"Home to some of the best beaches in Texas, Padre Island has the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world, much of which is protected by the underrated Padre Island National Seashore. The park only has one vehicle entrance and a few miles of paved roads, meaning the shores here are quiet and crowd-free. All the better to appreciate the site's wildlife populations, including 380 bird species and baby sea turtles hatching along the coast. While you can set up an umbrella on one of the beaches here and leave whenever you like, we recommend bringing a tent and camping directly on the sand for a few dollars per night." - Caitlin Morton