Unregistered

If you're a tent camper don't even waste your time on considering a trip to Mustang Island State Park. Totally geared to the RV crowd. VERY small grassy areas at the camp sites. Not even a concrete pad under the picnic table. No fire rings. One shower facility for 50+ camp sites.

If you're a mobile home camper have at it... If you like a tent and outdoor gear, skip it....

Shannon

I find it's a nice park for day visits. Justin and I often visit it during our Padre Island National Seashore beach camping trips or Corpus Christi birding trips (in which we usually stay in a hotel). I agree, there's not much in the way of tent camping appeal, but that's no reason to avoid the park altogether. A visit to Mustang is perfect for a picnic, birding or fishing, beach walking, wave watching... many of the same things one visits Padre Island NS or the other seaside parks to enjoy.

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- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
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Turn Key

Drove all the way down there from DFW area a few years ago. Had reservations for 8 nights. Took one look and said "This is not for us!". Cancelled the stay, drove BACK up to the north side of San Antonio and got a room for the night. Drove up to Pedernales SP the next morning and got the last site they had and had a great 7 day stay.

There is nothing wrong with Mustang Island SP. Worth a visit if you like the Texas coast. Just not our idea of a great place to camp.

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Shannon

Ouch! Did you get a chance to check out Padre Island National Seashore before you packed up for points north? At Padre, you're not relegated to having to camp on the beach, if you don't want -- there's the Malaquite Beach developed campground (RV-ready) and some RV-ready campsites on the inland side of the island, in the Bird Island Basin area. It's the coast, so all the usual warnings apply -- be prepared for wind, blowing sand, humidity, bugs at night when the winds ease up.

On the other hand, I can't imagine filling 8 nights productively in a park the size of Mustang Island; Big Bend National Park or the larger state parks, sure. But not one I can see the boundaries of from my campsite.

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- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
http://www.twitter.com/ageekgal

OutdoorPhoto.com

There's no doubt about it, if camping on the beach is your objective, you need look no further than Padre Island National Seashore. If you have a vehicle with 4x4 capabilities, you can drive down the beach where there are miles of coastline for those looking for some solitude!

hiwayman

My fondest memory of MISP is when we pulled in to camp our last night of an extended trip. We had one package of hotdogs for a last meal before the trip home the next day. While they were cooking on the grill I went into the camper. When I went back out to check the weiners, the seagulls had taken all but 2. A gull had just left with one and I spooked it enough that it dropped its meal back on the grill. That left one hotdog each for the 3 of us. Oh, yeah, my wife ate the one with peck marks in it.

Turn Key

Hi Shannon,

This and others are some of the reasons we decided we just were not interested in staying. Worse yet, since that trip I've seen the Florida Gulf coast and I don't think we'll being heading back to the Texas coast any time soon. Texas has got a bunch of great things going for it but the Gulf coast is not one of them.

DW and I can fill 8 days in the Hill Country with no problems at all. If we're not relaxing at camp we're out running around finding new places we haven't seen before. If nothing else, DW will read or crochet and I'll go chase my bear (Haven't told that story here, have I? Will have to get around to that ).

Any way, some like the coast and some like the hills. I guess you can figure where my heart is .

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OutdoorPhoto.com

There are few things as spectacular as a sunrise or sunset over the open water. That said, I would have to agree with you. I love topography - hills, mountains, etc.

The coast is awesome but after a day or so camping there you go nuts looking for a nice warm shower to rinse off that thick film of salt water goo from your skin!

Shannon

Hey! Don't let these guys influence you... I'm still dying to do another two nighter on the beach at Padre Island NS. Granted, not when we spend the daytime hours eating windblown sand, like last time!

I guess I'm just a sucker for waking up to the coyote tracks all around our campsite, and the tranquility that one finds while staring at the waves for awhile. What can I say, part of me is still (and always will be) a "California Girl," even though I left when I was in third grade.


PS: Now, if it were a choice between Colorado or somewhere I've never been, like Florida, then the Texas Coast would definitely have to wait for another day!

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- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
http://www.twitter.com/ageekgal

Turn Key

Sorry, Shannon. Have been to Colorado and as beutiful as it is, I'll still take the Texas Hill Country in spring! Now summer, or shall I say "Super Summer", is another matter all together.

Happy Camping!

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Shannon

Hehe... you'll note I strategically avoided any reference to the Hill Country in my response.

I'm a fan of the Hill Country year-round, as well... especially after our October visit to Leakey -- somehow, we'd missed some of those scenic hilly drives in that area until that trip!

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
http://www.twitter.com/ageekgal