The Lake Casa Blanca International State Park is located in Laredo, in the southwestern portion of Texas. This beautiful lakeside facility is located minutes away from the border of Mexico, so guests who would like to visit two countries in one trip should bring their passports.
Visitors come to this state park to enjoy the recreational activities and the pure beauty of the Texas landscape. The flat land is covered with grass and dotted with mesquite and oak. The semi-arid climate creates mild winters and hot summers. During the summer, an occasional monsoon thunderstorm is not unheard of. These quick storms produce heavy rains, but they generally last only for a short period. Depending on the season, campers may want to spend a few hours outdoors or all day. This area of Texas is popular for guests who winter in warmer climates because the weather is temperate and enjoyable when much of the country is cold and covered in snow.
The dry climate means that there are not many bodies of water. Lake Casablanca, with a surface area of 1,680 acres, is one of the only lakes in the vicinity, so wildlife like to utilize the water almost as much as campers and recreation seekers. While you sit lakeside, be on the lookout for javelina, black-tailed jackrabbits, the Texas horned lizard, migratory birds, and even the Western diamond-backed rattlesnake.
The Lake Casa Blanca International State Park is located in Laredo, Texas minutes away from the Mexican border. The park is 157 miles southwest of San Antonio, and 147 miles southwest of Corpus Christi, Texas.
All guests must pay park entry fees before heading to the campground. Payments must be paid at the park’s headquarters located near the main entry off of State Senator Judith Zaffirini Road.
The park’s gate is open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. You must call the park before 5:00 pm on your arrival date for late arrival instructions if you plan to arrive after the gates close for the night. A self-pay station with late-arrival instructions is available for guests coming to the park for late check-in.
The Lake Casa Blanca RV Campground is a year-round, multi-looped campground that offers varying levels of hookups depending on which loop you make your reservations. The hookup options range from full-hookup sites with 50 amp electrical service, water, and sewer, to 50 amp electric and water-only sites. All of the sites are pet-friendly and have paved driveways, picnic tables, fire rings with a grill grate, and a lantern pole. The largest driveway in the facility accommodates RVs and trailers up to 143 feet in length. The campground has showers, restrooms, and a dump station. Quiet hours are between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am.
Lake Casa Blanca is known for its year-round fishing. Pick up a lake map from the park’s headquarters and head to the lake to try your hand at catching crappie, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, carp, or channel catfish. The park has two fishing areas, the pier for anglers who don’t have a boat, and the boat ramp, which launches your watercraft for a day of fishing out on the lake. For guests who don’t have their own fishing gear, the park loans fishing gear for use in the park. Although you need a fishing license to fish in Texas public waters, you don’t need a fishing license to fish inside of Texas state parks.
The Lake Casa Blanca International State Park has many day use areas for guests of the park to get outside and enjoy the warm Texas air. If you like to play games, visit one of the playgrounds. Groups can organize activities by renting a sheltered pavilion and then bringing everyone to the baseball field, or one of the volleyball, tennis, and basketball courts. If sitting outside next the water is more your style, then you will love the park’s swim area and the cold lake water. There is plenty to see and do at the park for people of all ages. Pick up a park map for more information.
Lake Casa Blanca isn’t just a fishing lake. Many people use their boats for fishing, but people also bring boats to waterski and cruise around. Much of the lake is open to boats, and there are limited wake restrictions. If you want to spend the day on the water, but you don’t have your own watercraft, then stop by Chloe’s Convenience Store. The store rents boating supplies, kayaks, tubes, and paddle boats. Check with the park for the store’s operating hours.
Geocaching is the world’s largest electronic treasure hunt, and the Texas state park system, including Lake Casa Blanca, is a supporter of the fun, family-friendly game. The park often holds events that teach people about Geocaching, and there are several geocaches hidden in and around the park. Bring your GPS equipment, and see what kind of fun things you can find! For more information about Geocache programs, contact the park. For details on caches visit the official geocaching website.
Prepare your hiking or biking day pack, and spend some of your visit hiking or mountain biking on the park’s multi-use trails. The park has four trails. The paths are rated either easy or moderate difficulty hikes, so there are trails that people of many abilities can enjoy. Some of the pathways run along the park’s scenic areas of interest, while other paths bring you into areas where there is little else other than wildlife and solitude. Pick up a park map and make sure you prepare yourself with plenty of water, sunscreen, and any other items you might need for some time in the Texas sun.
Lake Casa Blanca State Park has many bird species that inhabit the park year-round. Birders should come prepared with binoculars, cameras, and other birdwatching needs, and pick up a Birds of Lake Casa Blanca Field Checklist. The checklist is a guide to help birdwatchers look for certain species of birds. The guide’s legend helps birders know what season the birds frequent the park as well as if the birds on the list are classified as common, uncommon, rare, or accidental when it comes to spotting the species within the park’s boundaries. No matter what season you decide to visit, there will be plenty of bird watching opportunities.
