SpaceX Starship Launch Guide: Visiting Starbase and San Padre Island

Airports Near SpaceX

• Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (BRO): The closest airport, just 25 minutes from Starbase.
• Valley International Airport (HRL): Located in Harlingen, approximately an hour’s drive from San Pedro Island (without traffic).
• McAllen International Airport (MFE): A bit farther away, but still a viable option for flexible flights.
• Worth mentioning, but not recommended:
  Aeropuerto Internacional General Servando Canales de Matamoros (MAM): This is a 1.5 hour drive away from San Pedro Island in Texas, but the airport is located in Mexico. This area is highly unrecommended, as it is heavily controlled by the cartel. On 11/16/24, a taxi driver from the BRO airport explained to that if you fly into MAM, and take a taxi to any destination, the white taxi vans are run by an organized local cartel. He warned that they often try to kidnap and hold you ransom to see what they can get for your return. Of course, there are plenty of other places in Mexico that are not run  by cartels, but this one area in particular is dangerous.

When booking flights, book them with flexible date-change policies to adapt to potential launch delays. Wear any of your SpaceX t-shirt or baseball cap merchandise so that you can quickly connect with like minded people on the flight. If you’re traveling to any one of the above listed American airports within a few days of the launch, at least half your flight from Houston will be loaded with SpaceX fans, all excitedly awaiting the next launch. It’s fun to connect with them as they share their previous launch videos!

Where to Stay

Hotels are the last thing to book, since there are so many hotels in the area. Many of them are dog-friendly, which is great when you need to pack up and go immediately with only 5 days notice, if you’re lucky.

• Hotels on South Padre Island: Many beachfront options are available, including chains like Hilton and Holiday Inn Express, or smaller boutique hotels. The Holiday Inn offers the closest proximity to Boca Chica, TX, where the launch will take place, while the Hilton is a full service hotel, that is dog-friendly.
• Vacation Rentals: Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO offer excellent choices for families or groups. It’s also noteworthy that condo rentals will provide the closest proximity to the Blanca Isla Park, which is where you want to be for the launch.
• Brownsville Lodging: You can stay closer to Starbase with accommodations in Brownsville, but it is less beautiful than San Pedro Island, and you won’t have the best view for launch, as SpaceX is not open to the public.

It’s also really important to know that there aren’t any easily reachable grocery or pharmacy stores around on the island. Your best bet for any items that you may need is either in your hotel lobby, or the local T-shirt shops which are located throughout the island.

How to View the SpaceX Launch

Blanca Isla Park is the best place to view the launch from. It’s directly across the water, and will be packed with onlookers. Most of the locals bring fold up chairs, but you can sit on the rocks at the very edge to enjoy the launch. Bring drinks to keep you hydrated.

Many people also book a boat tour during this time to view the launch, as they can legally get closer to the launch site than the beach. There’s a number of places that are great, but Isla Tours is the best one.

The launch itself is not long, maybe 10 minutes if there’s a successful catch, but you’ll want to give yourself a good hour for the event if you’re not needing parking. If you successfully rented a car, give yourself an additional hour to find nearby parking. While there, it’s nice to also have the SpaceX livestream running on your tablet or laptop so you can follow along irl, while you film your own experience on your phone.

Pro Parking Tip: For $20, you can park at the Shoe Palace t-shirt shop at 140 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX, (956) 772-9801, and just walk down to the beach for the show.

Pro Pet Tip: If you decide to bring your dog, you can bring him/her to the park during the launch. There will be other dogs there and the park is a great place for your furry friend to sniff and play. For the 1 minute of 80-100 decibels of noise that might spark fear, we recommend dog ear muffs for your sensitive fur friend.

Restaurants on San Pedro Island

There’s not many good places to eat if you’re staying along the strip of San Pedro Island, so you should expect to mainly eat at your hotel, or nearby hotels along the strip. It might even be a good idea to bring a bag of your favorite protein powder with you for when you’re hungry, there’s just not much available. The best restaurants will be located in Margaritaville, and the best dinner restaurant is the Sea Ranch Restaurant for fresh seafood.

Things to Do on South Padre Island

• SpaceX: SpaceX is closed to the public, but you can still view the rockets from the road before launch day. If you ask a taxi driver, they’ll happily escort you. It’s a sight worth seeing up close. The facility is located at 52448-, 54298 Boca Chica Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78521
  *Note: If you want to buy SpaceX merchandise, there is no official public store, so you’ll need to order from their website. The t-shirt stores all have knock off merchandise available, but it’s not as good as the real thing.
• Beach Activities: Relax on the sandy shores, try windsurfing, or book a dolphin-watching tour. There is really nice swimming in the bay, opposite of the ocean. The water is warmer, and there are less jellyfish, too.
• Go-karting: Go karting seems to be a very popular activity, and there are usually go-karts for rent at the local t-shirt shops. The further down the strip you go towards the Padre Island National Seashore, the cheaper the rentals will be.
• SPI bird Sanctuary: Open from 8-5p, Monday-Friday you can visit this nature conserve center to view the beautiful birds, alligators, and butterflies.
• Sea Turtle, Inc.: Visit this renowned sea turtle rescue and conservation center.
• Laguna Madre Nature Trail: Explore local wildlife and birdwatch along this scenic boardwalk.
• Nightlife: Enjoy bars, restaurants, and live music venues along the island’s main strip.

Travel Safety Tips

• Be aware of the region’s proximity to the Mexican border. While South Padre Island and Brownsville are generally safe, exercise caution in areas near Mexican cartel hotspots. It is strongly unadvisable to travel through Matamoros airport.
• Follow local news and advisories for any travel updates or safety warnings.
• Drive only on well-traveled roads, especially after dark, and avoid remote border areas.