All parks › Padre Island National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle entrance
- $25[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- June[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 573,255[3]
- Campgrounds
- 2[4]
Padre Island National Seashore is a National Seashore in Texas[5]. NPS lists a private vehicle entrance fee of $25[1], and the park itself is open around the clock[6].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Private Vehicle[1] | $25 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $20 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Non-commercial Groups[9] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[10] | $45 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[11].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[12] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[12] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[12] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[12] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[12] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[12] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[12] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[12] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[12] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS counted the most recreation visits in June 2025, at 75,522[2]. December 2025 had the fewest, at 24,754[2]. NPS describes long, hot, very humid summers, with highs in the mid-90s[13]. Winters are short and mild, though cold fronts can bring strong winds[13]. Hurricane season runs Jun 1 to Nov 30[13]. The park is open 365 days a year, but the entrance station hours vary from day to day[6]. If the station is closed when you arrive, NPS says you can drive in, and campers should stop by the next morning to get a pass[6].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 47,043 |
| February | 27,249 |
| March | 53,108 |
| April | 44,732 |
| May | 57,799 |
| June | 75,522 |
| July | 73,627 |
| August | 62,431 |
| September | 35,731 |
| October | 36,426 |
| November | 34,833 |
| December | 24,754 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 2 campgrounds[4]. Malaquite Campground has 48 sites and Bird Island Basin Campground has 34 sites[4]. NPS lists nightly fees for individual sites from $8 to $14[4]. Campers in a private vehicle also need an entrance pass[1].
- Malaquite Campground, 48 sites[4]
- Bird Island Basin Campground, 34 sites
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be kept in a crate or cage or on a leash of six feet at most, and they are not allowed on designated swimming beaches[14]. Each park can close more areas to pets[14]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 7 of the 9 things to do it lists, including Birding at Padre Island and Driving Down Island[15].
Before you go
- A private vehicle entrance pass costs $25 and NPS says it expires one week after purchase[1].
- NPS also lists a 1-day pass for $10 per vehicle[1].
- The Annual Entrance - Park pass costs $45[10].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass[11]. The Resident Annual Pass costs $80[12].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm on the official NPS park page before you go[6].
Questions people ask
- How much does it cost to enter Padre Island National Seashore?
- NPS lists $25 for a private vehicle[1] and $20 for a motorcycle[7]. Walkers and bicyclists pay $15 per person[8].
- Does Padre Island accept the America the Beautiful pass?
- Yes, NPS says the park accepts it for entrance[11]. The Resident Annual Pass costs $80[12].
- When is the busiest time to visit Padre Island?
- In 2025 the busiest month was June with 75,522 visits and the quietest was December with 24,754[2].
- Are dogs allowed at Padre Island National Seashore?
- Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet where allowed, and not on designated swimming beaches[14]. The park can close more areas to pets[14].
- How many campgrounds are there at Padre Island?
- NPS and Recreation.gov list 2, Malaquite with 48 sites and Bird Island Basin with 34 sites[4].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $25. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 615,826, 2022: 531,624, 2023: 552,687, 2024: 514,722, 2025: 573,255. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Padre Island National Seashore (list on this page). National Park Service
- Padre Island National Seashore is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Seashore) in Texas. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Overall park access hours: The park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. However, park facilities are not open 24 hours per day. Hours for the entrance station, where the required entrance pass is sold, vary from day to day. If the... National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $20. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Non-commercial Groups: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $45. National Park Service
- Padre Island National Seashore accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Padre Island National Seashore. National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
- NPS lists 9 things to do at Padre Island National Seashore: Swimming, Ranger-led Programs at Padre Island, Become a Padre Island Junior Ranger, Check-out a Junior Ranger Discovery Pack, Birding at Padre Island, Boating, Paddling, and Windsurfing, Driving... National Park Service