Is South Padre Island worth the drive?

While the island is still home to spring breakers for just over a month, the area has seen a rebirth of sorts as a popular family vacation destination. That's because South Padre, or SPI, delivers with wide sandy beaches, sparkling blue water and a mixture of fun activities for kids of all ages.



People Also Ask

Beaches in South Padre Island are objectively more scenic and isolated than those on the North end of the Padre Island National Seashore.

MORE DETAILS

Getting around the Island is a breeze! Hop on the Island Metro (a free shuttle with daily service) to the places you want to go. Stops include beach accesses, many of our hotels, restaurants, attractions, and the convention center. Call 956-761-8178 for the Island Metro schedule and route map, and get going!

MORE DETAILS

A 1-day entrance pass is available for $10 per vehicle. 1-day entrance passes expire at midnight on the date of purchase and are not valid for overnight camping.

MORE DETAILS

Laguna Madre Nature Trail is a peaceful 1,500-ft loop trail that starts near the South Padre Island Convention Center. The boardwalk traverses about 4 acres of pristine salt marshland and is a superb way to experience the diverse flora and fauna of the extensive Laguna Madre wetland complex.

MORE DETAILS

South Padre Island is known for the beautiful and calm sea that surrounds it. Some of the most interesting historical relics of the island lie deep at the bottom of its local waters. On April 29th, 1554, three Spanish ships sank off the coast of South Padre Island when a storm hit.

MORE DETAILS

The best time to visit South Padre Island is from September to February.

MORE DETAILS

All park visitors are required to purchase an entrance pass to enter Padre Island National Seashore. There are seven (7) pass types from which to choose.

MORE DETAILS

South Padre is very walkable because of its small size and grid layout. You'll have no trouble finding beaches, restaurants and entertainment within walking distance.

MORE DETAILS

Mansfield Channel forms the southern boundary of the park at the 60 mile marker and there is no bridge or ferry over it to get to South Padre Island.

MORE DETAILS

Being located so close to the Mexico border tourists often find fun in crossing the border for some great shopping and dining experiences. Be sure to bring your passport though! If traveling over the border isn't your style, don't worry; South Padre Island is often thought of as an English-speaking Mexican resort.

MORE DETAILS

And if you're wondering- can you walk across the border to Mexico? The answer is yes. There are 3 international bridges located in Brownsville, Texas, linking to Matamoros, Mexico.

MORE DETAILS

South Padre Island is ranked 271 out of 273 cities across the US in terms of cost of living. The cost of living in South Padre Island is 75.9% of the national average.

MORE DETAILS

The best time to visit South Padre Island is from September to February.

MORE DETAILS

South Padre Island vs Corpus Christi Vacation While each location has its highlights, South Padre Island provides the best overall Texas Gulf Coast vacation experience. Check out our list of top reasons to visit South Padre to learn why so many people choose South Padre Island instead!

MORE DETAILS

Since brown tide was suspected as a possible cause for the discoloration, TPWD biologists were asked to collect additional water samples from the lower Laguna Madre for testing. Brown tide was confirmed in early March after tests performed by Ed Buskey of UTMSI showed the presence of A. lagunensis in the water samples.

MORE DETAILS