16 Best Beaches in Texas to Visit in 2023

When you consider the finest seashores in the USA, you may consider visiting Miami, California, or maybe the Washington shoreline. However, overlooking Texas seashores is a travesty. Texas seashores will not be not like 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 seaside to get pleasure from with a e-book, Texas seashores are improbable. The whole coast of East Texas is brimming with sandy shores.

These are one of the best 16 seashores in Texas. Grab your towel and solar cream as a result of these finest seashores are all price a go to.

1. Crystal Beach

A 7-mile stretch of unassuming-looking white-gray sand, Crystal Beach is without doubt one of the finest 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 non permanent mayhem in the water. Crystal Beach is without doubt one of 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 dimension of Crystal Beach means you solely actually have to work together with folks if you’d like to.

Crystal Beach is on the Bolivar Peninsula, round an hour and a half drive from Houston. It is finest reached by automobile, 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 house affords a self-catered expertise with an expensive balcony.

2. Rockport Beach

Rockport Beach is angelic wanting. This Texas seaside arcs in a easy curve with golden sand and conventional seaside umbrellas. Your first impression is that it seems serene, and that’s fully correct. Even its waters are peaceable. Rockport Beach is ideal for many who need a fast paddle, as its waters are shallow and delicate.

Rockport Beach is in the sheltered Aransas Bay, simply north of Corpus Christi. The seaside is protected against the winds and currents of the Gulf of Mexico by San Jose Island. Its location is what provides it its most tasty high quality – peacefulness. Sitting on Rockport Beach appears like sitting in your individual personal world.

If you keep in Corpus Christi, you’ll have to drive as there isn’t any public transport possibility. It takes round 38 minutes by automobile.

3. Surfside Beach

Surfside Beach is one other little city seaside. Surfside has an actual neighborhood really feel and is nicknamed ‘family beach’ due to its pleasant, laid-back vibes. While its waters do get uneven typically, for essentially the most half, it’s appropriate for swimming and an excellent seaside to calm down on. Another big draw is how improbable Surfside Beach is for fishing. The seaside is a good fishing vacation spot – so undoubtedly convey your fishing rod for a fun-filled day.

Its ambiance bagged Surfside Beach a spot on our checklist. The happy-go-lucky vibe makes it top-of-the-line 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 without doubt one of the finest seashores in Texas for an city seaside day. The seaside sits on North Beach island – linked 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’s also one of many solely seashores in Texas accessible by public transport in case 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 without doubt one of the finest 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, this can be a exhausting 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 – supreme for hen 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 seaside that belongs to nature. And only a 50-minute drive from Brownsville, it’s simply accessible by automobile.

Casa Roble is a wonderful residence in Downtown Brownsville with a patio with backyard views.

6. South Packery Jetty Beach

South Packery Jetty Beach is finest noticed by its big wood 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 holiday makers, 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 seaside 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 improbable seaside to go to in Texas.

Island Escape is a beautiful two-bedroom vacation house simply 550 yards from South Packery Channel Beach.

7. South Padre Island

South Padre Island has an unlimited 12-mile stretch of seaside that runs alongside its resort city shenanigans. The seaside at South Padre Island is swimmable and spacious. It can be alcohol pleasant and backed by a number of the most vigorous bars and seaside leisure.

South Padre Island is without doubt one of the finest seashores in Texas if you’d like a tacky seaside getaway. There are simply so many issues to do. It’s backed by theme parks and seaside resorts, with all of the resort facilities that give a seaside an infectious sense of enjoyable. It’s a three-hour drive from Corpus Christi or 40 minutes from Brownsville.

This cute apartment is inside strolling distance of South Padre Island seaside and sleeps up to six friends.

8. Magnolia Beach

Magnolia Beach is gorgeous. Let’s simply begin there. The 1.5-mile-long seaside is thought for being massively RV pleasant. Its hard-packed sand is right for seaside drives. Since it permits in a single day tenting, Magnolia Beach is well-liked amongst RV campers. Another big 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 top-of-the-line Texas seashores for RV house owners.

Magnolia Beach itself is a tiny neighborhood with little in the way in which of services or facilities. However, you’re only a 15-minute drive into Port Lavaca, which has all of the city requirements. To get to this Texas seaside, a automobile is the easiest way ahead, and moreover, you need to reap the benefits of seaside 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 seaside sits on the far east of Galveston Island and is finest recognized for its relaxed legal guidelines – together with being one of many solely Galveston seashores to allow alcohol. Concerts and events; you identify it and Galveston has bought it. Galveston Island East Beach has every little thing from nightlife to actions like horseback driving and seaside combing. From its wood boardwalk, you’ll overlook all of this mayhem.

The seaside 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 without doubt one of the finest seashores in Texas.

10. Lighthouse Beach

This sandy shore is without doubt one of the finest Texas seashores for youngsters and households. The tiny stretch of sand is backed by a youngsters’s playground, splash pad, and lined picnic shelters. Its age-appropriate facilities are what caught our eye. In quick, 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 seaside in a matter of minutes.

11. Stewart Beach

Stewart Beach is one other Galveston Island gem. However, not like East Beach, it’s way more famend as a family-friendly coastal spot. Alcohol is just not permitted, which invitations a quieter crowd. Still, neglect the lull of lengthy seaside days with no actions; Stewart Beach has masses to do, which caught our consideration. Families can become involved with volleyball and big 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 seaside 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 residence with an infinity pool sits simply steps from Stewart Beach.

12. Matagorda Bay Nature Park

Matagorda Bay Nature Park is way from only a seaside. 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 get pleasure from strolls on the seaside, kayaking the wetlands, and recognizing wildlife – Matagorda Bay is basically a hen 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 automobile.

We love Matagorda Bay Nature Park as an entertaining place to go to for wildlife watching and out of doors water-related actions. It is vital to observe that Matagorda Beach is just not a swimming seaside. The space is well-liked amongst sharks and harmful due to rip currents and undertow. Matagorda is without doubt one of the finest Texas seashores to expertise from land or in a kayak.

This gorgeous Matagorda townhouse has a deck, three bedrooms, and entry to a large communal pool.

13. Mcgee Beach

Mcgee Beach is a stylish seaside in downtown Corpus Christi. This Corpus Christi seaside is ideal for an city dawn or sundown, with clear waters and contemporary, rubbish-free sands. It is ready again towards Shoreline Boulevard. Mcgee Beach has that hotel-backed, resort-style vibe. Yet it additionally has a residential really feel, which is sweet and stress-free. You can relax with a e-book, have a fast chew to eat at a picnic desk, or lease water sports activities tools.

Mcgee Beach is on our checklist as it’s a actual downtown space – excellent for stress-free outdoors the internal metropolis heart. It’s simple to attain too. You have free parking and may attain Mcgee Beach by automobile in 10 minutes from town heart. Or, if public transport is extra your type, in simply half-hour utilizing the bus.

14. Mustang Beach

Mustang Beach will get its identify from the herds of untamed horses that after lived there. The seaside is extra well-known now for its sea turtle inhabitants and placement in an untouched barrier island park – Mustang Island State Park. It is magical for mountaineering and recognizing wildlife, an exercise finest skilled below the watchful steering of the Ranger Programs. The state park has 5 miles of shoreline, so be ready for some mountaineering.

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 residence with a sizzling tub and a communal swimming pool.

15. Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island National Seashore is a large 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 without doubt one of the largest attracts of visiting its seashores. However, there’s additionally one other bonus; the seashore is an important nesting place for the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. The ridley sea turtle is essentially 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 without doubt one of the finest seashores in Texas for seeing sea turtles. And if you’d like to assist conservation makes an attempt, you may get concerned with the seashores’ multi-agency efforts. Padre Island National Seashore is finest accessed by automobile and takes round half-hour from Corpus Christi.

This four-bedroom apartment is inside strolling distance from the seaside 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 laws to shield its wildlife. However, guests can nonetheless entry all ‘public’ areas – appreciating the improbable 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 seaside, 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 finest locations to go to in the USA. We love the pure magnificence of those seashores in Texas and the experiences they provide guests. You might launch child sea turtles alongside Padre Island National Seashore or fish on North Beach. One of one of the best issues about Texas’ quiet seashores is that they’re a nature lover’s paradise. You can swap people-watching for hen watching, fishing, or aiding with sea turtle conservation.

Looking for some extra Texas inspiration? We have an entire information on the finest issues to do in Austin – or a enjoyable truth information if you’d like one thing extra light-hearted.