Camping South Padre Island soon

[Keith2000]

I haven’t been to spi since the nineties, but I would like to tell you that Texas has very nice state parks that are often cheaper and more spacious than the KOAs. Although the KOAs are sometimes closer to your route. Just a heads up since not all state parks are as trailer friendly.

[jetalkington]

My wife and I just came back from camping Mustang Island. While there we stopped in the Headquarters for the Lakeshore. I told the guy working at the counter I wanted to go to South Padre to visit the Sanctuary there.

He said it was nice but would not recommend camping on the beach. He recommended staying at one of the established campgrounds a little of the beach like KOA. He did not mention the killing but said they have been having trouble with drug runners coming ashore in South Padre and that you never know if will happen while your there. He said it has been serious problem. We decided to stay on Mustang. It was really great and we had zero problems.

[mszabo]

Don’t know what your guy was talking about. It’s been relatively quite down here.
The problem area is more centered near Corpus. You wouldn’t like it here anyways.

[jetalkington]

He is one of the National Park Rangers so I suspect he had more info than most people. Why do you think I would not like it there?

[Kevin A]

Jim,
I believe Mike was pulling your leg a bit so that there is more room there for the rest of us!

[CindyL]

Originally Posted by jetalkington

He is one of the National Park Rangers so I suspect he had more info than most people. Why do you think I would not like it there?

Mike lives there in the winter. I would think he knows. We leave for South Padre a week from Friday. Anticipating fun times, and will look for the original poster.

CindyL

[CharlesinGA]

On Youtube, Grand Adventure has done a couple of videos on his travel thru south Texas including Padre Island area.

https://youtu.be/RJbq11F4pUo

https://youtu.be/SqY-UIfQnRQ

The Grand Adventure videos are all well done and worth watching. One of my favorite channels.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFb...7gUw27w/videos

Charles

[Scamp Jeannie]

Thanks Charles, The video's were very helpful.

[Scamp Jeannie]

Cindy, I'm grateful for all the wonderful helpful camping suggestions, some to be filed away for the next trip. I did want you to know that I have a reservation and am anxious to leave the snow and frigid temperatures.

[nutter_scamp_owner]

Fellow MN Scamp owner, been there, done that...
You are more than 2 days from there! LONG driving days are called for to make it in 3 days! About 1600 miles from Mpls/St Paul.
Beware the cross-wind black ice in Iowa and Kansas!
We stayed at Isla Blanca Park as it was 1/3 the monthly rate of the KOA. KOA doesnt have any beach, Isla you walk right out onto it.
The wind NEVER stops on the island. Salt spray covers everything. Our cushions were removed for general cleaning and it looked like we spilled a salt shaker under them.
Camping is cheap on the beach, but be aware if tide comes in and Scamp gets stuck its several hundred to get pulled out. Full-time job for big 4x4 pickups doing the pulling. Most bigger rigs park on sheets of plywood due to this.
We stayed thru Spring Break, the music still excessively loud until 4am! But never a problem with the kids themselves.
A hidden jewel is D's Pizza. Serves pizza and also a great spaghetti dinner.
On the island its self there is only one grocery store, priced accordingly.
We also staye a couple of weeks on Malaquite Beach, no hookups, have to move a little ways to dump. The showers are cold water only.
Since then we have come the last 4 years about 35 miles inland (Harlingen area) as half way between SPI and McAllen. Beach is 45 minutes away, anything else is within 30 minutes.
The Rio Grand Valley is known for its excellant hospitals for us "older" generation folks.
All the people are nice, never had any crime or other problems in the 8 years we spent winters here. If you go to Mexico, enter at Progresso! The other towns aren't safe.
By the way, its midnite now and its 74 degrees, but in 2 days a cold front arrives with lows in upper 30's!

[steve dunham]

We are life long Minnesotans who retired to Northern Wisconsin (Better Climate)
We never had much interest in anything texan and after reading the comments here spending Winters in Northern Wisconsin are looking better and better

[mszabo]

Good

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by mszabo

Good

I forgot to mention that Michigan is a great place in the winter especially the UP.

[mszabo]

As is Minnesota

[Scamp Jeannie]

I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the wealth of information you gave me based on your experience. Now it is a matter of what inconveniences (wind, blowing sand, noise, etc. ) I am willing to put up with. You gave me many options.

[Scamp Jeannie]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

We are life long Minnesotans who retired to Northern Wisconsin (Better Climate)
We never had much interest in anything texan and after reading the comments here spending Winters in Northern Wisconsin are looking better and better

We must be close. I spend most my time in NW WI west of Cushing in what is called the Barrens. Yes, a bit of Gods country.

[mszabo]

Originally Posted by Scamp Jeannie

I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the wealth of information you gave me based on your experience. Now it is a matter of what inconveniences (wind, blowing sand, noise, etc. ) I am willing to put up with. You gave me many options.

Weather report, 82* wind is 18 mph-24 mph. Little hazy, no snow in site.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by Scamp Jeannie

We must be close. I spend most my time in NW WI west of Cushing in what is called the Barrens. Yes, a bit of Gods country.

We had friends who owned a farm on County Rd G just up the hill from the Barrens . We hunted deer in the area for many years before he passed away

[CindyL]

We found Jeannie's Scamp, and then Jeannie dropped by our site yesterday. We both have front row sites at the KOA. Jeannie could sit and watch for dolphins from her camping chair. I saw 5 in the water she looks out on yesterday.

Weather is great this year (Last year, it sucked.). We visited Brownsville Zoo and went swimming on Christmas Day.

CindyL

[Scamp Jeannie]

A Big Shout Out to all the Fiberglass Rvers who messaged helpful responses to my 1600 mile MN to TX adventure on short notice. Left MN (actually WI where I keep Scamp) Dec. 21, weather awesome the whole way, road quality not so great and had no problems on the road. On arrival no 12 volt power (plug undone) and a leak in the fresh water to toilet (still not resolved), however everything else couldn’t be better. Not crowded on beaches, temp. In mid 70’s, sand castle displays. All is good. Found Cindy and Kevin a few sites away. Thanks to all again.