Where the waters from the Gulf of Mexico kiss the southeast corner of Texas, Sea Rim State Park beckons its visitors to blend marshy grasses with beach waves for a unique outdoor experience. Sitting just south of Port Arthur, a constellation of sand dunes, beaches, lagoons, and wetlands make up the park situated within 4,000 acres of marshland and a five mile stretch of coastline. The mixture of habitats allows for a surplus of wildlife to flourish in the park, making it home to animals like ghost crabs, river otters, alligators, flounder, spoonbills, and herons that live alongside two communities of plants. Sea Rim also has five trails that take walkers and paddlers on a tour of the park’s natural beauty. Bird watching and crabbing spots are also available for visitors in addition to a handful of lookout points. A kayak rental kiosk is open for excursioners, while the shoreline can also be enjoyed on horseback (horses not included).

The park not only gives adventurers the opportunity to explore the sights and sounds of Texas’ coastal area, it also doubles as a camping ground. With three different options, Sea Rim lends visitors the opportunity to camp as rudimentary as they like, from pitching their own tents to their own waste bucket.

Sea Rim’s Big Three

With warmer weather upon us, who wouldn’t want to indulge in some beachside camping?

Paddle two miles into the park’s extensive marshland and you’ll find an 18-foot tall wayfinder stretching above the miles of cordgrass, sitting atop a floating wooden square. The 20-foot, dock-esque platform buoying in the water was constructed by the University of Texas School of Architecture students in 2017. Their then project “Float” has transformed into a campsite big enough to fit four, including a tent, and that wayfinder that doubles as a restroom for its slumberers. The $15 stay on the wooden slab comes equipped with alligator rails and tie-down spots for kayaks and tents, while a containerized fuel stove is recommended to bring for cooking. A 5-gallon bucket for waste is required, and no ash-producing fires are allowed.

If a floating platform in the middle of marshland is still too civilized, try the park's Primitive Beach Camping, where the sand on Sea Rim’s shores becomes your new mattress. Costing $10 a night, while acting on a first-come-first-serve basis, 75 sites are open for parties of eight to pitch a tent, haul a van, or even bring horses to enjoy the sounds of waves crashing on the shore and a sunset like no other. Be sure to check both the weather and the tides before your stay—sites will close depending on severity.

But if you prefer the door shut while you dream, Sea Rim’s Marsh Unit Cabin is the perfect choice. Situated on the coastline, the six-person unit sits adjacent to the boat and kayak launch, providing beautiful sites of the vast canal and is surrounded by boardwalks and three nearby trails to paddle through. The cozy cabin costs $95 per night and comes equipped with a kitchenette, outdoor grill, and two bunkbeds, not to mention air conditioning. And yes, bathroom is also included.

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