Kenedy County: Coast, Lagoon and History

Kenedy County combines an impressive coastal landscape with nature experiences and insights into the history of South Texas. The Padre Island National Seashore is particularly defining: It protects a 65.5-mile or 105-kilometer stretch of Padre Island in parts of Kenedy, Kleberg and Willacy Counties. Those planning a trip featuring beaches, a lagoon, wildlife viewing and regional history will find a wide variety of ways to spend the day here.

Beach, Lagoon and Coastal Landscape

On the side of Padre Island National Seashore facing the Gulf of America, more than 60 miles of sandy beach stretch along the coast. The landscape includes wind-swept dunes, grasslands, tidal flats shaped by the tides and warm coastal waters. On the western side of Padre Island lies Laguna Madre, one of six hypersaline lagoon or bay systems in the world. The shallow body of water is approximately 3.6 feet or 1.1 meters deep on average.

This landscape allows for various types of coastal days. Swimming and wading are permitted at North Beach, Malaquite Beach, South Beach and Bird Island Basin. Kayaking and canoeing are possible both in Laguna Madre and in the salt water of the Gulf of America. You can fish from the beach, Laguna Madre or a boat. Bird Island Basin is also home to the only boat ramp in Padre Island National Seashore.

Routes and Nature Experiences

For a drive along the wild coast, consider taking the beach route to Little Shell Beach, Big Shell Beach, Yarborough Pass and Mansfield Channel. The Grasslands Nature Trail offers a quieter contrast: The easy walking trail leads through the coastal prairie and is 0.75 miles or 1.2 kilometers long as a fully paved loop trail.

The nature around Sarita can also be explored in its own way. The Sarita section of the Los Ranchos de Tejas Loop follows Garcia Road to a marshland where Black-necked Stilt Herons breed. The loop also includes seasonal wetlands. Padre Island National Seashore is considered an important migratory bird area worldwide. Several releases of sea turtle hatchlings are open to the public free of charge each year; most take place between May and August and usually at daybreak.

History in Sarita

The Kenedy Ranch Museum of South Texas explores the Kenedy family's connections to cattle ranching, railroads, land development and oil production. In 2026, the museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The grounds of the Kenedy County Courthouse also feature a historic Kenedy County marker from 1936 at its original location. The marker records that the county was formed on April 2, 1921, from parts of Cameron, Willacy and Hidalgo Counties and named after Mifflin Kenedy.

Another historic destination is Novillo Line Camp, one of the last remaining historic structures in Padre Island National Seashore. A bunkhouse, cattle fences, a table and a dining area associated with the ranch workers and island residents have been preserved there. You can reach the camp by parking at a small pull-off on Park Road 22 opposite Bird Island Basin Road and then following an unpaved path.

Choose the Right Base for Your Trip

When looking for a vacation apartment or vacation home, it is worth first deciding on your preferred travel pace. For the museum, county marker and the landscape around Sarita, however, an itinerary with cultural and nature-focused stops makes sense. The range of experiences suggests choosing your accommodation's location based on the day's most important destinations rather than just a single attraction.

At the Malaquite Visitor Center, you will find an information desk, educational exhibits, a park store and restrooms that are open around the clock. Beach wheelchairs and walkers can be borrowed there free of charge. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may only be used at Malaquite Beach. This specific rule is important to consider when planning a beach day.

For further orientation, you can also explore Padre Island as well as Van Zandt, Midland, Lubbock, Parker, Guadalupe, Lampasas County and Montague.

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