Getting to Port Aransas

Your Trip to the Island Starts Here

Getting to Port Aransas is part of the adventure, and our island offers two easy and scenic ways to arrive. Many visitors drive in through Corpus Christi and enter from the south via Mustang Island. This route takes you across the elevated JFK Causeway, offering beautiful views of the Laguna Madre before connecting you directly to SH 361 and straight into Port A.

You can also take the classic route through Aransas Pass. This option brings you directly to the Port Aransas Ferry, where a short ride across the ship channel delivers you to the heart of the island. It’s a favorite arrival method for families and first-time visitors because it feels like the vacation truly begins the moment the ferry pushes off.

Port Aransas sits on the northern tip of Mustang Island, about 30 minutes from Corpus Christi. Travelers can fly into Corpus Christi International Airport or land private aircraft at the Mustang Beach Airport, which offers a convenient 3,500-foot runway.

Driving times are straightforward: roughly three hours from San Antonio, three and a half from Houston, four from Austin, and about eight hours from the Dallas–Fort Worth area. No matter where you’re coming from, the beach is closer than you think.

An Island Experience All Its Own

The Port Aransas Ferry System operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering free and reliable transportation between Aransas Pass and Mustang Island. Riding the ferry is one of the most iconic experiences in Port A — dolphins often follow the boats, seabirds glide overhead, and the views are a perfect welcome to island life.

The ferry fleet includes six vessels, with the number in service adjusted throughout the day based on traffic. Each ferry can carry up to twenty standard vehicles and moves cars continuously back and forth across the channel. During busy seasons — especially summer, Spring Break, and holidays — wait times may increase, but the ride itself is quick and relaxing once you’re on board.

Vehicle size limits are in place for safety. The maximum combined vehicle length is eighty-five feet, the maximum width is ninety-six inches, and the maximum height is thirteen feet, six inches. Travelers can tune into AM 530 for updates, regulations, and emergency broadcasts.

Peak ferry months include June, July, and August, but winter also brings increased traffic as seasonal residents arrive. Regardless of when you visit, the ferry remains a uniquely Port Aransas welcome to your beach vacation.