With 32 miles of shoreline and a variety of parks, Galveston Island offers something for every kind of beach-goer.
With warm Gulf of Mexico waves from spring through October, there’s plenty of time to explore each beach’s unique personality. Whatever your sun-seeking fancy, Galveston has a beach for you.
pictured: Sunrise on the beach.
Stewart Beach’s well-tended restrooms and showers, souvenir shop, snack bar, and beach wheelchairs are convenient for young and old. Lifeguards keep a close watch on swimmers, and there are volleyball courts, as well as rentable chairs and umbrellas for those content to enjoy the sights. Alcohol is not permitted.
Known for its festivals, live concerts and annual sandcastle competition, East Beach is your ultimate beach for letting loose. Offering showers and restrooms, concessions, umbrella rentals and volleyball courts, plus a boardwalk, a game room, concert stage and an outdoor bar, it’s also one of the few beaches allowing alcohol. It’s also the biggest beach in Texas, with room for fishing and bird watching alongside the revelry.
Seawall Urban Park is the 10-mile stretch of coast along Seawall Blvd., the longest continuous sidewalk in America. Visitors can ride bikes, rent surrey bicycles or jog between the boulevard and the beach. There’s plenty to see on the way, including beachfront restaurants, resorts and, of course, the constant parade of other vacationers.
Galveston Island State Park offers kayaking, bird walks and fishing clinics, all available at no cost with advance sign-up. The park is camp-ready, with water and electrical hook-ups, restrooms and showers, barbecue pits, a nearby boat ramp and a fish-cleaning shelter. Its four miles of multi-use trails are perfect for mountain bike riding, not to mention hiking and nature walks.
Beyond the Seawall on the island’s quieter West End, lie Galveston’s Pocket Parks. Each provides a sandy place to frolic or wade, although Beach Pocket Park 2 also offers an educational wetlands preserve, outdoor showers, public parking and beach access points.
View from Tipsy Turtle Bar & Grill, via @tipsyturtlegalv on Instagram.
Pocket Park 2 is also the home of the Tipsy Turtle Bar & Grill. Less than 20 yards from the water, the Tipsy Turtle offers a true "On the Beach" experience.
The majority of Galveston’s beachfront and beachside vacation rentals can be found on the West End stretching for miles and miles past the Seawall. Here, you’ll experience a remote atmosphere, natural sand dunes and tranquil beaches. The West End is also home to the Galveston Island State Park and the Coast Heritage Preserve, a popular kayaking destination. Ryson Vacation Rentals and Sand ‘N Sea Properties are two great places to start researching homes.
Dellanera RV Park offers 65 full RV hook-ups, plus day parking. The newly renovated sites include service utilities, water, sewer and electricity, along with picnic tables and barbeque pits. For the beach, there are umbrella and chair rentals, a playground, showers, laundry facilities, a gift shop and a recreation room. Dellanera also offers free Wi-Fi.
Traveling with dogs? All Galveston Island beaches permit pets on leashes (as long as owners clean up after them).
Where the Texas Coast begins.
Author
Visit Galveston
Visit Galveston is the official destination marketing organization for Galveston Island, Texas.
