phieaglefan

I was just wondering what the drive time might be on a Saturday. My map program puts the trip to Corpus at about 2 hours 15 minutes and the trip to Port Aransas at about 2 hours 45 minutes. Just wondering if this is accurate. Also, what's the drive like? Is it pretty or boring? I know that's kind of a subjective question, but I'd like your opinion. Thanks,
H

pepper131

Sounds accurate. If you go into Corpus, it'll be all highway. I like to take the secondary roads. There are a lot of wetlands around Port A. So if you come in that way, depending on the season, you'll see many migratory birds (right now). You'll take a ferry to get to Port A and sometimes you'll see dolphins.
I have a great map that I got from some Texas tourism ad that I saw in a magazine. It beats the pants off the AAA map. It shows many secondary roads.

P_M

That's about right, but yes, the drive is terribly boring. Personally, I wouldn't do it as a day trip from SA.

Austin

About right. From Austin it takes me 3.5 hours, maybe a little longer with the ferry ride - if there is a line. So at least 2.5 hours from SA.

I take a different route from Austin to Port A. The one from SA to Port A isn't as interesting. (And the one from Austin isn't that great either..)

If you want to check out Port A, have all day, I'd say why not? Leave early in the AM and spend the day there.

What time of year?

jor

I have made that exact trip several times in the summer. I would definately not recommend it as a day trip. We always stayed over night. All that driving and so little time on the breaker island (Mustang Island) isn't worth it. Take a day trip to the Guadelupe River north of SA and go tubing. Its a fantasic day trip. Leave SA by 11 am. Its only a 45 minute drive through the hill country. You will be in the water by 12:30.

sundowner

phieaglefan
The timing is about right and the drive is mostly farm land/ranch land. But it's an easy drive and worth it to me.

We usually spend the night but made several day trips this summer with the kids (6&8). We load up some beach chairs and a picnic lunch and leave home between 6 & 8 am and stay until 5 - 7 pm. Plenty of fun in the sun in that amount of time. We drive through Corpus instead of using the ferry between Aransas Pass and Port Aransas.

phieaglefan

Thanks for all of your responses. I am sorry I didn't post a time of year, it's this weekend! Normally I wouldn't attempt this, but where we live we're so landlocked and I absolutely crave the ocean. Also, we go to Galveston approximately once a year and I've been wanting to try Port Aransas once, but have hesitated since I didn't know much about it. This would give me the opportunity to check it out for the day without much invested.

By the way, my mapping program takes me around the bay and to Port A via the ferry. I assumed I'd go straight through Corpus and approach Port A from the south. Any input on the pros and cons? Also, I read that there are showers at the state park south of the town. Is that still true? Wouldn't really want to drive that 3 hours with salt water on me!
Thanks again,
H

pepper131

There are showers at the state park on Mustang Island. My son was just there camping.