A Visitor’s guide
VisitSPI.com
Get to know South Padre Island through our collection of beautiful images and useful information to help make your beach getaway one to remember. Browse various vacation rentals without 3rd Party Booking Fees, learn about other nearby beaches, and even book your transportation to SPI!
✓ Useful information
✓ beautiful photography
✓ vacation rentals
✓ visitor support
Ever wonder what other beaches are like on or around South Padre Island?
Get to know the different beaches in and around South Padre Island from the mouth of the Rio Grande River and all the way north to the Port Mansfield jetties.
VisitSPI.com has photos and videos of every beach so you can know what to expect and look forward to when visiting South Padre Island!
Vacation Rental Gallery
Take a tour through some of South Padre Island’s and surrounding areas most accommodating vacation rentals that accept direct bookings without costly 3rd-party channel booking fees with VisitSPI.com.
South Padre Island, Texas
Visit our gallery of beautiful short-term vacation rentals located on South Padre Island, Texas.
Port Isabel, Texas
Visit our gallery of beautiful short-term vacation rentals located on Port Isabel, Texas.
Laguna Vista, Texas
Visit our gallery of beautiful short-term vacation rentals located on Laguna Vista, Texas.
Top Attractions:
✓ Sea Turtle Inc.
✓ Dolphin Watch Tours
✓ Port Isabel Lighthouse
Wondering what else to do on South Padre Island?
Find fun things to do on South Padre Island…
South Padre Island, a popular Texas beach destination, offers a mix of relaxation and adventure. Visitors can enjoy its beautiful beaches, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and sandcastle building. For adventure seekers, activities like surfing, kiteboarding, parasailing, and deep-sea fishing are popular. Nature lovers can explore the Laguna Madre Nature Trail or visit Sea Turtle, Inc., a conservation center. Dolphin-watch cruises and sunset boat tours provide memorable experiences, and the island’s vibrant nightlife, with beach bars and live music, adds to the fun.
Get to know the most popular condominium complexes of South Padre Island…
Take a tour of each individual condominium complex on South Padre Island with VisitSPI.com! We will showcase each complex’s architectural design and amenities so our visitors can compare and pick the right one for their next getaway…
Take a tour of South Padre Island’s city beach accesses…
VisitSPI.com has every South Padre Island city beach access documented with photos and videos to give our visitors the most up-to-date information on each and every city beach access point. Find out which ones have the best parking, amenities, food & beverage nearby, and even which ones are wheel chair accessible.
Did you know? Beach wheelchairs are can be borrowed from the SPI Fire Department!
Nearby Airports to South Padre Island, Texas
Getting to South Padre Island is easy with 3 airports that are within 45 – 90 minutes away! Looking for transportation to South Padre Island? VisitSPI.com can assist! Give us a call 956-772-4206.
Brownsville / South Padre Island Airport – BRO
The Brownsville / South Padre Island Airport is located 45 minutes away from South Padre Island, Texas.
Need a ride? Call 956-772-4206
Valley International Airport – Harlingen – HRL
The Valley International Airport is located 60 minutes away from South Padre Island, Texas.
Need a ride? Call 956-772-4206
McAllen Miller International Airport – MFE
The McAllen Miller International Airport is located 90 minutes away from South Padre Island, Texas.
Need a ride? Call 956-772-4206
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Airport Shuttle Services by Seaside Shuttles
Seaside Shuttles is a locally owned and operated airport shuttle company servicing South Padre Island, Texas. Call 956-299-0539.
What is there to do besides the beach on SPI?
There are various activities for the entire family to enjoy while visiting South Padre Island besides going to the beach, including snorkeling the bay, dolphin watch cruises, fishing, Eco-tours, parasailing, Sea Turtle, Inc., and visiting the historical district in Port Isabel, Texas to name a few.
Do I need a car while visiting South Padre Island?
While having a personal vehicle is always great, it is not necessarily needed when visiting South Padre Island. You can take the public transportation shuttle from the Brownsville and Harlingen airports and utilize the free shuttle service throughout South Padre Island and Port Isabel. There are also plenty of private drivers and taxis as well.
Are any homes available that I can book directly with the homeowner?
South Padre Island has over 2,600 short-term vacation rentals. VisitSPI.com features a collection of vacation rentals that are deal-direct with the homeowner to avoid the costly booking fees that Airbnb and VRBO charge.
How far is SpaceX / Starbase from South Padre Island?
SpaceX / Starbase is located approximately 1 hour away driving distance from South Padre Island, Texas. Foreign nationals should carry their passports when visiting SpaceX since there is a CBP checkpoint on the way back. There are various private drivers and shuttle services that can take you as well.
Where is the BEST place to watch Starship rocket launches?
SpaceX’s Starship rocket launches can be viewed from pretty much anywhere on South Padre Island, with the best viewing locations being at Isla Blanca, Sapphire Condominiums, and Margaritaville. That being said, the BEST view of the Starship rocket launches is from Playa Bagdad, Matamoros, Mexico. VisitSPI.com can assist you in reaching there.
Can I rent umbrellas on the beach at South Padre Island?
Yes, there are various businesses that set up behind the hotels where you can rent umbrellas and chairs throughout the beach on South Padre Island. The average rates for the day are from $25-$45 USD.
Looking for more information or assistance?
Still looking for more answers to your queries related to your travel? Let’s have a conversation right away!
Looking to be a sponsor on VisitSPI.com?
✓ Extremely affordable
✓ Includes professional photography & Design
VisitSPI.com – A Labor of Love & Giving Thanks!
VisitSPI.com is a culmination of 25+ years of living, working, playing, and photographing on South Padre Island. This site was built with the support of all individuals, property management companies, real estate agents/brokers, and various other local businesses that have hired ArcTechPHOTO/Mark Lehmann to photograph real estate over the years.
Our Mission
- Showcase South Padre Island, Texas through our lens
- Offer valuable information to our visitors.
- Give thanks to our loyal supporters
What initially began as a beta version (infopadre.com) back in 2012 has morphed into this site. The focus is simple – showcase SPI with quality content that has been captured over the years thanks to all the local support from businesses and vacation rental homeowners. Sponsors featured in this site are businesses that have supported us and allowed us to create and maintain this site moving forward. This is our way of giving back to the community, our visitors, and our sponsors & supporters. We hope you enjoy it!
“A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats” – Jack Kemp