Do you have to pay to get into South Padre Island?

Find things to do on South Padre Island - wide range of activities, events, and adventures for family and friends.

Places to eat on South Padre Island - list of local restaurants, grilles, and other food establishments.

Where to go out in the evening to find happening nightlife at various bars and clubs.

How to get to SPI by plane, car, and other ways of traveling - closest airports and highways to get you on the island.

Learn Fun Facts about South Padre Island, Texas

South Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the world! It is located in the Gulf of Mexico in the deep south of Texas on the border of Mexico. The Island is about 30 miles long, running north and south and only 1/2 mile across at it's widest point. About 2,000 residents live on SPI year round yet the Island receives at least 1/2 million visitors throughout any given year.

South Padre Island Beaches

South Padre Island boasts the cleanest and most scenic beaches in Texas, which draws many tourists throughout the year. Summer is the time for family vacations on the island, with great activities to do such as: take surfing lessons, rent kayaks or try wakeboarding. Winter is more slow on the island, a time when the 'Winter Texans' travel from across the mid-west and central Texas to hide from the cold. Fall and spring are the best time for the wind enthusiasts taking kiteboarding lessons, and March is a popular for spring break. Being such a tourist destination, there are many options for South Padre lodging while visiting, as well as a wide range of places to eat and things to do on South Padre Island.

Activities and Adventures

The Island is home to numerous different family activities and adventures. On the eco side, South Padre Island is the home to Sea Turtle Inc., a company dedicated to the preservation, rehabilitation and regeneration of sea turtles in the wild, all of which are endangered. Bird watching is also a popular draw and currently there is a World Birding Center which has just been completed. The Laguna Madre Bay as well as the Gulf are home to families of dolphins and the SPI Dolphin Research and Nature Center has been tracking and studying them for years. Watersports activities as well air adventures are available for some extra excitement while on vacation.

Family Activities and Adventures>>>

Lodging and Accommodations

There are several hotels, condos, and lodging on South Padre island. From budget motels to high end resorts, South Padre Island will have something that fits your standards. The prices from condos to hotels range by time of year and amount of people looking to stay together. We have put together some information to point you in the right direction for accommodations.

South Padre Island Lodging>>>

Nightlife and Bars

Going out on the town at night? We have complied a list of South Padre Bars. Depending on the time of year, the island can get very busy with people looking to party in the evenings. We have collected a range of bars and clubs to go out to.

Bars and Nightclubs>>>

Restaurants and Dining

Where to eat on SPI? Find the best local food from seafood to tex-mex. The island has a wide range of places to dine from cheap to expensive. South Padre is known for is fantastic shrimp, and several times a year there are festivals where you can try it out. Also, being located only miles away from Mexico, South Padre Island has some great options for mexican dishes, such as tacos, enchiladas and more.

Where to eat on South Padre>>>

Free and Cheap Local Transportation

Once you have arrived on the Island, you should not have any problem getting around. South Padre Island has set up its local transportation easy to use. If you are looking to get around on the island for cheap then catch 'The Wave'. The Wave is a free bus transportation route set up for the convenience of those on the island. It makes a loop every 30 minutes, and even travels to Port Isabel(across the bridge) and back.

Bus Routes and Taxi Rates>>>

Getting to the Island

Find out which airports close to South Padre are easiest to fly into, where to rent a car, or how to drive to the island. There is no actual airport located on the Island of South Padre because it is such a small land mass, but just on the mainland there are two large airports. Once you fly into the airports, you can rent a car, get a taxi, or tae one of the cheap buses onto the island. There is a bridge from Port Isabel (the mainland side) to South Padre Island. Only a few miles long the bridge connects the island to the rest of Texas, allowing for visitors to drive one.

Directions and Airports>>>

Where to Kite Board?

Interested in knowing where to kiteboard on South Padre Island? There are several different kiteboarding and kitesurfing locations on and off of the island. Depending on the wind direction and speeds, some spots are better than others. The most popular riding spot is the South Flats and North Flats at the north end of the island on the Laguna Madre Bay side. Although, there are plenty of other great locations to kite at, including beach accesses on the Gulf of Mexico, and also some light wind secret locations.

Check out all of the kiteboarding locations here>>>

Weather - Seasons For Waves and Wind

South Padre Island offers some of the best weather in the United States. We have warmer water later into the winter and earlier in the spring than almost any other state. The average day time wind speed is 18 knots, perfect for learning to kiteboard. Learning almost anything is easier in moderate wind with a larger kite, the pull is more consistent and a larger kites are easier to control than small zippy kites. The Laguna Madre Bay is a perfect place for learning to kite surf. The bay never gets big swell because it is shallow every; only waist to chest deep water across the whole bay. There are also several other places to kite surf on South Padre Island, if you are a more advanced rider.

How much does it cost to get into South Padre Island?

Can you drive into South Padre Island?

How do you get on South Padre Island?

Can you walk the beach at South Padre Island?