Best Glamping near South Padre Island, TX

Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island has glamping accommodations situated at the southern tip of the island, offering both Gulf and intercostal waterway access. Visitors staying in the glamping units enjoy proximity to pristine beaches with convenient amenities like picnic areas, boardwalks, and on-site dining options. "We came down for a 2 week vacation and decided to stay 3 months instead! Will definitely be making Isla Blanca our new home for the winter," shared one guest about their extended glamping experience. The glamping options include comfortable bedding, climate control, and dedicated outdoor spaces, though proximity to other accommodations varies by site selection. Premium glamping sites offer enhanced privacy with natural surroundings like cactus and agave rather than neighboring structures.

Activities and natural features enhance the glamping experience at South Padre Island locations. Boca Chica Beach provides a more secluded glamping opportunity with views of the SpaceX facility, while Isla Blanca Park offers convenient beach access for swimming, fishing, and water sports. According to a visitor, "Stayed an entire month and loved every single day! Beach area is one of the best and well maintained." Glamping guests can enjoy horseback riding along the beach through Island Adventures, though advanced booking is recommended. Pickle ball courts provide morning recreation options for active visitors. The glamping sites serve as ideal basebases for exploring local attractions, fishing off the jetty, taking ocean sightseeing cruises, or simply relaxing on the sandy shores with lifeguards on duty during summer months.

Best Glamping Sites Near South Padre Island, Texas (2)

    1. Isla Blanca Park

    15 Reviews
    South Padre Island, TX
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (956) 761-5494

    $20 - $100 / night

    "This campground is on the South tip of South Padre Island. You are on the Gulf and also on the inter coastal waterway. You are just a short walk to a beach or fishing."

    "Lots of beach to walk, pavilions, showers and a jetty to fish off of.  Besides the campground, you can also go to the north end of town, access the beach and camp right in the Gulf."

    2. Boca Chica Beach

    2 Reviews
    South Padre Island, TX
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (956) 546-3721
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Glamping Reviews near South Padre Island, TX

17 Reviews of 2 South Padre Island Campgrounds


  • Steve & Ashley  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 8, 2019

    Isla Blanca Park

    Large County RV and Day Use Park

    The park is located on the southern end of South Padre Island. It’s a very popular RV campground with hundreds of sites and multiple loops. This very large site is a little overwhelming in size but offers a number amenities for the RV and camper community. The park has a new outdoor picnic pavilion with the bathrooms, outdoor showers, grills, and a huge picnic table area under a large canopy. They offer parking areas for boats and the camp has ample restroom and shower facilities. The sites have picnic tables, water, and electric. The sandy beach is huge and great for families. They provide lifeguards during the summer months. This park is very crowded on weekends and holidays and reservations for RV sites are highly recommended. Just outside the cafe they have pub but most of the restaurants and other sites are a few miles to the north by car or bike. This is also the dock for ocean site seeing boats. This may be a good choice for RVs looking for long term stays or locals enjoying a day at the beach.

  • Steve & Ashley  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2020

    Boca Chica Beach

    Desolate Texas Beach

    Boca Chica Beach is the end of the road for South Texas. The beach is about 15 miles outside of the Port of Brownsville Texas and very close to the Mexican Border. The beach is a wild and desolate place. It’s quite a contrast from the overly commercial and manicured beaches to the north on South Padre Island. The beach has a lot of debris from river run off and storms. The amount of trash and plastic waste can be overwhelming at times. The campsites are primitive and only include metal trash barrels. This is a good day trip for locals or a place for visitors who really want to get away. Of note, the beach is currently closed due to Covid 19. However, locals are exercising and walking their dogs despite the closure. When it’s open, you can drive on the beach but will need a 4x4. They don’t allow atvs or RVs on the beach. You will be able to see the Space X facility on the road near the beach.

  • L
    Aug. 11, 2018

    Isla Blanca Park

    Great location

    This campground is on the South tip of South Padre Island. You are on the Gulf and also on the inter coastal waterway. You are just a short walk to a beach or fishing. We love it here and there is so much nearby to check out. There is not much shade here.

  • M
    May. 23, 2019

    Isla Blanca Park

    Beach camping

    600 sites but you better book early. This park is being renovated so expect construction. Lots of beach to walk, pavilions, showers and a jetty to fish off of.  Besides the campground, you can also go to the north end of town, access the beach and camp right in the Gulf.

  • S
    Feb. 1, 2021

    Isla Blanca Park

    People liked it, check-in terrible

    We arrived at check-in time & was told to sign in on a waiting list. They called names by yelling out the door. Waited about an hour to finally check in & was told to fill out 3 pages of info (I could have been doing during the wait time). However staff was friendly & obviously overwhelmed.

    Campground was okay. We were in D26 which was alright. Slight leveling of the RV needed since no concrete pads on Dodson St. No trees or shade. Everything got pretty dirty. Windy & hazy in January. We work remote & data service was tough to get. Lots of people seemed to always be changing sites as they said they extended their trip longer.
    Overall it was a decent campground but I’d prefer to head to Florida.

  • K
    Nov. 5, 2020

    Isla Blanca Park

    More than a beach

    We stayed here a couple nights. Close proximity to the beach with full hookups and close to all the SPI has to offer. Restroom and showers were clean and in good repair. Sites are not too close together and an easy walk to the beach. Can’t beat the price for a county park. Check in could have been easier. Spent almost 30 minutes for the process. Overall though, very satisfied and will stay here again.

  • Rocco
    Jan. 14, 2021

    Isla Blanca Park

    Surprisingly nice

    Our specific site was probably what influenced my five star review. This is a huge rv park where they cram rigs very close together, which is not my usual idea of a good time. But we decided to try it out anyways, and we chose our own site off the map on their website. It’s off-season in January, and still it’s packed. site S24 offered much privacy. We could see the water and were surrounded by cactus and agave instead of other RVs. It’s clean and quiet. Really a nice place. Dog friendly. Right on the beach and board walk. It’s a couple miles away from most of the restaurants and shopping, yet still walkable.

  • A
    Mar. 3, 2022

    Isla Blanca Park

    Close to beach

    So close to the beach. Bathrooms were clean and they have a lock so only campers can use. Pickle ball courts were used every morning. They did not allow wood fires.

  • Shane M.
    Aug. 23, 2019

    Isla Blanca Park

    4 star stay on a 5 star budget

    The park was nice, close to the beach, and had pretty low traffic compared to the rest of the island. The roads weren’t great and needed to be resurfaced. I picked a premium site that didn’t happen to be very premium. While the location of the site was perfect, all of the sites around me had concrete pads but mine... (I guess they hadn’t upgraded my site pad yet) the online map was showing a finished park with a boardwalk, showers and restrooms right behind my site (hints: the reason I chose this site) but it was all still under construction and not available for access. Other than those minor issues, it was an okay experience and for the size of the park, it was pretty quiet.


Guide to South Padre Island

Isla Blanca Park sits at the southern tip of South Padre Island, covering 600 campsites across multiple camping loops. The park experiences strong coastal winds year-round with temperatures ranging from 60°F in winter to over 90°F in summer. Campers should prepare for the persistent Gulf breeze that brings both relief from summer heat and potential challenges for tent camping.

What to do

Beach fishing opportunities: The jetty at Isla Blanca Park provides excellent fishing access without requiring a boat. "600 sites but you better book early. This park is being renovated so expect construction. Lots of beach to walk, pavilions, showers and a jetty to fish off of," notes Molly W.

Surfing and water sports: The Gulf waters offer consistent waves for surfing enthusiasts. "This park has it all. Top notch fishing, easy access to beautiful beaches and surfing," says Bret N. about Isla Blanca Park, noting the variety of water recreation options available directly from the campground.

SpaceX viewing: Boca Chica Beach offers unique opportunities to observe SpaceX operations. "Nice beach to visit, especially to see starship prep activity. Unlikely to be able to camp long term. Best to stay rocket ranch, raptors roost or starship station to view a launch," advises Mark F., highlighting this unusual attraction for space enthusiasts.

What campers like

Winter camping climate: Isla Blanca Park attracts long-term winter visitors escaping colder climates. "Our specific site was probably what influenced my five star review. This is a huge rv park where they cram rigs very close together, which is not my usual idea of a good time. But we decided to try it out anyways, and we chose our own site off the map on their website. It's off-season in January, and still it's packed," shares Rocco.

Beach maintenance: The beach quality receives consistent praise from visitors who appreciate the upkeep. "The sites have picnic tables, water, and electric. The sandy beach is huge and great for families. They provide lifeguards during the summer months," notes Steve & Ashley G., highlighting the family-friendly atmosphere.

Proximity to attractions: South Padre Island offers convenient access to activities while maintaining a beach camping atmosphere. "We stayed here a couple nights. Close proximity to the beach with full hookups and close to all the SPI has to offer. Restroom and showers were clean and in good repair," explains Kelly S. about their experience at Isla Blanca Park.

What you should know

Check-in procedures: Isla Blanca Park has specific check-in protocols that can be time-consuming. "We arrived at check-in time & was told to sign in on a waiting list. They called names by yelling out the door. Waited about an hour to finally check in & was told to fill out 3 pages of info," warns Sarah L., suggesting arriving with extra time for processing.

Site selection importance: Not all sites offer equal experiences, particularly regarding privacy and views. "Site S24 offered much privacy. We could see the water and were surrounded by cactus and agave instead of other RVs. It's clean and quiet," reports Rocco about their premium site experience.

Limited yurt camping options: Yurt camping at South Padre Island, Texas requires advance booking as these specialized accommodations are limited. "The 4 star stay on a 5 star budget" mentioned by Shane M. reflects the value proposition of camping at Isla Blanca compared to traditional lodging, though specific yurt availability varies seasonally.

Tips for camping with families

Beach hazards awareness: Boca Chica Beach presents a different experience than the manicured beaches elsewhere. "The beach is a wild and desolate place. It's quite a contrast from the overly commercial and manicured beaches to the north on South Padre Island. The beach has a lot of debris from river run off and storms," cautions Steve & Ashley G.

Footwear requirements: Natural hazards in grassy areas require appropriate footwear. "The only single complaint is the tiny burrs that are all over the grass area and dunes. They get tracked in an hurt when finding them with bare feet. Our youngest screamed bloody murder the first time walking in flip flops over the grass. Shoes required for most of this park," warns Bret N.

Park facilities for kids: Isla Blanca offers family-friendly amenities that enhance beach camping. "The park has a new outdoor picnic pavilion with the bathrooms, outdoor showers, grills, and a huge picnic table area under a large canopy," describes Steve & Ashley G., pointing out infrastructure that supports family camping.

Tips from RVers

Premium site selection: At Isla Blanca Park, premium sites offer significantly different experiences than standard sites. "I picked a premium site that didn't happen to be very premium. While the location of the site was perfect, all of the sites around me had concrete pads but mine... the online map was showing a finished park with a boardwalk, showers and restrooms right behind my site but it was all still under construction," shares Shane M., highlighting the importance of researching current site conditions.

Internet connectivity challenges: Remote workers should prepare for connectivity issues. "We work remote & data service was tough to get," notes Sarah L. about her January stay, suggesting backup connectivity solutions for those needing reliable internet access.

Extended stay flexibility: Many RVers extend their planned visits at South Padre Island campgrounds. "Lots of people seemed to always be changing sites as they said they extended their trip longer," observes Sarah L., indicating the appeal of longer-term camping and the potential need for flexible planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near South Padre Island, TX?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near South Padre Island, TX is Isla Blanca Park with a 4-star rating from 15 reviews.