This is the beach we visit when in Corpus. Last visit was July 4th weekend. Convenient as you can…read morepark your car on the shore making it easy to unload and pack it in when you're ready. We typically park our car in reverse so we can set up the chairs/cooler out in front of the trunk facing the ocean. Makes for easy access to the shore. Everyone is respectable with cleanliness and ensuring trash/debris are thrown in the garbage cans and not littering. We always meet some friendly people here where we share some beverages and beach space with. Quite a community here. Don't forget your beach parking permit; you can purchase it when you enter ($12 for the year).

We came here on a Saturday in mid May and while there were lots of cars and people, it didn't feel…read morethat crowded and everyone was friendly and polite. We were able to set up our canopy and enjoy our 4 yo playing in the sand and in the shallow waters. It was nice because the waves aren't too crazy and it's actually very shallow for a while. The beach parking permit ($12) also could be purchased right in the front so you didn't need to stop by a gas station prior to coming. I would definitely recommend this beach and hope to come back again soon!

Cons: small, sand is a bit rough, a few feet out into the water is rocky…read more Pros: it's a beach downtown! Warm water. Clean and quiet. I'm on the hunt for a beach in mainland USA that is in an urban or downtown walkable area, has warm water, has ground level housing, and basically had everything I want right next to the beach. This is a very rare and difficult thing to find. Miami is all sky scrapers. Southern Cali the water is cold. Northern Cali it's even colder. The gulf has great water but it's often rural, swamp, or spring break. Pan handle is beautiful sand but not much city/urban areas by the water. So, enter Corpus Christi. Downtown, on the water, in the gulf. There are much better beaches if you drive out to the island. But if you want to be in the heart of town, McGee beach gives you a worthwhile option. It's a small little beach that isn't great. The beach itself is a bit lame I guess if you're comparing to proper beaches. The great benefit here is its right next to a park, basketball courts, Whataburger and lots of little businesses in walking area. I was there in the winter and it was very quiet. Just a few people walking here and there. It was first Friday so the night time bright crowds of young people and families. Look, the beach is just a tiny little section of sand and water. But given how unique and rare it is to find this combination of factors: beach, decent size town, downtown, marina, park, and food all in one area, I'm gonna give McGee a cool 4 stars. The vibe is very relaxing and would be perfect for a romantic walk at sunset or a morning bike ride.

My family spent the weekend here in Corpus and this beach is right outside the hotel we stayed at…read more Love how this beach is near downtown along with some food places (including food trucks) and can see all the boats towards the side. It was a cute little beach and didn't have many crowds thankfully so can enjoy it in peace. The sand wasn't too bad honestly though there was some trash along the shoreline which is unfortunate. When you do walk into the water there are shells and rocks that maybe hurt to walk in but once you pass that small section, you just feel nice soft sand on your feet. Just wear water shoes if needed. My nephew did find some little hermit crabs but they never bothered us and we're cool to look at. No issues with any animal thankfully. There are different types of birds flying around we saw including seagulls and a blue heron. If you decide to bring food be careful they will definitely try to get some. Overall it was fun experience. Not the best beach out there but still had fun.

We walked the beach front and the jettis along the park on a beautiful day, 71 degrees and mostly…read moresunny. It is a very nice park to explore the beach and Gulf. If you're looking for a lot of shell's, this isn't the park however they do have some shells. We didn't see any wildlife today (dolphins, turtles). If you like long walks on a beach, check this one out.

My family and I shared many great memories at Mustang Island State Park…read more My daughters finally got to share in the experience too back in June 2025. They loved how warm the water was! Camping isn't free to my knowledge, but day use fees are not applied in most stretches of the island. I'll never forget our last summer (June 2025) vacation day when I reminded my girls to try to remain calm and not thrash around if they see a shark. They boogie boarded and swam for a couple of hours. Then about 150 yards away, the fishermen reeled in a couple of juvenile sharks. They took pictures then released them properly back into the ocean. My family acted as though sharks were a new phenomenon. A star knocked off because I was just taken aback by how trashy Texans and tourists have gotten. It didn't seem this bad when I was much younger. I picked up a full trash bag's worth walking up and down our area alone. Let's do better... tell your group to pick up too. Wildlife deserves to search for food and shelter garbage free.

Lovely beach! There were a lot more jellyfish this year than I've seen in a while but you can…read moreeasily avoid them. Beautiful sunsets and calm evening waves...so peaceful.

I have to say I don't envy thr people who clean these beaches!…read morePeople are just nasty. We cleaned up the area ( mile marker 17) of the beach we were on. Cigarettes/beer can/soda bottle tops. We will be back for the clean up.

JP Luby Surf Park (aka North Packery Beach) is the beach directly behind the Lively Beach Resort…read moreoff Zahn Road & Hwy 361. If you are staying at Lively, this is your spot. The boardwalk from Lively empties right onto this beach between markers 204 and 205. If you aren't staying at Lively but you wanna get away from the crowds in Port A, Cinnamon Shore, or on North Padre Island out of Corpus Christi, you might wanna keep JP Luby as a backup option. It's well-maintained, clean, and generally as pleasant as Texas beaches can possibly be. You do need to pick up a permit for driving onto the beach, $12, easy to get at any convenience or grocery store in the area. The pass is good for the whole calendar year and all drivable beaches in the Port A - Corpus region from mile marker 0 to 62. Trucks or other 4WD high clearance vehicles are advised, but I did see a few less sporty options around. Take care to heed warning flags about surf conditions and the rip current. These are posted as you enter from Zahn Road, just as you pass the shower station and porto-johns. Once you get settled, you'll see everything from anglers to families on beach vacations to dare devils on surfboards, boogie boards, or kite surfing rigs. Our early October 2024 visit was easily one of my favorites from 30+ years of semi-annual trips to the Mustang / Padre Island area. We spent 3 days on this beach just watching the waves, the birds, and the happy visitors soaking up the last bit of summer paradise for the year. It was so calm, no loud stereos blasting, just folks out to enjoy Mother Nature and allow others to do the same. The adjacent North Packery Channel Jetty includes a long walkway that was packed with anglers at sunrise each morning we were there. From one fisherman I spoke with, red fish and trout were the goal at this time of year, with bait mullet easily caught by casting a net from the rocks. If you don't want to haul a bunch of chillax gear out to the beach, there are vendors who will provide setup/take-down of chairs, shade, campfires, and more for a fee. Some options to consider include Corpus Beach Rentals and 361 Blue Beach Concierge, but note that these vendors may close outside of "high season" dates.

The JP Luby Surf Park (also known as North Packery) is always a good time. Let me tell you about a…read moreday I had there... I spent Christmas in Port Aransas. It was probably the best Christmas ever. The only thing missing was I couldn't go surfing. A couple of days later, the sun came out and the wind switched to the south. and there was a bit of swell in the Gulf. That morning, the buoy report said 8' at 6 seconds with a SW wind at 12 mph. We loaded up the truck and headed down to Zahn Rd. It was a beautiful day. It was warm for December. It felt like Springtime. Not a cloud in the sky. The water was a beautiful, clear green. The waves were waist to chest high with good form. Nothing but really cool people at the beach that day. I caught countless fun waves for about four hours. I paddled back in for a water break. It was fun just sitting on the tailgate of my truck just watching everyone have a good time. People were surfing nice, clean waves. Some were fishing on the jetty. Boats were going out. Kids were playing. Dogs were running around. One guy was spearfishing by the jetty. Classic rock was blasting all day. The sounds of Santana, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix filled the air. So much fun. I paddled out again and road a few more waves until my back and shoulders couldn't take anymore. Some old friends were on the beach. I paddled back in and drank beers until the sun went down. That was a good day.

While on Padre Island you should stop at the National Seashore, very welcoming and easy access…read more The park staff was very friendly and helpful. You can walk for miles either north or south and we did on another wonderful weather day.

Big shout out to fellow Yelper Guy H for the recommendation. Padre Island National Seashore in…read moreCorpus Christi is a pristine coastal haven. With miles of untouched beaches, it's a haven for nature enthusiasts. We had to drive to this location which was only a 3-minute drive from our condo. Favorite spot on the Texas coast. Far and away one of the best beaches in my opinion. 66 miles of beach so I'll undoubtedly always find a moderately private spot to set up camp for the day. I wouldn't say it has white sand but not brown, and the water is clear. Restrooms are located at the front entrance and parking is permitted on the beach with a parking pass which can be picked up at the local convenience stores for $12 as of writing this review. A great spot for fishing, hanging with the pups as I did and just having a chill day.

Perfect beach day--especially for families! The beach was…read moreclean and peaceful, especially since we visited during the week. The water was clear enough to see our feet (definitely not Galveston!), and the shallow area stretched far out, making it ideal for kids to splash and play safely in knee-deep water. We loved having a palapa for shade--it kept us cool all day. We brought our own chairs, which worked out great. Another big plus: parking was just steps from the sand, so there was no long trek with gear. Lots of swim area and space to spread out. We'll definitely be back!

The beach crew is lazy and leaves trash all over the place. I don't understand why the navigation…read moredistrict spends money on them when all they do is hide and smoke marijuana.

Went over the memorial day weekend and upon arrival realize you couldn't park on the beach you pay…read more5.00 to local parking lots close by..You walk and find a place to set up. We had brought our canopy it was super windy so had to make adjustments, the tides were very choppy, alot of jellyfish coming up to shore so I didn't fully get to enjoy the water. I would recommend staying at the Doubletree and other hotels/motels that sit literally on the beach.

The water was so warm, it felt so nice as I'm used to chilly California beaches full of seaweed. No…read moreseaweed spotted, only a little white jellyfish that would swim by then float away. We didn't go too deep into the water in case the jellyfish had nearby friends. The sun was shining and the air was a bit humid but we enjoyed our time there. I appreciate how they have so many signs up describing the historical importance of North Beach. The Lexington is right next door and they have a gift shop with adorable stickers!

Came over to see the sunrise and this didn't disappoint. Easy access, and driving on the beach is…read moreamazing! San was light and fine, and there weren't too many people that early. Several families camping from the night before and people fishing.

One of my favorite beaches to chill with the family. We come here every summer or we go farther…read moredown to South Padre.

not worth the money at all. $25 overnight fee + $14 per night, and for that you get no hookups, no…read morewater, no dump station, no cell coverage, and cold showers. you can get four nights at a state campground for a similar price, and that'll have water + electric hookups and hot showers because we're in a first world country. the beach is real nice though

The perfect spot on the coast. Fishing, surfing, BBQing, camping, horse shoes, or whatever makes…read moreyou happy. The area is well maintained. The few people there are all cool. We had a great and memorable time there. Lots of great pics. Can't wait to go back. It's a truly special place. Check it out. Only leave footprints.