The Definitive Guide to Texas Beaches
There’s no better remedy for hot days than a trip to the beach. And with some 367 miles of coastal shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico inviting you to camp, fish, paddle, scuba, and go four-wheeling, Texas is a beachgoer’s paradise come summertime. We’ve collected all our best guides to Texas beaches so you can plan the ultimate beach day (or week) this summer.
Pick a Beach, Any Beach
The first and most crucial (and most obvious) step to planning a Texas beach day is to find the right spot. If you’re looking for a resort town with warm, mild waters, head to South Padre Island. If you want to step back into a bygone era, where pirates roam the beach and square-rigged sea vessels saunter by, head to the East Beach in Galveston. For everything in between, check out our full guide to the best 12 beaches in Texas.
Basic Beach Safety
It’s not all fun in the sun. Be sure to check in with the lifeguards or look for hazard signs at the beach before setting up camp — rip currents and Portuguese man o’ wars (or bluebottle jellyfish) can be serious dangers on Texas beaches and often go unseen by the untrained tourist eye. Learn more safety tips, including some pointers on sun protection and hydration, in our full guide to beach safety.
Where Rubber Meets Sand
Out-of-towners may be surprised at the sight of trucks and vehicles with four-wheel drive on Gulf beaches, but it’s a South Texas pastime to go off-roading in the sand. Keep in mind, however, that the beaches are considered Texas highways, so all driving laws apply, including wearing a seatbelt and following speed limits. Get the full rundown on beach driving in Texas from our guide.
Spend a Night on the Shore
Camping on the beach on a warm summer night, lulled to sleep with the white noise of the sea sloshing against the sand — that’s the quintessential coastal experience for Texas beach lovers. There are plenty of spots for primitive camping, like the soft white-sand Matagorda Beach or Follett’s Island Beach, which is also a great spot for fishing and horseback riding. There are also great family-friendly spots with electricity hookups, like Mustang Island State Park or the RV-friendly Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula. Check out our guide to the 12 best beach campsites in Texas.
See the Sea Turtles
From mid-June through late August, scientists, conservationists, tourists, and locals gather on South Padre Island before dawn to watch baby Atlantic sea turtles flop their way down the beach toward the Gulf. The annual event is adorable, but it’s part of a conservation effort to revitalize the species’ dwindling population. Learn more about the incredible initiative and how you can witness a sea turtle release on our guide.
Seashells by the Seashore
More than 1,000 types of cockles, whelks, sand dollars, periwinkles, and other seashells have been known to wash up on the shores of Texas, just waiting to be collected by avid and amateur conchologists alike. There are three beaches in Texas that are especially rich in seashells: Sea Shell Beach Pocket Park #3 in Galveston, Packery Channel Beaches on North Padre Island, and Surfside Beach in Brazoria County. Learn about each beach and what you can find there on our guide to collecting seashells in Texas.
Saltwater Scuba Spots
Texas is home to some world-famous scuba diving spots, and some of the best are at the beach. The Flower Garden Banks near Galveston, for example, offers divers 160 square miles of aquatic reef to explore. Or check out the USTS Texas Clipper, a World War II transport ship that was sunk off the coast of South Padre Island to create a 473-foot artificial reef that scuba divers can explore. The Clipper is not far from Seven and One Half Fathom Bank, where you can search for underwater fossils in the summer. Head to our guide for a tour of all the best scuba diving spots near Texas beaches.
Surf’s Up in Texas?
Did you know there’s a secret surfing culture in Texas? Because the Gulf lacks the winds and distance of the ocean, it also lacks waves big enough to surf on — or so was thought until the 1950s and ’60s, when some die-hard dudes learned the secrets of the Texas surf. Today, Texas’ beaches still aren’t primed for the casual surf spots you might find in California, but the underground surf culture is alive and well and hanging ten in places like Corpus Christi and Port Aransas. Check out our guide to learn the whole amazing and untold history of surfing in Texas.
When your time at the beach is all done, cross a Texas daytrip off your bucket list by visiting one of these nearby South Texas towns.
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