How Big Is South Padre Island?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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It is about

113 miles

(182 km) long and 1.8 miles (3 km) wide, stretching from the city of Corpus Christi, in the north, to the resort community of South Padre Island in the south. The island is oriented north-south, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico on the east and Laguna Madre on the west.

How many miles long is Padre Island?

113 mi

How long is South Padre Island beach?

With

34 miles

of beautiful white sand and clear emerald water, South Padre Island is one of the world's most exquisite barrier islands – and the only tropical Island in Texas.

Is South Padre Island Small?

South Padre is

small enough to explore on foot

and the free Island Metro offers regular transportation around town and across Laguna Madre to Port Isabel. Avoid spring break rates As March approaches, hotel rates are known to triple.

How far is the Mexico border from South Padre Island?

And, since the island sits a mere

20 miles

north of the Mexican border, it offers visitors the opportunity for a “two-nation vacation.”

How deep is the water in South Padre Island?

The graphic above shows the varying depths of the Gulf, which can range to

over 12,000 feet deep

(the darker the blue the deeper the water). Padre Island has its origins in the Gulf of Mexico.

What's the difference between Padre Island and South Padre Island?

You can walk directly on the sand from one end of South Padre Island to the other, whereas much of the shoreline in North Padre Island has rocky inlets, concrete seawalls, and private not accessible for families or those who need accessibility modifications.

Which beach is better Corpus Christi or South Padre Island?

Some tips:

South Padre Island IS the best of the two

. It has better beaches, better accomodations, better restuarants and, in my opinion, friendlier people. However, I love both towns! Corpus is closer to the major cities and more things to do, but SPI….it's just in the smack middle of nowhere.

Where is Big Shell Padre Island?

Big Shell Beach, at

Mile Marker 25 along your drive down the island

, was named so because the entire shoreline is blanketed in fragments of seashells. While it may be a great place to pick up some seashells by the seaside, it's also a well known fishing spot.

How long is the bridge to South Padre Island?

Designed in 1971 and constructed in 1974, the causeway connects Port Isabel to South Padre Island. It has a total length of

2.4 miles

, a width of sixty-eight feet, and a top-of-deck height of seventy-eight feet above mean high tide at the center of the main span.

How cold does it get in South Padre Island?

In South Padre Island, the summers are long, hot, and oppressive; the winters are short, cool, and dry; and it is windy and partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 55°F to 90°F and is

rarely below 41°F

or above 93°F.

Can u drive to South Padre Island?


You cannot drive to South Padre Island

or the Rio Grande Valley along the beach. The only way to reach these destinations is to return to Corpus Christi and follow state Highway 358 (South Padre Drive) to state Highway 44. Take Highway 44 to Robstown.

What is the closest city to South Padre Island?


Brownsville

. Approximately 30 miles southwest of South Padre Island, Brownsville is known as one of the most historic cities in Texas.

Can you swim in South Padre Island?

South Padre Island is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States.

Swimming, fishing, kiteboarding, dolphin watching, horseback riding adventures on the beach, ecological tours and access to personal water craft rentals are available on the island

.

Is Padre Island Nice?


The island is well-known for its beautiful white sandy beaches, calm weather, and excellent clear Gulf water

. South Padre weather varies but rarely gets below 62 degrees. With mild winters and year-round fun, you can visit any time of the year to see and do it all.

Can you walk into Mexico from South Padre Island?


Nuevo Progreso is located about an hour from South Padre Island

, and is a tourist border town that literally survives on tourist money from the approximate 100,000 Winter Texans that live in the Rio Grande Valley each winter and 1.25 million vacationers that cross the pedestrian bridge each year to visit.

Do hurricanes hit South Padre Island?

Storms. In September 1967, Hurricane Beulah caused extensive damage to much of the town of South Padre Island.

On July 23, 2008, Hurricane Dolly made landfall on the island as a category 1 storm

, also causing extensive damage to the town.

Do you need a car on South Padre Island?

Q: If I fly, do I need to rent a car to get around South Padre Island? A:

No

. South Padre Island provides a free public transportation system called the Island Metro or you can take a taxi. The Island is also easily walkable and bike-friendly.

Are there sharks in Padre Island?



Shark bites are rare on South Padre Island

.” There have been 44 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks in Texas since 1911, according to the International Shark Attack File. The website says there is a 1 in 11.5 million chance of being attacked by a shark while in the ocean.

What is the prettiest beach in Texas?

  • Boca Chica.
  • Padre Island National Seashore.
  • South Padre Island.
  • Mustang Island.
  • Rockport Beach.
  • Crystal Beach.
  • Corpus Christi.
  • Lighthouse Beach.

Are there snakes on South Padre Island?


The island has three poisonous snakes: the western diamondback, the massasagua and the Texas coral snake

. Copperheads and cottonmouths are not known to be on the island. There are many non-venomous snakes, but few snakes are encountered by the public.

Are there alligators on South Padre Island?

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) —

Alligators are not uncommon in the Rio Grande Valley

, but according to a Naturalist Educator of the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, it is against the law to feed a wild alligator.

What is the best time of year to visit South Padre Island?

The best time to visit South Padre Island is from

September to February

. Unless you are planning to join in on the spring break fun – rowdy partying at all hours of the day – you'll find this tiny town rather unbearable in March.

What part of Padre Island is the best?

1.

Upper Padre Boulevard

– Best Place to Stay in South Padre Island for your First Time. Ah, bliss. The northern half of the region has the most popular attractions.

Is South Padre Island worth visiting?

South Padre Island is definitely one of those destinations. After spending four days there, I concluded that not only is it a great destination for people who love the heat and the outdoors, but it's also a year-round destination that can appeal to everyone from Spring Breakers to families with kids.

Can you drink tap water in South Padre Island?


Residents south of South Padre Island Drive can use tap water for all but drinking, cooking and washing dishes

. However, city officials recommended not using water to bathe infants, young children and those with compromised immunity.

Can you drive a golf cart on the beach in South Padre Island?

Having traveled to other locations that allow carts on the beach (I.e port Aransas) I mistakenly assumed you could do so in South padre also. Wrong!

The golf carts are only allowed on the streets

and must follow all of the same rules/laws as any other motor vehicle (including seatbelts, blinkers, etc).

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.