Looking for the best beaches in Texas?? Here’s the list with all the travel information that you need to plan a family tour.
Texas, or the Lone Star State, is the second-largest state in the United States. Although most area is landlocked, it has a stunning coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. Whether you are looking for white sands, turquoise waters, cascading waves, hot waters, islands, or whatever Texas features everything.
For example, Texas features great beaches like Boca Chica Beach, South Packery Channel Beach, Galveston Island East Beach, Crystal Beach, Rockport Beach, and Port Aransas Beach.
If you are looking for a fun beach weekend getaway with your family, here’s the complete list of the best and fun beaches in Texas, United States. Check the list and select your favorite destination.
Beaches in Texas
1. Beaches in Texas: Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville
Boca Chica Beach is a warm and scenic beach located in the heart of Boca Chica State Park, Brownsville, Texas.
Boca Chica State Park stretches over 1,000 acres and features a wonderful tropical-like climate. And it features swimmable beaches, surfing waves, dunes, picnic areas, fishing spots, bird watching, and many other wild experiences.
Actually, Boca Chica Beach is a classic beach destination that offers all sorts of water activities such as swimming, diving, snorkeling, sunbathing, fishing, kiteboarding, surfing, and more.
Since there are no rental shops, you have to bring your own snorkeling equipment and other requirements.
Although this is a state park, it has untouched features without facilities. And also, it does not attract many crowds. Therefore, you can surely get a clean, calm, and beautiful beach experience.
So, plan your Boca Chica Beach tour with your family this summer.
Address: Boca Chica Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78521, United States Phone: (956) 546-3721
Beaches in Texas
2. Beaches in Texas: South Packery Channel Beach, Corpus Christi
South Packery Channel Beach or South Packery Jetty Beach is one of the best family-friendly beaches in Texas.
This beach is located in Corpus Christi between Mustang Island and Padre Island. And it is perfect for swimming, jetty fishing, surf fishing, watersports, and building sandcastles with your kids.
Especially, South Packery Channel Beach is attracted by people who love fishing as it features some of the best jetty fishing spots in South Texas. You can catch tarpon, kingfish, grouper, trout, and diverse fish species if you visit there.
Although South Packery Channel Beach has impressive features, it is less crowded compared with nearby beaches. Therefore, it is a quiet and peaceful alternative to spend quality time with your family.
So, plan your summer tour to South Packery Channel Beach with your family.
Address: Packary Channel Park, 14218 S Padre Island Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78418, United States Phone: +1 361-949-7004
Planning to visit San Antonio in Texas?? Here’s the list of the best things to do in San Antonio, Texas.
Beaches in Texas
3. Beaches in Texas: North Beach, Corpus Christi
North Beach was formerly known as Corpus Christi Beach.
Corpus Christi is a fun beach city on the Gulf of Mexico that features several fantastic beaches. Especially, its North Beach has clear waters and many nearby attractions.
If you are looking for sun, surf, and sand, North Beach is the perfect place for you.
You can experience scenic beach views, super clean sand, sunbathe by the powdery shores, swim in pristine waters, boat through gentle waves, and go out fishing.
After experiencing all these fun outdoor activities, you can visit nearby tourist attractions, too, such as Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington, a WWII Essex Class aircraft carrier.
Address: North Beach, Corpus Christi, TX 78401, United States
Beaches in Texas
4. Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi
Padre Island National Seashore is 130,000 acres of protected National Park that features 70 miles of scenic beaches, tidal flats, dunes, and vast grasslands. And also, it forms the largest undeveloped barrier in the world.
And it separates one of the saltiest world’s lagoons, Laguna Madre, from the Gulf of Mexico.
If you Padre Island National Seashore, you can experience tons of outdoor activities.
Such as beachcombing, off-roading on the beach, hiking scenic Grasslands Nature Trails, watching baby sea turtles leaving the land towards the ocean, birdwatching (featuring more than 380 bird species), building sandcastles, and spectacular sunset or sunrise.
That’s why Padre Island National Seashore considers one of the loveliest summer destinations near Corpus Christi (only 30 miles away).
Whenever you visit Padre Island National Seashore, it blows your mind with its natural beauty. So, add it to your Texas bucket list.
Address: 20301 Park Rd 22, Corpus Christi, TX 78418, , United States Phone: (361) 949-8068
Beaches in Texas
5. Malaquite Beach, Corpus Christi
Looking for an excellent campground near the beach??
Malaquite Beach in Corpus Christi features a straightforward campsite by the sea with spectacular views and camping facilities such as grills, showers, and bathrooms.
Being a rarely crowded camping site, Malaquite Beach is perfect for outdoor activities like windsurfing, kayaking, boating, sunbathing, and many more.
And also, it features 60 miles of the silken sand way towards the Mansfield Channel.
Plan for a camping weekend on Malaquite Beach with your friends and grab all these wild experiences.
Address: 20420 Park Rd 22, Corpus Christi, TX 78418, United States Phone: +1 361-949-8068
Beaches in Texas
6. Whitecap Beach, North Padre Island
Here’s the best surfing destination in Texas.
Whitecap Beach is a beautiful surfing beach located in Corpus Christi on North Padre Island. It is a mile and half long narrow beach surrounded by giant dunes.
Therefore, Whitecap Beach creates a suitable environment for a family picnic too. And its non-stop soft winds will cool off your body and mind.
Actually, this year-round wind attracts many surfers to Whitecap Beach. But, the best time for surfing is from April to August.
On the other hand, Whitecap’s untouched and undeveloped surrounding offers you exciting hiking and biking trails too.
Address: Whitecap Beach, 14802 Whitecap Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78418, United States Phone: +13618263469
Beaches in Texas
7. Beaches in Texas: Galveston Island East Beach
East Beach is the most beautiful and famous beach on Galveston Island, a barrier island on the Texas Gulf Coast.
If you are looking for a fun beach party destination in Texas, there’s no better place than Galveston Island East Beach. Yeah, it fills with entertaining events, parties, concerts, and festivals throughout summer.
One of the best family-friendly events on Galveston Island East Beach is the annual sandcastle building competition.
When it comes to the off-season, Galveston Island East Beach is perfect for relaxing long walks, bird watching, fishing, and picnicking.
And do you believe that Galveston Island East Beach is a construction by-product of Galveston’s harbor and port in the 19th century? Well, you have to.
Address: East Beach, 193-199 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550, United States
Beaches in Texas
8. Stewart Beach, Galveston, Texas
Stewart Beach in Galveston, Texas, is another happening beach to have fun.
Summer is definitely the best time to visit Stewart Beach because it features entertaining events like live musicals, volleyball tournaments, and many other sponsored events.
On the other hand, Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, the fun amusement park, is within walking distance. Kids will love to visit there as it features a scenic roller coaster, 15 rides, carnival games, food stalls, and souvenir shops.
And also, since Stewart Beach is dog-friendly, you can take your cute pet too.
In the case of beach facilities, Stewart Beach has rental shops, showers, and clean washrooms. Therefore, you can visit here with your kids without any hesitation.
Address: Stewart Beach, 201 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550, United States Phone: +14097975189
Beaches in Texas
9. Porretto Beach, Galveston Island
Porretto Beach is another excellent beach located on Galveston Island, Texas (just West of Galveston’s East Beach and Stewart Beach).
Since Porretto Beach is a lesser-known beach, it is ideal for visitors looking for calm surroundings. Just head towards the east after visiting the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier to find this beach.
You can see only some local visitors and snowbirds on this beach.
But, here’s the unique feature of Porretto Beach. It is suitable for jet skiing and parasailing like extraordinary beach activities. So, if you like adventures, plan for it.
Address: Porretto Beach, Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550, United States Phone: +12818083431
Beaches in Texas
10. Crystal Beach, Texas
Crystal Beach is another great camping seashore located in Galveston County (near the Bolivar Peninsula), Texas, United States.
It stretches for around 7 miles along the stunning Gulf of Mexico, offering plenty of campsites to enjoy with your family.
Since this coastline is clean, well-maintained campers can enjoy the sea breeze, soft sands, and gentle waves.
On the other hand, Crystal Beach is home to diverse migratory bird species and other wildlife you can observe while camping.
And also, Crystal Beach attracts a lot of hermit crabs. So, hermit crabs hunting is another fun thing to do on this beach.
Address: 2275 Hwy 87, Suite 10, Crystal Beach, Texas 77650, United States Phone: (409) 684-6231
Beaches in Texas
11. Beaches in Texas: Rockport Beach, Rockport
Here’s the first Blue Wave Beach in Texas, which was certified by the Clean Beaches Coalition.
Rockport Beach is a magnificent beach that features clean and shallow waters, calm surroundings, and fine sand. Therefore, it is a perfect destination for picnicking with family.
And of course, there are 65 quaint picnic areas with picnic tables, shade, and grills. Also, Rockport Beach features several kids’ playgrounds, volleyball courts, and a scenic ¾-mile-long walking track along the Little Bay shores.
Since Rockport Beach is a designated bird sanctuary, you can spot colorful birds while walking along the beach.
If you like fishing, the whole of Rockport Beach is suitable for that (except at the boat dock and in the saltwater pool). And the best place for fishing is the 800-foot-long pier located at the end of Rockport Beach.
Aside from fishing, you can enjoy all the water activities on Rockport Beach, including water skiing and jet skiing.
Since Rockport Beach is one of the cleanest beaches in Texas, you have to follow some rules to maintain it. (Ex: pets, vehicles, overnight camping, and fire are not allowed on the beach)
So, follow the rules and enjoy the beauty with your family and friends.
Address: 210 Seabreeze Dr, Rockport, TX 78382, United States Phone: (361) 729-6661
Beaches in Texas
12. Beaches in Texas: Mustang Island, Port Aransas
Mustang Island is a long barrier island located along the Gulf Coast. It stretches for 18 miles from Corpus Christi to Port Aransas.
It was famous for the mustang horses roamed everywhere in the past. That’s why it calls Mustang Island.
Being a state park, Mustang Island features 5 miles of spectacular sandy beach with various features.
For example, this beach is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, surfing, paddleboarding, fishing, beach camping, birdwatching, collecting shells, and many more.
Another unique feature of Mustang Island Beach is attracting sea turtles and dolphins. Actually, it is one of the last remaining breeding beaches for the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles. Therefore, you can spot them during the season.
So, plan your beach tour to Mustang Island Beach this weekend. Bring your dog too.
Address: 17047 Tx-361, Port Aransas, TX 78373, , United States Phone: (361) 749-5246
Beaches in Texas
13. Beaches in Texas: IB Magee Beach, Port Aransas
IB Magee Beach is a long, stunning beach located on the northern end of Mustang Island, Port Aransas.
Stretching for 57-acres along the shipping channel IB Magee Beach is perfect for camping and picnicking with family. Since this beach is a part of the Nueces Country Park, it opens to the public throughout the year.
If you are a camp lover, IB Magee Beach features over 75 well-organized campsites for you. Facilities like coin showers, a bathhouse, electrical hook-ups, picnic tables, and cabanas are available to comfort visitors.
One of the best things to do on IB Magee Beach while camping is fishing. Its 1,240-foot-long Horace Caldwell Pier that stretches into the Gulf of Mexico will help you with that. Bait and tackle rentals are also available.
Aside from that, you can swim, snorkel, play beach volleyball with your friends and family on this huge, fine sanded beach.
Address: 321 N on the Beach, Port Aransas, TX 78373, United States Phone: +1 361-749-6117
Beaches in Texas
14. Port Aransas Beach, Port Aransas
Are you tired of busy schedules and noises? Just pack your bag and head to Port Aransas Beach in Texas to spend a relaxing weekend.
Being a small town located on Mustang Island, Port Aransas Beach is famous for fishing. And it is the only town on Mustang Island.
And also, Port Aransas Beach features a fresh sea breeze, pristine waters, less crowded surroundings, and wonderful beach resorts.
Therefore, this small beach town attracts many beach lovers for swimming, snorkeling, fishing, birdwatching, bodysurfing, hiking dunes, boogie boarding, surfing, and playing volleyball during summer.
One of the most popular events happening on Port Aransas Beach is the annual sandcastles competition, the Sand Fest. Do you like to participate with your kids??
Address: 403 W. Cotter, Port Aransas, TX 78373, United States Phone: (361) 749-5919
Beaches in Texas
15. San Jose Island, Port Aransas, Texas
San Jose Island or St. Jo Island is an undeveloped barrier island located on the Gulf Coast of Texas. It is 21 miles long and 5 miles wide in size.
If you are looking for a secluded beach to visit with your family, San Jose Island is a perfect option. But, do not expect any beach amenities.
San Jose Island offers you an unspoiled beach environment for swimming, beachcombing, shelling, fishing, boating, birdwatching, sunning on clean sands, and spotting wildlife.
Your kids will love to collect colorful shells on San Jose Island. And you will love fishing on this island. So, pack your things and visit this hidden gem on the weekend.
Address: 403 W. Cotter, Port Aransas, TX 78373, United States Phone: (361) 749-5919
Beaches in Texas
16. Magnolia Beach Park, Port Lavaca
Magnolia Beach is a fun and sunny beach town located along the coast of Lavaca Bay, Texas.
This beach stretches for 8 miles and features soft sands with peaceful surroundings. Therefore, it is ideal for spending a fun family day under the sun.
Actually, Magnolia Beach offers several covered picnic shelters, benches, grills, a volleyball court, and a kids’ playground.
You can experience surf fishing, deep-sea fishing, shelling, crabbing, bird watching, and boating like fun outdoor activities.
The small fishing pier and the public boat launch will help you with fishing.
(Only some of the parts of Magnolia Beach are allowed to access by car)
Address: 1145 N Ocean Dr #525, Port Lavaca, TX 77979, United States
Beaches in Texas
17. Beaches in Texas: Matagorda Bay Nature Park, Matagorda
Matagorda Bay Nature Park has one of the best beaches in Texas for doing water activities. Its clear waters invite you to swim, kayak, sunbathe, boat, surf, and all the other fun water activities.
The park stretches for 2 miles along the Gulf of Mexico and 2 miles along the Colorado River frontage. And it covers a magnificent 1,600-acre of land.
After experiencing water activities, do not miss birdwatching, horseback riding, hiking through dunes, and visiting coastal marshes in Matagorda Bay Nature Park.
If you are looking for an excellent nature park for camping with family, Matagorda Bay Nature Park features campsites, picnic areas, grills, and rental shops.
So, just plan it now.
Address: 6420 FM2031, Matagorda, TX 77457, , United States Phone: (281) 704-3765
Beaches in Texas
18. Beaches in Texas: Surfside Beach
Again, here’s one of the cleanest beaches in Texas, Surfside Beach.
Surfside Beach is actually a fun beach town that features 4 miles of beaches famous for exciting horseback riding and hiking.
It is located near the Freeport and contains crystal clear waters with scenic views (only 60 miles from Houston). If you feel like swimming, do not forget to check for safe areas.
Surfside Beach has several scenic picnic areas and grills too.
Address: 1304 Monument Dr, Surfside Beach, TX 77541-9522, United States Phone: (979) 233-1531
Beaches in Texas
19. Beaches in Texas: High Island
High Island is an authentic East Texas town located in Galveston County.
This beach is not so famous. But it features a long stretching coastline that contains colorful shells and diverse birds like egrets, herons, cormorants, and roseate spoonbills.
Nature lovers attract to High Island to experience its unspoiled nature by hiking, beachcombing, and horseback riding.
Address: Old SH 87, High Island, TX 77623, United States
Beaches in Texas
- Boca Chica Beach, South Padre Island
- South Packery Channel Beach
- Crystal Beach
- Port Aransas Beach, Mustang Island
- North Beach, Corpus Christi
- Magnolia Beach, Lavaca Bay
- Mustang Island
- Surfside Beach
- San Jose Island
- High Island
- Stewart Beach
- Whitecap Beach, North Padre Island
- Malaquite Beach, Corpus Christi
- Porretto Beach, Galveston Island
Beaches in Texas
