State Parks near Harlingen, TX

Down on the Rio Grande near the Texas-Mexico border is the 500-acre Falcon State Park. The park spans two Texan counties, Starr and Zapata County. It's conveniently located off Highway 83 near Roma, Texas. The closest major city, San Antonio, Texas, is roughly three and a half hours from the park.

One of the park’s main features is the almost 85,000-acre International Falcon Reservoir, which is also known as Falcon Lake. Together, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mexican President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines dedicated the dam that forms the reservoir in 1953. However, Falcon State Park didn't open until 1965. The area surrounding the lake is comprised of grassy hills, small native trees, and cacti. All this greenery …

If you're planning a relaxing coastal getaway full of sun, sand, surf, and fun, Mustang Island State Park should be right near the top of your list of must-visit destinations.

Located just to the south of Port Aransas, this 3,954-acre park sits on an 18-mile-long barrier island on Texas' Gulf of Mexico coast. Boasting more than five miles of pristine coastline, it's the perfect spot to hit the sand, get wet, and enjoy the refreshing Gulf breezes.

Mustang Island State Park offers swimming, fishing, surfing, and kayaking for lovers of all water-based activities, as well as great hiking, mountain biking, and bird watching on land. And with 98 campsites to choose from, many of them right on the beach, …