Isla Blanca Beach & RV Park, located in Cameron County in South Padre Island, is home to one of our favorite beaches in Texas. This stretch of the gulf coastline has soft powdery white sand and aquamarine water. Add in the majestic views of the Gulf, Laguna Madre, long jetties for fishing, swaying palm trees, easy town access as well as a chance to see SpaceX rocket takeoff – and you have a true Texan gem!
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Where is Isla Blanca Beach & RV Park located?
Isla Blanca Park is located on the southern tip of South Padre Island near the Brazos Santiago Pass. This is a government owned and operated park. The sprawling park covers a large area and is chock full of amenities. The park address is 33174 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597.
Isla Blanca Park Entry Cost
The only negative about Isla Blanca Park is that it is not free to use. You need to pay $12 g. admission fee to enter the park and use its facilities. However this fee goes towards keeping the beach and restrooms clean and is totally worth it. When we last visited, this fee was cash only. You can also get an annual pass for $100 which lets you access the swimming and fishing areas.
Isla Blanca Beach Amenities
The highlight of the park is its beach. The beach here is clean, wide, and almost a mile long. The water is really clear at this end of the island and is perfect for families with kids. Dog owners would be delighted to know, the beach here is also dog-friendly. The beach has stunning sunrises and colorful sunsets. The beach has a large boardwalk that makes it very easy to access the beach.
The Isla Blanca beach is a hotspot for water recreation. It’s very popular for surfing – waves can get as high as 8 feet. You can also get surfing lessons here. Riding the waves at SPi is an amazing experience. Along with surfing, adventure fans can enjoy activities like jet skiing and kite surfing at the beach.
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Isla Blanca RV Park Amenities
A popular feature of Isla Blanca RV Park is the ample RV campsites located walking distance to the beach. The park has 600+ full hook-up RV camping spots that are a hit with Winter Texans. You can reserve the sites on a monthly basis if planning to stay long term. In addition to the beach, several restaurants and shops are also located just outside the park, making it a great place to spend your vacation for RVers.
The park also has 70+ tent camping sites. These are located on the Laguna Madre side of the island. Sites 1 – 52 are located closer to the water’s edge while the remaining sites are located further inland. Just be careful – the grassy areas can be full of grassburs / sandburs – sticky thorny weeds that can hurt your feet.
The park also has cabanas for rental. Cabanas are good for those who are looking to stay close to the beach at a budget price. They cost $40 for the night and are similar to bare bones summer camp cabins. Each cabana has a concrete floor, bathrooms with toilet and shower, basic kitchen, a full size bed as well as a bunk bed. There’s a picnic table outside the cabana. It’s your best option for budget glamping in South Padre. You can reserve the sites here.
Other Isla Blanca Park Amenities
Along with the beach and RV area, Isla Blanca County Park also offers many other amenities. You will find the standard amenities including outdoor showers, restrooms, nature trail that goes all around the park, a large parking lot as well as a variety of special features in this well-designed park. The park is also well-lit when daylight goes down at night.
Pavilions and Picnic Area
Two beachside pavilions accommodate large groups and provide shade on hot summer days. The Sandpiper Pavilion, constructed in 2019, is located right behind the Chapel by the Sea and can be accessed via the Channel View Rd.The pavilion has on-site food as well as rental shops. The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, tacos, and burritos.
The South Pavilion is located close to the Tennis courts. Individual covered picnic tables are also available in the park adjacent to the pavilions. These are good for families who want to enjoy a beachside picnic meal or use the BBQ grills. A boardwalk path connects the pavilions and picnic areas to the beach over the sand dunes.
Walking Trail
A large trail goes all around the vast park. It is almost 1.4 miles long. The trail is popular for biking, walking, and running. The trail is an excellent spot for birding. Near the trail at the entrance, you can spot woodland birds such as warblers and buntings. Near the jetty, you can spot pelicans and frigate birds.
Beach Rentals
Isla Blanca Park has a variety of beach rentals for kayaks, surfboards etc. Beach chairs and umbrellas are also available at the park for rent. These shops are located close to the beach and very useful for visitors.
Marina and Boat Ramp
Boat ramp is available at Isla Blanca Park to launch your watercraft as is a full service marina. The ramp is open for public use and allows visitors a 5 minutes time limit to launch your crafts. It has a single boat launch, so lines can build up during busy weekends. The ramp is wide enough for pontoons or similar large boats. Also beware, there are strong currents off the ramp.
Fishing Jetties
South Padre Island fishing jetties is a large rock pier that extends well into the ocean. It is a great spot for fishing. There is a bait shop at the foot of the pier as well. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes to walk over the slippery rocks and be careful to mind the gaps between them. The walk to the end of the jetties and back is easily over 2 miles.
From the pier you can spot dolphins, pelicans, sea gulls, schools of fish, and even sea turtles. You can also spot sea urchins, crabs, and other tide pool creatures. From the very end, you can clearly see Starbase / SpaceX. Be careful when out on the pier at high tide or during strong winds. The waves can get really strong on the right side of the pier.
Beach Park at Isla Blanca
You need not worry about getting tired of the beach as an entire water park is also located within Isla Blanca Park! It was previously operated by Schlitterbahn and is now under new management. The water park has fun slides and pools as well as food trucks. It is a great place to spend a day in the summer.
Cristo de Los Pescadores
The statue of Christ of the Fishermen / Cristo de Los Pescadores, located within the park, is another great attraction. The statue was built to honor the lives lost at sea and is a peaceful and tranquil site. You can read more about the story behind the memorial here.
UTRGV Coastal Studies Laboratory
Coastal Studies Laboratory, managed by University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is located just a few minutes from isla Blanca Park. The laboratory has a small free aquarium that is great to visit for families with kids. You can see as well as learn about the marine life that lives off the waters of Texas Gulf Coast.
SpaceX Launch
Did you know that Isla Blanca County Beach is the best spot to watch SpaceX rocket launches? SpaceX is located in Boca Chica across the Brownsville Ship Channel from South Padre Island. While the drive is 1 hour by road, because you have to go all the way around the ship channel, you can easily watch a launch right from the beach at SoPadre. You can also watch the blast offs from the Cameron County Amphitheatre located close to the park.
Do you love Isla Blanca Beach on South Padre Island? Send us your photos at this beach!