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Padre Island National SeashoreSunrise over the Gulf of Mexico
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Padre Island National Seashore
Permits
 

The National Seashore issues four types of permits:

Camping permit
North and South Beach: No Fee

Malaquite Campground: $8.00/night or $4.00 with a Golden Age/Access Pass

Bird Island Basin: $5.00/night or $2.50 with a Golden Age/Access Pass

Details:
Permits are required for camping in the park and are available at Malaquite Campground, Bird Island Basin, and at South Beach. They are available for 14-day increments throughout the park, totaling no more 56 days. After the 14-day permit has expired, campers must not camp in the park for 48 hours before requesting another permit.

Commercial Use Authorization

$50.00 application fee  

$200.00 annual fee

Details:                                                  

If you are interested in providing specific visitor services in the park, you are required to have a Commercial Use Authorization. Please follow the link or call the Ranger Activities Assistant's Office at 361.949.9239, Extension 33, for more information and an application.

NPS Scientific Research and Collecting Permit
No Fee

Details:
The permit application can be found at http://science.nature.nps.gov/research. This permit is required for scientific activities pertaining to natural resources or social science studies in National Park System areas that involve fieldwork, specimen collection, and/or have the potential to disturb resources or visitors.

Special Use Permit
$50 (minimum) fee for one day

Details:
A special use permit is required for all groups of over 25 people not participating in an educational program or a beach clean-up. Activities, for which a special use permit is issued, cannot interfere with the normal flow of visitor use and cannot damage park resources or facilities. The permittee is liable for any overtime incurred by the park to deal with the permittee or damage caused by the permittee. The final decision whether to issue a special use permit is left to the discretion of the park superintendent.

White-tailed buck (odocoileus virginianus)  

Did You Know?
The white-tailed deer on the island are not considered the island's largest native mammal, because they are believed to come across the Laguna Madre from the mainland? Coyotes are considered the island's largest native mammal.
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Last Updated: March 26, 2009 at 16:51 EST