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 .
What is the closest ocean beach to Austin Texas?
Galveston is probably the closest beach area...205 miles to the southeast, located on the Gulf of Mexico. Remember, this is the start of the hurricane season. Constantly check with the Weather Channel. There is also Corpus Christi/South Padre Island.
What is South Padre Island known for?
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 . Calm weather and water and more than 300 days of sunshine make South Padre Island a great place to live and visit all year.
What is the prettiest beach in Texas?
- Mustang Island State Park.
- North Beach.
- Padre Island National Seashore.
- Port Aransas.
- Rockport Beach.
- San José Island.
- South Padre Island.
- Surfside Beach.
Is South Padre Island water Blue?
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.
Are there alligators in 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.
Is South Padre 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.
Is South Padre Island Expensive?
The average price of a 7-day trip to South Padre Island is $1,421 for a solo traveler, $2,552 for a couple, and $4,785 for a family of 4 . South Padre Island hotels range from $47 to $215 per night with an average of $64, while most vacation rentals will cost $260 to $580 per night for the entire home.
How far is South Padre Island from Mexico border?
Texans know that if you want to do a beach trip right, you head to South Padre Island. SPI, as it's known, is a city located on a barrier island of the same name, just 20 or so miles , as the piping plover flies, from the border with Mexico.
Does Padre Island have a boardwalk?
According to many, the best way to experience South Padre's wild side is to take a stroll along the Laguna Madre Nature Trail, a boardwalk that runs from the South Padre Island Convention Centre out to the Laguna Madre wetlands .
How far is Austin from Mexican border?
Austin encompasses 272 square miles along the Colorado River in central Texas 200 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
Where is the clearest water in Texas?
Where is the clearest water in Texas? The beach with the clearest water in Texas is Boca Chica beach on South Padre Island .
How do I get to the secret beach in Austin?
Take E. Riverside to Grove Blvd., go aaalll the way to the end, and you will find yourself in a parking lot, facing a trail. This trail will lead you to Secret Beach. A short walk will lead you to a split, go right.
Is North or South Padre Island better?
Water Quality
Beaches in South Padre Island are objectively more scenic and isolated than those on the North end of the Padre Island National Seashore. Gulf waters are tested annually and South Padre Island regularly rates among the safest, cleanest water.
Which is better South Padre Island or Galveston?
The one other advantage that South Padre has is that it has much more nightclubs if you enjoy the nightlife. South Padre also has a Schlitterbahn as well, and Gravity Park which includes go carts, mini golf, bungee jumping and much more. It's nice, but not as great as Pleasure Pier in Galveston.
Does Texas have white sand beaches?
Texas' blistering summers draw residents and travelers to its many miles of white sand beaches . The mild, clear water of the Gulf of Mexico beckons on those hot days. Many beaches sit on the state's long, thin barrier islands, which stretch from Sea Rim State Park in the northeast to South Padre Island, near Mexico.
Can you swim in Padre Island?
Swimming at the National Seashore can be a lot of fun! You can swim in the recreation area at Bird Island Basin or in the Gulf of Mexico . However, please remember that safety is important, and there are no lifeguards on duty.
How hot 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.
Do you need passport for South Padre Island?
No–South Padre Island is part of Texas, which, at last report, was still part of the USA. If they do question your citizenship at the checkpoint all you need is your driver's license or other government ID . No big deal. You will only be checked on the way north from Padre Island.
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.
Are there rattlesnakes in South Padre Island?
The Western diamondback rattlesnake calls the dunes and grasslands of Padre Island National Seashore home.
How long is the bridge to South Padre?
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.
Is South Padre Island crowded in the summer?
Fewer Crowds & Traffic
Since most people come to South Padre Island during the summertime, you can imagine that this season is hectic and crowded . Additionally, you're likely to encounter heavy traffic that can take up a large portion of your day, time that could otherwise be spent enjoying the island's activities.
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.
What airport do you fly into for South Padre Island?
The closest airport is Brownsville South Padre Is. Intl (BRO) (21.35 mi). Other nearby airports are Harlingen Valley Intl (HRL) (31.2 mi), Matamoros (MAM) (32.39 mi), Reynosa Gen Lucio Blanco (REX) (66.15 mi) or McAllen Miller Intl (MFE) (66.5 mi). KAYAK recommends you fly to Brownsville South Padre Is.
