South Padre Island vs Panama City Beach Spring Break
Both Panama City Beach and South Padre Island have been notorious for their spring break scenes. When most people think of either destination, they probably think about thousands of people partying on the beach. There are definitely some very different aspects between the two destinations during spring break. Diving into the new laws, the beach, and the nightlife in each area.
Panama City Beach:
Panama City Beach has long been regarded as the spring break capital of the world. With over 27 miles of pristine, white-sand beaches, it is one of the nicest beaches in the USA. With resorts and condos lining most of the stretch, it makes Panama City Beach an attractive destination for spring breakers. There is also a good nightlife and some beach clubs.
The Unwanted Truth?
In 2015 the mayor of Panama City Beach stated that Panama City Beach was going to get out of the spring break business. Drinking alcohol on the beach is now illegal during the month of March which really effects the party scene. The bars also close down at 2 a.m. which isn’t a huge deal but still earlier than it was previously. PCB pretty much decided the immense economic impact on the community wasn’t worth the trouble it brought with it.
Is All Lost?
Spring break at Panama City Beach is far from dead. People still drink on the beach but the police are always on the prowl looking for it so do it at your own risk. Your best bet would be to go to the beach bars or find one of the pool parties. Famous DJs will be performing on the beach but alcohol will be monitored. With the local authorities cracking down on the whole spring break scene, the partying will only be a fraction of what it once was. That being said, there are still plenty of places to party so if you decide to go to PCB then you still have options.
The Clubs
There are quite a few beach bars and clubs where you can go to party the day away. Making your way to one of these clubs will give you a certain party. The most notable club at Panama City Beach is Club La Vela. There a few other clubs like Harpoon Harry’s, Coyote Ugly Saloon, or Hammerhead Fred’s. Club La Vela might be one of the most famous beach clubs for spring break. It is one of the largest nightclubs in the United States with a capacity of 6,000 people. It hosts huge pool parties and offers 48 different bars to buy drinks. http://clublavela.com/
South Padre Island:
South Padre Island is one of the most well know spring break destinations in the world. South Padre Island is an island in the south of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. Resorts, hotels, and condos line the southern part of the beach on the island which gives plenty of lodging options to spring breakers. The cost of lodging is typically pretty economical because of the vast number of options available.
South Padre gets most of its fame from the large beach parties and the crazy college kids. There are countless activities and concerts to attend during the month of March so make sure you look at the events page for the dates you plan on attending. There are plenty of bars and nightclubs to party at. The most notable of these being Clayton’s Beach Bar and Louie’s Backyard. You also only need to be 18+ to get into most of the clubs and bars in South Padre Island so if you have underage friends, you can still go out together. Legendary DJs and other artists take the stage every year on the beach.
The local government and the authorities have decided to let the spring breakers keep partying. The economic impact of thousands of college kids swarming the city is immense. With large revenues during the month of March, they are able to invest more in law enforcement and security.
Bottom Line:
With the city of Panama City Beach cracking down on the spring break partying. South Padre has only been growing in size. South Padre still has some of the largest beach parties in the country and incredible beach clubs. If you are trying to compare South Padre Island and Panama City Beach, there is a pretty obvious choice and that would be South Padre Island. PCB might have held the crown for the spring break capital in the world but in recent years South Padre has probably taken that title.