Resaca de la Palma State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Open daily; hours not posted
- Entrance fee
- $4 per adultAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- RecommendedCan reach capacity
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- tpwd.texas.gov(956) 350-2920
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. Details last changed Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 2
Alert Screwworm AlertJune 13, 2026 - New world screwworm has been found in parts of Texas. Check your pets and livestock often. If you see unusual wounds or maggots, do… (more)
June 13, 2026 - New world screwworm has been found in parts of Texas. Check your pets and livestock often. If you see unusual wounds or maggots, do not move the animal. Call the Texas Animal Health Commission at (800) 550‑8242 or contact a private veterinarian. For wildlife with suspicious wounds or maggots, notify park staff or call (512) 389‑4505.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Alert Park ClosuresThe park will be closed on the following dates: • Sept. 4 through Sept. 6 • Sept. 11 through Sept. 13 • Sept. 19 through Sept. 20 • Sept. 26… (more)
The park will be closed on the following dates: • Sept. 4 through Sept. 6 • Sept. 11 through Sept. 13 • Sept. 19 through Sept. 20 • Sept. 26 through Sept. 27 Only permitted hunters will be allowed on these dates. Contact the park for more information. Contact the park for more information.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Resaca de la Palma State Park is a 1,401-acre park in Cameron County, about 3 miles south of Rancho Viejo.
Visitors come for biking, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Open daily (hours not posted) | ||
| Park | Daily | 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. | — |
| Visitor center | Not stated | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Open daily.
Park: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Visitor Center: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. We often reach capacity, and recommend reservations for day use. To guarantee entry, reserve passes online or by calling the customer service center before you visit.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times and are not permitted in any buildings at Texas State Parks. Some parks restrict pets on certain trails.
Statewide rule from Texas's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Adult Day Use | $4 |
| Child 12 Years and Under | Free |
Official wording
• Adult Day Use: $4 Daily • Child 12 Years and Under: Free
Texas park passes
- Texas State Parks Pass — $70 per year. Free entry for the holder and guests at the state parks it covers, plus camping and store discounts; a second pass for someone at the same address is $25 Details
- Texas Parklands Passport. Discounted or free entry for qualifying seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and Gold Star family members Details
From the Texas state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- Recommended
- Booking system
- Texas State Parks reservation system (ReserveAmerica)
- Phone
- (512) 389-8900
We often reach capacity, and recommend reservations for day use.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
BikingHikingPicnicking
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Park or camp store
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Trails
Kiskadee Trail
Mexican Olive Trail
Several of the unnamed trails near the parking area, leading toward the visitors center, are paved. The 2.76-mile Tram Road loop is paved with asphalt and open to bicycles, wheelchairs and foot traffic. The following trails are considered wheelchair accessible. They are mostly made from caliche, hard-packed gravel and dirt. Some wheelchairs might have difficulty traversing them, especially when wet.
- Mexican Olive Trail (0.30 miles) - Leads to a scenic observation Deck C. The trailhead is off of the Tram Road and has wheelchair accessible chemical toilets next to it.
- Kiskadee Trail (0.03 miles) - Sugar hackberry and ebony woodlands line this short trail leading to observation Deck A. The Trailhead is off of the Tram Road.
- Ebony Trail (0.24 miles) - The closest trail to the Visitor Center curves through old growth ebony-anacua woodlands. An observation deck and boardwalk are at the trails end, with signs giving information about plants along the way. The trailhead is behind the Visitor’s Center.
Read more from the park
For information on other trails refer to trails information page.
Visitors Center
Visitors Center
The park's Visitor Center, its restrooms, some of the exhibits inside and the reservable Group Hall are considered wheelchair accessible. Designated parking spots in front provide paved access into the building. The doors into the Visitors Center must be opened by hand.
Read more and see photos of the group hall on our Group Sites page.
Tram Tour
The park has an electric tram tour that winds through the park on the 2.76-mile Tram Road loop. It starts and ends next to the Visitor Center. The Tram holds about 12 people but is not wheelchair accessible. People in wheelchairs would need to be helped on to the tram without the wheelchair. The tram can carry some types of folding wheelchairs on a rack in the back. Contact the park for schedule information.
Pavilion
The pavilion site is accessible by a paved trail from the parking area, and is near the park's Visitor Center.
Read more and see photos of the pavilion on our Group Sites page.
For more information about trails and the park’s points of interest, visit the trails information page.
Conditions can change quickly. Contact the park for more information and to ask about the status of particular accessible features.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 1000 New Carmen Ave. (off Hwy. 281 or FM 1732)
Brownsville, TX 78521 - Nearest town
- Rancho Viejo — about 3 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 25.9963, -97.5713
- Phone
- (956) 350-2920
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Texas State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- TPWD state parks map (embedded park data)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Resaca de la Palma State Park.jpg — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), StephalyBoyd
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. “Last changed” (Oct 29, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology