Mustang Island State Park
Mustang Island State Park is part of the Texas State Park system. It is the
only state park on either Mustang Island or North
Padre Island. The Mustang Island State Park would is about five miles
from the bridge that crosses the Packery Channel when coming from North
Padre Island. When heading south on State Hwy 361 from Port Aransas the
Mustang Island State Park entrance is about 13 miles from Port Aransas
Texas. There are two beach access roads that provide entrance to the north
and south boundaries of the park. However to access the Mustang Island State
Park by vehicle the State Park entrance located on State Highway 361 is the
only access point. A small entrance fee is required per vehicle to come into
the park. The entrance fee is well worth spending if you plan to
spend a few hours at the park. The facilities available for day use include
picnic area, grills, fresh water rinse showers and restrooms. There is also
a pedestrian only beach at right inside the entrance of Mustang Island State
Park.
Beach and Bay
The Mustang Island State Park is divided by State Highway 361. One side of
the park is on the East side of the highway. This is the Gulf of Mexico
portion of the State Park. It is the portion of the Mustang Island State
Park that has camping hookups, day use facilities and the Park Office.
On the West side of State Highway 361 is and additional portion of Mustang
Island State Park. This portion of the Park borders the Fish Pass. A small
bridge on State Hwy 361 crosses over the Fish Pass. Entering this portion of
the Park provides access to the wetlands and fishing flats that are adjacent
to the Corpus Christi Bay. On the southside of the bridge is a gravel road
that leads to the Fish Pass. This is a good spot for birding.
On the northside of the bridge is a dirt road the provides access all the
way back to water on the backside of Mustang Island. The road can be a
little rough in some areas so a high clearance vehicle is recommended. After
a significant rain passing through this road can be extremly difficult. This
road that runs along the edge of Fish Pass leads to the starting point of
the the Mustang Island Paddling
Loop
enjoyed by kayakers from all over the state. This is also a great location
for those who enjoy wade fishing to find access to some great saltwater
fishing flats.
The Mustang Island State Park is a great location to spend the day enjoying
the beaches on the Texas Gulfcoast. The park has both beach camping and RV
camping. There is a day use beach area that is a nice spot to picnic and
spend a day at the beach. The Fish Pass Jetties are located
with in the Mustang Island State Park boundaries. Located at the northern
end of the park the jetties are one of the main attractions for many
visitors at to the Mustang Island State Park.