SPI Surfing Links (these open in new windows)
- Learn to surf in South Padre: South Padre Surf Company
- Live Cam for the Island: South Padre Sky Cam
- Surf Report: SPI Surf Report – Scroll about halfway down the page.
South Padre Island surf is the top surfing location in Texas. The continental shelf drops off just offshore, so expect to be in deep water fast. Waves here can be truly epic, and it can be difficult to paddle out on huge days. If you only surf once in Texas, you really should surf South Padre Island.
Directions to South Padre Island
It’s fairly simple to get to the island. Just take Highway 77 South to 100 East.
You’ll drive over the longest bridge in the state of Texas to get to South Padre Island, which is called the Queen Isabella Causeway.
Isla Blanca Park
While there are tons of surfing locations all along the island, Isla Blanca Park is the most popular surf spot on the island. You can easily find 8-10 foot waves less than a hundred yards out at this surf spot, at the first inside sandbar. Further out is another sandbar that normally brings 6-8 foot waves, but 12-15 foot waves have been surfed here in tropical storm weather. These are huge waves that peel off with perfect form, normally only 6-8 seconds apart.
How to Get There
Once you’re over the causeway, take a right onto Park Road 100 and follow the road all the way to Isla Blanca Park. You’ll enter the park through a toll gate ($4 per day per vehicle) and drive to the first parking lot (which is actually called “First Parking Lot”).
Other great places to surf inside Isla Blanca Park include:
The Second Lot, which is the second parking lot just past the first parking lot, and Dolphin Cove.
Click here to view a detailed Map of Isla Blanca Park in a new window.