The best way to get around South Padre Island is on foot, especially since the area clocks in at a measly 2 square miles in size (much of which is shoreline). There is also a free public shuttle, the Wave, which runs the length of the town and across Laguna Madre to Port Isabel. However, if you're interested in visiting some of the other outlying communities, you may want to rent a car. Getting into town from the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport (BRO) — located about 25 miles southwest — can seem daunting, but you can make the trip without having to worry about overspending. Island Airport Shuttles pick up at the BRO airport and can take you as far as Port Isabel where you can catch the Wave. Visitors can also fly into Valley International Airport (VIA) in Harlingen — about 40 miles west of South Padre — and catch the South Padre Shuttle to the island (one-way fares cost $25 per passenger; round-trip is $40). Car rentals are also available.