| Padre Island National Seashore | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 View of the Gulf of Mexico and the dunes | |
   | |
| Location | Padre Island, Texas, United States |
| Nearest city | Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Coordinates | 26°59′04″N 97°22′50″W / 26.98444°N 97.38056°W |
| Area | 130,434 acres (527.85 km2) |
| Established | September 28, 1962 |
| Visitors | 650,000 (in 2015) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Padre Island National Seashore |
Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) is a national seashore administered by the National Park Service, located on Padre Island off the coast of South Texas, USA. In contrast to South Padre Island, known for its beaches and vacationing college students, PINS is located on the north end of Padre Island and consists of a long beach where nature is preserved.
Most of the park is primitive, but camping is available, and most of the beach is only accessible to four-wheel-drive vehicles. All but four miles is open to vehicle traffic. PAIS is the fourth designated national seashore in the United States.[1]
Padre Island is the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. The national seashore is 70 miles (110 km) long with 65.5 miles (105.4 km) of Gulf beach. PAIS hosts a variety of pristine beach, dune, and tidal flat environments,[2] including the Laguna Madre on its west coast, a famous spot for windsurfing. It is located in parts of Kleberg, Kenedy, and Willacy counties, with Kenedy County having the majority of its land area.
- ^ David Sikes of Corpus Christi Caller-Times, "Padre Island seashore marks 50th", Laredo Morning Times, December 3, 2012, p. 3A
- ^ "Geological Wonders". National Park Service website. Archived from the original on 2006-10-05. Retrieved 2006-06-25.