Just curious about places to go in TX. Would like to take the family out for a couple of days at a time for some light offroading/camping/exploring. Don't really know where to start looking. Thanks for any help guys.

Are you near Corpus? If so, start on the beach... preferable not a BUSY weekend. Mustang Island is good. Or, you can go south a little, and do the Padre Island National SeaShore. The SeaShore is less crowded, and the sand is softer.... I was stationed in CC for a few years... and it was nice being able to have a relatively remote spot, close to home... with 2 kids and a wife... it made testing of equipment, and the family a lot easier...

Chase

I've been a measly 12 miles down Padre Island, and about 5 of that was pretty much packed with locals fishing and some tourists. I had to turn back due to my heavy truck bogging down in the sand and not being prepared for a long trip down the island. My family and I will be taking another trip down there (or a few) when I can get my Toyota running and rigged out. Hopefully we will be doing more than a few trips.

Anyway, here's some info on the Padre Island National Seashore

http://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm - Main page
http://www.nps.gov/pais/photosmultimedia/Scenery.htm - Some pics

From the entrance, you have 60 miles of beach to explore. The caveats are in the rules. The beach near the water is, legally, a [sand] highway. Street legal vehicles are required. Also, you have to stick to the beach. There's tons of grasslands that are west of the beach, but you can't drive on them or up the big dunes west of the water. Preservation is the name of the game.

Personally and regardless of all of these rules, I think it will make for a great trip for us. The plan for us is to drive down as far as we can until evening, do some fishing, setup camp, and return the next day. If I had my druthers, I would make a pontoon system to get me to South Padre Island. That would be badass! :)

I live in Central TX (Bell county). I'll be looking forward to any input on other overland ideas for Texas and the surrounding states.

I've been a measly 12 miles down Padre Island, and about 5 of that was pretty much packed with locals fishing and some tourists. I had to turn back due to my heavy truck bogging down in the sand and not being prepared for a long trip down the island. My family and I will be taking another trip down there (or a few) when I can get my Toyota running and rigged out. Hopefully we will be doing more than a few trips.

Anyway, here's some info on the Padre Island National Seashore

http://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm - Main page
http://www.nps.gov/pais/photosmultimedia/Scenery.htm - Some pics

From the entrance, you have 60 miles of beach to explore. The caveats are in the rules. The beach near the water is, legally, a [sand] highway. Street legal vehicles are required. Also, you have to stick to the beach. There's tons of grasslands that are west of the beach, but you can't drive on them or up the big dunes west of the water. Preservation is the name of the game.

Personally and regardless of all of these rules, I think it will make for a great trip for us. The plan for us is to drive down as far as we can until evening, do some fishing, setup camp, and return the next day. If I had my druthers, I would make a pontoon system to get me to South Padre Island. That would be badass! :)

I live in Central TX (Bell county). I'll be looking forward to any input on other overland ideas for Texas and the surrounding states.

Having made the trip to the jetties a few times I can say that it is a fun trip though be careful not to get stuck in the buried sargassum. It will get covered up sometimes near the water line, then it rots and makes the sand very soft. If you find yourself sinking in it your best bet is to accelerate rapidly or you will be up to your axles in no time, there is no way to dig out as the sand is so soft it will continue to refill as fast as you dig. Can be real bad situation to be in if you only have one vehicle and the tide is coming in. (Been there done that) Also you should not count on fisherman to come to your rescue, they will help you and may even pull on you but they are not hardcore wheelers by any means and will not risk their equipment.

If you break or get stuck the rangers will not help pull you out, neither will the turtle patrol. They will call a tow service for you but you should know that the bill starts at about $1000 at the end of the pavement and can get up to 6-7000 real easy.

Your best bet is to have a couple of vehicles and air your tires down. I drive a PSD excursion and I usually run 15psi in my tires. It helps tremendously but will not prevent you from sinking in the rotting sargassum. Don't forget a shovel and straps.