City Spotlight:

Your guide to South Padre Island, Texas

sunset over a glade

Know Before You Go: About South Padre Island

Start mapping out your trip to South Padre Island—where you'll find dolphin watching, boating and more.

South Padre Island, an island connected to the mainland by bridge, is a highly sought-after Texas tourist destination for dolphin watching, horseback riding, boating and simply laying out on the beach and getting a tan. Fishing tournaments are held off the island’s coast, and it’s also a famous Spring Break hotspot for college kids. Below you can find some quick tidbits about the island that you probably didn’t already know.

Hot Summers, Temperate Winters

South Padre Island will give you hot summers, with averages in the 80s and spikes into the 90s. Winters, well forget the snow. Temperatures are typically in the 60s and can creep up to the low 70s. Most days start out with high humidity, usually from morning fog, but this burns off quite nicely by afternoon. Most months you'll see roughly 2 inches of rain, except from late August through October. September is usually the wettest month, sometimes with 6 inches of rain, in between the bursts of sunshine, of course.

Dolphins, Birds and Fun

Check out the beaches, which are just about everywhere. Then head for the South Padre Island Dolphin Research & Sealife Nature Center. Tour the tanks, filled with sea horses, starfish, octopi and other sea creatures. The kids get a real kick out of the touch tanks, where they can feel the lumpy skin of a starfish. Take a dolphin watching tour to see the pod that lives right off shore. Visit the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center for another wildlife watching and learning experience. Rent equipment and take some lessons at the SPI Kite Boarding Lessons and Demo Center to enjoy some kiteboarding fun! Head for the Schlitterbahn Waterpark if you enjoy rides that make a splash.

South Padre Island Loves Tourists

Tourism is king on South Padre Island. Locals and the roughly 5 million others who make this their annual island getaway are happy to see you. The endless beaches, nature centers and businesses offer tours, activities and just plain fun outnumber anything else. When you visit, you're helping to provide employment for the locals, as well as for people on the mainland.

Catch the Wave on South Padre

You'll probably land at the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport if you're flying. The mainland airport is about 25 miles away. Most people choose a car to explore South Padre at their leisure. You can also take a free airport shuttle to the island, and then use the WAVE public transportation system, which is also free. Three different routes cover the length of the island daily, from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Traffic is minimal, and the island's street pattern makes it easy to get around. If you're traveling by Greyhound, the closest station is in Brownsville.

Ready to travel? Find hotels in South Padre Island.

Things to Do in South Padre Island

Enjoy 34 miles of shoreline situated between the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre.