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Plan Your Visit
Key Information
Choosing an Entrance PassDo 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. 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.
Entrance PassesThe 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 VehiclesIf 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
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
For Individuals without a VehicleIf 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
For Organizations & BusinessesPass 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
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
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
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
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
 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
America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
Covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by
Depending on the type of entrance fee charged at a site, covers
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 PassIn Person (Recommended)Passes can be purchased or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites. Order Online, Receive by MailTo 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. 2025 Free Entrance Days in the National ParksCome 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 FeesRecreational 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 Annual Pass (valid one year from the month of purchase)$30.00 per vehicle Buy Pass 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. Visit Recreation.gov toBuy A Boat Ramp PassCamping FeesThere 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 CampgroundMalaquite 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 Bird Island Basin CampgroundBird 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 Dispersed Beach CampingDispersed 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 WaiversNational 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 AuthorizationA 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 PermitsMost 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. 
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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Last updated: August 3, 2024