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If you want to know what real beach camping feels like — not resort camping with an ocean view but actual wheels-in-the-sand, no-services, primitive beach camping — then Padre Island National Seashore is your place.

I drove down from Austin on a Thursday. The visitor center is modern and the rangers are helpful. They'll tell you what sections of beach are accessible and what the conditions are like. Important because this isn't a parking lot — you're literally driving on the beach.

Four wheel drive is mandatory past Mile Marker 5. I cannot stress this enough. I watched a dude in a 2WD truck get buried up to his axles at MM7. Took two hours and another truck to pull him out. Don't be that guy.

I went out to about Mile Marker 20 in my truck camper. Completely alone. Not another person in sight. Just sand, surf, birds, and the occasional coyote at dusk. Set up my chair, cracked a beer, and watched the sun drop into the Gulf of Mexico.

No hookups. No water. No cell signal at all past MM10. You need to be self contained and comfortable with solitude. This is not for everyone and that's exactly what makes it special.

Stayed two nights. Could've stayed two weeks. The wind is constant — bring good stakes for anything you set up outside. Sand gets in everything. But when the sun comes up over the dunes and its just you and the ocean? Nothing else compares.

Free camping with your park entry fee. Best deal in Texas.