Converted school buses are parked at Bird Island Basin Campgound.
Photo: NPS photo
About
Bird Island Basin lies along Laguna Madre with easy access for fishing, birding, windsurfing, and kayaking. There are 35 RV and tent sites and 10 additional tent-only sites. All sites are side by side on gravel. The tent-only sites are walk up to a sand flat. This area is also for day use activities. Vault toilets are available at the north and south ends with day use areas in between.
Campsites
Location
Padre Island National Seashore
20420 Park Road 22
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
Fees
Hours
Bird Island Basin Campground is open year-round, first-come, first-served. Check-in time is 1 pm, check-out time is 12 pm. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am.
Reservations
Reservations are not accepted. All sites are first-come, first-served.
Directions
From the park entrance station, travel south on Park Road 22 for 0.8 miles (1.2 km). Turn right on Bird Island Basin Road. Travel 1.4 miles (2.2 km) to the campground. Bird Island Basin Campground is located 4.4 miles (7 km) northwest of the Malaquite Visitor Center.
Weather
Year-round, wind speed ranges from 5-25 miles per hour. Relative humidity seldom drops below 70%, especially in summer. Padre Island has long, hot summers and short, mild winters. Winter includes occasional strong cold fronts and gale force winds. Most rain falls near the beginning and end of hurricane season (Jun 1 - Nov 30). Average seasonal temperatures (Fahrenheit): Spring - high 70s-80s, low 50s-60s; Summer - high mid-90s, low 70s; Fall - high 70s-80s, low 50s-60s; Winter - high 50s-70s, low 30s-40s.
Accessibility
See the ADA Information for campground and site descriptions. Vault toilets at both ends of the campground and day use area are accessible via a ramp but there is no designated accessible parking.
None available
Do not expect cellular reception however there are limited areas where it might be available.
There are no charcoal grills or campfire rings. Wood burning fires are not allowed. You are permitted to use a personal propane or gas grill that can be shut off are allowed.
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Bird Island Basin has 34 primitive designated sites for RV or tent camping plus and an additional tent camping area.
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The Park Store sells bags of ice, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray and other toiletries at the visitor center daily, 9 am to 5 pm. There is a fresh water fill station and a dump station on the road to Malaquite Campground.
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Bird Island Basin Campground does not have any designated accessible campsites. All sites are flat and gravel covered. Visitors have the choice to pull their vehicle in forward or back in up to a concrete parking stop. On the other side of the parking stop is a picnic table which may not be on level ground. It is next to Laguna Madre separated by a line of riprap—rocks with sharp edges and wood that secure the shore. There is no boardwalk or level surface for reaching the water. Access to the water may be reached from the tent camping and day use parking area at the north end of the campground. This requires walking across a packed sand are where the surface changes depending on water flow and whether conditions. Vault toilets at both ends of the campground and day use area are accessible via a ramp but there is no designated accessible parking at either toilet.
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Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Primitive Camping Areas