10 Best Beaches in Texas

With 367 miles of open Gulf shoreline, Texas naturally has plenty of beaches for those looking for a sandy escape. There are the bigger beach cities, like Corpus Christi and Galveston, that are full of family-friendly activities, nightlife and boutique and resort-style properties. But there are also many smaller towns and fishing villages where the hustle of everyday life melts away and visitors can idle the day away in the sand or with a reel in hand.

Born and raised in Texas, I spent most of my childhood summers heading down to the Texas coast, where I’d spend my time between onshore attractions like the Texas State Aquarium and Moody Gardens and on small-town beaches jumping through the surf and scouring the shoreline for seashells. As an adult, I’ve continued to visit the Texas coast, finding solace in small places like Matagorda and Boca Chica Beach. Whether you’re looking for a remote spot away from the crowds or family-friendly spots with all the amenities, these beaches are the best in Texas.

Matagorda is a small town about 100 miles southwest of Houston. Here, you’ll find wide-open beaches with minimal crowds, as tourists tend to flock to larger beaches in larger cities. Take note though—small towns mean fewer resources, so while you will find a few restaurants and shops, Matagorda is really meant for casual beach days and fishing. Stay at Matagorda Bay Nature Park, which offers beach bungalows, RV sites and Airstreams. The park also provides access to more than 900 acres of protected wetlands where visitors can go birding, kayaking and hiking. Shelling is also spectacular here. Head out on your kayak onto the Colorado River toward the jetties and the Gulf, then walk down toward the shoreline. You’ll find lightning whelks (Texas’ official state seashell), murexes, shark eye moon snails and more.

At the southern tip of South Padre Island is Isla Blanca Park, where you’ll find over a mile of beach along the Gulf of Mexico. The amenities here are excellent. The park features two large beach pavilions with onsite food and beach rental concessions, a walking trail and a jetties bait stand. You’ll also find more than 600 full hookup RV sites, cabana rentals, tent sites and a boat ramp. Plenty of restrooms, showers and shady picnic areas are available throughout the park. The park also has tour guides who can help with fishing trips, snorkeling, jet ski rentals, parasailing and diving. A full-service marina is also on site.

Along the Gulf side of the Bolivar Peninsula, Crystal Beach stretches for about 7 miles and is a more laid-back beach compared to others nearby. You’ll find plenty of rental properties and restaurants in the area, plus attractions like parasailing and fishing. You can always go simple and set up a beach lounging spot in the sand while letting the kids play in the surf, or assemble a beach volleyball net and get a game going. If you’re looking for things a bit more lively after a day of relaxation, nearby Galveston offers everything you need, including golf cart rentals and deep-sea fishing excursions.

As a kid, my grandmother would take me to Mustang Island each summer, where we’d set up a spot at the beach for a day of swimming and sandcastle building. I remember thinking that Mustang Island was a bit calmer than some other Texas beaches, and we always easily found a spot with plenty of room to spread out. Today, Mustang Island and its beach still offer a quieter place to play, with visitors often frequenting Mustang Island State Park. The park offers water and electric campsites plus primitive sites, and you can paddle the Mustang Island State Park Paddling Trail. The barrier island offers over 5 miles of coastline, giving you plenty of space to fish, go birding and build fond beach memories.

Unlike many beaches in Texas, Malaquite Beach is closed to public beach driving, making it a quieter, more family-friendly spot for those looking to avoid vehicles driving through the sand. The beach extends for 4.5 miles within the Padre Island National Seashore. Large parking lots can accommodate over 800 cars. The beach includes a covered picnic area with a charcoal grill, a night sky viewing area and outdoor cold-water showers. You’ll also find vault toilets and a visitor center with two observation decks, shaded picnic tables and a park store. Secure your spot for the day, but note that beach camping and campfires are not allowed here. Beach wheelchairs and a beach walker are available to borrow from the visitor center.

Port Aransas is known as the Fishing Capital of Texas, so for those looking to do some serious angling, this is your spot. You’ll find guided charters, fishing tournaments and you can even cast a line in the jetty. Some local restaurants even cook your fresh catch while you relax by the water with a cocktail in hand. Families love Port A, too, as it’s a convenient spot for a relaxing day in the surf followed by an evening full of great seafood, with numerous spots about town. Hiking and biking trails are nearby, or you can learn about sea turtles and marine birds at the Amos Rehabilitation Keep.

You’ll feel like a local at Surfside Beach, where life slows down a notch and outdoor recreation takes full swing. Four miles of beach are great for days spent soaking in the sun, plus there’s excellent birding here from the mile-long Bird and Butterfly Trail, where up to 400 species of birds and butterflies visit during their spring and fall migrations. Take a fishing rod to Surfside Jetty County Park and reel in trophy redfish and speckled trout, or launch your boat from here. Picnic areas and restrooms are available, and Surfside also offers kayak rentals, horseback riding, jet ski rentals and surfboards. It’s worth noting that there is no lifeguard on duty here and no overnight camping is allowed.

At the very bottom of Texas near the US-Mexico border is Boca Chica Beach, where those who really want to escape head for the day. There are no facilities here, so be prepared with everything you need. What’s cool about Boca Chica aside from being in a remote area of Texas? SpaceX sits right on the beach, allowing visitors to see rocket launch pads and rockets being built. There are no official tours of SpaceX, but you can view it all while driving toward the beach. On rocket launch days, South Padre Island and Isla Blanca Park offer great viewing spots.

Known for its shallow, clean water, Rockport Beach draws in families from near and far looking for calmer waters for kids and gentle waves. Rockport Beach is a designated Blue Wave Beach, the first and only in Texas, which means it’s kept free from litter, has handicap accessibility, public restrooms and swimmable waters. The beach offers plenty of amenities. You’ll find fishing piers, a water ski loop, boat launch and windsurfing launch area. There are also children’s playgrounds, picnic cabanas, a walking trail and volleyball courts. Showers and birding opportunities are available as well. Rockport is also full of restaurants, rental properties, historic sites and museums and shopping.

While this island is privately owned, visitors are still allowed access on the beach below the mean high tide line. Vehicles are prohibited, so you’ll have to get to the island via the daily ferry from Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf. Because this island is a bit harder to access than your typical Texas beach, it is a haven for birding, shelling, fishing and lazing the day away in the sand. Cast a line for redfish, flounder and speckled trout, and keep your eyes open for unique seashells.