South Padre Island

South Padre Island is a small resort town on the southern tip of Padre Island off the coast of Texas, close to the border with Mexico. It is a popular spring break destination for college students.

Understand
Incorporated in 1973, it lies just across Laguna Madre from Port Isabel, the bay separating island from mainland. The east side of the island is referred to as the "gulf side" by locals, and the west side, the "bay side".

By plane
South Padre Island is served by three airports, with daily service primarily to Dallas and Houston.
 * Valley International Airport, in nearby Harlingen, is served by Southwest Airlines, United Express, and Sun Country Airlines.
 * McAllen Miller International Airport is served by American, United, and Allegiant Air.
 * McAllen Miller International Airport is served by American, United, and Allegiant Air.

By car

 * Texas State Route 100 connects South Padre Island to the city of Port Isabel on the mainland, and continues on to meet US Route 77/83 between Harlingen and Brownsville. It is best to take this route if you will be landing at McAllen Miller International Airport.
 * Texas State Route 48 links Port Isabel with Brownsville.

By bus
Catch the $2 Rio Transit bus from downtown Brownsville to its last stop in Port Isabel, and catch the free Wave from there. The Wave runs every half hour and takes you all over South Padre as far as the Visitors Center on the north end.

By boat
There are no ferry boat services, but if you have your own boat, just point yourself to the place on the Gulf of Mexico where Texas meets Mexico and you're at South Padre Island! There are several marinas on South Padre and at Port Isabel.
 * Sea Ranch Marina - offers transient slips on a space available basis.
 * Anchor Marina Park  - deep water slips on the Port Isabel side of the causeway.

By bus
The Wave is South Padre Island's free public bus line. Buses run along the Padre Blvd. strip and across the bridge to Port Isabel. Wheelchair accessible and free (the Wave runs from 7AM to 7PM.)

By car
South Padre Island has only one main road: Padre Boulevard, which is part of Texas State Route 100. There are two parallel side streets, Gulf and Laguna. There are several taxi-cab companies, with fares starting at around $5.

See

 * The best sight to see here is the beach, which stretches for miles.
 * The lighthouse in Port Isabel was completed in 1852 and offers a spectacular view of the sea.
 * Native Plant Center, 6809 Padre Blvd. Home to sea grasses and other barrier island flora. Tel: +1 703-434-1444.

Do
The South Padre Island Visitors Center provides detailed information about accommodations, activities and events related to boating, sailing, fishing, and seashore recreation. M-F 8AM-5PM; Sa Su 9AM-PM a half-mile north of the causeway at 600 Padre Blvd. Telephone +1 956-761-6433, or +1-800-SOPADRE (767-2373) U.S. and Canada.

South Padre is known for its water sports, including jet skiing; bay, surf, and deep-sea fishing; parasailing, sailing, dolphin cruise, and windsurfing. Other island activities include bicycling, tennis, shelling, and horseback riding on the beach. The popular Laguna Madre Nature Trail for nature enthusiasts and bird-watchers is north of the city next to the convention center.



Sleep
Visitors find wide range of accommodations from campgrounds and family motels to high-rise luxury hotels and condo rentals, marinas and seaside cottages.



Go next

 * Cross the bridge to get back to the nearby port town, Port Isabel. It has many restaurants and souvenir shops.
 * Padre Island National Seashore