Photo: Port A Vacation Co.
Miles of drive-on Gulf sand on Mustang Island
Port Aransas Beach
Port Aransas's main event — a wide, drive-on Gulf beach where you can park right at your spot. Permit required; bring it before you go.
The beach the whole town is built around
Port Aransas Beach runs for miles down the Gulf side of Mustang Island, and it is the reason most guests come. It is a classic Texas drive-on beach: with a beach parking permit you can take a vehicle right onto the hard-packed sand and set up camp beside it — chairs, umbrella, cooler and all. That is the rhythm of a Port A beach day, and it is why a golf cart or 4x4 makes the trip so much easier.
What to expect
The sand is wide and gently sloped, good for long walks, shelling after a front, and easy swimming. Numbered beach access roads drop you onto different stretches — some busier near town, quieter the farther south you go. Conditions shift with wind and tide, so seaweed and water clarity vary day to day. Lifeguard coverage is seasonal and limited to certain access points, so keep an eye on young swimmers.
