The Best Beaches to Visit During your Port Aransas Vacation

Port A Beach

When visiting Port Aransas you may think you only have one option to choose from when choosing a beach to spend your day on. This is not the case! There are several beaches that you can choose from on your vacation to Port Aransas.

Mustang Island

Mustang Island is the main beach in Port Aransas. This beach is 18 miles off the Texas coast that is just waiting to be explored. This beach is easy to get to from Port A on Access Roads 1, 1A, 2, and 3. You can hop on any of those roads and drive your car or golf cart right onto the beach, meet up with friends and have a barbecue, play cornhole, read a book, and enjoy the salty air.

Mustang Island Includes:

  • Fishing
  • Camping 
  • Beach Driving Permitted 
  • No Entrance Fees 
  • Beach Parking Pass Required

Mustang Island State Park

Mustang Island State Park is a great choice of beach to spend your day at. The State Park is a more than five-mile stretch of gorgeous sandy beach along the Mustang Island coastline that offers plenty of room for fun in the sun. Hang out on the beach, fish in the bay, look for birds, and explore this unspoiled barrier island park. This is the perfect beach for those who want to experience a state park without having to travel far away from all of Port A’s restaurants, stores, and vacation homes.

Mustang Island State Park Includes:

  • Fishing
  • Kayaking
  • Bird Watching
  • Mustang Island Paddling Trail
  • Ranger Programs
  • Pet-Friendly Park
  • Showers/Restrooms
  • Electric and Tent Campsites
  • Entrance fees apply

San Jose Island

Looking for an island getaway? San Jose or St. Jo’s as the locals call it is the perfect place to go! Hop on the Jetty Boat at Fisherman's Wharf and take a short ride across the sea to this island retreat. St. Jo’s is a largely undisturbed privately owned island, this quiet beach offers a getaway from the hustle and bustle of Port A. Take a picnic and enjoy the day on this quiet beach hunting for shells or watching birds.

San Jose Island Includes:

  • Jetty Boat Service
  • Bird Watching
  • Shell Hunting
  • NO food, water, etc.
  • No public facilities
  • Bring all supplies you will need for the day

Padre Island National Seashore

Head to the end of Park Road 22 on North Padre Island and find the beautiful preserved Padre Island National Seashore. This is a nature lover's dream, with protected wildlife all around, Kemp’s Ridley turtle releases, and shells washing up on the shore. This 70-mile-long stretch of protected beach is a must-see. If you want to visit the untouched Texas coast this is the place to go.

Padre Island National Seashore Includes:

  • Fishing
  • Birding
  • Parking Lot
  • Showers/Restrooms
  • Watersport Rentals
  • Entrance Fee
  • Camping

 

Visiting the area soon? Be sure to check out all of our available Port Aransas vacation rentals to book your trip! You can also view our Port Aransas weather guide for the best time to plan your getaway!