Port Isabel Lighthouse: A Texas Gulf Coast RV Traveler's Guide

Overlooking the channel between the mainland and South Padre Island, the 1852 brick tower at Port Isabel is the last Texas lighthouse open to the public — a climb up its winding stairs and short ladders ends in a lantern room with views across the coastal flats toward the island's beaches. The Texas Historical Commission manages it as a State Historic Site, with a reconstructed keeper's cottage serving as a museum.

For RV travelers heading to the southern tip of the Texas coast, Port Isabel sits right at the gateway to South Padre Island, making the lighthouse an easy and rewarding stop. The Texas Historical Commission's site has current hours, climb rules, and admission details.