Many people know that Key West is the southernmost point of the lower 48 states, but did you know you can drive to another extreme point, one also at a semi-tropical latitude?
Boca Chica Beach is a public beach, located at the very bottom part of Texas. Lying right next to Mexico, it’s comprised of 1,055 acres of undeveloped beachfront and dunes. While it’s a state park, sort of, you won’t find any amenities here, or even find it listed on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Website.
“Southwestern-most” Point You Can Drive To
The end of Boca Chica Beach, the southern-most point in Texas, is located at 25.956 latitude, which is about the same as that of Miami and Bimini Island, in the Bahamas. You’ll need four-wheel drive to get there, but you can drive right up to the mouth of the Rio Grande River, which is also the U.S./Mexico border.
Clear Water, Blue Skies
When we visited Boca Chica Beach in early September the water was clear and blue. Water clarity is one big reason we choose to drive the extra couple of hours, on past North Padre Island, down to far South Texas. While most tourists come here to visit South Padre Island, few of them make the trip on down to Boca Chica Beach, since it’s located a bit off the beaten path, at the far end of a peninsula. You’ll find a few tourists, but mostly local families who congregate on weekends.
To get there, you have to drive into Brownsville and back south again. From Port Isabel, it’s about a 45 minute drive.
Things to See and Do at Boca Chica Beach
Some people do camp on the beach here. We did not, and instead camped on South Padre Island, where there’s more space, (30 miles of driveable beach) – and farther from the US/Mexico Border, which is literally “right there” at Boca Chica. We drove up to the border, the point at which the Rio Grande river flows into the Gulf, and were surprised there were no signs marking the boundary. We saw several vehicles parked on the Mexican side, and scores of people fishing and swimming. At first we thought they might be Boca Chica Beach visitors, but then glanced at Gaia GPS to see that it was indeed the international boundary.
While some illegal border crossings do occur here, a CBP agent assured the area is “highly monitored.” Overhead a large surveillance blimp looms, and in the evening we noticed several Border Patrol vehicles making their rounds.
Beach combing here can be excellent, especially on weekdays. We found several nice shells, along with a few sea beans, and even a piece of volcanic tuff, which must have traveled some distance. Birdwatchers will find plenty of species here, and fishing in the surf can be excellent at times. History buffs will want to stop and check out the historical markers on the drive in, as this area was the site of the last battle of the Civil War.
Space X and Starbase
Right next to the public beachfront you’ll find Space X’s launchpad. The park, and the road leading to it, is often closed for launches and rocket testing. Be sure to check the Starbase website for road closure and launch info.
As weird as it was to drive up to an international border on the beach, it felt equally as odd to be able to walk right up to Space X’s launchpad. The area is fenced and guarded, but nothing like a NASA facility, and the launch pad itself is just a stone’s throw from the public road. We could clearly see the damage caused to fuel storage tanks from the launch of the Falcon Heavy, a few months earlier.
Space Nerds – Look carefully as you drive toward the beach and you’ll see where space enthusiasts and videographers have installed solar-powered WiFi cameras among the dunes. An assortment of space devotees were camped out – semi-permanently, in all sorts of odd vehicles, just before the park entrance. Some were sitting in lawn chairs, with binoculars fixed on the launch site, even though no launch was planned for months. Some fans have even painted tributes such as “We Love Elon” on roadside rocks.
Moving on…
In Boca Chica History: Years before Musk showed up, in 1933, a rocket experimenter named William Swan, while performing in an airshow, strapped on a homemade rocket and jumped out of a plane. He was last seen heading into the clouds, and has never been found.
Foreign Visitors Take Note: If you are visiting the U.S. from abroad and decide to drive down to Boca Chica Beach, don’t forget to bring your passport. Upon exiting, you must pass through a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol checkpoint, where you must present I.D., if requested. Having passed by several clusters of surveillance cameras, like the ones we saw here, on our way down US-77, we felt the agents probably already had all our info, maybe even knew what we’d eaten for breakfast.
Big Changes
Not all of the long time residents of Boca Chica, many of whom are retirees, are thrilled with the changes Space X has brought to their little slice of paradise. For years, this place has been a bit of a secret, but judging from all the real estate signs and construction activity, the area is in for some big changes.
Things To Be Aware Of When Visiting Boca Chica Beach
- Beach driving is allowed, but sand can be very loose at times. Four-wheel-drive is recommended.
- Be aware of your surroundings. It’s generally safe here, patrolled by U.S. Border Patrol and local law enforcement. Use common sense.
- Check the county or Space X website for road closures. You can text the word “Beach” to 866-513-3475 to receive road closure updates.
- Pick up and pack out trash and pet waste.
See our post about Driving and Camping on South Padre Island
