Shut Up and Ride - Take a Motorcycle Tour of Corpus Christi Bay

With summer in full swing, you might be itching to hit the asphalt on two wheels. And what better way to enjoy the Texas sun than to take a motorcycle trip around Corpus Christi Bay? Whether you’re a Corpus native or visiting from afar to explore our gorgeous islands and beaches, the Corpus Christi Bay Loop will give you a taste of what the coast has to offer.

1. Saddle up with a friend or ten and start your ride downtown, at the Corpus Christi Bayfront. Here, you can take in the stunning view of the bay, the Harbor Bridge and more.
2. Take Shoreline south until it becomes Ocean Drive. This ride takes you down the coast and past a variety of beachfront manors while offering unbeatable views of the bay. Right before you reach Texas A&M Corpus Christi, take a right on Ennis Joslin and follow the shoreline until you reach South Padre Island Drive.
3. Take a left on South Padre Island Drive and cross the JFK causeway and bridge. This is a great time to take a lunch break at one of the many outdoor seafood eateries on the island.
4. You’ve got some options here. You can continue across Padre until you reach State Highway 361 and make a left to move toward Port Aransas, or you can keep going straight to detour to Bob Hall Pier or the Padre Island National Seashore. Highway 361 will take you across the Packery Channel and onto Mustang Island. There, you’ve got roughly 17 miles of shoreline to cross before you reach Port A.
5. At Port A, you can either take some time to explore or you can jump on the ferry (free, for those of you who are not familiar) back to the mainland. While you’re on the ferry, hop off your motorcycle and keep an eye on the bay, as this is a great time to spot dolphins.
6. Once your ferry ride comes to an end, continue on 361 until you reach Aransas Pass. You will pass by the Lighthouse Lakes and Redfish Bay on this route. At Aransas Pass, continue straight to Harrison Boulevard, then turn right and then left on Wheeler/State Highway 35. This road will take you through Portland and past Sunset Lake and Indian Point Pier.
7. Continue across the Nueces Bay Causeway back to Corpus Christi. Crossing the Harbor Bridge, you can see the USS Lexington off to your left, close to the Texas State Aquarium. At the highest point of the bridge, you will have a great view of the city and surrounding bay. Soon you will arrive back at Shoreline and your ride will be over.

If you’re in the area for a rally or just taking some time off, you owe it to yourself to bike the bay. The whole trip takes about an hour if you ride nonstop, but with so much to see and do, you could easily turn the Loop into an all-day experience.

When you and your friends decide to hit the road, don’t forget to follow all of your basic motorcycle safety rules. Always wear a helmet and other protective gear. Follow all traffic laws and keep an eye on surrounding traffic. Do what you can to make sure you are visible to other drivers on the road.

Ride on, Corpus Christi!

For more information about Corpus Christi motorcycle safety, visit Gregory Herrman's profile.