3 Best Areas to Stay in South Padre Island, TX (2024 Update)

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People walking and relaxing on a sandy beach with a city skyline of high-rise buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.

Hola traveler, ready for your next Texas adventure? I crafted this article to help you discover the best areas to stay in South Padre Island (or, for short, SPI) and make the most of your stay!

I researched all the best places along the island’s length and neatly organized everything in geographical terms, so it’s going to be really easy to follow!

Stay in Central South Padre Island for the first time to be near all the attractions, but also check out other areas that I recommend for different travel interests.

I also cherry-picked the top-rated hotels for all budgets in every area so you can quickly book the one that best matches your budget! And talking about hotels, the prices can jump like crazy here, especially around spring break, so it’s super important to book your stay in SPI in advance!

Quick Picks for Your Stay

Check out the best hotels in South Padre to book right away:

Watch my video, it will give you a visual explanation of all the areas:

And here’s a map to help you visualize all the areas where to stay in South Padre Island that I will be talking about in this post:

5 SPI things to know to help plan your trip

I want to quickly share a few tips on when to visit and how to get around, as these apply to the whole island, regardless of where you stay:

South Padre Island is a popular spring break destination, and it gets crowded every year for 6 weeks around March. Unless you’re coming for spring break, definitely avoid visiting during this period. The hotel prices skyrocket at this time, too!
Check the weather forecast for hurricane alerts in the area. August and September are the most active hurricane months in Texas.
For tourists flying in, there’s a free shuttle bus (WAVE) that runs from 7 AM to 9 PM the length of the island. Make sure to wave at the bus so it stops!
You can also rent golf carts, bikes (bike trails available), or walk. You don’t necessarily need a car unless you plan to sightsee the area around the island.
For cars: For Texans driving to SPI for a weekend getaway, you’ll need to get a parking permit with the nearby SPI Police Department for parking on residential streets (between Gulf Boulevard and Padre Boulevard). Free parking is available along the ocean (East side of the island). Ideally, make sure your hotel has parking.
Beaches in South Padre Island are public and free to access on foot and are located along the East and South sides of the Island. You’ll find numerous numbered beach access points along the Gulf Boulevard.

1. Central SPI – best place to stay for first-timers

Aerial view of a beach with a pier extending into the ocean. People are on the sand and in the water. Buildings line the coastline in the background under a clear blue sky.

South Padre Island is one of the best places to vacation in Texas! As the locals put it, SPI is like one long stretch of beach bars! Basically, the whole island stretches 4 miles (6.4 km) North-South, with the Central South Padre being closest to all the attractions and ideal for first-time visitors.

Think chilling on the beaches, trying different watersports, fishing, and having the best time in the amusement parks. You’ll find all the entertainment you need and plenty of restaurants where you can treat yourself to delicious dishes!

Best of all is that the attractions in the Central area are very walkable so you don’t even need a car or public transport, especially around the Entertainment District (map).

You can visit the famous Gravity Park (map) that’s part of the district featuring reverse bungee rides, a Ferris wheel, go-kart courses, and many other attractions, then go for a swim and eat in a nice restaurant all by walking from one place to another!

an image of the central beach at sunset, the best place to stay in South Padre Island

Talking about food, all the locals love the Meatball Cafe (map), with a great atmosphere and the best Italian food (try their chicken alfredo)! So make sure to stop by, it’s just a 4-minute walk from Gravity Park!

Oh, and one of the latest attractions in the area is the Sandcastle Village (map), where you can see sculptures of animals and objects made by the world’s best sand sculptors!

Do note that South Padre doesn’t have any luxury accommodation, especially not in the Central area. Vacation rentals are the most popular accommodation option here! This is overall a very laid-back island with not much going on except during spring break.

Other accommodation options in Central SPI

Mid-Range

Best Western SPI

This top-rated 3-star hotel is situated between the Northern and Central attractions and has a lovely pool

Budget

Rain Dancer

A lovely home for 6 guests with a swimming pool, free parking, and spacious rooms

Airbnb

Retro Condo

This fabulous South Padre Island Airbnb beach bungalow can fit up to 7 people and has a charming retro vibe

Things to do in Central South Padre

Try the go-karts in Gravity Park
Sunbathe all day on South Padre Island Beach #23 (map)
Eat out at the iconic Liam’s Steak House (map) and enjoy sunset views
Go snorkeling with Ka Motion Sailing Adventure (map)
Grab a drink at Padre Island Brewing Co (map)
Spot some cute dolphins on a boat tour
Check out the shops on South Padre Boulevard (map)

2. Southern end – best place to stay in South Padre Island for families

A statue of Jesus with outstretched arms stands atop a stone base surrounded by grass, with a blue sky and waterfront in the background. Palm trees and a few buildings are visible in the distance.

Planning your next family getaway to South Padre Island, TX? Then stick around as I’m about to divulge all the details you’ll need!

The best area to stay in South Padre Island for families is the Southern tip of the island, just a short walk from Isla Blanca Beach (map). Here, you’ll find many attractions that cater to adults and the little ones, too.

This area has a few parks, but the main attractions are the Beach Park at Isla Blanca (map) and the Beach Waterpark (map). A dream come true for any kid! Pools, slides, and lazy rivers! The fun never ends here, although you might get tired after a bit.

But then you can head to the beach area to relax! The atmosphere here is more laid-back than on the other beaches of the island, and it’s also not so touristy. Basically, the perfect combination, if you ask me!

You’ll love the water color in South Padre Island, which turns emerald gray in May, June, and July!

People stroll and fish on a stone pier extending into the ocean under a clear blue sky. Beachgoers and swimmers are seen in the foreground.

LOCAL’S TIP: For the best sunset views on the island, make it to Isla Blanca Park early to get your spot on the benches!

Also, if you need to travel to the mainland, I recommend looking for South Padre Island hotels here, as here you’ll find the Queen Isabella Causeway bridge (map). Do note that traffic can get hectic since this is the only connection of the island with mainland Texas.

FUN FACT: Did you know there’s a place just across the bay from SPI where you can stand in Texas and see friendly crowds wave at you from the beaches of Mexico? Just drive to Boca Chica Beach (map) and walk South towards the estuary area where the Rio Grande meets the Gulf of Mexico!

Boca Chica Beach is also the official SpaceX launch site of the company’s Starship, the rocket made for Mars missions. So, if you’re a space nerd like me, you can even plan your visit to catch the launch! You can see if there are any upcoming launches on Spaceflight Now.

PRO TIP: There’s a useful (and very active) FB group called SPI Concierge, where you can see posts about upcoming events on the island or even chat with locals!

Luxury hotel

Margaritaville Beach Resort

Margaritaville South Padre is the island’s most iconic 4-star resort, featuring spacious rooms overlooking the ocean, a large outdoor swimming pool, and multiple on-site restaurants! There’s also a spa and wellness center, private parking, and daily buffet breakfast. Definitely the nicest hotel in South Padre Island if you ask me!

Other accommodation options in the Southern end

Mid-Range

Gulf View

Enjoy a morning by the pool with the family at this hotel that has a hot tub, family rooms, and a sun terrace

Budget

Lighthouse Inn

This accommodation has a swimming pool, spacious rooms and offers parking sites

Airbnb

Beach Complex

Big fan of floor-to-ceiling windows? Then you’ll love this place with a hot tub and a pool

Things to do in the Southern end

Try all the slides at Isla Blanca Park
Try the best seafood in town at Ceviche Ceviche (map)
Catch a sunset near the South Padre Island Tower (map)
Check out the Cristo de los Pescadores statue (map)
Go on a private sunset cruise tour

3. Northern end – best lodging in South Padre Island for nature lovers

A group of people riding horses along a sandy beach with the ocean waves and blue sky with clouds in the background.

As you move up Padre Boulevard towards the North side of the island, you’ll find an area perfect for nature lovers!

On Upper Padre Boulevard, you’ll find many boutiques, restaurants, and bars. But as you venture off, you’ll come across the main attraction here – The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center (map). This is a beachfront nature area where you can observe different birds and animals in their natural habitat!

Plus, plan a visit to Sea Turtle, Inc (map), a lovely turtle conservation center! You (and the kids) are in for a fun, educational time while turtle-watching!

The Northern end has plenty of opportunities for water sports, too. A great place for water sports rentals here is Parrot Eyes WaterSports (map). You can go parasailing, tour the island on a dolphin cruise, go kayaking, and whatnot! Be sure to check them out!

Obviously, you have the beach at your disposal at all times. It may get a bit crowded during spring break, but otherwise, you should be fine finding yourself a spot. However, do note that the most beautiful beaches are located at the Southern tip of the island and along its Eastern coast.

A maroon van parked on a beach with two red kayaks secured on its roof. The ocean and waves are visible in the background, with some shrubs in the foreground.

You can also escape the large groups for a trip to the Farmers Market (map), where you can find many hidden gems, from yummy food to cool plants! Take the free shuttle bus to the last station North to get there!

And for a fun night out, you can sing karaoke at Coral Reef Lounge (map)! The locals love it! As you see, there are plenty of fun things to do around here!

HIDDEN GEM: Drive until the end of State Park 100 to reach the island’s sand dunes and enjoy the amazing scenery! They even have horseback rides across the dunes for a brand-new perspective of the vast space! Book your ride at the nearby Adventure Park (map)!

Note that although there are no luxury hotels in the Northern part of the island, you’ll find 3-star hotels like Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard South Padre Island that are the closest to luxury it can get!