Texas's Most Charming Beach Towns
The south-central US state of Texas borders Mexico to the south, New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the northeast, and Louisiana to the east. The second-largest state in the US is also one of the most visited in the country. Texas is famous for the Wild West scene, which is only one of its many sides to discover. Its beach towns remain unglorified to the degree they deserve, providing crowd-less sand strips under pleasant weather and with calm waters of the Gulf.
Take a bike ride with cultural pursuits in town, nature with wildlife viewings or marine life on a cruise, and birdwatching throughout. These towns, with easy access to each other as well as the major Texas cities, will make the big state feel like home. Enjoy a fun road trip to one of these coastal enclaves and have the most unforgettable beach escape of your life.
Crystal Beach
This resort town is part of the 27-mile-long Bolivar Peninsula on the Texas coast, to the northeast of Galveston. Take a ferry from Galveston or drive along Highway 87 from High Island to Crystal Beach, a family-friendly community with something for everyone. Snack on delectable seafood daily or visit in May or June for the annual Texas Crab Festival with great seafood dishes, live music, art sellers, and crafts. Take a nature venture at the Bolivar Loop Upper Texas Coast Wildlife Trail, along the highway, which is full of wildlife and bird-watching opportunities.
Visit Fort Travis, built in 1836 to protect Port Galveston, and check out the Stingaree Restaurant or Hardheads Icehouse and Grill for live entertainment for dinner over the waters. Enjoy fewer crowds in this lesser-known ocean pocket of Texas, southeast of Houston, which lends itself to quiet beaches with camping allowed and keeps the vacation costs low. Crystal Beach is still popular among returning tourists who once enjoyed its sandy beaches, pleasant swimming waters, and even local nightlife.
Freeport
About 60 miles south of Houston, the quiet town of Freeport is your priceless ticket to endless summer fun. Drive right up to the waters of Surfside, its most atmospheric beach with golden miles of sand filled with seashells and waters replete with marine life. This beach is popular among watersport fans, with accommodations right along the sands, while the nearby Old Brazos River is another great place for jet skiing. The Surfside Jetty County Park offers a waterside playground, picnic spots, and bird watching. Stop by the interesting Freeport Historical Museum in town and head for a classic seafood feast at Red Snapper Inn.
This small town is one big beach destination with a huge surfing scene, two marinas, the beautiful Brazos River, and seaside amenities. You can enjoy your favorite game at the scenic Freeport Municipal Golf Course. Explore the idyllic natural paradise along the wetlands trail and discover the Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary, which is also a premier diving destination. The stunning three-mile Bryan Beach is a natural, pristine sandpit with the best camping, birding, fishing, and relaxing under the sun over a picnic.
Galveston
With a population of just over 50,000, no beach list in Texas would be complete without Galveston, a city on the eponymous island. Visit the beaches, but stay for the magnetic vibe and the Victorian grandeur on a stroll along the decorated houses. Galveston is full of Southern charm and framed by a colorful boardwalk, as well as the naturally charming Galveston Island State Park. The 2,000-acre park is idyllic for outdoor fans to blow off steam through camping, hiking trails, and swimming areas. Immerse yourself in the lively community at the gorgeous local Palm Beach, and head to the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier for an atmospheric evening of carnival rides, fried food, and stunning sunsets.
Visit Galveston on a quick escape from Dallas or anywhere in North Texas, and you will never forget the beaches or the vibe that this lovely town imports on you. Reserve a vacation window or a long weekend for a road trip into town and explore the whole island, worthy of the sights and attractions. Relax along the popular and pet-friendly East Beach with great amenities and regular events like festivals. The Seawall Urban Park is your go-to for beachfront dining and entertainment. Head to the family-friendly Stewart Beach and discover why it is an award-winning stretch of sand.
Kemah
The lovely town of Kemah, not far from Galveston, is a popular beach destination with an iconic boardwalk, about 30 miles from downtown Houston. Stroll amid water views and a line of colorful storefronts, delicious restaurants, and amusement rides. Kemah is a mecca of fun, unlike any small town that pulls you to enjoy yourself and lose track of time with family-friendly activities. The suburban atmosphere permeates an appealing townscape with a lively vibe along the boardwalk, where you forget about work over all the arcade games, shopping, and even performances on the ocean.
Explore the town and its surroundings on foot, by bike, on a unique horse carriage, or on a boat cruise. You can also go sailing, do other water sports, or simply enjoy the soft sands, the sun, and swimming. The Kemah Clear Lake Park offers a beach with a children’s play area, local flora and fauna, picnic tables, and excellent fishing. Stay at the lovely Boardwalk Inn for ocean views and join in the fun 4th of July celebration, among other events, regular festivals, and concerts.
Matagorda
Matagorda is a lovely town and an awesome beach destination in the Lone Star State. With a motto of "the hidden treasure of the Texas Gulf Coast," you can expect pristine sand strips, crowd-less attractions, excellent services, and activities to enjoy in small groups. Take all the pictures you like without others in the shot and stroll along the beach to reminisce in peace, then plop down to relax at the sea sight and sound of lapping waters in pure bliss and tranquility.
Matagorda is particularly popular among the hikers and anglers at the Matagorda Bay Nature Park. This 1,600-acre preserve stretches along miles of beaches with public piers, spliced by nature trails with birdwatching opportunities for hikes, strolls, and bike rides. Seek the homey vibe in town at the popular local market on the third Saturday of each month in the scenic square by the downtown courthouse. Linger for the free beaches and some of the coziest B&Bs of your life, like the Stanley-Fisher House, the Shell Motel, or the Fisherman’s Motel.
Port Aransas
Port Aransas is one of the most popular beach destinations in the state, not far from Rockport just off the gulf coast. The town with incredible beaches disperses people for an uncrowded feel, while the solitude of the island lends to a pleasantly removed vibe from the rest of the world. This long and skinny Mustang Island is home to incredible outdoor adventures, with wildlife and birdwatching throughout. Relax along the serene beaches or try watersports like parasailing, kayaking, and windsurfing.
Port Arkansas is a unique Texan town to discover on a bike ride, with many sights and immersive cultural activities. Port Aransas Beach features warm and clear waters to enjoy all day and camping with an open fire along the sands for an unforgettable experience. Check out the beautiful IB Magee Beach Park with many campsites and amenities for beachgoers, while the Horace Caldwell Pier is your go-to for surfing, fishing, and sunset views.
Port Lavaca
Port Lavaca is a nature lover's dream, with up to 400 different kinds of birds soaring overhead throughout the year, but fewer tourists than other Gulf Coast destinations to greedily enjoy it at a pace that matches its calm sea. Visit the Calhoun County Museum, reminiscing back to the 16th-century European explorers, and check out the nearby Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse from 1858. Magnolia Beach is the only rugged shell beach in the region for sunbathing, playing volleyball, or strolling along in any season. There are several piers and a marina for the best sunset views and fishing that stay lit up at night for atmospheric pastimes after sundown.
Enjoy a daytime picnic at the Bayfront Peninsula Park and stay for the free evening music series on Saturday nights from July through August. Head to the Alamo Beach for swimming and paddleboarding, while the Lighthouse Beach features cabanas for some privacy or shelter from the sun. This cute town is your summertime oyster, with all the charms of the Texas Gulf Coast, beautiful beaches, and a laid-back vibe, with only some 12,000 residents enjoying a relaxed vacation lifestyle.
Rockport
Rockport is a cultural hub of the region, surrounded by barrier islands and the bay, providing natural adventures and discoveries throughout this coastal town. Tourists enjoy the chill atmosphere away from South Padre Island's party scene on a relaxing getaway with serene views and many pursuits. Stop at the cozy Lighthouse Inn or Hoopes House and stroll down Austin Street for shopping and dining, or take an art stroll through the Rockport Center for the Arts and the South Austin Street Galleries.
The central Rockport Beach Park is an outdoor playground at your doorstep, including fun beach activities like windsurfing and flying a kite. Enjoy easy access via a fun three-hour road trip from both Houston and Austin to see how Rockport has outdone itself after Hurricane Harvey. The lovely beach town offers well-equipped beaches, including handicap access, public restrooms, picnic areas, and great places for swimming for both kids and adults. Visit with your pet for strolls through town, but leave the pup at home with the only human company allowed on Rockport Beach.
Seabrook
Seabrook is a great town to spend a summer in and is often touted as one of the best places to live in Texas. Visit Seabrook, just 40 minutes from Houston's city center, and immerse yourself in the outdoorsy, small-town lifestyle. The vibrant coastal community on the west side of Galveston Bay has something exciting for everyone, like shopping, dining, and outdoor recreation including biking, fishing, boating, and hiking.
Established in the early 1900s, Seabrook grew quickly into a resort town with a fishing and shrimp business. Discover the intriguing NASA Johnson Space Center and stroll along the famous Kemah Boardwalk, just five minutes away, for which Houstonians escape the city on a regular basis. Visit Clear Lake Park for relaxing strolls, fishing, and other recreation, and enjoy sea delicacies when you are finally ready to sit down for dinner or a night on the town. There are also a number of yacht clubs and marinas, as well as a year-round lineup of festivals and events, like Mardi Gras and regattas.
Texas cowboy glory often overshadows the fact that the coastal Lone Star State is your idyllic summertime paradise or a great place throughout the year to let go of worries at the sight of the waters on a quick getaway from the city. Visit these quiet beach towns in the state and lose track of time amid vibrant attractions, shopping, and beach fun. Stroll along the many famed boardwalks and check out the historic and Victorian sights at the center.
The unique culture of each town is night and day from the regular cowboy vibe you would expect in Texas. The envied beach lifestyle will hold you captive through sights, attractions, and restaurants, where you can dine on surf and turf every day over splendid ocean views and scenic sunsets.
