Winter Texas Beach Camping

Winter beach camping in Texas provides a chance to experience a different part of the great outdoors. "There are people who really love to go camping this time of year; it's just not as mainstream," Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Director of Business Management Mike Crevier said. Camping in Texas on the beach in the winter means unpredictable weather. The normal annoying pests like mosquitoes and fire ants take a break in the winter and migrating birds and other wildlife become plentiful.

Matagorda Island

Matagorda Island has 56,688 acres of offshore barrier island and bayside marshes. Matagorda Bay Nature Park's dunes, coastal marshes and wetlands are home to thousands of birds seeking the warm temperatures of the Gulf of Mexico. The island itself is 38 miles long. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island and all necessities must be brought in. Campers can bicycle or hike to gulf-front beaches. Thirteen primitive campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. A Limited Public Use Permit is required for all campers using the bayside picnic shelters. The permit costs $12 and can be obtained by calling 1-800-TX-LIC-4U.

Matagorda Island
1700 7th St.
Bay City, TX 77414
979-244-7697
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id

Padre Island National Seashore

According to the Padre Island National Seashore website, this seashore is "the longest remaining undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world." Here you can find a large variety of flora and fauna. Primitive camping is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Horse-back riding, bicycling, backpacking and hiking are permitted. The Malaquite Campground is located on Padre Island. It has 50 semi-primitive designated sites. It offers tent camping with a minimal amount of RV camping for $8 a night. Amenities include flush toilets, cold-water rinse showers, picnic tables and shade structures. No hook-ups are available. There is a dump station and potable water filling station.
The Padre Island National Seashore is located southeast of the city of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Padre Island National Seashore
Corpus Christi, TX 78480
361-949-8068
http://www.stateparks.com/padre_island.html

Malaquite Campground
Padre Island: National Park Service
http://www.nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit/malaquite_campground.htm

The Weather is the Biggest Obstacle for Winter Beach Camping in Texas

Temperatures can be in the 70s F one day and in the 30s the next. Humidity is generally low and likely mild and pleasant so it should be just right for a campfire. Make sure to check local weather predictions before setting out. Even with predictions of sunshine, be sure to bring some basic backup essentials, including extra blankets, extra clothes and a rain poncho. Pack your clothes in garbage bags, and a rain fly is recommended on your tent, as is a tarp to put under your tent.

Wildlife and Migrating Birds Galore

Deer, bobcats, squirrels, rabbits and armadillos populate the area more in the winter. Numerous types of migrating birds love to spend the winter in Texas. According to the Victoria Advocate newspaper, Pileated Woodpeckers (the biggest kind) can be found in the area and American Bald Eagles can also be found nesting nearby.

Goose Island State Park

The Big Tree located at Goose Island State Park is thought to be the biggest in the nation with a circumference of 35 feet. Swimming isn't allowed in the park. The main activities are birding, boating, photography and fishing. Twenty-five tent sites are available at $10 a night, 57 electric and water hookup sites are available at $16 a night and 45 premium sites are available with electric and water on the bay loop at $20 a night. Amenities include restrooms with and without showers, a fish cleaning shade shelter, a double lane boat ramp, a lighted fishing pier, playground areas and a Texas State Park Store.

Goose Island State Park
202 S Palmetto St.
Rockport, TX 78382
361-729-2858
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/goose_island/

References

• "Victoria Advocate" newspaper; Winter in Texas: Time to Go RV Camping at a Discount; Feb. 2008
• "Beaumont Enterprise" newspaper; Mild Weather Is Perfect For Tent Camping; Robert Sloan; Sept. 2006
• "Fort Worth Star-Telegram" newspaper; Winter Wonderland - Even When Temperatures Are Falling, Campers Can Still Enjoy the Great Outdoors; Anthony Andro; Nov. 2003
• Padre Island: State Parks