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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.