South Padre Island travel guide

South Padre Island Tourism | South Padre Island Guide

You're Going to Love South Padre Island

With a population of 2,884, South Padre Island is a must-see destination in Texas, United States. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 2 days in order to fully appreciate everything South Padre Island has to offer.

When to visit South Padre Island

South Padre Island in November
Estimated hotel price
$100
1 night at 3-star hotel
South Padre Island in November
Estimated hotel price
$100
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to South Padre Island in July, when the average temperature is 84.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 89.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 53.6 °F, with an average temperature of 60.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 4.4″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in South Padre Island, with an average rainfall of 1.2″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Average
Fahrenheit (°F)
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to South Padre Island

Plane

Although South Padre Island doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Brownsville South Padre Is. Intl (BRO), which is located 21 miles from South Padre Island. Harlingen Valley Intl is the most popular, with regular flights from Delta, Sun Country Air, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to South Padre Island departs from Orlando and takes around 2h 50m.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to South Padre Island, including FlixBus, Greyhound and Valley Transit. From Austin, the bus ride to South Padre Island takes 510 miles and will cost you around $137. From Houston, the ticket costs about $161 for a journey of 555 miles.

Airlines serving South Padre Island

Lufthansa
Good (3,699 reviews)
KLM
Good (687 reviews)
British Airways
Good (3,445 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,192 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,267 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,206 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (1,811 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,398 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (4,023 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (4,284 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (366 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (685 reviews)
Gulf Air
Good (99 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (376 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (5,445 reviews)
Sun Country Air
Good (121 reviews)
WestJet
Good (1,604 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Good (215 reviews)
Allegiant Air
Good (413 reviews)
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Where to stay in South Padre Island

Average rates range from around $188 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $219 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Best Western Beachside Inn and La Quinta Inn & Suites South Padre Island.

Where to stay in popular areas of South Padre Island

Most booked hotels in South Padre Island

Hilton Garden Inn South Padre Island Beachfront
Excellent (8.3, 1085 reviews)
$118+
La Quinta Inn & Suites South Padre Island
Excellent (8.1, 3771 reviews)
$94+
La Copa Inn Beach Hotel
Excellent (8, 3686 reviews)
$78+
Casa Rosa Inn
Excellent (8, 734 reviews)
$52+
Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Good (7.9, 412 reviews)
$127+
Port Isla Inn
Good (7.8, 437 reviews)
$57+

Renting a car in South Padre Island

Renting a car in South Padre Island costs $62 per day, on average, or $124 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 25% more expensive than at Brownsville South Padre Is. Intl.

Expect to pay $4.16 per gallon in South Padre Island (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $49.97 and $66.62. Luxury (Volkswagen Touareg or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in South Padre Island, while also 32% cheaper than other types, on average.