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 best time 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.
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.
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.
What is the closest beach to San Antonio Texas?
From San Antonio, probably the closest beach would be in or near
Corpus Christi
. Corpus Christi is about a two-hour drive, and is actually on a bay. A little further drive (~45 minutes) would take you to Port Aransas, a true town on the Gulf of Mexico. Those will be the closest ones.
What's the prettiest beach in Texas?
- Boca Chica Beach.
- Crystal Beach.
- Galveston Island.
- Matagorda Bay Nature Park.
- Mustang Island State Park.
- North Beach.
- Padre Island National Seashore.
- Port Aransas.
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.
Which side of Padre Island is better?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
.
Can you surf in South Padre Island?
Well known as the best surf in Texas,
South Padre Island has the biggest, most powerful, most consistent and best shaped waves by far than anywhere else on the Texas Gulf Coast
(***see below!). Fun surf year-round, with clear water and lots of empty waves make South Padre the #1 surfing destination for Texas surfers.
Is North or South Padre Island better?
In my opinion I like
North Padre Island better
. A lot lot less commercialized and less expensive too. But, there are a lot more choices for different hotels on the beach in South Padre Island. North Padre also lets you drive on the beach and pick the spot you would like to be at or just enjoy seeing the beach.
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.
Is it always windy on 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
.
Is South Padre in Texas or Mexico?
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.
How far away is San Antonio from the ocean?
What is this? Galveston Island, near Houston and Pearland, is only
252 miles
(or a 4-hour drive) away from San Antonio.
What is the best time of year to visit San Antonio Texas?
The best time to visit San Antonio is from
November to April
, when the weather is comfortable and the hotel rates are lower. Summer sees the largest influx of tourists from in- and out-of-state.
How far is San Antonio from Mexican border?
The closest border crossing to San Antonio is in Eagle Pass,
144 miles
away.
Where is the bluest 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
.
Why is Corpus Christi so dirty?
In the study, the top five Texas beaches with the highest percentage of unsafe days are all in Nueces County, specifically the water parallel to Ocean Drive. According to the center, the main cause of contamination is
fecal matter in the water due to urban runoff and sewage leaks
.
Which is better South Padre 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.
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.
