South Padre Island... driving..

[SVT Lurch]

is there a "strip" like Galveston (seawall) where theres a bunch of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops on one road?

Sort of:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=6317+St.+Hwy+361+%E2%80%A2+Port+Aransas,+TX+78373&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

That's Mustang Island, a long strip of land, but lots of different resorts all along there. We used to go to Port Royal (A on the map) every summer when I was a kid. Very family oriented, shuts down at 10:00 pm, but a cool place.

[Bobby C 01TA]

sweet.. thanks for all the tips and suggestions guys! We decided to change to Port Aransas or Corpus. They are abut 35 miles apart from each other. I'd like to stay in PA and go visit Corpus. If we stay in Corpus, I dont know how many times we'll go to PA lol

[hotrod66stang]

Port A is where we always go, also. There are quite a few places that will clean and cook your fish any way you want, if you decide to go out on the charter boats. The Crazy Cajun is a decent place to eat, but be prepared for an hour wait most nights. It's turned into a bit of a tourist-y place, and the quality shows that. It's a shrimp/crawfish boil place with a few sides offered (red beans & rice, dirty rice, ettoufe, ribs, etc.). Also, head to the candy store and get some "Good."

http://shop.wintonscandies.com/produ...1&categoryId=2
http://www.thecrazycajun.com

[1carcrazyguy]

Don't know if this will help or not....but I live just outside of Corpus. I would not go any further south than Corpus/Port Aransas area, period. You might find a better hotel deal in Portland, Texas (small town) between Corpus and Port Aransas. Keep in mind during spring break the line to ride the ferry across to Port Aransas is VERY LONG...sometimes hours just to get across. You can drive over to Corpus and around "the Island" to Port Aransas but it will also take some time. With areas south of here not being as safe as they were years ago, a lot of spring breakers, and travelers in general are now staying up in the Corpus/Port Aransas/Rockport areas.

Search youtube, Port Aransas and "Port A" (as the locals would say) and that will give you an idea of what March is like around there.....for me NO THANKS!! I hate going to the mall on a busy day, mix sun, wind, TONS of alcohol, and 25,000 115lb 20yr olds that think they are Mike Tyson.....NO THANKS.

[TENGRAM]

I always leave around 2am and it takes 9 hours flat every time doing ~7 mph over the speed limit. Be sure to hit Lulu's bakery in San Antonio on your way back for a 3 lb cinnamon roll

[Rick Modena]

sweet.. thanks for all the tips and suggestions guys! We decided to change to Port Aransas or Corpus. They are abut 35 miles apart from each other. I'd like to stay in PA and go visit Corpus. If we stay in Corpus, I dont know how many times we'll go to PA lol

This is the best bet, if not for only the trip time, I don't know where these guys are coming with 9 hours to SPI, its every bit of 10 to 12 hrs depending on traffic and cops. It took me 12 hrs and I was kicking an average of 80mph, this was with an hour stop in SA and gas stops.

Anyway we have been to Corpus for spring break many times. Mustang Island is the best. There are plenty of resturants, malls, gas stations, hotels and the cops are not as bad. Fishing is top notch, from the shore, the jetty at PortA or you can take a charter for about $60.00 bucks pp. And the trip is only 6 hours from Plano to the beach, like someone else mentioned, take the Toll road through Austin it starts at Jarrell and puts you back on I-35 at Buda, its about $7.50 and you can use your tolltag from here or they easy pay bill you, well worth the cussing and gas you save stuck in Austin traffic.

[OreoStang]

Hell my buddy and I made it down there in 8 and back in 9 hrs

[78X]

it all depends on traffic- fastest ive made it was 7 hours, longest was 13 hours. If there is alot of traffic, good luck, but if you time it just right (leave time) you can drive most of it at night (or the off-peak) times and make really good time. If you can get in with a good pack of cars running 80-90 you will make good time. Just watch for the DPS and local officers once you get off of the interstate. There always seems to be 1-2 between Corpus and San Antonio, I always see 1 between SA and Austin, also for Temple to Austin, but from Temple up to the 35 split in hillsboro you can hall balls- i never see cops in that stretch.

[MR EDD]

Road trips are fun.the longer the better.

[0 GT 2]

I drove down there for spring break a few years ago from dallas and it was a bitch of a drive. Normally I don't mind driving but it's like driving through purgatory for most of the trip and it's boring as hell.

Not to mention the ride back sucked since I was nursing a hangover from a week of drinking.

[SSMAN]

I have not been to Port Aransas in decades. I remember taking the fairy over and driving down the beach till no one was there. Me and the wife at the time had the whole beach to our selves. Hell of a nice time. Company condo did not hurt either.

[1carcrazyguy]

Just watch for the DPS and local officers once you get off of the interstate. There always seems to be 1-2 between Corpus and San Antonio, I always see 1 between SA and Austin, also for Temple to Austin, but from Temple up to the 35 split in hillsboro you can hall balls- i never see cops in that stretch.

Cops know that Spring breakers will be coming down for the better part of the next month. They will be thick, pretty much anywhere out on the roads once you get south of Austin.

[MR EDD]

Are u going for spring break.have a good and safe trip.enjoy urself.i love road trips in a car.

[MR EDD]

cops know that spring breakers will be coming down for the better part of the next month. They will be thick, pretty much anywhere out on the roads once you get south of austin.

when they turn the lights on that means speed up.funny.

[Darren M]

Are u going for spring break.have a good and safe trip.enjoy urself.i love road trips in a car.

As compared to road trips in a........ ? Truck, tank, container, dragged by a rope?