When you consider the greatest seashores in the USA, you would possibly consider visiting Miami, California, or maybe the Washington shoreline. However, overlooking Texas seashores is a travesty. Texas seashores are usually not in contrast to the pristine, mega-popular Florida seashores. Texas seashores are dreamy – with fewer crowds, lovely clear sand dunes, and loads of wildlife.
Top Beaches in Texas
Whether beach-goers need the cleanest seashores formally acknowledged by the Clean Beaches Coalition or only a quiet seashore to take pleasure in with a e book, Texas seashores are incredible. The total coast of East Texas is brimming with sandy shores.
These are the very best 16 seashores in Texas. Grab your towel and solar cream as a result of these greatest seashores are all value a go to.
1. Crystal Beach
A 7-mile stretch of unassuming-looking white-gray sand, Crystal Beach is among the greatest seashores in Texas for a peaceable expertise. There aren’t any beachfront eating places and infrastructure – simply outstretched sand and the occasional dolphin pod inflicting momentary mayhem in the water. Crystal Beach is among the cleanest seashores in Texas and is right for swimming or sunbathing. And in phrases of busyness, you’ll be fortunate to stroll previous greater than a handful of individuals. The measurement of Crystal Beach means you solely actually have to work together with individuals if you would like to.
Crystal Beach is on the Bolivar Peninsula, round an hour and a half drive from Houston. It is greatest reached by automotive, as public transport is comparatively restricted.
Crystal Crab is the place to keep close to Crystal Beach, simply 350 yards away on foot. The vacation dwelling affords a self-catered expertise with an expensive balcony.
2. Rockport Beach
Rockport Beach is angelic wanting. This Texas seashore arcs in a easy curve with golden sand and conventional seashore umbrellas. Your first impression is that it appears serene, and that’s totally correct. Even its waters are peaceable. Rockport Beach is ideal for individuals who need a fast paddle, as its waters are shallow and mild.
Rockport Beach is in the sheltered Aransas Bay, simply north of Corpus Christi. The seashore is protected against the winds and currents of the Gulf of Mexico by San Jose Island. Its location is what offers it its most tasty high quality – peacefulness. Sitting on Rockport Beach looks like sitting in your individual personal world.
If you keep in Corpus Christi, you’ll have to drive as there is no such thing as a public transport choice. It takes round 38 minutes by automotive.
3. Surfside Beach
Surfside Beach is one other little city seashore. Surfside has an actual group really feel and is nicknamed ‘family beach’ due to its pleasant, laid-back vibes. While its waters do get uneven generally, for probably the most half, it’s appropriate for swimming and an excellent seashore to loosen up on. Another enormous draw is how incredible Surfside Beach is for fishing. The seashore is a superb fishing vacation spot – so undoubtedly carry your fishing rod for a fun-filled day.
Its environment bagged Surfside Beach a spot on our checklist. The happy-go-lucky vibe makes it among the best seashores in Texas. Surfside Beach can be comparatively centrally situated, simply 70 minute drive from Houston.
4. North Beach
Forget distant islands and quiet seashores; North Beach is among the greatest seashores in Texas for an city seashore day. The seashore sits on North Beach island – related to the middle of Corpus Christi by the Harbor Bridge and surrounded by main points of interest like Texas State Aquarium and USS Lexington. North Beach itself can be heaving with motion.
North Beach wiggled its method onto our checklist due to its fixed pleasure and concrete character. Besides, it is usually one of many solely seashores in Texas accessible by public transport in the event you keep in a metropolis. From Corpus Christi metropolis heart, you may hop on the 76 bus and be at North Beach in 25 minutes.
5. Boca Chica Beach
Boca Chica Beach is among the greatest seashores in Texas. Why? Because of its rockets. Boca Chica Beach is correct subsequent to SpaceX Spaceport, and you’ve got a full view of the rockets from its sandy shore. For guests in area, it is a laborious temptation to shake. Besides, what number of rockets do you see parked subsequent to seashores? It’s simple to see why Boca Chica Beach made our checklist.
Boca Chica Beach can be one of many prettiest seashores in Texas. It is surrounded by coastal marshes and clay dunes – ultimate for chicken watching and admiring wildlife. It’s situated on the east coast, proper above the Mexico border. Sandwiched between Boca Chica State Park and Brazos Island Park, it’s a seashore that belongs to nature. And only a 50-minute drive from Brownsville, it’s simply accessible by automotive.
Casa Roble is a wonderful condo in Downtown Brownsville with a patio with backyard views.
6. South Packery Jetty Beach
South Packery Jetty Beach is greatest noticed by its enormous picket jetty. The jetty acts as a fisherman’s wharf, with rows of fishermen poised, prepared for his or her subsequent chew. South Packery Jetty Beach is quiet however well-loved – attracting a handful of tourists, aka these in the know.
Do you need an additional journey? South Packery Jetty Beach permits in a single day tenting. You can get to the seashore by driving simply 25 minutes from Corpus Christi after which use it as a base in a single day – waking up to the ocean in the morning. We love South Packery Jetty Beach’s handy location and laid-back vibe. With in a single day tenting and fishing allowed and barely any crowds, it’s a incredible seashore to go to in Texas.
Island Escape is a beautiful two-bedroom vacation dwelling simply 550 yards from South Packery Channel Beach.
7. South Padre Island
South Padre Island has an unlimited 12-mile stretch of seashore that runs alongside its resort city shenanigans. The seashore at South Padre Island is swimmable and spacious. It can be alcohol pleasant and backed by a few of the most energetic bars and seaside leisure.
South Padre Island is among the greatest seashores in Texas if you would like a tacky seaside getaway. There are simply so many issues to do. It’s backed by theme parks and seashore resorts, with all of the resort facilities that give a seashore an infectious sense of enjoyable. It’s a three-hour drive from Corpus Christi or 40 minutes from Brownsville.
This cute condominium is inside strolling distance of South Padre Island seashore and sleeps up to six friends.
8. Magnolia Beach
Magnolia Beach is gorgeous. Let’s simply begin there. The 1.5-mile-long seashore is understood for being massively RV pleasant. Its hard-packed sand is right for seashore drives. Since it permits in a single day tenting, Magnolia Beach is fashionable amongst RV campers. Another enormous bonus is its flush bathrooms and showers onsite – even boasting sizzling water. Isolated and dreamily so, Magnolia Beach is a quiet spot to spend undisturbed time on the coast. It’s among the best Texas seashores for RV homeowners.
Magnolia Beach itself is a tiny group with little in the best way of services or facilities. However, you might be only a 15-minute drive into Port Lavaca, which has all of the city requirements. To get to this Texas seashore, a automotive is the easiest way ahead, and moreover, you need to make the most of seashore driving, don’t you?
9. Galveston Island East Beach
In Galveston Island East Beach, actions and leisure are the legal guidelines of the land. The seashore sits on the far east of Galveston Island and is greatest identified for its relaxed legal guidelines – together with being one of many solely Galveston seashores to allow alcohol. Concerts and events; you title it and Galveston has bought it. Galveston Island East Beach has all the pieces from nightlife to actions like horseback using and seashore combing. From its picket boardwalk, you’ll overlook all of this mayhem.
The seashore is only a 12-minute drive from Galveston city and an hour from Houston. Galveston Island East Beach is on our checklist as a result of it affords top-tier leisure. If you need an occasion, it is among the greatest seashores in Texas.
10. Lighthouse Beach
This sandy shore is among the greatest Texas seashores for youngsters and households. The tiny stretch of sand is backed by a youngsters’s playground, splash pad, and coated picnic shelters. Its age-appropriate facilities are what caught our eye. In brief, Lighthouse Beach is a child’s paradise.
Lighthouse Beach is located on the fringe of Port Lavaca. It’s tucked in simply earlier than the Port Lavaca Causeway, which spans throughout Lavaca Bay. It is well walkable for these staying in Port Lavaca. Alternatively, you may drive to the seashore in a matter of minutes.
11. Stewart Beach
Stewart Beach is one other Galveston Island gem. However, in contrast to East Beach, it’s far more famend as a family-friendly coastal spot. Alcohol is just not permitted, which invitations a quieter crowd. Still, overlook the lull of lengthy seashore days with no actions; Stewart Beach has masses to do, which caught our consideration. Families can get entangled with volleyball and large Jenga and entry a playground. Stewart Beach is ideal for households with older youngsters wanting to get extra energetic.
Aside from all these actions, Stewart Beach has chairs and umbrellas, bathe and restroom services, snack bars, and even seashore wheelchairs if wanted. Located simply outdoors Galveston city, it’s additionally simple to attain. You can stroll to Stewart Beach or drive minutes from Galveston. Alternatively, drive from Houston in round an hour.
An condo with an infinity pool sits simply steps from Stewart Beach.
12. Matagorda Bay Nature Park
Matagorda Bay Nature Park is way from only a seashore. The park encompasses quite a few leisure actions like putt a hole-in-one, in addition to wetlands and an RV park. It is an organized space, and there’s even a customer heart. You can take pleasure in strolls on the seashore, kayaking the wetlands, and recognizing wildlife – Matagorda Bay is actually a chicken sanctuary, given its protected standing. Matagorda Beach is simply subsequent to the opening of the Colorado River. As a two-hour drive from Houston, it’s best accessed by automotive.
We love Matagorda Bay Nature Park as an entertaining place to go to for wildlife watching and outside water-related actions. It is necessary to notice that Matagorda Beach is just not a swimming seashore. The space is fashionable amongst sharks and harmful due to rip currents and undertow. Matagorda is among the greatest Texas seashores to expertise from land or in a kayak.
This gorgeous Matagorda townhouse has a deck, three bedrooms, and entry to an enormous communal pool.
13. Mcgee Beach
Mcgee Beach is a stylish seashore in downtown Corpus Christi. This Corpus Christi seashore is ideal for an city dawn or sundown, with clear waters and contemporary, rubbish-free sands. It is about again towards Shoreline Boulevard. Mcgee Beach has that hotel-backed, resort-style vibe. Yet it additionally has a residential really feel, which is good and stress-free. You can sit back with a e book, have a fast chew to eat at a picnic desk, or hire water sports activities gear.
Mcgee Beach is on our checklist as it’s a actual downtown space – excellent for stress-free outdoors the inside metropolis heart. It’s simple to attain too. You have free parking and may attain Mcgee Beach by automotive in 10 minutes from the town heart. Or, if public transport is extra your model, in simply half-hour utilizing the bus.
14. Mustang Beach
Mustang Beach will get its title from the herds of untamed horses that when lived there. The seashore is extra well-known now for its sea turtle inhabitants and site in an untouched barrier island park – Mustang Island State Park. It is magical for climbing and recognizing wildlife, an exercise greatest skilled below the watchful steering of the Ranger Programs. The state park has 5 miles of shoreline, so be ready for some climbing.
Mustang Beach is a part of the three,954-acre Mustang Island State Park, situated on North Padre Island. It is best to attain from Port Aransas, which is only a 15-minute drive away. From Corpus Christi, it’s a 25-minute drive. We love how Mustang Beach is so untouched and a haven for wildlife and nature.
Happy Place is a superb two-bedroom condo with a sizzling tub and a communal swimming pool.
15. Padre Island National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore is an enormous part of 66 miles of shoreline on Padre Island – an enormous barrier island mendacity between Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. It goes with out saying that pure magnificence is among the largest attracts of visiting its seashores. However, there’s additionally one other bonus; the seashore is a very powerful nesting place for the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. The ridley sea turtle is probably the most endangered of all sea turtles. Padre Island National Seashore has been devoted to defending the animal since 1978.
Padre Island National Seashore is among the greatest seashores in Texas for seeing sea turtles. And if you would like to assist conservation makes an attempt, you will get concerned with the seashores’ multi-agency efforts. Padre Island National Seashore is greatest accessed by automotive and takes round half-hour from Corpus Christi.
This four-bedroom condominium is inside strolling distance from the seashore and boasts BBQ services and a swimming pool.
16. San José Island
San José Island is a 21-mile-long barrier island on the Gulf Coast, solely accessible from Port Aransas by ferry. This distance means San José Island is principally empty of human inhabitation and has loads of quiet coastlines. San José Island is famed for its clear seashores. As a privately owned island, it has loads of rules to defend its natural world. However, guests can nonetheless entry all ‘public’ areas – appreciating the incredible quantity of uncommon seashells, together with sand {dollars}, starfish, and lightning whelks.
We love San José Island’s remoted attract. Having to catch a ferry makes it really feel all of the extra expeditionary. To attain this Texas seashore, guests should drive to Port Aransas earlier than crusing throughout the passenger ferry.
The Place at Port Aransas is an ideal base for catching the ferry to San José Island. Guests additionally entry free Wi-Fi and a shared lounge.
To Conclude
Some of those Texas seashores are amongst the greatest locations to go to in the USA. We love the pure magnificence of those seashores in Texas and the experiences they provide guests. You may launch child sea turtles alongside Padre Island National Seashore or fish on North Beach. One of the very best issues about Texas’ quiet seashores is that they’re a nature lover’s paradise. You can swap people-watching for chicken watching, fishing, or aiding with sea turtle conservation.
Looking for some extra Texas inspiration? We have an entire information on the greatest issues to do in Austin – or a enjoyable reality information if you would like one thing extra light-hearted.