Padre Island NS – South Beach

At a glance

Visual character

“The wild southern reach of Padre Island beyond the 5-mile paved road — undeveloped Gulf beach accessible only by 4WD on packed sand. Sea turtle nesting, Gulf surf, and absolute isolation 60 miles from any road.”

About

The South Beach section of Padre Island National Seashore — beyond the paved 5-mile access road — offers some of the most extreme coastal isolation available on the US Gulf Coast. With 4WD vehicles required for beach driving, the approximately 65 miles of accessible shoreline beyond the pavement sees only a handful of other vehicles on any given day. This raw, windswept Gulf Coast environment provides dramatic Atlantic-scale surf, beach wash zones for low-angle cinematography, and the genuine sense of an undiscovered coastline. Kemp's ridley sea turtles nest here from April through August — one of the most endangered sea turtle species in the world. Nighttime filming restrictions apply during nesting season. An ORV permit (in addition to the commercial filming permit) is required for beach driving. This is a location for committed, well-equipped productions seeking Gulf Coast wilderness that most filmmakers never see.

Where you'll be