South Padre Island KOA

The Great Outdoors

A little farther north along the shore is the Andy Bowie County Park, right in South Padre Island, Texas. Here, you can enjoy a county-maintained beach that is also packed with amenities. You will have easy access to a snack shack, beach rentals, fishing areas, restrooms, and plenty of ocean-side beaches. Just be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen; the Texas sun is no joke.Those who want to see some local wildlife can head to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Los Fresnos, Texas. Situated on the mainland with a bay coastline, Laguna Atascosa covers almost 100,000 acres of wetlands, prairie, and even desert landscapes. You can hike along the almost 20 miles of trails through the various habitats and ecosystems or instead, take a tram tour and get to see even more. While at the refuge, you might get to see nilgai antelope, American alligators, tricolored herons, and if you’re very lucky, you just might catch a glimpse of the local conservation success story: the ocelot.Just north of the Mexico border is the Boca Chica State Park in Brownsville, Texas. Here, you can retreat to remote beaches, enjoy wildlife viewing, and take a hike along the coastal flats of the park. In fact, Boca Chica State Park is considered one of the best birding destinations in the Texas State Park system. Do keep in mind, however, that because Boca Chica is regarded as a wildlife haven, it is not very developed, so make sure that you have plenty of food and water and sunscreen during your stay.

Explore the City

If the Texas heat is even too much for the beach, then consider heading to the Schlitterbahn Water Park on South Padre Island. The water park is split into two sections: the outdoor section and the indoor section. At the outdoor section, you can enjoy towering water slides, human-made pool beaches, a lazy river, and even a zip line. In the indoor portion, you can enjoy pools, water slides, and an added break from the Texas sun.For more thrills, you can head to the massive amusement park nearby. Also located on South Padre Island, this action-packed park features go-karts, miniature golf, an arcade, and several amusement rides. You can play the day away or enjoy the cooler nights at this family-friendly establishment.History lovers can head back over the bridge to the mainland and spend some time at the Port Isabel Historical Museum. You can learn about both the past and current fishing industry in the area, learn about the early settlements to the area, and during the summer, you can enjoy movie nights with the historic lighthouse as the backdrop.When you book an RV in South Padre Island, you might need to restock and refuel at some point. Luckily enough, there are a few grocery store and gas station options on South Padre Island that are worth looking at. However, there are even more options back on the mainland.When you’re RV camping at South Padre Island KOA along the Gulf Coast shoreline, make sure to indulge in some Gulf Coast seafood. Whether you want shrimp, crab, fish, or something else, chances are you will be able to find it in this warm environment. Even better, with South Padre’s proximity to the Mexican border, chances are you’ll be able to find some truly unique flavors too.