South Padre Island, TX Road Trips

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".

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. South Padre Island Birding And Nature Center, 6801 Padre Blvd. Home to birds, alligators, sea grasses and other barrier island fauna and flora. Tel: +1 956-761-6801. Admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 children.

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 Adventure Park, 21040 Ocean Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-4677. Horseback riding on the beach, parasailing, zip line and petting zoo. 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).

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)

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.

Visitors find wide range of accommodations from campgrounds and family motels to high-rise luxury hotels and condo rentals, marinas and seaside cottages. Blue Bay Inn, 901 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-4350. Swimming pool, free breakfast. Sunchase IV Resort, 1000 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 469-935-6903. Super 8 South Padre Island, 4205 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-6300. Sand Rose Beach Resort, 7000 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-772-7000. Ramada by Wyndham & Suites South Padre Island, 6200 South Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-299-2481. Best Western Beachside Inn, 4500 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-4919. Isla Grand Resort (formerly Radisson), 500 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956 761-6511. This beachfront resort has great onsite amenities such as two swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, restaurants, nightclub, and more. South Padre Island Inn, 4109 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-5531. The Inn at South Padre, 1709 Padre Blvd, ☏ +1 956-761-5658. This hotel offers a resort atmosphere with a tropically landscaped swimming pool and hot tub. Spacious, comfortable lobby, oversized rooms. The SandBox Inn, 117 E. Saturn (half a block from the beach), ☏ +1 956-459-2928. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Spacious 2BR/2BA beach house sleeps 8 comfortably. Pool table, piano, designer kitchen (nicely equipped) and sand sculpture garden/gallery -- great location for a gathering of up to 50 people. Franke Rentals, 8605 Padre Blvd Suite 2, ☏ +1 956-761-2607, [email protected]. South Padre Island vacation homes and condos for rent. (updated Jul 2019)

South Padre Island is served by three airports, with daily service primarily to Dallas and Houston. Valley International Airport (HRL IATA), in nearby Harlingen, is served by Southwest Airlines, United Express, and Sun Country Airlines. 1 Brownsville/South Padre Island Airport (BRO IATA). Served by American and United. McAllen Miller International Airport (MFE IATA) is served by American, United, and Allegiant Air. 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. 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. 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. Pelican Point Marina - deep water slips on the Port Isabel side of the causeway.

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.) 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.