Plan Your Trip
Visiting Starbase, Texas
Starbase is SpaceX's Starship factory and launch site at the end of State Highway 4 on the Boca Chica peninsula, about 20 miles east of Brownsville. It became an official Texas city in 2025, and it's become a bucket-list stop for space fans. Here's what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of a visit.
Can You Visit Starbase?
Yes — with one important caveat. You can drive Highway 4 out to the Starbase area and Boca Chica Beach and see the rockets from the public road whenever the highway is open. The factory grounds and launch pad are private and closed to the public, and Cameron County shuts the highway and beach entirely during testing and launches. So the golden rule is simple: check road closures and the weather before you drive out.
Things to Do at Starbase
See Starship up close on Highway 4
When State Highway 4 is open, you can drive right past the SpaceX build site and stop along the public road to see Starship and Super Heavy hardware, the high bay, and the launch towers in the distance. It's the closest the public can legally get.
Watch a Starship launch or static fire
The main event. Launches and engine tests are visible from miles away. The best public viewing is across the bay on South Padre Island — see our map for the exact spots and sightlines.
Visit Boca Chica Beach
A quiet, undeveloped Gulf beach at the very end of Highway 4, just past the launch site. Great for birding, shelling, and photos — but it closes during testing and launches, so check closures first.
Photograph the Starbase landmarks
The 'rocket town' build site, the orbital launch and catch towers, and the retired Starship prototypes make for unforgettable photos. Sunrise and sunset light up the stainless steel.
Explore South Padre Island & Brownsville
Make a weekend of it: South Padre Island has beaches, restaurants, and the Sea Turtle rescue center, while Brownsville offers hotels, the historic downtown, and Resaca de la Palma State Park.
Visiting Starbase — FAQ
Can you visit Starbase, Texas?
Yes — you can drive State Highway 4 from Brownsville out to the Starbase area and Boca Chica Beach, and view the SpaceX build site and rockets from the public road whenever the highway is open. The factory grounds and launch pad themselves are private and not open to the public, and the road and beach close during testing and launches.
What is there to do at Starbase?
The main things to do are seeing Starship hardware up close from Highway 4, watching a launch or engine test (best viewed from South Padre Island), visiting Boca Chica Beach, and photographing the build site and launch towers. Many visitors combine it with a stay on South Padre Island or in Brownsville.
Are there official SpaceX Starbase tours?
SpaceX does not currently run public tours of the Starbase factory or launch pad. The publicly accessible experience is self-guided along Highway 4 and Boca Chica Beach. Some third-party guides and local operators offer area tours, and community groups occasionally organize meetups — check our events calendar for anything currently scheduled.
Is Starbase a real city?
Yes. Starbase was officially incorporated as a city in Cameron County, Texas in May 2025. It's a small community of a few hundred residents — most of them SpaceX employees — centered on the Starship development and launch facilities at Boca Chica.
How do you get to Starbase?
Fly into Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (BRO), then drive about 20 miles east on State Highway 4 (Boca Chica Boulevard) to reach the Starbase area and beach. There's no public transit, so a rental car is essentially required.
When is the best time to visit Starbase?
Time your trip around a launch if you can — that's the most exciting experience. Weather-wise, late fall through early spring is the most comfortable. Whenever you go, check the launch schedule and road closures, since Highway 4 and the beach close during SpaceX activity.