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town in Cameron County, Texas, United States
North America > United States of America > Texas > Gulf Coast (Texas) > Rio Grande Valley > 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

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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".

Entrance to South Padre Island
South Padre Island
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Get in

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By plane

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South Padre Island is served by three airports, with daily service primarily to Dallas and Houston.

By car

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  • 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

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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

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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.

Get around

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By bus

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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

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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.

SoPadre
  • 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[dead link], 6809 Padre Blvd. Home to sea grasses and other barrier island flora. Tel: +1 703-434-1444.

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.

  • Air Padre Kiteboarding (Watersports), 5709 A Padre Blvd (turn north off bridge go about 3.2 miles, next door to WindWater Hotel on left side), ☏ +1 956-299-9463. 9AM-5PM. Offering lessons and rentals for kiteboarding, kite-landboarding, wakeboarding, stand up paddle, kayaking and surfing. 
  • South Padre Island Sailing Charters. 
  • Sea Turtle, Inc, 6617 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-4511. 
  • Breakaway Cruises. Dolphin watch cruises and parasailing, 
  • South Padre Island Equestrian and Events Centre, ☏ +1 956-761-7743. Horseback riding on the beach. 
  • The Original Dolphin Watch, 33256 Park Road 100 Suite 104, ☏ +1 956-761-4243. Fireworks cruises, winter Texan cruise, sunset cruise and eco-tour. 
  • Gravity Park (across the street from Louie's Backyard Restaurant). The Rocket - world's tallest reverse bungee, Bungee Grande - Texas' tallest bungee jump, go-karts, climbing wall, Frog Hopper, Trampoline Thing, kiddie cars. 
  • Parrot Eyes Watersports, ☏ +1 956 761-9457, +1 956 459-4808. Waverunners and Waverunner tours, parasailing, and dolphin-watching tours. 
  • The Black Dragon Pirate Ship, 501 E Maxan St - Suite C (from South Padre Island Cross the causeway to Port Isabel; look for the lighthouse on your right and turn right at the second street (Tarnava) after crossing the bridge; right again (Maxan) and straight into their parking lot), ☏ +1 956-943-MATE (6283). This company attempts to provide an authentic reproduction of a 17th-century pirate galleon coupled with today's advanced entertainment technology. Add to that an experienced and professional troupe of pirates, 4 restaurants, shopping, dolphin watches, fishing, a marine biology center, museum, and the historic Port Isabel lighthouse. 
  • Beach Park at Isla Blanca, 33261 State Park Road 100, ☏ +1 956-772-7873. 
  • American Diving, 33256 Park Road 100 Suite 104, ☏ +1 956 761-2030. Offers snorkel trips, dolphin watch excursions, diving adventures and diving certification. State-of-the-art training facilities. Dive and snorkel from their USCG documented and inspected vessels. 
  • On The Beach Surf Shop, 2105 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-1194. Great store selling casual sports wear, beach wear, surf accessories and kiteboarding accessories, etc. 
  • Ocean Motion, 4309 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-4055. Beach wear and clothing for all ages, including board shorts, t-shirts, foot wear, sunglasses, bathing suits, and beach accessories. 
  • Cloud Nine, 2303 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-9262. Tobacco and smoking accessories, art, etc. 
  • Inkredible, 2301 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-3300. Tattoo shop 
  • Shell World, 2311 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-3300. Beach souvenirs and accessories 
  • Shoreline Consign Consignment, 5504 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-347-1949. M-Th 9AM-5PM, F-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM. Very nice consignment shop-everything like new and many tasteful and eclectic items ranging from small gifts and decor to furniture. 
  • Karma Coffee and Books, 2500 Padre Blvd Suite 8 (in Ocean Palm Shopping Center), ☏ +1 956-747-2568. Su-Th 8AM-6PM, F-Sa 8AM-8PM. Bookstore. 
  • Ship Shape, 5212 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-2111. Beach accessories, floats, souvenirs, sportswear, rentals 
  • B & S Kites, 2812 Padre Island Blvd (north of the causeway, on right hand side), ☏ +1 956-761-1248. They carry many different styles of kites, spinners, chimes, among other souvenirs, many unusual items. 
  • Surf's Up, 4309 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-5340. The largest selection of beach wear and clothing on South Padre Island. Since 1988. 
  • barbara, 2201 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-9329. Accessories, dresses, giftware, jewelry, swimsuits. 
  • Blackbeard's, 103 E Saturn, ☏ +1 956 761-2962. Sandwiches, burgers, steaks, and seafood. 
  • Wanna Wanna, 5100 Gulf Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-7677. Ceviche, fried shrimp, and more. Palapa bar on the beach. 
  • Sea Ranch, 33330 State Park Road 100, ☏ +1 956-761-1314. Upscale, popular restaurant with seafood, steaks, etc. 
  • Dirty Al's Seafood, 33396 State Park Rd. #100, ☏ +1 956 761-4901. Always busy, tourist favorite-specializing in fried seafood. Also has a seafood market. 
  • Kohnami, 410 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-2446. Kohnami Restaurant is the island's only Japanese eatery known for its authentic sushi. Sushi Bar, Teppanyaki Steak & Seafood Grill. 
  • Yummies Bistro, 700 Padre Blvd. 8AM-2PM. Very popular locale for breakfast and lunch. (updated Jan 2017)
  • Grapevine Cafe & Coffehouse, 100 E Swordfish St. 7AM-3PM. Another popular place for breakfast and lunch. Can get very busy in the mornings. (updated Jan 2017)

Drink

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  • Padre Island Brewing Company, 3400 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-9585. Best beer on the island, a fun rooftop dining and drinking area, and some downright tasty food make it a great place to hang out in the evening. 
  • Louie's Backyard, Gulf Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-6406. Big nightclub with several levels, a restaurant, sports bar and local's area. NTN Trivia, pool tables, outside dance floor. 
  • Jake's Bar & Grill, 2500 Padre Blvd (Padre and E Amberjack), ☏ +1 956-761-5012. 11AM-2AM. Casual locals hangout specializing in Mexican food. Also features seafood, steaks, burgers, and daily lunch and dinner specials. Full bar, big patio and game room with pool, darts, video games, and jukebox in the back. 
  • Coral Reef, 5401 Padre Blvd. Hole-in-the-wall with stiff drinks, karaoke, and late-night party crowd 
  • Coco Beach Club, 2612 Gulf Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-2831. Great beach bar behind Surf Motel-pool, volleyball court, wide open view of the beach, very cool bartenders, live entertainment, great drinks. 
  • Tequila Sunset, 200 West Pike St, ☏ +1 956 761-6198. 
  • LongBoard Bar and Grill, 205 West Palm St, ☏ +1 956-772-7022. Located at the southernmost point of Laguna Boulevard and Palm Street on the Bay. This bar has an operating capacity to accommodate multiple forms of events with over 13,400 sq ft of entertaining area. 
  • The Quarterdeck Lounge, 500 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-6511, toll-free: +1-800-292-7704. 11 an-2AM. The Quarterdeck Lounge, open from 11AM to 2AM, presents refreshments and live entertainment in the evening with the dance bands from across the country. The Quarterdeck presents bands from Las Vegas, Reno, Nashville, Chicago, New York and all over the United States. 
  • Clayton's Beach Bar & Event Venue, 6900 Padre Blvd (Next to Hilton Garden Inn), ☏ +1 956 761-5900. 9AM-2AM everyday. The biggest beach bar in Texas. Features volleyball, live music concerts both indoor and outdoor and more. 

Sleep

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

Connect

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Free Wi-Fi

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  • SPI Visitor Center, Padre Blvd (it's a Wave (free local bus) stop). SSID: SPI Visitor Center 
  • Padre Island Brewing Company. For customers, SSID: Brew 

Go next

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Routes through South Padre Island
Brownsville via Texas State Highway 100 ← Port Isabel ←  W Texas Park Road 100.svg E  → END


This city travel guide to South Padre Island is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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