Michael J. Ellis Beach & Seawall

You certainly can! If you're looking to take advantage of the free, paved parking, you can access the Windward Parking Lot from Windward Dr off Whitecap Blvd.

Permit stickers are $12 and available year-round at:

• Corpus Christi Visitor Information Center
• Stripes convenience stores (Padre Island, Flour Bluff, and select stores in central Corpus Christi)
• Circle K convenience store (Padre Island and Flour Bluff)
• H-E-B grocery stores (Aransas Pass, Corpus Christi, Calallen, Portland, and Rockport)
• Corpus Christi City Hall – Central Cashiering
• Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi – ITT Department
• Nueces County Padre Balli Park Headquarters Office
• Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (University Services)
• Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Beach Operations Office

For more about beach parking permits, click here.

All beaches in Corpus Christi are dog friendly, but they must be on a leash or under verbal command. Our pet-friendly beaches welcome pets and dogs of all shapes and sizes!

Michael J. Ellis Beach & Seawall is off-limits to dogs on all major holidays. Redirect your pups to Padre Balli Park during these times!

Yes! There are mobile lifeguards that patrol Michael J. Ellis Beach. Check out the Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department’s full lifeguard schedule for more details on lifeguard coverage and mobile patrol throughout the year. 

The phone number for the Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Beach Operations Office is (361) 826-3469.

If there is an emergency, please call 911.

Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department offers free use of Beach Wheelchairs for persons with disabilities. These chairs allow you to move about on the sand and into the surf. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis while lifeguards are on duty.

Beach Wheelchairs must be reserved by phone Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. Please call (361) 826-3469 to inquire about availability.

Pick up a complimentary trash bag or two from the Visitor Information Center downtown or from the blue boxes that are located as you come onto the beach at all access roads. These bags are cleverly designed so they leave sand behind and won’t catch the wind and fly off down the beach. Trash cans can be found at every beach entrance and all along the beach. Thanks for doing your part to leave our beaches better for the next visitor!

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Yes! Camping and campfires are allowed on Michael J, Ellis Beach, but be sure to follow these general rules:

• No larger than 3’ x 3’ x 3’ with no residue left
• Campfires must be fully extinguished and any holes must be filled
• Camping is prohibited in front of condos and hotels
• Camping is allowed for 3 days & nights consecutively, but no more than 6 days within a month
• No pallets or building material allowed. Wood pallets and building material used in construction are often coated in toxic chemicals that are not meant to be burned in campfires. They also may contain hardware such as nails or screws which could become dangerous to others or wildlife.

Check out all of our hot tips for camping here!