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Home > United States > 20 Best Beach Towns in Texas to Visit

20 Best Beach Towns in Texas to Visit

By Dymphe / September 6, 2021

Looking for the best beach towns in Texas? You will definitely love these 20 Texas beach towns! They have amazing beaches and there are fun things to do!

Texas is one of the largest states in the United States. The state has a lot to offer. There are amazing cities, incredible landmarks and fun things to do. Besides that, there are wonderful beach towns as well.

If you want to have an amazing beach day, Texas is an amazing state to be. There are beach towns with great beaches, many sights and lots of things to do. But there are also small Texas beach towns where you can relax.

I made this list of the best ones you should definitely see! There's a beach town for everyone's liking. I also included information about which cities are close to the towns, so you know which one is near you. This makes it easier to plan your trips.

Below you can find the 20 best beach towns in Texas!

Table of Contents

  • 1. Galveston: Perfect if You’re Looking for a Beach Town With Many Things to Do in Texas
  • 2. Port Aransas
  • 3. North Padre Island
  • 4. Rockport: Beach Town in Texas With Great Sights
  • 5. Kemah: Amazing to Visit if You’re Looking for Beach Towns with Fun Things to Do in Texas
  • 6. South Padre Island
  • 7. Town of Surfside Beach in Texas
  • 8. Matagorda: A Small Beach Town in Texas
  • 9. Port Arthur
  • 10. La Porte
  • 11. San Leon
  • 12. San José Island
  • 13. Seabrook
  • 14. Boca Chica
  • 15. Jamaica Beach
  • 16. Caplen
  • 17. Port Mansfield
  • 18. Quintana: Perfect Beach Town if You Want to Relax in Texas
  • 19. Corpus Christi
  • 20. Crystal Beach

1. Galveston: Perfect if You’re Looking for a Beach Town With Many Things to Do in Texas

Galveston is a lovely place on the coast of Texas. It is a place that you can find in the most eastern part of the state.

In the past, it was the largest city in Texas and one of the largest ports in the United States. But the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 made an end to that.

Galveston is a great place for a beach day. There are several beaches that are all great to be at! This is perfect for relaxing! So it's great if you're looking for beach towns in Texas.

Beach in Galveston in Texas

Besides that, there is much more to do and see in Galveston!

For example, you find here the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. This is a great place with all kinds of attractions and food!

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

Besides that, the center of Galveston is great to visit. You find here lots of historic houses that are very beautiful!

Also, there are lots of museums in Galveston! So if you're looking for beach towns in Texas with museums, this is great!

One of these is The Bryan Museum. This is a museum that has a lot of objects from a period that spans 12,000 years. The objects of the museum include books, other artifacts, and more.

Also, the Galveston Arts Center is a wonderful place to visit.

Another great thing in Galveston is the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

This is one of the Texas beach towns with many things to do.

From Houston, you can get there within 1 hour by car and the distance is about 50 miles (or 80 kilometers).

You can also go to Galveston by train. There is a direct connection from Houston to Galveston. This journey takes about 1.5 hours, which is great for a day trip!

2. Port Aransas

Port Aransas is one of the best beach towns in Texas. You find it in the southern part of Texas and it is a very small place.

Beach at Port Aransas

You can find the town on Mustang Island.

The beaches of Port Aransas are great to visit. There is beautiful sand that makes it very relaxing to stay! In total, you find here 18 miles (or 30 kilometers) of beaches, which is awesome!

These beaches are great during the day. That's because you can do a lot at the beaches

But the beaches are great at night too! They are great for walking in the moonlight!

Sunset at a beach in Port Aransas

Especially during summer, Port Aransas is very popular. Thousands of people go here during that time. This makes it one of the most popular beach towns in Texas.

What's great is that you find the event Sand Fest here. This is an annual event during which sculptors create impressive sandcastles. Thousands of people go there to see it!

Besides the sculptors, you can find food, music, and shops here as well during that event. And the profit of the event goes to local schools and the community.

Port Aransas is very close to Corpus Christi. As such, it is also very close to the cities San Antonio and Houston!

That's why a day trip to Port Aransas from those cities is very much possible as well!

3. North Padre Island

Looking for more Texas beach towns? North Padre Island is a barrier island on the Texan coast.

You can find it close to Corpus Christi, which means that you can combine a visit to both of these places in Texas.

Beach in North Padre Island in Texas
North Padre Island

At North Padre Island you find a lot of beaches that are great to be at.

It is very beautiful to see such a long stretch of coastline in one place. The sand is amazing to see and makes this a very relaxing place!

Water at the beach in North Padre Island

What's great about this place as well is that there is a lot of wildlife. Especially if you're looking for beach towns in Texas with wildlife, you'll love this one.

For example, it is the nesting ground for Kemp's ridley sea turtle.

Also, there are hundreds of bird species on the island. These are lovely to see.

On the other side of the barrier island, you find the Laguna Madre. This is a very salty lagoon that is great to visit too!

What's very unique about the Laguna Madre is that it is saltier than the oceans. This is very unique as there are only six of those in the world!

The Laguna Madre is the perfect place for surfing, boating, and watching birds. This makes North Padre Island even better to visit!

4. Rockport: Beach Town in Texas With Great Sights

Rockport is the next one of the best Texas beach towns. You find here lots of great things to do and see.

The best thing about Rockport is definitely Rockport Beach. This is a beautiful beach with golden sand that is lovely to see! It is very relaxing to stay at this place, which is great!

Furthermore, it is the perfect place for several beach activities.

Rockport Beach

Another great thing in Rockport is the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site. This is an old mansion that is lovely to see. The architecture of this building is amazing to see!

Furthermore, a very interesting sight in Rockport is the Texas Maritime Museum. Here you can learn about the maritime history of Texas and about the coast of Texas. Also, from the building, you have a wonderful view of Rockport!

What's more, Rockport lies close to Corpus Christi. This means that you can visit both when you are going to Rockport. It is a fun experience to see two beach towns in Texas during your trip!

A larger city in Texas that is closest to Rockport is San Antonio. You can drive from San Antonio to Rockport in about 2.5 hours. This is very doable!

Furthermore, you could reach the town of Rockport from Austin or Houston. But the time to get there from those cities is longer.

Sunset in Rockport

5. Kemah: Amazing to Visit if You’re Looking for Beach Towns with Fun Things to Do in Texas

Looking for beach towns in Texas with fun things to do? Kemah is another lovely place in Texas that you can find on the coast. You find Kemah close to Galveston, which means you can combine a visit to both these places in one day!

In the past, it was a small Texas beach town, but now lots of tourists visit the place and it is a tourist destination.

Kemah is one of the best places in the area for entertainment. You find here lots of attractions and restaurants, which is great!

One of the best things to do in Kemah is visiting the Kemah Boardwalk. This is a great amusement park that you can find next to the waterfront of the town.

Here you find lots of rides that are very fun. Furthermore, you find here lots of games. Also, the Kemah Boardwalk is a great place for dining and shopping, which is great as well! This makes it one of the best Texas beach towns to visit!

From the boardwalk, you have a wonderful view of the sea, which is great!

Besides the Kemah Boardwalk, you find Clear Lake in Kemah. This is a lovely lake with lots of recreational boats.

Kemah is a town that is close to the city of Houston. So you can get here from that larger Texan city. The distance from Houston to Kemah is about 36 miles (or 58 kilometers), which you can do in 45 minutes.

6. South Padre Island

South Padre Island is one of the best beach towns in Texas. You can find the town on a barrier island with the same name.

South Padre Island is the perfect spot if you want to do water sport activities.

Beach in South Padre Island in Texas

For example, you can go kiteboarding here, which is great! Furthermore, it is possible to rent a boat here, which allows you to explore the water yourself.

What's great about this place is that there is also a lot of nature, which is awesome! Moreover, there are lots of birds that are great to see. So for those who love seeing birds, this belongs to the best Texas beach towns.

Palm trees in South Padre Island

South Padre Island is very far from any major city in Texas. Because of that, you should spend some nights here if you want to visit the town.

That way you have enough time to see everything. Moreover, this allows you to explore other beach towns in Texas that are near this one too!

Pier in South Padre Island

7. Town of Surfside Beach in Texas

Surfside Beach is also one of the best beach towns in Texas. In this beach town, there are lots of great things to do and see.

Of course, you find here a beautiful beach. Surfside Beach is one of the best beaches in Texas!

The soft sand of the beach makes it a very relaxing place to hang out. So sit down and enjoy the beach!

Seats in the town of Surfside Beach in Texas

But the are more reasons why this is one of the best Texas beach towns! Another great thing about Surfside Beach is that there are several restaurants. This makes a day at the beach that much more comfortable!

Surfside Beach is close to the city of Houston.

From Houston, you can reach the beach in a bit more than 1 hour by car. The total distance of this trip is about 65 miles (or 105 kilometers). This is very doable for a day trip from Houston.

Also, Surfside Beach is close to other coastal towns in Texas, such as Galveston and Matagorda. If you want to visit several beach towns in one day, you can go to those places. Combining these towns makes your beach day even better!

8. Matagorda: A Small Beach Town in Texas

Matagorda is one of the smallest beach towns in Texas. You can find it near the point where the Colorado River flows into the sea.

It is a tourist town with a very small permanent population of about 500 people. But when tourists go here, there are much more people! Although, the beach is very quiet compared to several others on this list.

Building in the beach town Matagorda in Texas

One of the best things in Matagorda is the beach, Matagorda Beach.

Matagorda Beach is a very wide and sandy beach in Matagorda. It is a great place for hanging out.

Furthermore, Matagorda Beach is a very clean beach, which makes it a great place!

Also, the beach is great to watch the sunset.

Furthermore, close to Matagorda Beach, you find a lot of nature with great scenic hikes.

What's also great about Matagorda Beach and nature next to it is a large number of bird species. This is lovely to see when you are going to this one of the Texas beach towns!

The closest large city in Texas is Houston. To get from Houston to Matagorda, you have to cover a distance of about 100 miles (or 160 kilometers). This will take you about 2 hours.

Because of that, it is easy to visit Matagorda as a day trip from Houston!

9. Port Arthur

If you're looking for beach towns in Texas, you will also love Port Arthur! You can find Port Arthur in Jefferson County. There are several things to do in Port Arthur.

One of the things is going to McFaddin Beach. McFaddin Beach is a beautiful sandy beach that's amazing if you're looking for a place to unwind. It looks very pretty and wandering around the beach is great.

Besides that, there are more things to do in Port Arthur. One of the best activities is going to the Museum of the Gulf Coast. This is a museum that focuses on the Gulf Coast history of Texas and Louisiana. So if you're interested in that, it's a great place to go to!

One of the things you can see at the museum is an exhibit about performers from the region. This is interesting if you'd like to know more about Port Arthur and its surroundings.

pleaFurthermore, you can also find artworks of Rober Rauschenberg there. He was a painter and graphic artist. Port Arthur is close to Houston, it's about 90 miles (140 kilometers) and you can get there in about 1.5 hours by car.

10. La Porte

La Porte is another great place on the coast of Texas. You find it close to the city of Houston too.

You find lots of great sights in La Porte.

One of these is the San Jacinto Museum of History. This is a great museum where you can learn about the history of Texas. There are many objects here that relate to this history.

Another great thing in La Porte is Pecan Park. This is a place where you can play baseball, which is great. Besides that, you find here walking trails, a playground, picnic areas, and more fun things!

Also, when you are in La Porte, you should definitely go to Sylvan Beach Park. This is a lovely waterfront park with a pier that stretches into the sea.

To reach La Porte from Houston you have to drive for about 30 minutes. The trip has a distance of about 30 miles (or 48 kilometers).

What's great is that La Porte is close to many other places on this list of beach towns in Texas.

For example, Seabrook, Kemah, and Galveston are close to La Porte. You could decide to visit both if you want even more fun in one day! That way you can experience several different places in one day, which is great!

11. San Leon

San Leon is also one of the lovely beach towns in Texas. You can find this place close to the city of Houston.

One of the best things to do in San Leon is visiting Bayshore Park. This is a lovely park next to the waterfront. You find here grass, some trees, benches, and a lovely view of the sea. This makes it a very relaxing place to visit.

Another great thing about San Leon is that you find here very relaxing places for food and drinks at the water.

For example, Sunset Lounge is a great bar where you can relax next to the water! Also, this is the perfect place to see the sunset when you are in San Leon.

To get to San Leon from Houston you have to drive about 40 miles (or 64 kilometers), which takes about 45 minutes.

Near San Leon, you find several other Texas beach towns. It is close to Seabrook, La Porte, and more.

12. San José Island

San José Island is a barrier island that you can find close to Port Aransas and Matagorda. You'll love San José Island if you want to visit beach towns in Texas!

What's great about this place is that there is a lot of nature! There are lots of birds that are great to see when you are going here.

Furthermore, the beaches at San José Island are amazing for a relaxing stroll. That's because the beaches are very good and it is not very crowded in this place.

What's great about the beaches as well is that there are a lot of shells! These make the beach even prettier!

To reach the island you need to take a ferry from Fisherman's Wharf in Port 'A'. You cannot drive to the island without taking this ferry.

The nearest large city to the point where the ferry departs is San Antonio. From there you can reach it within 3 hours by car. This journey is about 180 miles (or 290 kilometers), which makes it possible to do a day trip from San Antonio!

13. Seabrook

Seabrook is a wonderful place in Texas that is next to the beach. You can find Seabrook in Harris County, which is close to the city of Houston.

Beach in Seabrook

There are lots of great things to do in Seabrook. This makes it one of the fun beach towns in Texas to visit!

For example, in Seabrook, you find a large stretch of waterfront. This makes for great places where you can sail with a boat!

Another great thing about Seabrook is the number of birds you find here. There are lots of birds here. That's because Seabrook lies on a very large path for bird migration in North America. These birds are great to spot when you are going to Seabrook.

Furthermore, there are many parks in Seabrook. In fact, you find here 18 parks that are amazing to visit.

Not only is nature here phenomenal, but you also find lots of activities at these parks.

For example, there are a pool and a skate park in the parks.

Besides that, you can find many hiking trails in Seabrook. These hiking trails connect the parks of Seabrook.

Along the way, you can see lots of nature and animals, which is great! Also, you can bike on these paths as well, which is also very fun!

To reach Seabrook from Houston you have to drive about 30 minutes. The distance between the two places is about 35 miles (or 56 kilometers).

Boats in Seabrook

14. Boca Chica

Another one of the best beach towns in Texas is Boca Chica. You find this place close to South Padre Island, which is why you should definitely go there too!

Because Boca Chica is in the southernmost point of Texas, you cannot do a day trip from a larger city in Texas. The nearest larger cities are very far away.

That's why you should definitely stay here for a few nights if you want to visit these places.

One of the best places in Boca Chica is Boca Chica State Park. You find here a very wide beach with beautiful white sand. This makes it perfect for surfing, hanging out, and swimming! Furthermore, the beach is perfect for birdwatching.

Another great thing that is near Boca Chica is the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art. You can find here fine art that is lovely to see!

15. Jamaica Beach

Jamaica Beach is another place you should see when you're looking for beach towns. It's perfect if you're looking for small beach towns in Texas. In 2010, there lived less than 1,000 people.

One of the best places to visit in Jamaica Beach is Jamaica Beach City Park. This is a relaxing place to go to and there are several things to do. For example, there's a basketball court and a picnic area. This is also a great place to go for families, as there's a playground with swings as well.

Another great thing about Jamaica Beach is, of course, the beach. There is a public beach at Jamaica Beach that has no admission fee. This beach is an amazing place to be at. The sand is wonderful and it is the perfect place to relax.

The closest large city in Texas near Jamaica Beach is Houston. You can reach this lovely town from there within 1.5 hours. The total distance of this route is about 70 miles (or 113 kilometers).

Furthermore, this place is close to Galveston, Quintana, and other Texas beach towns. Thus, you can visit more than one of these towns in one day if you want!

16. Caplen

Caplen is a small place in Texas that is next to the beach. It is part of the Bolivar Peninsula, where you can also find Crystal Beach. Moreover, Caplen is also close to Galveston.

At Caplen you can find a beautiful beach that is great for a relaxing stroll. From the beach, you can see the beautiful sea, which is a wonderful sight to see. This is one of my favorite beach towns in Texas.

Another great thing about Caplen is that you find here several places to stay. This makes it easy to stay at the beach for more days! These places are all next to the beach, so it is easy to reach the beach when you are staying here.

On the other side of the peninsula, you can find East Bay. This is a bay that lies between the peninsula and the mainland of Texas. Seeing this bay is one of the best things you can do in Caplen.

You can reach Caplen from Houston in about 1.5 hours. The total distance of this trip is about 90 miles (or 145 kilometers). This makes it easy to visit both the city and Caplen!

17. Port Mansfield

Port Mansfield is also one of the best Texas beach towns that you have to visit. It lies at the southernmost point of the coast of Texas. That means that it is close to South Padre Island.

Furthermore, Port Mansfield is close to Corpus Christi. Because it is close to those other places, you can do a trip in which you visit these places as well! This makes for a day with even more fun!

The beach at this place is great to visit.

Besides that, there are other sights at Port Mansfield.

For example, you can visit the Port Mansfield Nature Park. This is a great place with beautiful nature and great places for hiking.

The closest larger city in Texas is Austin, but it is far away. Thus, a day trip to Port Mansfield from Austin is difficult to do.

To travel to Port Mansfield from Austin, you have to travel about 320 miles (or 515 kilometers). This journey takes about 5.5 hours. Because of that if you want to visit Port Mansfield from Austin, I recommend staying for a few days!

18. Quintana: Perfect Beach Town if You Want to Relax in Texas

Quintana is another one of the best beach towns in Texas. You can find it next to Freeport and Surfside Beach.

By far, the best thing in Quintana is Quintana Beach.

This is a great beach that you can go to for relaxation. It is rather quiet and it is also a very clean beach.

These features make it perfect for those who want to visit a very relaxing coastal town in Texas. Quintana is the perfect place for those who are looking for a beach and nothing more than a beach.

The beach of Quintana is lovely to visit. It is perfect for a relaxing stroll along the sea!

What's great about this quiet beach is that you can also see lots of birds here that look wonderful!

So if you are looking for a very laid-back place while you are in Texas, you should go to Quintana. There are other coastal towns near this place if you are looking for a place with more things to do!

Quintana is close to the city of Houston. From there, you can drive to Quintana in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The total distance from Houston to Quintana is about 70 miles (or 112 kilometers).

19. Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is a place that you can find in the southern part of Texas. Besides that, it's one of the best Texas beach towns!

It is a large place with lots of things to do and see in Texas that lies next to the water.

Pelican in Corpus Christi

You find here lots of beaches that are great to be at! These beaches are great for swimming and other water activities. When you are here, you'll have a very relaxing time for sure!

Another interesting sight at Corpus Christi is the Texas State Aquarium. This is a beautiful aquarium with sea life that is wonderful to see! Going here is one of the best things to do in Corpus Christi.

Furthermore, you can visit the USS Lexington. This is a large aircraft carrier from the Second World War. Nowadays, it is a museum where you can learn more about the ship.

Corpus Christi is also a great place if you want to see art. That's because there are many museums.

One of the best museums here is the Art Museum of South Texas. At this place, you find a lot of art from local artists. Especially if you like contemporary art, this is a must when you are in Corpus Christi!

Two Texan cities that are close to Corpus Christi are San Antonio and Houston.

From San Antonio, you can reach Corpus Christi within 2 hours. And the journey from Houston to Corpus Christi takes about 3 hours.

This makes Corpus Christi very doable as a day trip from either of those cities!

Besides that, Corpus Christi is close to other Coastal Towns in Texas, which is great! You can also combine visiting several of the coastal towns at the same time!

20. Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach is one of the best beach towns in Texas. That's because there are so many great things to do and see here!

One of the best things in Crystal Beach is, of course, the beach. The beach here is a very relaxing place to be at. The sand is very soft, which makes it very comfortable.

Another great thing that you can do here is golf. There is a golf course near it that is great if you like that sport! So this is one of the best Texas beach towns if you like golf!

Furthermore, there are many restaurants at Crystal Beach. These places are great for dinner and for having a drink. Besides that, some places have live music that makes the experience even better!

For example, Stingaree Restaurant & Marina is a great place with good food. This restaurant has live music every Friday and Saturday night. Moreover, the restaurant is great for seeing the sunset when you are in Crystal Beach.

The nearest larger city in Texas near Crystal Beach is Houston. From there you can reach Crystal Beach in about 1.5 hours. This trip covers a distance of about 95 miles (or 153 kilometers), which is very doable!

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  • Hi there! I’m Dymphe, a travel blogger and content creator with a passion for exploring beautiful destinations and travel photography. I’ve been traveling for years and I decided to start this blog to help you do the same in Europe, the United States, and beyond. More about me.

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