If it is planned to meet at the Civic/Convension Center in McAllen below is a suggested driving route to the Island. This route travels along the border via Hwy 281 to Brownsville, then Hwy 48 to the Island. It is off the main roads, but not a bad drive. Also does anyone want to visit Mexico while in the Valley? If so the best place is Progreso. Like all border town it mostly depends on American dollar and could be considered a "tourist trap" but if anyone wants the Mexican experience it is probably the best and safest. There is lots of reasonably priced parking on the American side and a short walk to the Progreso.( My advise is to park in USA and walk across.) You would need a passport to get back across the river into the US.

Driving Directions
Link:
<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=26.196417,-98.26335&daddr=TX-241%2FUS
-281+to:US-281+to:Boca+Chica+Blvd%2FUS-281+to:E+14th+St%2FTX-48+to:Queen+Isabella+Causeway
%2FTX-100&geocode=%3BFXxTjgEdBOIk-g%3BFRQHjgEd3L8o-g%3BFYuaiwEdcgkw-g%3BFQDciwEd1Fox-g%3BF
SoFjgEd_Fs1-g&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=15&via=1,2,3,4&sl l=26.193298,-98.26189&sspn=0
.01498,0.026865&ie=UTF8&ll=26.193259,-98.257642&spn=0.01498,0.026865&z=15>

Start address: S Ware Rd
End address: Queen Isabella Causeway/TX-100