Corpus Christi is your gateway to miles of beautiful Gulf and Bay beaches, offering a perfect escape for every kind of beachgoer. Whether you're seeking calm waters for relaxation, scenic stretches for walking, or waves for thrilling water sports, the beaches here have it all. With over 220 days of warm, sunny weather and easy access to both quiet bays and the open Gulf, Corpus Christi is the ideal destination for beach lovers looking to unwind, explore, or adventure. The diverse coastline ensures there's always a spot that feels just right.
Gulf Beaches
Located on the opposite side of the island from the protected waters of the bay, our drivable Gulf beaches offer crashing waves, miles of sand, and expansive views. Whether catching a wave with your surfboard or a fish with your pole, these beaches offer plenty of sun for fun year-round. Located off Highway 361 and Park Road 22, you’ll find plenty of vehicle access to the beach—just make sure to buy your parking permit!
Bay Beaches
Head to calmer waters on the Corpus Christi Bay, located in Downtown Corpus Christi. There is no vehicle access on these beaches, but you can take a walk down Shoreline Blvd. and past The Water’s Edge Park while enjoying the Corpus Christi Seawall. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at one of our restaurants that offer stunning views of the water or beers at a nearby brewery.
GULF BEACHES
Padre Balli Park
Padre Balli offers a 400-acre stretch of coast, known for surfing and shore fishing. Acclaimed as the best fishing spot on the Gulf Coast, this area is an esteemed sanctuary for anglers to discover new types of fish, including grouper and speckled trout. Here, you’ll also find the ultimate beach camping adventure, with almost 100 paved campsites suitable for RVs, 12 hardtop areas for tents with electrical and water hookups, ADA-accessible amenities, a bathhouse, and more. Camping fees include the use of the shower house and WiFi access, should you need it. With the long stretch of shore and plenty of activities to enjoy, it’s no wonder this sunny spot attracts locals and visitors year-round!
JP Luby
This watersports wonderland is great for surfing, jet-skiing, kiteboarding, wakeboarding, and more, and it stays packed with visitors, locals, and families throughout the year. With some of the best surfing conditions in the area, due to offshore winds from the northwest, you’ll discover some of the best outdoor adventures. Surf fishing is also a popular activity, as the warm waters of the Gulf practically ensure success for those dropping a line, and the best part is that you don’t even need a fishing license to partake in the fun. If sunbathing and a leisurely swim are more your speed, head down to the sectioned-off areas designated specifically for swimmers during the summer months. Camp on-beach with a tent and primitive supplies or pull up to one of the electric campsites protected behind bordering sand dunes. Wherever you stay, be sure to bundle up around a small campfire on the beach to witness a majestic sunset. Before you go, double-check the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website for updates on burn bans and regulations. Grills, picnic tables, and a beach bathhouse that includes full restrooms are available, as well.
Whitecap Beach
Whitecap Beach, named after its white sands, is an excellent location for small groups or solo travelers looking for a laid-back beach trip. Whether you’re into surfing, fishing, or just relaxing in the sun, Whitecap is a popular destination to kick back and enjoy the sun-soaked shores.
Michael J. Ellis Beach & Seawall
Just a short walk from Whitecap Beach, you’ll find Michael J. Ellis Beach & Seawall. This ADA accessible beach offers free parking, clean facilities, showers, and dressing rooms in its paved Windward Parking lot. The well-maintained packed sand and lifeguards make it a great and safe place to relax, and the scenic mile-long seawall that protects the hotels and resorts also offers a sand free path for biking, jogging, and walking. Rental vendors are also close by, ensuring you have everything you need for a picture-perfect beach day.
Mustang Island State Park
This serene vacation spot features miles of sandy beach for a memorable day, weekend, or week-long trip. Mustang Beach, part of the state park, is an 18-mile-long barrier island on the Texas coast with great on-beach camping, beachcombing, turtles, dolphins, birds, and more. Camping options also abound at Mustang Island State Park. Stay at one of the 48 water and electric campsites or choose among 50 drive-up primitive sites. Water, cold-water rinse showers, and portable toilets can also be found along a two-mile stretch of the beach, and full restrooms and showers with hot water are also accessible.
This untouched barrier island park allows visitors the chance to discover diverse wildlife and pristine coastlines. Ranger Programs offer special birding, stargazing, fishing, and other nature-related events for fun and educational experiences. The “Ask a Ranger” program provides an inside look at wildlife elements – like what critters reside inside beach holes and the reasoning behind unraked sargassum seaweed. Another fantastic component of this beach option is the Mustang Island Paddling Trail, consisting of the North Trail (8.5 miles), Shamrock Loop (5.24 miles), and Ashum Trail (6.8 miles). Each trail follows the western shoreline and passes through some of the best shallow-water fishing spots in all of Texas. The entrance to the protected area of Mustang Island State Park is available year-round for visitors interested in birdwatching, shallow-water fishing paddling excursions, and sea turtle hatchings.
Padre Island National Seashore (PINS)
The most significant undeveloped barrier island in the world is 30 miles south of Mustang Island State Park. The Padre Island National Seashore offers more than 130,000 acres of dunes, grasslands, and beaches – a national park and a haven for all sorts of family-friendly activities, it’s an untouched paradise of federally-protected wildlife. Immerse yourself in the fauna and flora that populate this marshland environment with a short stroll along the Grasslands Nature Trail. Away from the beach, this trail offers a glimpse at animals that live inland, including coyotes, deer, kangaroo rats, ghost crabs, sea turtles, and many others.
Apart from the actual sands of Malaquite Beach, Padre Island’s Visitors Center holds a breathtaking observation deck for wildlife viewing. Along Malaquite Beach, visitors scavenge for small shells deposited by north currents at Little Shell Beach and comb through the sands of Big Shell Beach for larger shell discoveries. Whichever activity you partake in, it’s safe to say that Padre Island National Seashore is a beachside paradise for a gorgeous getaway.
BAY BEACHES
North Beach
North Beach is just a short drive over the Harbor Bridge and delivers a relaxed vibe with plentiful souvenir shops, hotels, condos, and restaurants near a fantastic bayfront view. The beach itself features just over a mile of unruffled sand and a concrete beach walk ideal for cycling, riding bikes, or skating. Jetty fishing is also available from its north and south end jetties. While exciting renovations on North Beach are underway, including a new playground and bathroom facilities, there are still plenty of ways for the whole family to enjoy the area … even your pets along for the ride! With the DoubleTree hotel and iconic attractions like the USS Lexington Museum and the Texas State Aquarium a short drive away, North Beach is a great place for a family adventure.
McGee Beach
In Downtown Corpus Christi resides a beautiful beachfront stretching along the seawall – featuring seaweed-free, manicured sand, and the warm, serene waters of Corpus Christi Bay for a laid-back experience that caters to all ages. You can enjoy water sports and activities from fishing off the jetties to sand volleyball and sunbathing. Choose from a variety of rentals to enhance your beach experience; BF Rentals provides an opportunity to create the beach day of your dreams with umbrellas, chairs, cabanas, and jet skis, while Fun Time Rentals offers jet skis, pedal boats, and surrey bicycles. Its location on Shoreline Blvd couldn’t be more ideal with its proximity to a handful of hotel options and the Corpus Christi Marina. This means you’ll wake up a hop, skip, and jump away from your beach locale and be within walking distance from the only major downtown marina on the Texas coast. Parking is free and easy along the seawall or at the parking lots directly across the beach, since this is one of our beaches you actually can’t drive on.
