11 Best Corpus Christi Beaches [for 2023]
Located along the Texas Gulf Coast, Corpus Christi is known for its spectacular beaches and has been attracting visitors for many years. Corpus Christi is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Texas. If you are looking for beautiful and best beaches, then Corpus Christi beach can be a good option.
And you’ll have miles of sandy beaches to choose from, from calm waters to great surfing spots that have something for every beach lover. There are also some great beach spots for visitors to enjoy in Corpus Christi that offer a range of activities for visitors to enjoy. Some beaches in Corpus Christi are considered great for families while some offer much-needed privacy making it an even better option.
And if you like horse riding then some even have horse riding, which you can enjoy. Corpus Christi Beach in Texas is the perfect place to enjoy the pristine natural environment and scenery. Take a look at our list of the top beaches in Corpus Christi and our pick of the best beaches.
1. Whitecap Beach
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Whitecap Beach is one of the best beach destinations in Corpus Christi to enjoy the warm sun. As the name suggests, it is a beautiful beach with pristine white sand. One can enjoy picnics during the afternoon at this secluded beach. The beach can be a fun beach to enjoy outdoor activities.
Visitors can enjoy walking or biking at Whitecap Beach and visitors can plan an afternoon excursion to enjoy the views of this beach. It is quite common for groups of people who drive on the sand and gather in a block party fashion in a natural setting as they enjoy the surf, sand, and scenery making it an even better option.
Visitors need a parking permit if they want to take their car to the beach. Overnight camping is allowed here and visitors can also enjoy a horse ride during the intensely colorful sunset at Whitecap Beach.
2. Padre Island National Seashore
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
Padre Island National Seashore in Corpus Christi is the perfect place to enjoy the pristine natural environment and scenery. It is also the longest stretch of an undeveloped barrier island in the world, stretching for about 66 miles.
One can enjoy amazing swimming here and also camp here. This beach is very wide and clean too. It can be a wonderful experience to observe the natural habitat of sand dunes, tidal ats, and prairie on the beach that is protected by the National Park Service. Padre Island National Seashore is a wonderful place to nd unique shells and other items.
Participating in sea turtle hatchling releases is a popular activity at this beach. There is a nesting ground for Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, and it is open to the public from June to August. Bird watching can also be enjoyed here as it is a haven for over 380 bird species that are either native or migrating during spring and fall.
3. North Beach
Photo by Ant Rozetsky on Unsplash
North Beach is one of the best beaches in Corpus Christi and is located about 1 mile north of both the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington. North Beach is located just off Highway 35, so it is conveniently accessible from most parts of the city and enjoys a 1.5-mile beach.
The Boardwalk at North Beach is the perfect place to take a walk along the water and enjoy the beautiful views and also enjoy biking, making it one of the best beaches in Corpus Christi.
Its comfortable soft sands keep you relaxed and you can enjoy the local seafood here or go fishing on your own at one of the piers there are also public restrooms available. There is no dearth of things to do at this beach.
A short walk from North Beach is the Texas State Aquarium, where you’ll nd huge tanks of sharks and other fish. North Beach can be a great option for a holiday.
4. Malaquite Beach
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash
Malaquite Beach is located approximately 40 minutes from Corpus Christi and is a part of Padre Island National Seashore. Malaquite Beach is considered to be one of the cleanest beaches and the Malaquit Pavilion and Visitor Center can be a good place to start, as it will have the seashore and all the important information about the sea and wildlife.
Malaquite Beach is quiet, making it one of the best swimming beaches and a great place for surfing. Picnic tables can also be enjoyed at Malaquit Beach and there are restrooms and showers which make it great for a fun family and friends outing.
Here visitors can also find mussels and starfish that are found washed up in the sand on the shoreline. Being wide and sandy, Malaquit Beach offers plenty of space even on crowded days, making it a popular beach. Malaquite Beach can be a great option for enjoying the water.
5. McGee Beach
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
Located in the heart of downtown, the calm waters of McGee Beach make it one of the perfect family spots. McGee Beach offers visitors comfortable rental umbrellas, chairs, and cabanas, and for some fun rentals also offers jet skis, pedal boats, and Surrey bicycle rentals, making it an even better option.
Fishing can also be enjoyed on the beach. There are several comfortable hotels near McGee Beach where you can stay and enjoy the beautiful bay views. McGee Beach is considered to be one of the best swimming beaches in Corpus Christi for kids as the waters are shallow and calm which is why this beach is considered a great place to spend a full day with family.
And there are also beachfront playgrounds where children can enjoy games as well. There are several public toilets and aquatic activities available at McGee Beach which makes it a great place to enjoy a day out.
6. Mustang Island State Park
Photo by Wendy Wright on Unsplash
Mustang Island State Park is considered one of the best family beaches in Corpus Christi, with over 5 miles of coastline. Here visitors can enjoy driving their vehicles on the beach and are also allowed to spend the night here which makes it even better. This beach has hiking trails where visitors can enjoy hiking and there are also fishing piers where visitors can enjoy fishing.
If you want to stay the night at this lovely beach, then there are many water and electric camps available where you can enjoy your stay. It can also be a good place for bird-watching enthusiasts as here sometimes, you can enjoy the sight of migratory birds twice a year in spring and autumn. Visitors are required to pay a small $5 entrance fee to enter Mustang Island State Park, which helps keep the park clean and operating throughout the year.
7. Padre Balli Surf Park
Photo by James Park on Unsplash
Padre Balli Surf Park is one of the closest beaches to Corpus Christi, with a one-stop shop for activities the whole family can enjoy. This beach is great to spend a day in and the place is great for kids as there are no vehicles on this beach which makes it even more spectacular. You will nd many restaurants around the beach where you can enjoy delicious food.
Several public toilets and showers are also available at the headquarters. This beach is a very popular camping site because of the water and electric campsites and entry to the beach is free, but you need a parking permit to park your vehicle on the beach. Here you will also nd cabanas and picnic tables that visitors can enjoy. However, here they are available on a first-to-come, first-served basis.
8. Michael J. Ellis Beach
Photo by Alejandro Piñero Amerio on Unsplash
Considered one of the best beaches in Corpus Christi by Michael J. Ellis, the beach is located about 1 mile from the Padre Island Seawall. The beach is a popular beach spot for families. Both showers and restrooms are available at this beach which makes this option a convenient choice for families. You can enjoy sunbathing and relaxing on this sea.
The beach gives you lots of places to play. And vehicular traffic is closed here, making it a great, safe option. There are fun seasonal vendors around the beach selling food and drinks from where you too can buy something to enjoy the day. This beach is also a great option for swimming and surfing with lifeguards on the beach to ensure the safety of the visitors. If you love biking on the beach, you can also take your bike for a sunset ride, hence it is considered one of the best beaches in Corpus Christi.
9. Port Aransas Beach
Photo by Natalie Rhea on Unsplash
Port Aransas Beach is known for its beauty but is not part of Corpus Christi yet it is just a short drive from the city. The beach is extremely beautiful and definitely worth the drive. Port Aransas Beach is located across the bay and is extremely beautiful which offers beach activities and facilities similar to Corpus Christi beaches which makes it even more spectacular.
This beach is open to visitors and is spacious too. There are also many local resorts in Port Aransas which makes it even better. There is a lifeguard on site which is why it is one of the wonderful beach destinations for families with kids. There are also some free parking lots here as well as some that require a permit. At the beach, you need a permit to light a small campfire.
10. North Packery Beach
Photo by petra z on Unsplash
North Packery Beach is known locally as JP Luby Surf Park. This beach offers a lot to enjoy like surfing, jet-skiing, kiteboarding, wakeboarding, and much more. Water equipment rentals are available on-site.
This beach is filled with visitors and locals all year round, especially During the spring and summer holidays. This Corpus Christi beach is considered very popular for surfers and is also one of the cleanest beaches.
This beach can be a perfect place to have fun with your friends. Here you can enjoy sunbathing and taking a walk here or if you like fishing, you can also enjoy fishing. You can enjoy swimming in a few different areas without being bothered by the kiteboarders, and taking into account that lifeguards are on duty make it an even better option.
11. Padre Island Seawall Beach
Photo by Jennifer Ranicki on Unsplash
Padre Island Seawall Beach is one of the closest beaches to Corpus Christi which extends from Whitecap Beach to South Packery Beach. This beach does not allow vehicular traffic, making it a great option for families.
This beach is a great place to build sand castles or play and it is also considered a good place for biking and rollerblading if you are close to the water as the sea wall is about 14 feet above the water. And it also offers spectacular expansive and beautiful views of the bay which makes for a wonderful choice. You can also park your vehicle nearby for free, however, parking on the beach requires a parking permit which can be purchased online or in person.