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Mustang Island State Park
Mustang Island State Park offers beach camping directly on the Gulf of Mexico — one of the few places in Texas where you can pitch a tent or park an RV right on the sand. Five miles of pristine beach, excellent fishing, kayak trails through the bay, and world-class birding make it a top coastal destination.
98 campsitesGulf Coast3 hr 30 min from Austin$7/person entrance fee
Short answer
Mustang Island State Park campsites release on a rolling 5-month window at 8 a.m. Central. Popular dates sell out fast. If your dates are already taken, privately-owned cabins and vacation rentals around Port Aransas are bookable today.
Getting a site at Mustang Island State Park
Texas state parks release campsites on a rolling 5-month window at 8 a.m. Central, and Mustang Island State Park fills up fast for weekends and holidays. Popular dates can be gone within minutes of the window opening. If your dates are already taken, the surest way to lock in a place to stay is a cabin or vacation rental nearby.
Places to stay near Mustang Island State Park
Gulf beach cabins and coastal retreats await near pristine Gulf sands and bay trails.
See cabins & rentals near Port Aransas →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Prefer to try for a state park site? Book direct on ReserveAmerica →
Texas state parks don’t have live cancellation alerts yet — but most sold-out sites free up 1–2 weeks before the date. We’ll email you the booking playbook (exact release times, the cancellation window, how to pounce) and tell you first if live Texas alerts launch.
Get the Texas state-park booking playbook
Campsite Types
Water + Electric
$25/night*48 sites
Water, 50-amp electric; picnic table and shade shelterRV OKTent OK
Primitive Drive-up
$13/night*50 sites
No hookups - drive-up beach sites; restrooms 50 yards to 1.5 miles awayRV OKTent OK
Mustang Island State Park fills up fast — lock in a cabin nearby
Gulf beach cabins and coastal retreats await near pristine Gulf sands and bay trails.
See cabins & rentals near Mustang Island State Park →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Guide to Mustang Island State Park
Best Campsites
For Families:Book the water and electric sites first — they have hookups, picnic tables, shade shelters, and full restrooms with hot showers nearby
For Privacy:The primitive drive-up beach sites offer the most solitude — park right on the sand along miles of open beach
For RVs:The water and electric sites are the only ones with hookups; book early since they go fastest
When to Go
March through October. Spring break and summer are packed. Fall is ideal — warm water, fewer crowds, great fishing.
Tips
- →Beach primitive camping is first-come, first-served — arrive early
- →Bring sand stakes for your tent — regular stakes will not hold in sand
- →The paddling trail on the bay side is protected from Gulf waves
- →Port Aransas has great restaurants and fishing charters nearby
Highlights
Beach camping on the Gulf of Mexico5 miles of pristine beachPaddling trail on Corpus Christi BaySurf fishing and wade fishingWorld-class birdingAdjacent to Port Aransas
Mustang Island State Park — Frequently Asked
Is Mustang Island State Park hard to book?+
Yes. Mustang Island State Park is one of the more popular Texas state parks and fills up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. March through October. Spring break and summer are packed. Fall is ideal — warm water, fewer crowds, great fishing. If your dates are already full, book direct on ReserveAmerica the moment the 5-month window opens, or reserve a cabin or vacation rental nearby that you can book today.
How many campsites does Mustang Island State Park have?+
Mustang Island State Park has 98 campsites, including Water + Electric, Primitive Drive-up. Sites start at $13/night plus a $7/person entrance fee.
What is the entrance fee at Mustang Island State Park?+
The entrance fee at Mustang Island State Park is $7 per person per day. A Texas State Parks Pass ($70/year) waives entrance fees for you and all passengers in your vehicle.
How far in advance should I book Mustang Island State Park?+
Texas state parks open reservations exactly 5 months in advance, at 8 a.m. Central. For Mustang Island State Park, popular weekends can sell out within minutes of the window opening, so book the instant it opens. If your dates are already full, a cabin or vacation rental near Port Aransas is the quickest place to stay you can lock in today.
How can I get a last-minute campsite at Mustang Island State Park?+
Cancellations at Mustang Island State Park happen regularly, most often 1 to 3 weeks before the date, so it is worth checking ReserveAmerica directly for openings. If nothing is available for your dates, privately-owned cabins and vacation rentals near Port Aransas are bookable today as a backup.
Parks Near Mustang Island State Park
Planning Mustang Island State Park by month
What each month is like, when reservations open, and how hard it is to book.
Cabins & vacation rentals near Mustang Island State Park
Privately-owned cabins and rentals around Port Aransas are bookable today on Vrbo.
See cabins near Port Aransas →