Mustang Island State Park – Texas State Park 23/89

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The Deets

Mustang Island State Park is located 15 minutes southwest of Port Aransas, TX, and roughly 35 minutes southeast of Corpus Christi, TX. The park offers 5 or so miles of open beach to enjoy. You can swim, fish, build sandcastles, sunbathe, and birdwatch. We even saw people surfing during our visit! The park offers camping, both hookups for RVs and tent camping on the beach. You can drive on the beach, although be confident in your vehicle. We’ve seen plenty of stuck vehicles, from small cars to trucks. There are showers and toilets in the RV area and covered picnic spots down on the beach. There are also a few port-a-potties along the beach. The cost of entry is $5 per adult and free for children aged 12 and under (or completely free for everyone if using a Park Pass).

The History

Mustang Island was named after the herds of wild mustang horses that used to roam the island. It isn’t clear how the horses got to the island, but unfortunately, as ranches began to infringe upon their habitat, the horses slowly disappeared from the area. By the late 1800s, they were gone. From the Karankawa tribes to ranchers, many people came to the island. It offered plentiful food from the ocean but not much in the way of drinkable water. Those that came were prepared to work hard to survive.

In 1972, the land that is now Mustang Island State Park was purchased from private owners. The park opened its doors in 1979 and has been greatly enjoyed ever since.

Our Experience

Both Billy and I have been to Mustang Island many times. In fact, it was the destination of our very first trip together. We’d come with the intention of camping on the beach, but the area was under a high wind advisory, so we ended up in a hotel. It’s a great beach to visit with miles to spread out on. During this last visit, we saw a few changes. Unfortunately, the headquarters building we were used to has been badly damaged by storms in recent years. Thankfully, it is being restored and should open this fall. They have a temporary office for the time being.

We were happy to see the addition of shaded tables down on the beach. They look beautiful and fit in perfectly with the surroundings. It’s great to have a solid place to sit and get out of the sun if needed.

We had a great visit on both days that we went to the park. The gentleman who checked us in on the second day was wonderful. He was very friendly and happy to tell us anything about the park. He was the only park employee we spoke to, as we’d arrived after the office had closed on the previous day. We did see a few folks on our second day with volunteer shirts on. They were out picking up trash on the beach, which was really great to see. I am sad to say that there was far more plastic washed up on the beach than I’d noticed in previous visits. That’s nothing against the park at all, as it cannot control what the rest of the world throws away, but it was sad to see. A huge thank you to those volunteers out there!

The Trails

I’m not 100% sure if there are any walking/hiking trails at Mustang Island State Park. They do not have a trail map for the park but do have a paddling trail map. If you’re into paddling, there are extensive trails to explore. I’m seeing from other websites that there are walking trails to explore on Mustang Island, but none of them show a map or talk about where a trailhead is. They just say that there is a lot to explore. I wish I’d have thought to ask when we were there, but my mind was so focused on getting to the surf and sand that it didn’t occur to me. If anyone knows of any walking/hiking trails out there, please comment below and let us know! We’d love to go check them out if they exist.

Our Takeaway

As always, we had a wonderful visit to Mustang Island State Park. If we could offer any advice, it would be to get there early and enjoy the morning on a nearly empty beach. When it starts to get busy around noon, head into town for some lunch and exploring. Come back to the beach around 5 or so when the crowds are leaving and have the beach to yourself again! Texas beaches may not be the crystal clear blue of the Maldives, but they are still great spots to enjoy on a summer day!

Interested in seeing Mustang Island State Park in action? Check out our vlog for this park!
Cheers,
Lydia and Billy