Mustang Island State Park, Mustang Island, Texas - Port Aransas, TX - Southern Island off the Lone Star State Holds Wildlife Preserve on the Gulf of Mexico

Mustang Island State Park, Mustang Island, Texas is located in Nueces County at the Southeast tip of Texas just North of South Padre Island. It is situated between Corpus Christi Bay on its west side and the Gulf of Mexico to its east. The Park is composed of 3,954 acres and is just south of Port Aransas. It has been open to the public since 1979.

Mustang Island State Park, Mustang Island, Texas, is a park on a barrier island that depends on sand dunes and sand migration. The average dunes are 15-20 ft. tall although some reach up to an additional 15 ft of elevation thanks to well established vegetation that limits erosion.

A variety of rodents and small mammals inhabit the park as well as coyotes. More than 500 species of fish are found in the warm gulf waters off the island.

Activities allowed at this State Park include picnicking, mountain biking and hiking. Upon request interpretative ecological tours are carried out.

There are 5 miles of open beach for swimming, surfing, kayaking and other water sports. Stingrays can sometimes populate the shallow waters so entering for a swim should be done cautiously.

The park is also especially good for bird watching during the spring and fall avian migrations. Among the permanent bird residents are hawks, gulls and other coastal fowl.

48 Campsites located near the park office have water, electricity and access to showers and restrooms. The campsites are 50-75 yards from the ocean, separated from the beach by dunes. There is a limit of 8 people per campsite. There are fire pits at each of the campsites.

The area of the park that is open only during the day has a large parking facility, showers for rinsing off the sea water and toilets.

There is an undesignated campground to the south which does not have the conveniences of the main campground. There is room there for 300 camping set ups.

The Park is open 7 days a week throughout the year.

European knowledge of the existence of the island where the park is found dates back to early in the 16th Century when Alonso Alvarez de Pineda mapped the Gulf for the Spanish Crown. The Karankawa People (that are now extinct) already inhabited the island and the area that is now the park at that time.

The horses brought to the Island by the Spanish in the 1800's led to the name "Wild Horses'' and later "Mustang'' Island, the same name was naturally take for the park.

There is a fee for entry into Mustang Island State Park, Mustang Island, Texas, for anyone above the age of 12 years. The park gate is open from 7 AM to 10 PM.

Three park paddling trails offer a total of 20 miles of exploration throughout the natural areas of the park. Fishing along these trails has been known to yield catches of flounder, redfish and spotted sea trout, among other fish.