Guide to Visiting Mustang Island State Park

Mustang Island State Park, named after the wild horses that roamed the island for hundreds of years, is located south of Port Aransas. This state park covers 3,954 acres and has a 5-mile stretch of beachfront to explore. Mustang Island State Park was opened to the public in 1979 and has kept people coming back year after year ever since. The park is open from eight in the morning to five in the evening daily and it is five dollars for adults and free for kids twelve and under, please note that campsite fees are separate.

Things to do at Mustang Island State Park:

There are plenty of amazing and fun activities for you to enjoy at Mustang Island State Park. Hang out on the beach and enjoy some sunshine, fish in the bay, go bird watching, surf, swim, kayak, picnic, or build a sand castle.

There is camping available at this state park. They have 48 water and electric campsites as well as 50 drive-up primitive campsites. The water and electric campsites are located ⅓ of a mile away from the beach. Full restrooms that offer showers with hot water are located near those water and electric sites.

If you enjoy kayaking you will enjoy the Mustang Island State Park Paddling Trail. This is a trail with three segments that follows the western shoreline of the island in Corpus Christi Bay. This 20-mile stretch of trails passes through some of the best shallow-water fishing areas around. You can enjoy a close-up view of the fish, birds, and other animals that inhabit this area.

Coastal Dunes and Native Animals in the State Park:

The sand dunes on Mustang Island are an important part of protecting the bay and the mainland. The dunes are not only beautiful but also help to reduce damage from powerful hurricane winds. The dunes average around 15-20 feet and are covered in deep-rooted Tenacious vines and coastal grass that help keep the sand stabilized. Tons of critters live in and around the dunes also. There are ground squirrels, opossums, coyotes, birds, and white-tailed deer. Head over to the water and you can find over 600 species of saltwater fish that live here. The bayside acts as a nursery for smaller creatures like shrimp, crabs, and baby fish. Two types of sea turtles also visit this park, the Atlantic Green sea turtle and the Kemp's Ridley. The Kemp's ridley sea turtles are the smallest sea turtles in the world and are also one of the most endangered species of turtle. Park visitors should be alert and stay on the lookout for sea turtles and notify park staff if they see any turtle activity on the beach!

For more information on visiting the area, check out Port Aransas activities! If you're looking to plan a trip and visit the state park, browse our nearby Port Aransas and Mustang Island vacation rentals.