Park Operating Hours

The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Malaquite Visitor Center is open daily, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but is closed on Christmas Day.

Public Transportation

There is no regularly scheduled public or commercial transportation to the park.  The nearest major airport, Corpus Christi International Airport, is approximately 43 miles away.

The National Seashore is located southeast of the city of Corpus Christi, Texas. Visitors to the area should head east through the city on Highway 358. After crossing the JFK Causeway onto Padre Island, Highway 358 changes into Park Road 22. Continue about 13 miles south on Park Road 22. The physical address for Malaquite Visitor Center is 20402 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, TX 78418.

The National Seashore is located on North Padre Island. South Padre Island is approximately another three hours south via highway 77. For information on South Padre Island, call 800.343.2368 or visit their website at www.sopadre.com.

For more information, please follow the links at the top of the page to learn more about the National Seashore, or follow the links below for more information on the local area:

Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau

Click here to download and print a copy of the Corpus Christi visitor's guide.

Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program

Driving in the Park

No driving is permitted in the dunes, grasslands, or mudflats because they are extremely fragile and important natural resources that sustain a wide diversity of life. Private ATVs are therefore not permitted anywhere in the park.

Certain areas of the park may occasionally be closed due to weather conditions (flooding, unusually high tides, etc.).  If you are planning a trip down island, please call ahead or send an e-mail shortly before your departure to double-check on driving conditions.  Click here to read some suggestions for driving down island on the beach.