Instead of renting overpriced golf carts, it it ok to just take a Polaris to go to and from the beach? I am getting conflicting information. I heard they aren't legal. Sounds dumb if a golf cart is ok.

TIA..

the Port Aransas City Council voted 6-0, with Councilman Skipper Lister absent, to outlaw ATVs on the beach. City staff recommended the move after the Legislature passed a law saying ATVs are legal to drive on all public beaches unless municipalities prohibit them within those specific cities' or counties' beaches.

It's been that way for seven years...Likewise you can't tear up the sand dunes with a golf cart

Thanks...

Would be interesting to know if this has changed since you can now get license plates for ATVs in Texas.

BMach said:

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Would be interesting to know if this has changed since you can now get license plates for ATVs in Texas.

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I will call the PA constabulary. $700 to rent a golf cart seems like a waste to me.

A license plate doesn't make these vehicles legal to operate on all roads in the State of Texas. I would be very wary on Port A beaches. They are patrolled every day.Let your dog off the leash...get caught...you are fined....no warning.

Go to Whataburger about sunset and get a #4 and park on the beach and eat it in your truck....you are asked to leave due to COVID-19

Eighty year old grandfather was walking on the beach with his grandkids. He was asked to leave because it was not deemed to be exercise. The grandfather argued that at 80 walking was exercise....he had to leave.

I have never seen an ATV on the beach. You will stand out like a sore thumb.Take into account that 19 has severely impacted the economy.We need money.....bring cash...no checks allowed....will take ATV in lieu of cash.

Cow Hop Ag said:

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BMach said:

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Would be interesting to know if this has changed since you can now get license plates for ATVs in Texas.

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I will call the PA constabulary. $700 to rent a golf cart seems like a waste to me.

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It's not a waste. It goes right to the people who sit on the Council that prevent visitors from bringing their own Golf cars and ATVs

People bring their own golf carts every day.....

Sadly I do not own a golf cart. You want to rent me one for $20 a day?

sunchaser said:

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A license plate doesn't make these vehicles legal to operate on all roads in the State of Texas. I would be very wary on Port A beaches. They are patrolled every day.Let your dog off the leash...get caught...you are fined....no warning.

Go to Whataburger about sunset and get a #4 and park on the beach and eat it in your truck....you are asked to leave due to COVID-19

Eighty year old grandfather was walking on the beach with his grandkids. He was asked to leave because it was not deemed to be exercise. The grandfather argued that at 80 walking was exercise....he had to leave.

I have never seen an ATV on the beach. You will stand out like a sore thumb.Take into account that 19 has severely impacted the economy.We need money.....bring cash...no checks allowed....will take ATV in lieu of cash.

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So what is going on down there now? Should I waste money coming because it full of mask Nazis and beach monitors?

We went down there a month ago... I asked the very same question to the place we were staying (cinnamon shore).... they said no

I did see a couple on the beach that had the orange triangle/license plate... but not sure if they were legal.

Pretty much all golf carts or regular cars

Serious answer....I would not go. Since it opened back up....VRBO's, bars, restaurants, shops, beaches have been inundated. I have been down 2 to 3 days every two weeks for the last 4-5 months as we are getting close to finishing a three year rebuild on our complex. I now drive thru Corpus to avoid the ferry line. I was told about three weeks ago the tail end of the ferry line one Friday afternoon was at the Aransas Pass bridge....5 hours. Hard for me to believe.

I won't eat inside at any of my favorite places....except maybe Lisa Bella's.I went thru the Whataburger drive Friday about 1:00....was 5th in line. It took me 35 minutes to get a #4.

Multiple store employees have been impacted since the bans have been lifted.....and they are still doing business as usual. The locals that I have known for years don't feel safe and neither do I.

We went to Cinnamon shore the first week in June. The beaches were crowded but you still had plenty of space around you. I never felt unsafe and everyone was giving each other a wide berth. We cooked most of our food, but did order some pizza from the place there. I picked it up and noticed the restaurant was packed and no staff had masks yet. On a side note, that pizza is really good.

Ick.. If I didn't have $$ into a 5 BR rental on the beach I would not go. But here we are. So, what do you think is not safe?

You'll be fine. While not exactly Port A we have a place at Mayan princess and have been several times. It's been great.

The beach will be crowded in Port A and I'd avoid the restaurants (nueces county is also currently seeing a big COVID spike) but I wouldn't cancel my trip or anything.

Have fun. Don't bring the ATV.

If it's anything like it was a few weeks ago, you're fine. I'd plan on doing take out/cooking vs heading out, but unless things have gotten crazy since then, be smart and you should be ok. As another data point, we got there Sunday and left Thursday. Sunday afternoon it was a 10 min wait for the ferry. I think it took us 20 min on Thursday morning to leave. If the 5 hr wait is accurate, then things may have changed.

Thank you all..

I haven't been there since I was hired by Marine Drilling to go offshore in 1980 so I have zero frame of reference. We are taking the kids and grandkids so I don't want to have a train wreck on my hands.

Also, the golf cart is a steep price, I know, but you'll be glad you bit the bullet when you're there. If you are carrying any stuff with you, it's a haul to the beech without one.

Sunchaser, I thought packed beaches and long ferry lines are great for the economy of a town that was nearly leveled by a hurricane and then shuttered this spring by CV-19.

What am I missing here?

sunchaser said:

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Eighty year old grandfather was walking on the beach with his grandkids. He was asked to leave because it was not deemed to be exercise. The grandfather argued that at 80 walking was exercise....he had to leave.

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Did you give 'em the finger as you walked off???

Yes that is a boost to the local merchants etc. COVID-19 took a dent out of the summer. A lot of businesses limp thru the majority of the year and try and survive via the summer.

We were employing about 120 people on a daily basis. Everyone loved quitting time as they stopped on their way home and bought, beer, cokes , snacks etc. When the virus showed up we dropped to sixty. Shortly after people had rather see them just head out of town.

Port Aransas is a small town as far as locals. I think there were maybe 4 cases prior to the ban being lifted.Since the ban was lifted there have been many more. The influx of people has brought more money and more cases and there are two sides to the fence.

It wasn't me!

Yep, must be street legal and if you do rent one, STAY OFF 361 outside of town. They are nailing people for that constantly.

Big crowds are good for the economy but hell on the infrastructure. Lots of places still getting their sea legs back with help as Sunchaser said, the local base of talent is very, very small. Long waits and lack of reservations for food are expected. Bring groceries and cook in as much as you can.

sunchaser said:

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Go to Whataburger about sunset and get a #4 and park on the beach and eat it in your truck....you are asked to leave due to COVID-19

Eighty year old grandfather was walking on the beach with his grandkids. He was asked to leave because it was not deemed to be exercise. The grandfather argued that at 80 walking was exercise....he had to leave.

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WTF?

this doesnt make sense if people can openly go out and post-up for the day.

Hell I take the truck out on the beach and park and just crank some tunes with a beer on the tailgate everytime were down there

That was during the beach ban. You could run/exercise on the beach but not walk or sit in your truck....

ah gotcha - heading down for the sh*tshow on the 4th (sounds like ill go down thru Corpus rather than ferry on a holiday Friday), hoping the beaches thin out a LITTLE the week after the holiday for our stay at Cinnamon Shore for normal shenaniganry

Believe both Port A and Corpus passed an ordinance yesterday requiring masks be worn everywhere starting this Friday.

Everywhere include the beach?

Mask not required for outdoor activities.

Is required for all government owned facilities and big box and grocery retailers.

So if you plan on make a run to IGA for all the **** you forgot, bring your mask.

What STX said....but be prepared for lots of people...I think SA and Austin have moved down here. Normal weekends remind me of holiday weekends just from the number of people and boats on the water. 3 hr wait to get in to Paradise Key restaurant Sunday. Crazy !

Wife corrected...ONLY 3 hr wait.

That's stupid.

We were in Port A Saturday and have been several weekends this summer. It's crazy packed but it's really been that way for the last several years. This year is just probably 20-30% worse. Didn't see any masks on the beach but even as packed as it is you aren't that close to anyone not in your group.

I'd get your spot on the beach by 9:00am at the latest. Maybe 8:00.

Yesterday there were in excess of 200 new cases of 19 in Nueces Cty. Largest single day so far....

Likewise another large testing day for Port Aransas locals that have been in contact with a known case.

sunchaser said:

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A license plate doesn't make these vehicles legal to operate on all roads in the State of Texas.

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Has to be on roads with a 35mph speed limit or less, and individual municipalities can add some restrictions.

The beach is considered a state of Texas road, as long as it is not within a municipality. Beach speed limits are anywhere from 5-15mph, so the sticker would make it legal from that aspect.

Also must have the orange triangle slow moving vehicle sign attached while on the road.

schmellba99 said:

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sunchaser said:

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A license plate doesn't make these vehicles legal to operate on all roads in the State of Texas.

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Has to be on roads with a 35mph speed limit or less, and individual municipalities can add some restrictions.

The beach is considered a state of Texas road, as long as it is not within a municipality. Beach speed limits are anywhere from 5-15mph, so the sticker would make it legal from that aspect.

Also must have the orange triangle slow moving vehicle sign attached while on the road.

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Hrmmm.. this is the way I interpreted it too. I've been looking to take my Mule Pro down to Galveston (not crystal beach) but still have yet to find a place that is doing the license plates. Do you know if Galveston has any extra restrictions? I can't find anything specific on their website.