Where to watch / Port Isabel Lighthouse

Watch Starship from the Port Isabel Lighthouse

The Port Isabel Lighthouse is 6.4 miles from the Starship launch pad, across the bay to the southeast. A climb costs $5 for an adult. The lighthouse opens at 9 a.m., so an early launch can come before the doors open: watch from the park around it.

Look southeastLaunch padPort Isabel Lighthouse
North is up · Aerial photo: USDA, USGS The National Map
Distance
6.4 mi
Straight line to the pad
Look
southeast
Toward the pad, 151°
Drive
32 min
From downtown Brownsville, no traffic
Cost
$5
Adult, to climb. Seniors $4, ages 5 to 12 $3.
Launch today?NoNext: Starship Flight 15, Q4 2026, no date set
Get directionsRoad closures

What you will see and hear

How big it looks

Hold your thumb up at arm's length. Starship looks about a third of your thumb tall.

HORIZONSTARSHIPTHUMB

The flame and the exhaust cloud look much bigger than the rocket.

When you hear it

You see the flame first. The sound arrives about 30 seconds later.

0 s
30 s
You see the flameYou hear it

How it compares

Straight-line distance to the launch pad. Rocket Ranch shows its own figure for its viewing area.

What's there

  • Daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Summer 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

  • 75 stairs and 3 short ladders to the top

  • Restrooms in the visitor center, open hours

  • Card only. Age 5 and up to climb.

The catch

The lighthouse opens at 9 a.m., and Starship often flies earlier. In 2023 the city said a launch may change its hours: the lighthouse opens after the launch, or it is cleared for it. The park around it is open to the public.

On launch day

  1. The city has posted no launch-day hours for Flight 14 or Flight 15.
  2. The lighthouse closes in wet weather.
  3. Port Isabel is on the mainland side of the causeway, so you skip the bridge to the island.

What to bring

  • Water and food

  • Shade and sunscreen

  • Ear protection

  • A folding chair

  • Binoculars

  • A full tank

Quick questions

How far is the Port Isabel Lighthouse from the Starship launch pad?

The Port Isabel Lighthouse is 6.4 miles from the Starship launch pad. Look southeast, across the bay.

How much does it cost to climb the Port Isabel Lighthouse?

Adults pay $5, seniors 55 and over $4, and children 5 to 12 $3. The lighthouse takes cards only.

Is the lighthouse open during a launch?

Not always. The lighthouse opens at 9 a.m. In 2023 the city said a launch may change its hours, and that the lighthouse opens after the launch or is cleared for it.

Last checked October 9, 2026.

Sources: City of Port Isabel: Port Isabel Lighthouse · Texas Historical Commission: plan your visit · City of Port Isabel: the lighthouse and SpaceX · Aerial photo: USDA, USGS The National Map