South Padre Island Texas Map

About South Padre Island, Texas

South Padre Island is a locality in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It has a population of approximately 2,891. The population density is 409.5 people per km². South Padre Island is located at 26.1037°N, 97.1647°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. ZIP code: 78597.

South Padre Island is a slender ribbon of sand, a barrier island sculpted by the restless Gulf of Mexico and the calmer waters of the Laguna Madre. It lies 24.9 miles northeast of Brownsville, TX (from Brownsville, TX: bearing 56°T), and is situated 3.4 miles northeast of Port Isabel. Its landscape is a study in coastal contrasts: wide, sun-drenched beaches of fine, pale sand stretch for miles, meeting the turquoise expanse of the open sea with a gentle, rhythmic sigh. Inland, the terrain shifts to a more muted palette of salt-tolerant grasses, low-lying dunes that whisper secrets on the breeze, and the shimmering, shallow expanse of Vadia Ancha, a salt lake that mirrors the vast Texas sky. The air here carries a perpetual tang of salt and a warmth that settles deep into one's bones, a constant reminder of the sun's generous embrace. The history of South Padre Island is as dynamic as the tides that shape its shores, a story woven from the threads of indigenous peoples, Spanish explorers, and later, a burgeoning tourist trade that transformed this once-remote outpost. Its economic lifeblood has long been tied to the sea, from early fishing endeavors to the vibrant tourism industry that draws visitors from across the nation to its shores. The island lies within the protective embrace of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a designation that underscores its ecological significance and commitment to conservation, a stark contrast to the lively energy of its beachside establishments. The distant murmur of boat traffic from Brazos Santiago Pass hints at the ongoing connection to maritime life, while the faint silhouette of Los Montes, a low ridge on the mainland, offers a distant anchor to the broader Texas landscape, a place where the vibrant pulse of life beats in sync with the ebb and flow of the ocean.

About This South Padre Island Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of South Padre Island, Texas — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 26.103689, -97.164694. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on South Padre Island and Cameron County.

Detailed location data for South Padre Island includes the ZIP code (78597), telephone area code (830), county seat of Cameron County (Brownsville), and school district assignment (Point Isabel Independent School District). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct South Padre Island is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.