach day - you’ll access the drivable portion of Mustang Island.

As a lady outnumbered by littles, surf-side is my favorite option. On days the sand is packed pretty solid from a light rainfall or heavy traffic we can adventure down the coast a 1/2 mile or so. But when it’s a loosely packed sandy day - we like to avoid getting stuck and stay pretty nearby the beach entrance & park surf side; which allows me to shift the MomMobile to park & then within nanoseconds be setup at the beach with toes in the sand.

Mustang Island State Park (think Padre Island National Seashore) is managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife. Park Rangers are kind and informative - always offering a fist bump and map for excited kiddos at the entrance.

BTW, yes- overnight camping has resumed. It’s a blast! And let’s all celebrate the fact showers have been rebuilt and updated. You’ll be able to rinse & rejuvenate before heading back to the concrete...

We had a really great time, but as women, watch yourselves. I had a strong feeling to get up and leave (we had planned for beach camping) so as we packed up and headed to my car I noticed there was a man looking through the windows of my vehicle. Jellyfish are on the rise as well, so take some vinegar or buy the spray, it’s about 20 bucks in the main office (FIRST CONVENIENCE BANK OF TEXAS does not allow transactions here) cash or another type of bank card or credit card is advised. The night sky is BEYOND beautiful!! Winds are strong! Be prepared for not just sunburns, but wind burns as well. I do not easily sunburn, but this time I caught a sun and wind slap! MOSQUITOES look PREHISTORIC and they do not care about the deet! Showers and restrooms are available! Fairly clean considering they’re public (just my experience over the weekend), and they also have quick rinse off showers located between the men’s and women’s facilities. Beach driving, just don’t risk it. We witnessed even 4x4s stuck in the loose white sand! There’s plenty of parking outside of the beach entrance, walking distance, might be a bit inconvenient, but it beats looking like a dummy!! Get there early for a...