Best Beach Towns in Texas

Looking for the best beach towns in Texas? I’ve put together the ultimate list of the best coastal towns in Texas that everyone needs to visit at least once.

With streets lined with palm trees, salty air, miles of sandy beaches, and ocean waves, this list of the best Texas beach towns makes for the ultimate beach destinations.

While the Lone Star State may not be the first place you think of when searching for a beach vacation, but these 13 Texas coastal towns do not disappoint!

Best Coastal Towns in Texas

With over 300 miles of coastline, there is sure to be a sandy beach that you will enjoy!

From Port Arthur near the Louisiana border to South Padre Island near the Mexico border you’ll find dozens of unique Texas coastal cities.

Texas Beach Towns

What’s great about these laid-back beach towns, is that many of them you can camp right on the beach.

Falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves and waking up to a beautiful sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico is an amazing way to spend your days.

The Best Texas Beaches

Galveston

Galveston has over 32 miles of coastline, with 10 miles of sandy beaches located on the seawall.

Galveston is only a 35-minute drive from Houston and is a fun beach getaway. With plenty of shorelines, there are no shortages of sandy beaches to play.

This laid-back beach town offers everything from a fun downtown, beachfront restaurants, festivals, and Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is known for its carnival rides, fried food, and stunning sunset views.

Besides laying out on Stewart Beach, visitors can enjoy popular activities such as Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Moody Gardens, Texas Seaport Museum, Galveston Island State Park, and more.

Crystal Beach

Hop on a ferry in Galveston to reach the secluded Crystal Beach. This beach is the place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Visitors need to bring all food and supplies to this beach as there are no restaurants or grocery stores nearby.

It’s worth all the packing to enjoy a day at the beach without the crowds.

Corpus Christi

If you are looking for the quintessential beach town, then head to Corpus Christi. Mcgee Beach and North Beach are the most popular, which can also mean that it gets crowded.

So make sure to get there early to grab a good spot on the sand.

The city also offers other activities such as visiting the USS Lexington or Texas State Aquarium. Once you’ve worked up an appetite head to the two-story Whataburger!

Freeport

This town on the Texas coast is known for its beaches and fishing. Whether you are fishing from shore, your boat, or charter a fishing guide, this is the place to go.

They offer a protected area for you to fish safely.

Along with fishing, visitors can go parasailing, birdwatching, beach activities, and visit historical museums.

If you are looking to camp, head to Surfside Beach to camp right on the shoreline.

Rockport

This small town is a great place to enjoy the beach with the whole family. There are plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy.

Rockport Beach prides itself on keeping the beach clean and keeping pollution to a minimum. So grab an umbrella, beach chair and enjoy spending a relaxing day in the sun.

Port Arthur

This is a unique town that has more to offer than just getting a tan. Visit the Museum of the Gulf Coast to learn about the history of the Gulf Coast through a collection of photography, documents, and artifacts.

Or head over to Sea Rim State Park for a day of nature.

With over 4,000 acres, guests can enjoy tent or cabin camping, paddle over 9 miles of trails, horseback rides, or enjoy the nature and wildlife in the park.

Port Aransas

The is the best beach town located on Mustang Island where you are likely to see sea turtles, shorebirds, and dolphins.

Your best bet of dolphin sightings and sea turtles is while fishing at Ray Roberts park.

Port A also has some great sandy beaches and local restaurants.

South Padre Island

Located at the tip of Texas and is one of the best beach destinations in the South. It’s a popular spring break destinations but is also a great family vacation spot during the summer months.

This beach town is a great place for kiteboarding, snorkeling, windsurfing, and playing on the beautiful sandy beaches.

The town offers everything from basic hotels to gorgeous oceanfront resorts.

North Padre Island

Home to the Padre Island National Seashore is a display of how the different ecosystems work together.

With over 70 miles of protected land, you can view a large amount of wildlife and unique plants in the area.

Visitors come from all over to get a glimpse of the baby sea turtles being released into the ocean for the first time.

Bolivar Peninsula

Located about 1.5 hours from Houston, the Bolivar Peninsula is a 27-mile peninsula that is home to small towns like Crystal Beach and Port Bolivar.

This area is great for a slower pace beach getaway. What it lacks in restaurants and activities is made up of the amazing views, relaxing atmosphere, dolphins, clean sand, and beautiful crashing waves.

Matagorda

This small beach town is located at the mouth of the Colorado River. Known for its historic buildings and markers in the downtown, this is the third oldest town in Texas.

You will find plenty of places to relax on one if it’s 23 miles of beach areas.

Port Lavaca

Before heading to the beach, check out the Half Moon Reef Lighthouse that was built in 1858. Besides the lighthouse, visitors can also visit the Main Street Theater, Calhoun County Museum, and one of its local golf courses.

The two best-known beaches are Magnolia Beach and Lighthouse Beach. Visitors can fish, launch boats, play volleyball, hiking trails, and bird tower.

Boca Chica Beach

Located near the Texas-Mexico border and on the Lower Rio Grande Wildlife Refuge. Here is where the Rio Grande river flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

Visitors like to enjoy the diverse wildlife, multiple species of birds, and the Kemps Ridley sea turtles as they make their way back into the ocean.

Hello! I'm Chastity.

Best Beach Towns in Texas

Best Coastal Towns in Texas

Texas Beach Towns