Padre Island National Seashore

Or call (361) 949-8068 or email pais_visitor_center@nps.gov for more information.

• Jennifer
  Jan 19, 2024
  Dog friendly beach camping

  Second time camping here with our pup. It is a great spot. There is a lot of trash that washes up on the beach so it is a good idea to pick up the free yellow garbage bags at the visitor's center and cleaning up a bit if you are going to camp so your dog doesn't step on something sharp. Also there are coyotes that get decently close and rattlesnakes in the dunes. We didn't have any problems but we were pretty vigilant about the coyotes after dark.

• Stephen
  Jul 29, 2023
  great dog area

  Theres a dog friendly area to the north of the Malaquite Beach Center, and the driving area to the south of the center also welcome to dogs. Almost every campsite and family group we drove past had a dog. Just keep your pets leashed at all times and keep them out of the dunes, for their safety and that of the wildlife (Rattlesnakes, coyotes, deer, ticks, fleas). Be sure to grab a yellow trashbag from outside of the visitor center gift shop and pick up after your animals

• Ms V
  Jul 29, 2021
  Fun recreational area

  Spent the day enjoying the seashore and swimming with our dog. They have a path down to beach access from parking lot for dogs. Included showers with a special dog bathing area too. Nice bathrooms - vending machines and large garbage cans to keep the beach nice and clean. Lots of other areas you can drive your vehicle right into beach or hike trails. Great recreational area for us all. Only one thing to watch out for are nasty things called sand burs that got into our dogs fur from getting too close to these bushes. They are hard to get out and feel like needles — just awful! Next time we will make sure he keeps his distance from the grasses near paths.

• Isabel
  Jul 7, 2019
  Dogs Allowed On Beach In Certain Areas

  Yes, the beach does have dog friendly areas, understandably not right along the visitor areas. Look for signs and ask rangers. We always drive down a ways and never have any problems. Nice area to get the dog in the water for some beach time.

• Dean
  More than a year ago
  Confusing dog signs

  No dogs allowed signs are all over the visitors center and surrounding deck so you take you dog around the center and down to the beach. Once at the beach on the right side you again see No dogs allowed. To the left is a "dog access" sign. When I asked the park ranger she said you can pass through the "no dogs allowed" area with your dog but you should not stay in that area with your dog. Nice to know. So poor signage and a bit awkward, but now you know.

• J S
  More than a year ago
  No off-leash areas

  It's a great park but dogs must be on leashes at all times and there are a couple of areas restricted to no dogs.

We dug up 2 pictures of dogs at Padre Island National Seashore.

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