Beaches Near Aransas Pass, Texas

Beaches of Gulf Shores image by Wendy Lea Morgan from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Aransas Pass is the major connection for all Gulf Coast-bound ships going in and out of the Port of Corpus Christi. The pass divides Mustang Island to the south from Saint Joseph's Island to the north, with jetties protecting each side of the channel. Port Aransas is the town on the eastern end of the channel and Aransas Pass is the town on the western end. Aransas Pass is 20 miles north of downtown Corpus Christi and 10 miles northwest of Port Aransas.

Fishing along the channel is popular. Nearby, the Aransas Wildlife Refuge is world-renowned for watching rare migrating birds in the fall and spring.

Corpus Christi Beach

Corpus Christi Beach is three miles north of downtown traveling across the Harbor Bridge and is home to many seafood restaurants, beach shops and the USS Lexington, a retired World War II aircraft carrier. The Texas State Aquarium is steps away from the beach.

During the summer months, lifeguards are on duty. There are restrooms, cabanas, showers and picnic tables on the beach, as well as several nice hotels. On the northern section of Corpus Christi Beach, you can go for a quiet walk or jog and take your dog along the dog walk. Corpus Christi Beach is about 15 miles from Aransas Pass.

Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau
101 N. Shoreline Blvd., Ste. 430
Corpus Christi TX 78401
1-800-678-6232
visitcorpuschristitx.org/beaches.cfm#corpus

Port Aransas

Port Aransas is a beach town on the northern tip of Mustang Island with restaurants, fishing along the ship channel and boating in the channel and Gulf of Mexico. It's a hub for coastal activities. Port Aransas beach township is only one of three beaches in the United States where you can still drive your car on the beach.

Port Aransas beaches are known for shell hunting, leisurely walks, sunbathing and family picnics. Water activities in the Gulf of Mexico at Port Aransas include windsurfing, kite-boarding, kayaking, para-sailing, jet skiing, surfing and surf fishing. Port Aransas is a short ferry ride across the ship channel from Aransas Pass.

City of Port Aransas
710 W. Avenue A
Port Aransas TX 78373
361-749-4111, 361-749-5919
portaransas.org

Mustang Island State Park

Mustang Island is a 4,000-acre coastal barrier island with five miles of beach south of Port Aransas. This park has showers and bathrooms, as well as ice, snacks and picnic supply facilities.

This state park is known for excellent fishing, building bonfires and sandcastles, beach-combing, bird watching, hiking and surfing. With more than 40 campgrounds having electrical and water hookups, Mustang Island is popular for weekend campers.

The more than five-mile Mustang Island State Park Paddling Trail is a popular hiking and mountain biking route with shallow-water fishing areas along the trail. This trail is across flat terrain, making the level of difficulty easy.

Mustang Island State Park
17047 State Hwy 361
Port Aransas TX 78373
361-749-4573
tpwd.state.tx.us

Resources

Article Written By Michael McCann

Michael McCann has been a professional writer and videographer for 14 years covering business and travel topics. Prior to writing, Mr. McCann founded and sold two successful companies. Michael holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Baylor University and Master's degree in Accounting from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...