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

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/

Fantastic way to spend an afternoon. There are public bathrooms, outdoor showers and parking. I…read morelove the area with tables and umbrellas which make it a great family friendly place.

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

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.

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!

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

I am pleased with our stay here, it is parking lot camping but nice access to the beach, pavilion…read moreand restrooms with a shower. Also when you stay here you have access to the Edwin King park just up the street.

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.

Yay!! First time taking a vehicle onto the beach. It's a great experience. People bring food and…read moregames for a fun family day. I enjoyed running up and down the dunes which was great.

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.

Had a VRBO booked with a property manager by Frankie. Had issues so had to cancel and it was before…read moreforfeiture date. VRBO was non responsive so sent email to Franke directly. Same email they sent me confirmation of property with rules. No reply so I called and they claim they never got it. They said it was an unused email even though I received their emails from same address. They actually said 'you can't trust emails as they sometimes get lost'. Really? Maybe in 1993. They were not flexible in any way and apathetic to my issue. Will never rent with them again.

BEWARE!! Had a signed and paid contract with Franke Realty for a 2 month rental, on a specific…read morecondo, at the Sapphire on S.P.I.. I was notified last week that the condo was unavailable. I believe they contracted with me without the owners consent, or they were working a bait and switch on me. What ever the case maybe, I was not notified until 6 weeks prior to arrival. They could not provide me with another Sapphire condo rental, but just so happen to have another property that was of no interest to us. They refunded our 2 month total prepayment, but now we are faced with finding and booking a never seen condo, with just 5 weeks to arrival. It would be my suggestion to avoid this rental firm.