How to Get to Port Aransas by Car, Boat or Plane

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Need help finding Port Aransas, Mustang Island or determining the best route to get here?

Here’s what you need to know about getting to the coast and to Port A via car, boat or plane, no matter where you’re coming from.

Port Aransas TX | www.portaransastex.com

How to Get Here by Car

Port Aransas is located on the northern end of Mustang Island, one of the barrier islands of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico, not to be confused with North Padre Island in Corpus Christi. There are two ways to get to Mustang Island and Port Aransas: take the ferry from Aransas Pass or State Highway 361 on the JFK Causeway Bridge from Corpus Christi’s North Padre Island.

Now depending on where you’re driving from, there are a few different ways to get to either of those areas which take you to Port Aransas. Here’s directions from a few major cities in South Texas.

NOTE: If you’re planning on driving and parking your vehicle on the beach, you’ll need to buy a Beach Parking Permit (about $12). They’re sold at the Stripes gas station and sometimes at the Access Road beach entryways on busy weekends.

Coming from San Antonio

HIGHWAY: Take IH-37 South toward Corpus Christi. Merge right onto Hwy. 358 South Padre Island Drive (SPID). Stay left onto Park Road 22, which will take you over the JFK Causeway Bridge onto North Padre Island. Turn left onto State Hwy. 361 to Port Aransas.

FERRY: Once in Corpus Christi, take TX-181 to Hwy. 361 into Aransas Pass. Continue onto the ferry to get to Port Aransas. As you drive off the ferry, turn left to venture into Old Town Port Aransas or turn right onto Cutoff Road to bypass traffic a bit and arrive at Avenue G/Hwy 361.

Coming from Austin

HIGHWAY: Take IH-35 South toward San Antonio. Take IH-37 South toward Corpus Christi. Merge right onto Hwy. 358 South Padre Island Drive (SPID). Stay left onto Park Road 22, which will take you over the JFK Causeway Bridge onto North Padre Island. Turn left onto State Hwy. 361 to Port Aransas.

Coming from Dallas

HIGHWAY: Take IH-35 South toward Austin/San Antonio. Merge onto IH-37 South toward Corpus Christi. Turn right onto Hwy. 358 South Padre Island Drive (SPID). Stay left onto Park Road 22, which will take you over the JFK Causeway Bridge onto North Padre Island. Turn left onto State Hwy. 361 to Port Aransas.

Houston

HIGHWAY: Take IH-10 West toward San Antonio. Take IH-35 South to IH-37 South toward Corpus Christi. Merge right onto Hwy. 358 South Padre Island Drive (SPID). Stay left onto Park Road 22, which will take you over the JFK Causeway Bridge onto North Padre Island. Turn left onto State Hwy. 361 to Port Aransas.

Amarillo

HIGHWAY: Take IH-27 South toward Lubbock. Take IH-20 East toward Abilene. Take TX-70 Bus to San Angelo. Take TX-153 South. Merge onto IH-10 East toward Uvalde/San Antonio. Keep right onto I-35 South toward Laredo, merging onto IH-10 then onto IH-37 South toward Corpus Christi. Merge right onto Hwy. 358 South Padre Island Drive (SPID). Stay left onto Park Road 22, which will take you over the JFK Causeway Bridge onto North Padre Island. Turn left onto State Hwy. 361 to Port Aransas.

How to Get Here by Boat

Surrounded by water, Mustang Island and Port Aransas are easily accessible by boat if you’re already near the water’s edge. There are a few marinas around Mustang Island to choose from, including:

Dennis Dryer Municipal Harbor: Located beside Roberts Point Park at 301 JC Barr Blvd., the Dennis Dryer Municipal Harbor is a city-operated marina with short-term and long-term boat slips available. The harbor has many helpful amenities, including 8 boat ramps, fish cleaning station, public restrooms, showers (available for boat slip users) and ice is available. Several restaurants face the harbor and are within walking distance, including Virginia’s on the Bay, Trout Street Bar & Grill, Fin’s Grill & Icehouse and more.
Island Moorings Marina & Yacht Club: A world-class marina with state-of-the-art concrete floating dock system, ship’s store, restaurant, swimming pool, fuel docks, and ship store. Located across the bay from Corpus Christi on Port Aransas Mustang Island, Island Moorings is only minutes from deep water fishing. Stock up with fuel, beer, snacks, sodas, bait and tackle at their ship store. They are on the Port Aransas Shuttle route that operates daily, providing city-wide transportation.

How to Get Here by Plane

Port Aransas has its own airport, Mustang Beach Airport, located at 130 Piper Blvd, next to Island Moorings and directly across Hwy. 361 from Beach Access Road 1A. It has a 3500 ft. lighted, newly repaved, asphalt runway and taxi-way. Mustang Beach Airport averages 60+ flights each week, so if you’re a small plane owner, you can easily fly in for the weekend. For more information about the airport, visit the City of Port Aransas.

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