Mustang Island (near Corpus Christi, TX)

snowy · 11-21-2016, 03:41 PM

Had been in sand in Great Sand Dunes before, but once again, 4wd made all the difference for me personally. Rather spontaneous trip. Drove down just for one night camping on the beach when the weather seemed right. Lows in lower 50's, highs in mid-70's, winds 10-15mph, no storm surges to contend with. There were other 2wd vehicles on the beach, but at least one got stuck and had to be pulled out. Others turned around. Others made it without issue, so it's not that it COULDN'T be done w/o 4wd, but it sure was nice insurance. Some quick pics attached. Arrival with sun shade out; from water looking at camp; morning sunrise; resourceful local kid wakeboarding behind dedicated mom driving Subaru along surf.

Snowy

**daveb** · 11-23-2016, 07:30 PM

Hard to beat actually being able to camp right on the beach while being secluded from the crowds. Looks beautiful. Is that a spot where you get a lot of traffic?

snowy · 11-24-2016, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveb

Hard to beat actually being able to camp right on the beach while being secluded from the crowds. Looks beautiful. Is that a spot where you get a lot of traffic?

Not too much traffic, but then again, it's winter. Couple of beach combers as the sent went down, 1 drive-by going somewhere further down the beach than us after dark, and a few more walkers in the morning along with the wake-boarder and a tractor.

ctb · 11-24-2016, 06:56 PM

We stayed there a few years back...pre Sporty days...It was GREAT!! End of August, water was like bath water! So warm...a couple hours in the water, back to tent, couple hours in water, back to tent, etc...I talked to some locals setting up for Labor day camping and said only locals tend to go there...we had the beach to ourselves for a couple days until that Friday morning...We were lucky and found a spot/clearing in the grass (no camping ON grass) about half way (2 miles) down the beach...only problems others were encountering was moss...but they were raking it aside (those that didn't have a grass clearing)...RARE to find such a great place you can actually camp ON THE BEACH!! A MUST for that alone!!

allenl · 12-16-2016, 07:30 AM

We like to camp PINS (Padre Island National Seashore). Its one of the best spots close-by to where we live outside of Houston. We usually cruise 30-40 miles down the beach to setup camp. 4x4 and airing down is required for certain conditions.

We'll have to check out Mustang Island on our next trip. I've never poked around up that direction.

ctb · 12-17-2016, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenl

We like to camp PINS (Padre Island National Seashore). Its one of the best spots close-by to where we live outside of Houston. We usually cruise 30-40 miles down the beach to setup camp. 4x4 and airing down is required for certain conditions.

We'll have to check out Mustang Island on our next trip. I've never poked around up that direction.

Good tip...we WANTED to do that but stumbled upon Mustang Islandfirst...we found you're so close to everything if you need to stock up etc... with the feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere...NEXT time we will head down 30-40 miles...see many people that far down? Tide ever a problem?

allenl · 12-19-2016, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctb

Good tip...we WANTED to do that but stumbled upon Mustang Islandfirst...we found you're so close to everything if you need to stock up etc... with the feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere...NEXT time we will head down 30-40 miles...see many people that far down? Tide ever a problem?

You can drive down the beach 60 miles, it seems like a majority of the other users thin out by mile 30 or so. We will usually have a few cars drive by per day, and you can definitely find a spot to setup with no other camps or fishermen in sight.

Unless there are coastal flood advisories, tide itself will not be a problem. The beach can get pretty soft and rutted at times, but a stock 4x4 can handle it.

Last trip we had a 5th wheel toy hauler blow by our camp at well over 30 mph; we were camped at around the 35mile mark and the beach had been very easy driving up to that point. A couple of days later when we left, the beach was in terrible driving condition, and we needed 4x4 at multiple points. I bet hauling that big 5th wheel out was hell.

Bbasso · 12-19-2016, 09:22 AM

I've stayed many many nights on a beach in TX, just east of Galveston. About 2-3 miles away from the road and hardly ever any other people on the beach. So nice indeed!

I'm jealous of your time there.... I usually hit the TX beach about this time of year for fishing and relaxing.

ctb · 12-19-2016, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenl

You can drive down the beach 60 miles, it seems like a majority of the other users thin out by mile 30 or so. We will usually have a few cars drive by per day, and you can definitely find a spot to setup with no other camps or fishermen in sight.

Unless there are coastal flood advisories, tide itself will not be a problem. The beach can get pretty soft and rutted at times, but a stock 4x4 can handle it.

Last trip we had a 5th wheel toy hauler blow by our camp at well over 30 mph; we were camped at around the 35mile mark and the beach had been very easy driving up to that point. A couple of days later when we left, the beach was in terrible driving condition, and we needed 4x4 at multiple points. I bet hauling that big 5th wheel out was hell.

Great tips/points...can't wait to go there!!! Thanks for the reply to the questions
!