South Padre Island, Texas, was not somewhere my family went for a little R&R while I was growing…read moreup. That was more the Corpus Christi and Port Aransas areas. I always wondered why not further south? I think it just meant more driving for my dad. Lol. This resort town is incredibly laid back. If you're searching for upscale dining and shopping, go elsewhere. Head to Dallas! Lol. The people are mostly friendly. The beaches weren't pristinely clean, but most areas we went to were not waste-ridden. These waters were very calm and soothing when we were here in late May 2025. There is tar, but not to the extent that Kaitlyn B. complained about in her Jun 1, 2025 review. Not in my experience. If it gets on your skin, use an old wash rag or a paper towel and baby oil. Clothes are a little tougher. Just don't put them in the dryer because the stains will set even deeper. In the area that I can recommend for nature lovers: + Butterfly Garden + Isla Blanca Park + Sea Turtle Inc. + Whaling Wall + Bonus: Sea Shell Beach (so many shells + free parking, but no restrooms!) Take the State Park Rd 100 (aka Ocean Blvd) all the way north past the South Padre Island Convention Center. You can't miss it. The road ends. Don't be scared. Be cautious of standing water and lots of sand in the roadway, though. Be adventurous, have fun, and please manage your damn trash properly & dispose of it when you go back into town!

6.00 for vets for 24 hrs camping, jeeping and playing on the beach. Best deal aroundread more

Entry fee $12. Open 6 am to 11 pm. Great staff. Beautiful clean space with a lot of fishing spots…read moreand plenty of parking. Amphitheater is great place to bring lunch and hang out while enjoying the beautiful beach. Vibe here is very relaxing.

Isla Blanca Park in South Padre Island, TX, is home to El Cristo de los Pescadores or "Christ of…read morethe Fishermen" statue. My first thought was how huge the statue was. This depiction of Jesus Christ was created in the late '90s in memory of Gustavo De La Lastra and Jose Edwardo De La Lastra. Their June 1988 deaths by asphyxiation aboard a shrimp boat occurred "after using a chemical preservative on their catch." A lawsuit by the parents against chemical's manufacturer, General Chemical Corporation, ensued. I didn't know about this tragedy beforehand, however, the statue remained absolutely beautiful. I wish that the island wasn't so trashy on May 28, 2025 when my daughters and I visited. If that wasn't enough, daily vehicle passes were $12. I'd probably go here to view SpaceX launches from afar, but not to RV camp. It looked so crowded! Works Cited https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/general-chemical-corp-v-891520387 https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/how-the-statue-of-the-christ-of-the-fishermen-got-to-south-padre-island/

OMG, Yes! If only it was true!!!…read more There Is No Boca Chica State Park! Evidently someone assumed it was and posted this site. I've asked Yelp to remove and they wouldn't. I even referred them to the Texas State Parks Web site which list All Texas State Parks. So just be aware this area is part of the lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge! I think since Yelps not taking it down I'll go ahead and post some photos from the area!!! All of these photos came from the same area other Yelpers have been mistakenly adding reviews to.

Okay this is less of a Boca Chica review and more of a SpaceX Starbase review. We went on the long…read moredrive from South Padre Island to visit Boca Chica to see where the gulf meets the Rio grande but ended up arriving just as Elon was rolling a rocket out to his launch site so we were in a unique traffic jam and then Boca Chica was shut down for the day so we didn't get to visit it but seeing the big rocket and all the pics and video we got were still an awesome thing! Visit out here for Starbase alone and if Boca Chica is open see it too

I can't say enough good things about Karyn and her lovely beachside condo!…read more I'll tell you everything that I always want to know about a private home rental: *The condo was clean. No funky smells, linens were fresh and of excellent quality. Pillows smell fresh, were plump, and there were a generous amount for each sleeper. Beds were sturdy and very, very comfortable. *Ample towels, also of excellent quality. Not threadbare or skimpy. *Very close to the elevator, and there was plenty of parking nearby. *There is a toaster, a microwave, and a big fridge with ice maker. The kitchen is fully equipped to make a meal. *The dining table is large and sturdy. We spent many hours playing games with the playing cards provided in the drawer near the TV. *The A/C is strong and cold. *Close to restaurants, and a 2 minute walk to the pools and beach. *Enormous balcony with different seating options. *The whole condo is well-appointed and very homey. I cannot think of one need that we had all week that wasn't met, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

From the owner: Our luxurious, penthouse, beachfront, 3 bedroom condo has fabulous views of the ocean from the…read moreoversized balcony as well as from almost room! We provide everything you would need for a vacation on the beach! Boogie boards, beach towels as well as a fully stocked kitchen!

The Bayside Beach is much calmer and very shallow clear waters throughout. A great spot for those…read morewith young kids. Popular amongst kite Surfers.

We've enjoyed Andy Bowie Park for so many years, but had been away for the past 8 since moving…read moreaway. We had gone to another part of the beach, further south from Andy Bowie, the afternoon before and the beach was clear of seaweed. But when we went Tuedsay morning to the Park, the seaweed had come in overnight. The parking is only $5, for however long you want to stay, and there are showers right by the parking lot. It's all close to the beach, which is convenient if you need to make multiple trips to your car. The showers aren't meant to be be all that comfortable, and they're not. But they come on, the water pressure is good, and they're not on timer knobs like they used to be. You know, the knobs that you press down and they slowly come up until the water shuts off, so the shower lasts 2 minutes and you have to keep pressing it. There are no shower curtains, and there's sand and water everywhere, but you're able to rinse most of the sand off before climbing back into your car. We got there in the morning, about 10:30, and stayed until about 6pm. There are umbrellas and chairs already set up; but if you do sit under the umbrella, you're going to have to pay. There's a young man who walks up and down the beach checking. They're like traps, so he checks periodically to see if he's caught anything. We paid $30 for the big umbrella and 2 chairs. The chairs were a little rusty and rickety, but they were ok for the afternoon. Even with seaweed, which still wasn't that bad, it was a very pleasant afternoon. The water was cold for me, but after several hours in and out of the sun, and the sun warming the water, it felt great on hot skin. The water was clear for the most part, until it kicked up the sand near the shore. The lifeguards on duty were on their toes all day, running into the water a couple of times, but thankfully no one needed them. There's plenty of space to set up your own towels/chairs without having to be shoulder to shoulder with the neighbor; but it was a weekday morning and there were several groups on the beach. It was a fantastic day, tired us all out, but we can't wait to go back.

You get what you pay for, I guess. Has hookups, but that's about it. Womens restroom has 2 stools…read more I have been here 7 days and one stool has been plugged & unusable since I got here. The rv lot has grass around it, but can't walk your dog because grass is full of sand burrs. The "gatekeeper" who was working when I arrived was pretty rude and not at all helpful. Luckily the gentleman the next day was very good. Corrected first guys errors and was super polite & professional. If the weather is nice, could maybe get higher rating, but with rain for days the restrooms are very wet and smellly

Isla Blanca Park $10 fee $2 for trash deposit. Save your receipt to enter beach access #6…read more Beach Access #5 is FREE. Has parking and you walk to the beach. Beach Access #6 is $10. This access allows you to drive on the beach. You must be aware of tide times not to get stuck. You can also camp there for free. No fee. But you camp at your own risk of course. It is currently being renovated so no bathroom facilities as of now. Theres another beach access with FREE access to drive on the beach. But, sand is very soft in that section and you may get stuck if you are not driving a truck high enough to not hit the sand underneath. Be safe, theres no reception out there at times and if no one helps you if your stuck. Price to get pulled out ranges up to 3k depending on difficulty. The further you drive keep in mind that ACCESS 6 and Andy bowie have the last restroom stops. Its a beautiful place. And, its been abused by litter so the $2 you pay for trash awareness is a SMALL price to spread the word of keeping the area clean. Plastics are being eaten by the flock of birds that make the beach majestic and is killing them day to day. Isla Blanca Park: This is the only State Park that has tent sites for camping. Beside KOA but they are private. There is over a mile of pristine beach along the Gulf of Mexico that offers an abundance of water-front recreational facilities. Beachfront facilities make the clear gulf waters accessible to all.  Isla Blanca Park offers two large beachfront pavilions with onsite food and beach rental concessions, ample parking, walking trail, jetties and surf fishing, a jetties bait stand, over 600 full hook-up R.V. sites, cabana rentals, tent sites, a boat ramp, numerous restroom/shower facilities and shaded picnic areas.  The park also offers a number of concessions that provide an array of recreational amenities.  Some of these amenities include an assortment of restaurants, bay and offshore fishing trips, water sports (e.g. snorkeling, diving, jet skis, parasailing, etc.) and a full service marina.

I was taken aback when the attendant told me $12 when we go to the Cameron County Parks and…read moreRecreation entrance. It was 7:55 pm on May 28, 2025, and we just wanted to look around, particularly at the Jesus statue. But no, we had to pay the full price! Scattered all across the loop we drove was litter. It was sad. Tons of RVs were at the campground. Several folks in single vehicles still enjoying the sunset. But those single day use areas weren't crowded by that point. Be very careful driving. I encountered many dog walkers who just didn't care or didn't know I was approaching, me in the right of way, but I digress. Also, watch out for kids just playing in the middle of the parking lot. Their parents oblivious to me trying to exit. That also happen... but there was a perfectly good beach area for them to play on just a few yards away. *sigh* Never again unless I am here much earlier in the day. I would never see myself camping here.

Mr. Gonzalez is an awesome tenant!! Great weekend stay ! no issues what so ever ! 50 yards from the…read morebeach access!

I love these beach houses. First off, the people who own the company, Michael and Barbara Gonzalez,…read moreare the sweetest people on the planet. They make sure you have everything you need to make your stay the most enjoyable and comfortable. They're also just nice people to anyone and everyone! Secondly, there are several locations to choose from that can put up to 10 people. All locations are maybe a block from the beach if that! Lastly, these are by far some of the most affordable places on the island for the amount of space and luxury you'll get staying there!! These will be the only people we rent from on the island from now on!!

We had such a wonderful time doing this. It was fun for the whole family, including me (the dad)…read more My wife and daughters loved it too. My 9 year old daughter says "it was really fun. I had a great experience. It's really cool and fun to see what you can make out of the sand." Andy is such a fun teacher. He puts everyone to work. After our lesson with Andy we spent the next 5 hours building more sand castles. As far as how long should you book.... I'd say more time the better.

From start to finish this was the coolest, most detailed lesson! Kids 10 and 12 loved it. Both…read moreparents too! Andy os amazing and this is worth the cost! We had an unbelievable # of people stop and take pictures and ask about it as we were building! South Padre should promote this WAY more for all their tourists!

Shoutout to my bestesties for putting this beach day into our holiday weekend! It was so wholesome…read morewith the views coming here and being here. The water was the perfect temperature to cool us down on this hot a"" day. The sand was sooo hot though. Living in CA and HI and visiting beaches all around the world, I want to say this was probably the hottest to walk on where we had to resort to running from car to water every time. It was all worth it though and I'd love to come back with the whole crew again! Also, they give you a clear plastic bag to put your trash in since there aren't any trash cans on the sand. If you bring this bag with your trash in it back to the exit, they give you a $1 refund back from your entry fee when leaving. FYI: Seems common to at cars and trucks (any shape / size) gets stuck in the sand and needs to be towed out. Many people kept ropes and things in preps to help others for this. So although I hope it doesn't happen to anyone, I'm not too worried since you'll definitely have the support!

Another South Padre Island hidden gem to share with Yelpers. This state beach allows you to drive…read morealong the beach, park and BBQ too. A good mile of coastal driving right next to the coastline. Blue land crabs are commonly sighted so be sure to have a net ready to catch them or be pinched! Cost $12 per car or after 6PM enter for free.