We dry camped for our five night stay, which was fine for our needs on this visit. The staff is very helpful and friendly. Nice access to the beach and directly across the highway from the convention center. Do wish they would take the curves out of the entry and exit driveways, it's a curb scraper for long wheel base motor homes. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This a Cameron county park as well as Isla Blanca Park. Isla Blanca is on the south end of the island, and Andy Bowie is on the north end. This park was a parking lot for people to access the beach, and they turned one half of it into an RV park. It is just a Parking lot with hook-ups at the back of the site, but it is quite and really private. The beach was not very busy on this end of the island. The sites are just over the sand dunes to the beach (about 100 yards) There are 2 bath houses, one for the campers, and the other is for day use. My biggest complaint was the driveway getting into the park was very sharp and with a big rig your tires will rub the curb. This was obviously not designed for use by RV's when it was built. Once inside, we really enjoyed our stay. The park workers clean the beach daily of any sea weed that washes up. We really enjoyed our stay at this park. The water and sand were very beautiful. Lots of things to do around town, Brownsville, Mexico, Port Isabelle lighthouse, etc. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Brand new park. Basically a parking lot with hookups but just over the sand dunes from the Gulf of Mexico. Big shade pavillion with picnic tables between campsites & Gulf. Sewer hookups could have been engineered better. Very nice rangers. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We opted for a spot on the end of the road with only 30 amp electricity, but a much better view than the pull throughs in the middle with 50 amp service. After heading in, rather than backing in, we were able to maximize our view of the shipping channel. Lovely! We were snuggled in between 2 of the many 6 month residences, a pie shape site, with big back yard. Only 1 of those was being used and it was a family who lived a few miles away (weekend place). So it seems that if you get a site and like it, you can improve it. Some of these sites are very, very nice, and some are over grown with stickers and weeds. It did feel to us that the employees were "typical civil servants" i.e. they get paid if they do a good job or not and they can't be fired. This is a great place, like camping in a State or Federal Park.... without the Hosts. Isla Blanca Park could be a resort, with the right management. We were dismayed to find no recycle in the park. We were told there used to be, but "they" took them away. We inquired about a spot on the island we could go. Not here! One must take one's recycle over the bridge, and a few blocks more to behind the fire station. We did. So I have to give this lovely location a 7. Two points down for lack of maintenance, & one big point down for failing the recycle awareness responsibility test. Our Internet In Motion worked great! We camped here in a Motorhome.
Rate reflects monthly rate. Stayed for 3 months, Oct-Dec, will return next fall. Great location, we stayed in section "A" outside the gate next to Dirty Al's. Island has great beach and many fine places to eat. Surf and bay fishing was great. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We really loved this park. We went with the expectation that the sites would be close together and there would be little shade...but it's beach camping in a resort area. The park was very clean. The buildings are old, but the bathrooms were kept very clean and well stocked. I wish they had shower curtains for privacy. We camped with our daughter who is under 2 years old and could take her stroller all over the place. My one complaint was the park staff. We called ahead of time to confirm our reservation and were told to call back the next day. They closed earlier than they said....and no one was at the gate. Although it caused us some stress and some added expense on our cell phones....it did not delay us getting a site or getting into the park. I was very impressed with the fishing line recycling stations!!! It's beneficial to sea life, birds, and people. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
Huge place. Almost all seasonals. Most of those folks were hospitable to us transients, but it was clear we were being treated as outsiders! Or even "yankees". No shade at all. Some grass. Sites very level but VERY close together. Beautiful location at the tip of the island, otherwise. One negative encounter with one of the regulars who treated me very rudely one evening when I tried to use the internet connection when I was apparently not supposed to! Like she owned the place and made all the rules, etc. Easy for her to have handled the situation MUCH more politely but that wasn't her style, I guess, to treat a transient that way. She must have thought it was her private campground! Obviously left a bad taste in my mouth, since I still recall it! Otherwise, ok for the 10 days we were there. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
This was our first visit to South Padre Island and we'd heard good things about the county
park, Isla Blanca. We were not disappointed! It's a wonderful park and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there. We were a stone's throw from the gulf and a wonderful walking beach. Propane trucks came by daily. Good security. Quiet and safe. Great Verizon cell phone reception so we were able to get on the internet using our cell easily.We opted to not sign up for phone service. Our satellite TV also worked great. We stayed for a month and had to pay our electric bill which turned out to be $20 extra. We were going to stay at Destinations RV Park which is right beside Isla Blanca but it was quite a bit more expensive. When we go back to South Padre, which is a wonderful place, we will definitely stay at Isla Blanca again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Very friendly and accommodating staff. Sites are a bit tight but not uncomfortable. Very clean park facilities. We would stay here again. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Park is clean, staff is great, facilities are terrific. I have nothing but very good things to say about this campground. We stayed here five nights and enjoyed it the entire time. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We stayed here for 6 nights during Spring Break. We took advantage of the premium spaces facing the bay. What a view! Site was gravel, but level. Facilities were excellent. Kids stayed busy all the time we were here. We took advantage of the fishing charters at the pier on the property, and other water sports available at the marina next door. Some bad weather made us appreciate the fact that the office & common areas were converted from old liquid storage tanks that would withstand almost anything. Only bad experience was dinner at the pier restaurant. It was a great place for lunch or snack or cocktails, just not prepared for a large dinner rush. Overall it was a great visit. We will return in the future. We camped here in a Motorhome.
The earlier reviews are accurate. We stayed on a pull-thru site. They are very narrow and water, sewer and electric for the adjoining site are very close outside your door. I would recommend the back-in sites if you want some elbow room. Excellent views. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We stayed in a pull-thru "Regal Row" site at this RV park. The view of the Laguna Madre Bay was beautiful from the front window of our RV. The sites were all rock and grass is limited throughout the park though we did have a small grassy area in front of our RV. The staff was extremely helpful in every way! The park is dog-friendly and has a sandy dog walk area along the bay. There is a restaurant on site. The food was as good as that served at most of the island's other restaurants. The bathrooms, showers and pool were clean. There is a playground for children and a lovely deck for viewing the sunset. The on-site gym workout room and lounge area were attractive. Our visit was during the off-season so we had lots of room around our site; however, the sites would probably have felt close together if we had had other campers on both sides of our RV. I would recommend this RV Park to anyone visiting South Padre Island. There are activities for both adults and children. We camped here in a Motorhome.
The location is good, the swimming pool is nice, restrooms/shower areas are clean, and the staff is friendly; on the downside, quiet time or "picking up after your pet" rules were not enforced. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
This is a well kept and attractive, sun drenched RV park on the southern tip of South Padre Island.There are few trees anywhere on the island except palms so make sure your A/C and awning are working and ready to go. South Padre is HOT in the summer! The location is great, right on the bay with a view of the causeway with a fishing pier, which guests can use for free. The kids and I had a great time catching many small fish off this pier at night. The cafe on the pier was quite good as well. It was great to be able to stroll over to the cafe from your campsite in the evening. Weekend days got somewhat crowded as the spots are rather tightly spaced. All the spots are paved or gravelled with large (ping pong ball size) white rocks. This tended to amplify the heat and made walking without shoes unpleasant. Bring your awning mat! Bathrooms were outstanding and clean. The staff was attentive and obviously took good care of the park. The converted water tank buildings were very cool! We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
We would stay here again, but it is over priced. Cramped sites typical of a KOA. Friendly, quick check-in. WIFI and cable tv. Pool was very crowded and the second day, they couldn't open the pool until 3:00 due to chemical problems. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This is a very nice park with clean facilities. Staff was helpful. This park is right on the water, so there is a gorgeous view. This was our 2nd time to stay in the park, and I give it high ratings. No issues to speak of other than the lack of shade, but that is to expected since they are right on the beach. We loved it! We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This is now a KOA. they are trying to update many of the facilities. The grounds are being cleaned. We were told they could accomodate a 45' rig without difficulty. The site was great with clear view of the bay. However it could not fit our rig and toad. Since they were not full no problem. If full we would have had to park our toad far away from site. Site also sloped significantly in the front. Could get satellite reception. The wind was high so chose not to use Datastorm. If necessary then would worry about general windy conditions being almost constant here on the island. Overall would definitely return. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Sites are close together here and the park has an air of the "old style". Roads are paved but all else is 1 1/2" rock that you get to camp on. Location is OK but this park is not our cup of tea. If it were full, it would be a mess! Office staff were very friendly. Hot tub/spa is above ground portable type. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We have stayed here for 2 - 3 months for the last 7 years. It is now a KOA and as Winter Texans it is quite clear we are not wanted. WiFi is poor and the Hot Tub is smaller than most home units. Most of the work campers are very friendly, however this is not the case for all. We are made to feel we are a nuisance rather than a guest. I was told by an Activity Director that I was stupid and too old in my ways to accept change. The Park is nice, very clean, but it is KOA owned and customers are not given the friendly welcome that most privately owned KOA's are known for. If looking for a short stay, this would be fine but expensive. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Expensive but really nice. Staff was super friendly, sites are gravel but very well kept. Picked up our trash at our door each morning. Great location. We drove around the corner to state park and parked almost right on the beach. A lot of winter Texans here. We are younger and only stayed 3 nights but they made us feel right at home. We camped here in a Motorhome.
On 12/22/06 this lovely park turned into a KOA. Immediately there was a significant downturn in services to KOA level. This has been a very nice, spotless, friendly park. This area is very, very windy - usually at least 10-15mph, if not more commonly 20-30mph+. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Varied rates (seasonal, standard site, premier, etc) @ $35 - 45 nightly. Free Wi-Fi was slow while we were there (< 20 Mbps) also intermittent (restarting the computer often helped increase connectivity). Nice views at this park - especially on the northwest side facing the laguna and looking toward the causeway bridge and the south side facing Dolphin Cove. We were in site #2 which was fairly nice with one exception - the site is a pull-through but not for a 5th wheel, pulling through with 5th wheel virtually eliminates the view (hook-ups are on the wrong side. Motorhomes are fine, the view is out the front windshield. We fixed the problem by backing into the site and running the utilities under the trailer and out the other side. They don’t normally allow it, but we’ll "let it go this time". Site #1A and #1 are peculiarly shaped. With all three sites occupied( #1A, 1 & 2) - things are entirely too close for comfort (thank God for good neighbors). Nice park, paved roads, easy to maneuver - fairly level gravel sites. Picnic table at each site but no concrete slab. Easy access from Hwy 100. Nice landscaping, but no shade trees. Telephone available in the rec room (the Commons) - can also be used as modem. Propane available from roving truck. Nice choice of free cable channels, reception/picture is often fuzzy. No highway traffic noise, however - there is quite a bit of diesel boat noise from surrounding boat traffic and the on-property deep-sea fishing business. Their first excursion leaves promptly at 7:30 a.m. and depending on the cloud-cover and humidity - the loud, grating rumble can be very tiring to listen to day after day, several times a day. No on-site store or provisions, but lots of nearby shopping (Walmart and H.E.B.) Brownsville (20 miles away) has just about everything - Home Depot, Target, Walmart, drugstores, nice shopping malls and lots more. The park has many planned activities - crafts, music, dancing and of course, eating. This is definitely a destination resort with lots to see & do. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Although the weather was stormy when we were here, it is a wonderful campground. We had a waterfront site. The employees were super helpful and the restrooms and laundry were clean. The laundry even had a television and a soap dispenser, which was very handy. There is a great commons room with sofas and a television and a weight room as well as a huge swimming pool. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is the best place to stay on the island. The park is excellent and the staff is wonderful. Most campers are here with their kids, so the bike and scooter traffic is heavy. The green belt along the main driveway is a great fireworks viewing spot. Purchase the season pass to Isla Blanca park because it is the best place to enjoy the surf. My husband fished the bay right out side of our RV and the reds are plentiful. Reserve your spot for your next visit before you leave because getting in this place can be difficult. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
We have camped all over this country for many years and this is the smallest asssigned spot we have ever camped in and the most expensive. There isn't room for our 26' travel trailer and our truck which has to park in the road. Also they LOCK the bathrooms between 10:45 pm and 7 am and do not provide any other facilitites for the campers in spite of having coded locks on the door during the daytime which could provide security during the night yet they chose to put a padlock on the door during the night. What do they expect folks to do during the night hours? We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Review Rating
[ 10 / 10 ]
January 2006
$39
First time to south padre island REALLY enjoyed it park is beautiful although a little tight but we were on the beach most of the time so it didn't matter. the staff is very very help full and friendly. the "heated" pool could have been a little warmer!! the office and commons in the water tanks is a cool touch. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Review Rating
[ 8 / 10 ]
June 2005
$45
We stayed here for the better part of a week just prior to the 4th of July weekend. This is a big, somewhat congested park, although we were on the south side of the park in a site that directly overlooked the water, and it was very nice. The only real downside to this park was the general lack of vegetation. The whole park is covered with white rock, and there's only grass in places like the dog walk. Not only does the gravel hurt to walk on, but it also reflects a lot of heat. Other parts of this park were great. The staff was not the best we've ever seen, but they were fine. The pool was wonderful, very clean and very well maintained, and the hot tub was in place and clean. The restaurant is convenient, but not nearly as good as many others on S Padre. All in all, while expensive and far from ideal, this is probably the best bet in S. Padre. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Excellent upscale RV Resort in beautiful location. Great restraunt on site. Close to everything. Will return there in future. We camped here in a Motorhome.
The park had nice views, good restaurant and an excellent fishing business. South Padre Island was a great place to visit. The weather was warm and the breeze was there nearly every day. We enjoyed our time there although we thought that the management of the park needed to be changed. Things that they advertised, for instance, the hot tub was not even in when we got there. They were not maintaining the pool well. There were often times when the pool was closed and either it was cold or looked full of algae. If you had complaints, the management did nothing about it. It went in one ear and out the other. We felt that the managers did not care about their customers, and we have been going there often. We heard the office manager say, you can leave if you do not like it here. However, their policy was that there were no refunds what so ever. They charge too much for what they have to offer where they park the RV's. You park on stones that are hard to walk on. Their wireless Internet did not work well at times. They only have a few parking sites with water views and we believe they charge more for those sites. We will go back to South Padre Island, but as far as giving this park another chance we will have to wait and see. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 4 / 10 ]
August 2004
$40
I stayed there over memorial day weedend. I paid for three days in advance. A medical problem came up with one of my children, I called Destinations to cancel. The person I talked to told me that they would not refund any of my money, because it was a holiday week end. I called a week in advance to let them know I was not going to make it. They told me that the manager would call me back, but the manager never did. I was able to make it after all. When I arrived they said I didn't have a reservation, because I had canceled. I told them that the manager never called, so I made up my mind to show up anyway. My reserved site was given to someone else and I was given a smaller site for the same price. They didn't even say they were sorry or anything. The sites are very close together and thier is no room for your car. You have to park it on the street. There is no grass anywhere near the sites, they also lock up all the amenities afer dark. So if you need to go to the bathroom or shower you need to go else where. I think it is over priced for such small sites. I will never go back there. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
This was our 2nd visit to the park over spring break. It’s close to the beach and to some great bay or deep sea fishing. The pool is also heated which is nice for those days it just a little to cool to head to the beach. There is a nice rec room also for those days when it’s rainy. It’s a little hectic over spring break but still a great place to stay on the island. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
My wife and I had gone to Destination South Padre in 2002 and found that many things they tout on their website to be outright fantasy. The fireworks they talk about belong to a bar halfway down the island and happen only on Friday. Their website makes it appear that the fireworks are theirs and that they happen every night. The pool and hot tub open late and close early. At opening, they spend an hour cleaning at which time you can't go in and at around 21:30 they start trying to run everyone out of the pool area even though closing time isn't until 23:00. The activities spoken of on their website have never been witnessed by me and I have doubt they even take place. This year, 2004, we thought we'd give them another try so we made our reservations. They charged my Master Charge $50.00 to reserve the spot. Last Monday, two weeks before we were to arrive, my daughter broke her leg at a softball game so I contacted Destination South Padre to get my $50.00 back. I spoke to Jolly, who informed me she was just a part time employee and couldn't help me. I asked to speak with the manager and she told me the manager wasn't in and that she would have the manager return my call. I have never been contacted by the manager. I again called, this time I spoke with Mary, the Asst. Manager. She informed me that I had six months to use my time but that it was their policy not to refund the $50.00 no matter what. After going back and forth with Mary, she hung up on me. I asked four different times to speak to the manager and was refused all four times. She further stated that the manager wouldn't return my call or address my complaint. My advise, if you want to go to South Padre, stay at the Isla Blanca Park. They don't charge $50.00 to make a reservation and you can still see the fireworks. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Review Rating
[ 9 / 10 ]
2003
$45
Very nice campground, we will return! We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 9 / 10 ]
2003
$40
Very nice park. We stayed for about a week and had a good experience with the employees and the general atmosphere in the park. The sites are not exactly waterfront but more water view. The park is on gravel with no concrete pads.
Each has a picnic table. The only negative I can say is the price seemed a little high as compared to other sites in the area. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 10 / 10 ]
2002
$32
Campground is surrounded on 3 sides by baywater. Beautiful views and sunsets. Very tropical and well-kept grounds. Staff and managment very helpful and friendly. Bathrooms and showers were spotless. Lots of flowers and palm trees. Fishing was great. Playground for children. Pet friendly. Nice big pull-thru sites along with many spacious back-in sites. This park knows how to treat their guests. They make them feel very special. I highly recommend this park. We camped here in a camper.