Fees & Passes

 
Plan Your Visit

Key Information

  1. Get an entrance pass

    All visitors must have one of these entrance passes:

    Pass Price
    Standard Pass $15.00–$25.00
    Annual Pass $45.00
    America the Beautiful Pass (includes Senior Passes) FREE–$80.00

    Help me choose an entrance pass

Choosing an Entrance Pass

Do you have or qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful Pass?

If you already have an America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, that's the only entrance pass you need. Seniors, military, visitors with a permanent disability, and families with a 4th grader are eligible for a free or discounted America the Beautiful pass.

America the Beautiful Pass

How often do you plan to visit national parks in the next 12 months?

If you don't qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful pass, we recommend choosing an entrance pass based on your trip plans.

I'm visiting... We recommend
This park, once Standard Pass
This park, multiple times Annual Pass
More than one national park or federal recreation site America the Beautiful Pass

Entrance Passes

The Padre Island Annual Pass covers park entrance fees to Padre Island National Seashore. It expires one year from the month of purchase. Park entrance fees are required year-round, for all areas of the park. Camping and boat ramp fees are not covered by park entrance passes and are charged in addition. Corpus Christi Beach Parking Permits are not required or valid in the national seashore.

Standard Entrance Pass

$15.00–$25.00

Park entrance fees are required year-round, for all areas of the park. Padre Island National Seashore offers 1-day, 7-day, and annual entrance passes. 1-day entrance passes are valid until midnight on the date of purchase. 7-day entrance passes are valid for seven days from the date of purchase. Annual entrance passes are valid for one year from the month of purchase. Camping and boat ramp fees are not covered by park entrance passes and are charged in addition. Corpus Christi Beach Parking Permits are not required or valid in the national seashore.

For Vehicles

If you enter the park in a motorized vehicle, your entrance pass covers both you and your passengers. Your passengers do not need a separate pass.

Costs for vehicles with more than 15 passengers are listed below under Organizations and Businesses.

Admits the passholder and up to 15 passengers in the same private (non-commercial) vehicle. It expires one week from the date of purchase. For private vehicles, this entrance pass is required for overnight camping. A 1-day entrance pass is available for $10 per vehicle. 1-day entrance passes expire at midnight on the date of purchase and are not valid for overnight camping.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Malaquite Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Padre Island Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

Admits the passholder and passenger of one motorcycle. It expires one week from the date of purchase. For motorcyclists, this entrance pass is required for overnight camping. A 1-day entrance pass is available for $5 per motorcycle. 1-day entrance passes expire at midnight on the date of purchase and are not valid for overnight camping.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Malaquite Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Padre Island Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

For Individuals without a Vehicle

If you enter the park on a bicycle or on foot and are at least 16 years old, you need your own entrance pass. Children under the age of 16 don't need an entrance pass.

Admits one individual bicyclist, hiker, or pedestrian visiting the facility without a private vehicle. An individual pass is not required for visitors aged 15 and under. It expires one week from the date of purchase. For an individual, this entrance pass is required for overnight camping. A 1-day entrance pass is available for $5 per person. 1-day entrance passes expire at midnight on the date of purchase and are not valid for overnight camping.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Malaquite Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Padre Island Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

For Organizations & Businesses

Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. The entry fees of commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicles that can carry seven or more passengers regardless of the actual number of passengers.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Padre Island Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. The entry fees of commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicles that can carry seven or more passengers regardless of the actual number of passengers.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Padre Island Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. The entry fees of commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicles that can carry seven or more passengers regardless of the actual number of passengers.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Padre Island Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. The entry fees of commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicles that can carry seven or more passengers regardless of the actual number of passengers.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Padre Island Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

Non-commercial groups traveling in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 persons or more are charged per person. This entrance pass is valid for one week from the date of purchase. Fees will not exceed the commercial fee for the same-sized vehicle. Youth 15 and younger are free. Individuals or families with any valid Annual or Lifetime pass may use their pass for entry.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Padre Island Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

Annual Entrance - Park

Annual Entrance - Park

$45.00

Admits the passholder and up to 15 passengers in the same private (non-commercial) vehicle or motorcycle. It expires one year from the month of purchase.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Malaquite Visitor Center

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Padre Island Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

A stack of all six versions of the America the Beautiful Pass

Covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by

  • National Park Service
  • US Fish & Wildlife Service
  • US Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • US Army of Corps of Engineers

Depending on the type of entrance fee charged at a site, covers
One private vehicle fee
or
Four per person fees

Type Available to Price
Annual Pass Everyone $80.00
Senior Annual Pass US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old $20.00
Senior Lifetime Pass US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old $80.00
Military Annual Pass Current US military and dependents Free
Military Lifetime Pass Gold Star Family members and veterans Free
Access Pass US citizens and permanent residents with permanent disability Free
4th Grade Pass US 4th graders Free
Volunteer Pass Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours Free

America the Beautiful Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Passholders must show valid photo identification (ID) with each pass.

How to Get an America the Beautiful Pass

In Person (Recommended)

Passes can be purchased or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites.

Purchase and pickup locations

Order Online, Receive by Mail

To receive your pass by mail, order online at the USGS Online Store . Online orders are for physical passes, not digital passes, and may take up to three weeks to be processed and delivered. Order receipts may not be used in place of a physical pass. We recommend ordering at least three weeks in advance of your visit, or picking up a pass in person instead.

2024 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:

 

Boat Ramp Fees

Recreational users of the Bird Island Basin Boat Ramp and/or the Bird Island Basin Boat Ramp Parking Area are required to pay an additional recreation use fee. Please note that this fee is in addition to the main park entrance fee.

One Day Pass (expires at midnight)

$5.00 per vehicle Buy Pass
$2.50 per vehicle for valid Access ♿ or Senior Pass Holders

Annual Pass (valid one year from the month of purchase)

$30.00 per vehicle Buy Pass
$15.00 per vehicle for valid Access ♿ or Senior Pass Holders

Vehicle and/or trailer parking reservations are not accepted, and parking spots are available on a first come, first served basis only. Overflow vehicle and/or trailer parking is available at Malaquite Visitor Center.

 

 

Camping Fees

There are two developed campgrounds within the park, as well as opportunities for dispersed beach camping. Reservations are not accepted, and sites are available on a first come, first served basis only. All visitors camping in the park must have a 7-Day, Annual, or Lifetime park entrance pass that is valid during the dates of their stay.

Malaquite Campground

Malaquite Campground is located on the main park road (Park Road 22), 3.2 miles south of the park entrance station.

Regular Site (No hookups)

$14.00 per night
$7.00 per night for valid Access ♿ or Senior Pass Holders

Bird Island Basin Campground

Bird Island Basin Campground is located on Bird Island Basin Road, 0.8 miles south of the park entrance station.

Regular Site (No hookups)

$8.00 per night
$4.00 per night for valid Access ♿ or Senior Pass Holders

Dispersed Beach Camping

Dispersed beach camping is allowed on North Beach, South Beach, and at Yarborough Pass. The fee for dispersed beach camping is included with your valid 7-Day, Annual, or Lifetime park entrance pass.

 

Academic Fee Waivers

National Park Service regulations allow school groups and other bona fide national and international academic institutions to obtain a waiver for park entrance fees, provided that the visit is for educational or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities the group proposes to use support those purposes. Learn more about Academic Fee Waivers.

 

Commercial Use Authorization

A Commercial Use Authorization is a business permit with the National Park Service. It authorizes you to conduct commercial activities and to provide specific visitor services within a national park. Lean more about Commercial Use Authorizations.

 

Special Use Permits

Most special events and activities held in the park require a Special Use Permit issued only after the National Park Service determines that the activity will not cause degradation of the park's resources or values, visitor experiences, or the purpose for which the park was established. Learn more about Special Use Permits.

 
A brown sign with the NPS arrowhead logo with the words US Fee Area

Padre Island National Seashore participates in the congressionally authorized Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Under this program, parks keep 80% of all fees collected; the remaining 20% is deposited in a special account to be used in parks where fees are not collected. Funds generated by the fees are used to accomplish projects the parks have been unable to fund through annual Congressional allocations. Entrance fees help support projects in the park to improve the experience for visitors.


Last updated: August 3, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 181300
Corpus Christi, TX 78480

Phone:

(361) 949-8068
Malaquite Visitor Center information line.

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