San Rafael Ranch Airport (38XS), Texas
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
San Rafael Ranch, identifier 38XS, is a privately used airport near Santa Elena, Texas, close to the Mexican border. The field offers a single paved runway suited to business aviation traffic, with the nearest customs clearance point located at KEBG, roughly 29.5 nautical miles away. Unattended and untowered, the airport relies on Houston ARTCC for clearance delivery contact. Its associated weather observation is provided through the U38 AWOS.
Runways
San Rafael Ranch Airport has one paved runway, 14/32, 6,000 ft long and 75 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
San Rafael Ranch Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is South Texas International at Edinburg (KEBG), 30 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
San Rafael Ranch Airport recorded 95 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in November. Business aviation traffic at San Rafael Ranch is concentrated in the months of January, February, and November, with lower activity in October and December.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month November, 31 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Weather station is 17.9 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
San Rafael Ranch Airport has published operating constraints in two categories: runway notes and other notes.
Medium intensity runway lighting (MIRL) is installed on runway 14/32.
For clearance delivery, contact Houston ARTCC.
The U38 AWOS weather observation system is associated with this airport, 38XS.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
San Rafael Ranch Airport has five airfields within 30 NM. The closest is Diamond O Ranch, 7.15 NM southwest.
Part of the Rio Grande Valley area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at 38XS
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$1,200.00 catering order at 38XS.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the runway configuration at San Rafael Ranch (38XS)?
San Rafael Ranch, local identifier 38XS, has a single asphalt runway designated 14/32. That runway measures 6000 feet long and 75 feet wide, making it the airport's only paved surface. The field is unattended and does not have a control tower, so pilots operate under uncontrolled-field procedures on this runway.
Is customs available on site at 38XS?
San Rafael Ranch does not have customs service on site. The nearest customs point of entry is KEBG, located approximately 29.5 nautical miles away. Since 38XS sits near the border in Santa Elena, Texas, operators arriving from Mexico should plan to clear customs at KEBG rather than at this airport directly.
How busy is San Rafael Ranch airport (38XS) in terms of traffic?
San Rafael Ranch recorded 121 total annual operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data, with 95 of those classified as business aviation activity. As a private-use, unattended airport in Texas, its traffic volume places it in a moderate tier compared to larger regional fields. Business aviation accounts for the large majority of recorded movements here.
Does 38XS have runway lighting for night operations?
Yes, San Rafael Ranch airport (38XS) has medium intensity runway lighting, known as MIRL, installed on runway 14/32. This lighting supports operations after dark on the airport's sole paved runway. As the field is unattended, pilots should confirm current lighting activation procedures before planning a night arrival or departure.