South Padre Island, Texas is the subtropical southernmost part of the world's longest barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico at the Texas/Mexico border. Located 2 miles off the southern tip of Texas, it is connected to the mainland by the Queen Isabella Causeway.

South Padre Island is the finest coastal resort in Texas, with beautiful beaches, tall sand dunes, and warm clear clean Gulf waters. With incredible saltwater fishing, Gulf shrimp, fresh fish and seafood are served at many Island restaurants. A wide selection of hotels and condos from cheap to luxurious, shopping, beach weddings, professional wedding planners, South Padre weddings, photographers and video services, RV parks on the beach, eco-tourism and a diversity of watersports.

The Island is only a few blocks wide, around 5 miles of City real estate, you don't even need a car, you can walk or bicycle or ride the free island shuttle. You can drive north on the beach for nearly 30 miles of desolate beaches and beautiful sand dunes, until reaching the Port Mansfield jetties and boat channel.

South Padre Island boasts the best fishing in the U.S. in the Laguna Madre, in the surf and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Check the South Padre Bay Cam page for fishing reports, or our local fishing page for area fishing guides and charters. Dolphin watch is a popular favorite activity, and the best surfing in the Gulf of Mexico is at Isla Blanca Park at the jetties.

South Padre Island is matched at the same southerly latitude as Fort Lauderdale, Florida and offers comparable tropical weather conditions year round. Airline flights to South Padre Island are available through our neighboring airports of Brownsville, McAllen and Harlingen where you can catch flights on Southwest Airlines, Continental Express, or Sun Country Airlines. Car rentals and shuttle buses are available at the airports where it is just a short drive to South Padre Island. Once on the island you can catch The Wave, a free shuttle which will transport you along the island or into our neighboring town of Port Isabel, where you may want to spend an afternoon strolling Lighthouse Square, home of the historical Port Isabel Lighthouse which is open daily to visitors that want to make the climb up to the top for a spectacular view of the Laguna Madre and cityscape. At Lighthouse Square you’ll find museums, art galleries, restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream parlors, and the South Padre Island Dolphin Research and Sea Life Center. You can even experience the myths, legend and lore of Port Isabel on the town’s new trolley ride which will guide you through the history of this unique port city including tale of shipwrecks, Spanish gold, civil war, old military highway, and pirate legend, or even ride the Black Dragon Pirate Ship!.