Thinking about going to Port A the last weekend of the month, has anyone had any experiences camping on the beach? what to expect? are there public showers? Weather?

A lot of people camp out near the Horace Caldwell pier. I think you have to get a camping permit for there. There are coin operated showers up by the dunes. Further down the beach I think you can camp without a permit, but no showers nearby.

There are public showers closer to the south jetties and the pier. You can't miss them, they are next to the sand dunes. Actually, I think they charge a minimal amount but not 100% sure. The further south you go on the beach you will find rinse off areas by the beach access roads. Go a little further and you won't find anything other than some porta pots. I've seen a few trailer campers on the beach, some tents. Personally, I don't see how you can comfortably tent camp. Even if you went to the showers, by the time you got back to your tent, you would have sand on your feet and ankles. It would be hard to keep sand out of your sleeping bag in my opinion. I could handle it for a few days but no way my wife would deal with that. Other than hot, not much telling what the weather will do this far out. Could be windy, maybe not. Of course, any tropical disburance or storm that creeps up into the Gulf will be the biggest weather changer.

that kinda stuff didnt bother me when I was a young man but now at my age, everything bugs me camping in the summer and especially on the beach.......just saying.......

My son and I camped in tents the weekend before last on this beach. You need to check in with the county park station right on the dune area of the beach, even for the primitive beach camping and pay a $12/fee per night. Here is a link with more specific information: http://nuecesbeachparks.com/index_files/IB_Magee_Beach_Park.htm We were there on a Friday and Saturday with two tents with the car parked right next to them. The showers are 4 quarters for about 5 minutes. Wear flip flops in the showers. We enjoyed it but one mistake I made was not to setup an additional shade canopy in front of our tents. The sun is relentless and the tents are pretty warm during the day, so not a great shelter to get out of the sun. Put a small rug of some sort at the tent opening to try and help keep the sand out of the tent. Take plenty of ice. Look for the high tide line on the beach and don't set your campsite too close or within this area. campfires are permitted and enjoyable but plan it correctly with the breeze/tent location. There isn't much privacy as other campers will be within 20 feet of all sides of you (at least on the weekends). It was a lot of fun and within walking distance to some great fishing areas. I am already planning on doing it again in a few weeks.

You can pay for a camp site at the i.b. magee beach park...each site is only like $10-15 a night...with electric hook ups and water...we have tent camped there in the fall and spring...we usually get a condo when its super hot out. They give you a key to a shower at the site...much cleaner and larger than the beach showers...the showers close from 10am to 11 am for cleaning...you can use the showers any other time day or night...they also have a small laundry room available...it is very nice and a short walk to the beach !
San