Sea Rim State Park: Everything You Need to Know!

Sea Rim State Park: Everything You Need to Know

Sea Rim State Park is where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Texas marshlands.  This unique landscape creates a great little park in Sabine Pass, TX where you can enjoy the beach, go fishing in the marsh, or just come camp here for a relaxing weekend.  

The park opened in 1977 but was greatly updated in 2014 with the water and electric campsites that are there today.  There are plenty of things to do here including paddling trails, a boardwalk that loops over the marsh, and a crabbing day-use area!

Whether you are coming here to relax and unplug, or you’re here to catch dinner, there is something for everyone at Sea Rim State Park!

Important Links (Map, State Park Website, Link to Camping Article)

Sea Rim State Park website

Park Map

Sea Rim State Park Camping – Make Reservations Here

Paddling Trail Map

Camping Journal – Never Forget Your Camping Trips Details Again!

Location

Sea Rim State Park is located outside of Sabine Pass, TX.  But the closest town with more than a gas station is Port Arthur, which is about a 40 minute drive.  I would recommend getting all the groceries and gas you might need ahead of time, because you don’t want to have to drive 40 minutes away just to grab a forgotten item.  

Located 4.5 hours from New Orleans, LA, and 2 hours from Houston, TX, Sea Rim State Park isn’t particularly close to anything.  It truly feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere, which might be exactly what you’re looking for!

Fees

Like most state parks around the United States, there is a fee to enter Sea Rim State Park.  For anyone 13 and up, there is a fee of $4 per person.  Children 12 and under are free.  

There is a more cost effective option if you plan to visit the Texas State Parks more than a few times per year.  You can buy a Texas State Parks Pass, which is $70 per year and you and a car-full of guests can enter all 88 parks for free!  This is a great option for families too.  

You’ll also want to know that the daily fee is still collected if you are camping here.  In other words, what you pay online to camp here, DOES NOT include the daily fee and you will be charged an additional $4 per person, per day on top of your camping fee.  

What To Do Here?

Sea Rim State Park has both beach and marsh attractions here.  For you beach goers, you can swim or relax on the beach.  There is also a large presence of shells here, so go beachcombing and see what shells you can find!  

You can go fishing in the ocean or in the marsh areas. You DON’T need a license to fish from shore in a state park.  This is covered by the daily fee!  Sea Rim has a boat ramp, for marsh access and they even loan fishing gear for use in the park.

If the marsh is what calls to you here, you can go crabbing, fishing, or bird watching.  There are a plethora of birds to see and watch here and many people were catching crabs in the Blue Crab Day Use Area.  

You can also camp here!  Whether you have a drivable RV, a tent or something in between, you are welcome to camp here.  Scroll down to the camping section of this article for all the details about camping at Sea Rim!

If you prefer to be active on your stay, you can go for a long walk on the beach, or the Gambusia Nature Trail Boardwalk.  Here you are bound to see dozens of birds or just enjoy the beauty of the boardwalk.  

There are also 3 Paddling Trails, perfect for your kayak or canoe.  The 3 trails range from easy to challenging and all begin at the boat ramp about a mile from the park office.  You can refer to this map for all of the paddling trails details! 

Be Aware Of…

Sea Rim State Park has a serious mosquito problem.  They aren’t very present on the beach, as there is an ever-present breeze, but in the campground there are thousands floating around.  Make sure you bring that bug spray, even if you are camping here in the winter months!

Another thing to be aware of is that there are alligators in the park.  In fact, this area has the highest alligator population in all of Texas!  While we didn’t see any when we camped here, make sure you are aware of your surroundings.  

Time to Spend Here

You can enjoy the marsh and/or the ocean here with just a short walk around the park!  If you just want to visit for a day, be aware that the park is quite the drive from Port Arthur, TX.  

Depending on how you want to spend your time here, there are varying recommendations for how much time to spend here. 

Day Recommendations: 

• Go Fishing or Crabbing in the marsh, ocean, or in the Blue Crab Day-Use Area.  
• Go kayaking on one or more of the paddle trails in the park.
• Park and relax on the beach.
• Walk on the Gambusia Nature Trail Boardwalk and look for unique birds.

Weekend Recommendations:

• Relax at Sea Rim’s campground.
• Go Camping on the Beach.
• Paddle to your campsite at their floating campsite.

If you want to stay at Sea Rim State Park for a weekend or even a week, you’ll want to look into their camping options!  There is a cabin here as well, if roughing it isn’t your thing.  

Camping

Sea Rim State Park is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.  Whether you are here to watch the wildlife, go crabbing, sit on the beach, paddle the kayak trails, or just relax around a fire, there is something here for just about everyone.  

With a whole new campground built in 2014, each campsite had water and electric hook-ups on large and paved pads.  There are also a couple other unique ways to camp if you are looking for an adventure, but we’ll get to that!

Just be aware that there are very limited facilities here.  Like there are only pit toilets.  They also DO NOT have hot water showers.  They have what are called rinse-off showers, so be prepared for a cold shower, or to skip it all together.  

Let’s dive into a few more details and lay out your options for camping in Sea Rim State Park!

Details

• 1 Cabin
• 15 Electric/Water Campsites
• 75 Beach Drive-Up Sites
• 1 Floating Campsite (Paddle-In)
• Pit Toilets
• Rinse Off Showers (Cold Water Only)
• Dump Station (Down the Road)
• Boat Ramp
• 1 Boardwalk Trail
• 3 Paddle Trails
• Dog Friendly Campground

Beach Sites (Unassigned)

If you’ve ever wanted to camp on the beach, Sea Rim State Park might be just the place to do that!  There are 75 “sites” that can be used on the east or west sides of the state park.  (The East Side is currently closed, as of 3/2025).

Things to note, there are no facilities on the beach.  No water, electricity, bathrooms, etc.  Please pack accordingly!

These sites are located in the West Beach Primitive camping area (enter the campground, drive to the end of the campground, and continue onto the beach!). These campsites can’t be reserved.  They are only available once you arrive at the park. 

Be aware that these sites can close due to extreme high tides or other weather events.  I highly suggest that you contact the park to check on conditions before your trip.

Tent/Camper/RV Sites (50 AMP + Water)

This is how my husband and I camped at Sea Rim State Park in 2025.  Each site is quite large, level, paved and well-maintained.  There is water and electric hook-ups for all your camper needs and a 20-amp plug if you need to run an extension cord.  

The sites are all full-sun, but there is often a breeze because of how close you are to the ocean.  There are a plethora of birds to watch and you can walk right onto the beach!

The largest negatives that you should be aware of are the mosquitoes, the pit toilets and the lack of showers with hot water.  But if you want to get away for a few days, and go crabbing, this is a great place to do it!

Floating Campsite

Sea Rim State Park has a single floating campsite out in their marshes.  If you’re brave enough to spend the night in a tent, floating on the water, what a unique way to stay! 

The site is a “Paddle-In” site, so you will need a canoe, kayak, or a shallow drift boat.  The platform is 2 miles into the marsh (from the boat ramp) and there are few rules you should be aware of.  

Rule 1: You must bring a 5-gallon bucket and a solid/liquid waste bag with enzymes to neutralize human waste (available for purchase at the park store). 

Rule 2: You may use a containerized fuel stove for cooking. No Fires!

You should also know that if you miss your check-in and arrive late (when the camp office is closed) you must camp on the beach until the office opens the next day.

The Cabin

And finally, we have found the most luxurious way to stay at Sea Rim State Park: The Cabin.  Yes, there is only 1 cabin in the park, so you’ll have this area of the park all to yourself.  

The cabin is located about a mile away from the campground and the beach, right by the park’s only boat ramp.

You can have up to 6 people in this cabin, and there is a bathroom and shower within the cabin.  There is also a full kitchen with an oven, microwave, sink and refrigerator.  Just be aware that there are no plates, pots, pans, nor cutlery, so you’ll have to pack all of those!

There are 2 sets of bunks beds in the cabin, the two top bunks are Twin beds and the bottom bunks are Full beds.  This is a little tight in my opinion for 6 people, but if you can make it work, go for it!

Price Comparison

Let’s take a look at the price comparison before you decide how to stay at Sea Rim State Park!  

**Disclaimer: These were the prices when I was here, March of 2025.  Prices may vary and change depending on the date, weekend, or holiday.  

Don’t forget, there is also a daily fee of $4 per person ON TOP of the campsite fee.  This fee will be collected upon your arrival.  If you have a Texas State Parks pass, this fee is waived!

Floating Site (Paddle In)

• $15 per night 
• $30 per weekend
• $105 per week

Electric Tent/Camper/RV Sites

• $20 per night 
• $40 per weekend
• $140 per week

Drive-Up Campsite (Beach Sites – Unassigned)

• $10 per night
• $20 per weekend
• $70 per week

The Cabin

• $120 per night 
• $240 per weekend
• $840 per week

The choice is up to you (and your budget) of how you want to camp here.  Just remember, there are limited facilities here, so plan and pack accordingly!

Our Experience

Sea Rim State Park was full of surprises, both good and bad.  First thing was how far away it was.  Make sure you fill your gas tank up as you’re 40 miles away from the nearest town.  Truly there is nothing around.  

There is zero shade at these sites and there are a wild amount of mosquitoes here.   Whatever you do, don’t leave the camper door open, or you’ll end up with hundreds of mosquitos flying around your rig…trust me!

On a technological note, there is very little service here.  But the open skies made Sea Rim the perfect debut of our Starlink satellite and we had wonderful service for the whole trip.  

The most unfortunate thing, as campers who typically use the facilities at our campground, was the bathroom situation.  There are only pit toilets here and only rinse-off showers here with FREEZING cold water.  This was not ideal for our 2-week stay, but we survived.  

But the nature, the ocean, the boardwalk, and the sunsets were beautiful!  And if you are someone who likes to unplug, this is a great place to do it.  Just don’t forget the bug spray!

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sea Rim State Park is a unique and rustic way to get away on a budget.  40 miles from the nearest town, you’ll be able to unwind and unplug.  Whether you go camping in a tent or a $1 million motorhome, you’ll get to relax along the Texas coast. 

The marshland is perfect for crabbing, fishing or just bird watching.  The beach, where you can go beachcombing, is a short walk from the campground.  And who could forget the 3 paddling trails that you can take a kayak or canoe through!?

Whether you visit for an afternoon or stay for a week, you’ll enjoy this unique state park, just don’t forget the bug spray!

As always, feel free to reach out to me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com if you have any questions!

-Happy Camping!