Padre Island

Located in Kleberg County on the Gulf of Mexico coast, this access point provides boat launch opportunities at Padre Island National Seashore. The site is managed by the National Park Service and protects 66 miles of pristine coastline along one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the U.S. Kayakers and canoeists can launch into the Gulf of Mexico from this area, making it ideal for open water paddling and exploration of the barrier island ecosystem.

This is a great base for exploring both the Gulf and Laguna Madre. Two established campgrounds are nearby—Malaquite Campground and Bird Island Basin Campground—making it convenient for multi-day paddling trips. Note that launching into the Gulf is permitted throughout the area except directly in front of the Malaquite Visitor Center. If you're interested in paddling Laguna Madre instead, launch options are more limited, so plan accordingly.