Summary

  • Texas has approximately 400 miles of coastline, making it a haven for outdoor travelers and nature enthusiasts looking for beach activities and diverse wildlife.
  • Beaches like Jamaica Beach, Matagorda Beach, and Malaquite Beach offer serene and picturesque coastal experiences with calm waters and abundant wildlife.
  • Port Aransas Beach, South Padre Island, and Galveston Island East Beach provide calm and peaceful settings for sunbathing, swimming, and enjoying the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition to its endless attractions, natural wonders, and spectacular hikes, Texas, the Lone Star State, has approximately 400 miles of beautiful coastline, great for the warm summer days. Visitors may swim, sail, kayak, fish, or get on a boat for a fun-filled day in the sun with the entire family, thanks to the warm Gulf Coast waters and numerous fantastic and scenic beach sites. Whether water lovers want to partake in thrilling beach activities, including kiteboarding, windsurfing, parasailing, or even relaxing on a calm patch of sand or exploring diverse wildlife, Texas beaches are a haven for outdoor travelers and have a lot to offer to nature enthusiasts.

UPDATE: 2023/07/13 21:36 EST BY LUANA FERREIRADiscover the Best Beaches In Texas

What is more relaxing than spending a day by the beach? For locals or tourists visiting Texas, the state offers an array of incredible beaches. This list has been increased to add more incredible beaches in Texas.

Related: Florida Vs. Texas: Which Beaches Are Worth Booking A Vacation For?

16 Jamaica Beach

Seashells on the beach
Photo by César Coni on Pexels
Seashells on the beach

Jamaica Beach, located along the Gulf Coast of Texas, offers a serene and picturesque coastal experience. The place combines pristine sandy shores and clear blue waters, which makes it an excellent destination for relaxation and recreation.

The beach is known for its calm waters, making it ideal for families and water activities like kayaking and paddleboarding. The beach also provides amenities such as picnic areas, restrooms, and parking. Surrounded by natural beauty and a laid-back atmosphere, Jamaica Beach offers a tranquil escape for beach lovers in Texas.

15 Matagorda Beach

Quiet beach
Photo by Ermelinda Martín on Unsplash
Quiet beach

Matagorda Beach, nestled on the Gulf Coast of Texas, offers a serene and unspoiled coastal escape. Known for its wide sandy shores and abundant wildlife, Matagorda Beach provides a tranquil setting for beachgoers and nature enthusiasts. The beach is very long and visitors can find a quiet spot easily.

Visitors also highlight Matagorda is a clean beach and it’s an excellent spot for fishing. Staying the night is also worth it, as previous visitors reported this is a marvelous place for stargazing and it’s possible to admire the Milky Way during bright nights.

RELATED: Spending Summer In Texas: Visit These 10 Amazing Vacation Spots

14 Boca Chica Beach

Sunset over Boca Chica Beach, Texas
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Sunset over Boca Chica Beach, Texas

This beach, which is located in Boca Chica State Park, has a very alluring tropical vibe. The beautiful vegetation and sandy beach appeal to those who value wildness above grossly excessive development. Visitors can try out the excellent snorkeling, plenty of fishing, and risk-taking kiteboarding if they want to take a break from tanning and swimming.

13 Malaquite Beach

Malaquite Beach on Padre Island, Texas
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Malaquite Beach on Padre Island, Texas

Malaquite Beach is a fascinating location, seldom crowded, and has a visitor center with striking exhibits on the area's history and fauna. Windsurfing and kayaking are available. Additionally, there are 60 miles of silky sand that take visitors to the Mansfield Channel. The beach gods have lavished every gift possible on this location to make it one of the best beaches in Texas. Visitors can ramble and stray while marveling at the abundance of natural beauty that has gathered in one location. The only thing lacking is enough time in the day to take it all in.

RELATED: Road Trip Texas: What To Know About Driving From Austin To Dallas

12 Port Aransas Beach

Port Aransas Beach, Port Aransas, TX, USA
Via: Unsplash
Port Aransas Beach, Port Aransas, TX, USA

Port Aransas provides guests with a calm beach region free of the city's hustle and the cacophony of the area, where they may soak up the sun and forget about their troubles. Port Aransas features lengthy expanses of peaceful beaches that are less congested than its more popular rivals, such as South Padre Island and Galveston. The region is ideal for families visiting with children, with 6 miles of beach to enjoy the sounds of the tide pouring in while relaxing in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

11 Mustang Island State Park, Port Aransas

Mustang Island, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
Unsplash
Mustang Island, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA

Mustang Island State Park, a hidden gem in Texas, is popular for sunbathing and swimming. Visitors can bring their four-legged companions to this dog-friendly destination and enjoy memorable times on this picturesque barrier island. The area is filled with unique fauna, including various bird species. Interestingly, it is one of the few breeding areas for a special variety of turtle known as the Kemp's Ridley. Beachgoers can also enjoy camping on the sand or just behind the dunes that border the beach.

RELATED: These Are The 10 Most Adorable Small Towns In Texas For Your Bucket List

10 South Padre Island

Aerial view of South Padre Island, Texas
Photo by Judah Estrada on Unsplash
Aerial view of South Padre Island, Texas with ocean and sand

The list of top beaches in Texas would be incomplete without South Padre Island, a popular tourist destination in the state. It is widely famed for its gorgeous beach area and for being one of the best sites to see different wildlife, such as dolphins and big sea turtles. Beachgoers can enjoy a range of sports, from swimming to parasailing, or simply relax and enjoy the white sand and clear water surroundings lined by 33 miles of immaculate coastline.

9 Galveston Island East Beach

Aerial view of Galveston Island, TX
Chris Ainsworth via Unsplash 
Aerial view of Galveston Island, TX

Galveston's Island East Beach is the city's largest, most attractive beach. It's where the finest parties are held, as well as concerts, competitions, festivals, and thrilling events of all types that take place throughout the summer. For instance, every year, a major sandcastle-building competition takes place. Island East Beach is ideal for long hikes, superb fishing, and bird viewing during the calm season.

8 Rockport Beach

Beautiful Rockport Beach, Texas
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Beautiful Rockport Beach, Texas

The Clean Beaches Coalition has designated Rockport Beach as Texas' first Blue Wave Beach. Sixty-five lovely picnic sites with all needed accommodations such as grills, picnic tables, volleyball facilities, children's playgrounds with swings, and a gorgeous 34-mile-long walking path along the Little Bay shoreline make up the marvelous long shore of golden sand and tranquil shallows. Except for the saltwater pool and the boat dock, fishing is permitted everywhere else on Rockport Beach.

7 Magnolia Beach

Magnolia Beach, Texas
Photo by Ram Access on Unsplash
Magnolia Beach, Texas

For a calm and pleasant family day in the sun, there is nothing better than Magnolia Beach. The latter is a small village located southeast of Alamo Beach on the coast of Lavaca Bay. The town beach is an 8-mile stretch of soft sand that is much smaller than many beautiful beaches in Texas. A volleyball court, a kids' playground, and many covered picnic shelters with tables and grills are all available to keep beach lovers entertained all day long.

Related: How To See Texas' Spring Foliage Without Ever Leaving The Car

6 High Island

High Island, Texas, is located in Bolivar Peninsula
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High Island, Texas, is located in Bolivar Peninsula

High Island is a small, serene town located in East Texas. On the outskirts of a large marsh with gnarled woods, the village is the kind of location that many people picture when they think of East Texas. The beach is a coarse sand stretch extending towards Louisiana, pined with colorful, beautiful shells, usually empty, and occasionally visited by riders cooling off in the waters. It is only an hour and a half from Houston, and it's the ideal beach for anyone seeking quiet and natural beauty.

5 San Jose Island

Sea birds flying over San Jose Island, Texas
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Sea birds flying over San Jose Island, Texas

San Jose Island, just a short boat ride from Port Aransas, offers visitors the opportunity to soak up some untouched Texas nature. This privately owned island was once a ranch, but it is now mostly a nature haven and a beach and bird lover's dream. People are only allowed to enter the public section of the island, where they can enjoy bird watching, fishing, shelling, and beach strolling. The beach stretches over 21 miles, with beautiful white sand and thousands of multicolored shells, some of which are rare.

4 South Packery Channel Beach

South Packery Channel Beach on sunset
Shutterstock
South Packery Channel Beach on sunset

Between Mustang Island and Padre Island lies the South Packery Channel Beach, also known as the South Packery Jetty Beach. It's a nice and safe place to bring the kids to play on the sand as it's usually much less popular than other surrounding beaches. Swimming, snorkeling, building sandcastles, and, of course, fishing are all popular activities on the serene beach. Surf fishing is certainly popular and enjoyable, but the finest fishing is done straight off the dock.

3 Surfside Beach

Splendid Surfside Beach in South Carolina at sunset
Shutterstock
Splendid Surfside Beach in South Carolina at sunset

Surfside Beach, located in Brazoria County in the city of Freeport, is a great place to get away from the city's stress. It's less than an hour's drive from Houston. Visitors will discover various things to select when on one of the cleanest beaches in the region. The location is ideal for a family-friendly holiday with the kids as it offers a variety of water activities and a wide selection of seaside cafes to grab a drink or a quick bite after a long swim or relaxing sunbathing session.

2 Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach, Galveston
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Crystal Beach, Galveston

People visiting Crystal Beach in Texas will feel as if they're going into their own private world with the accompanying soothing surf sound. They are recommended to rent a cabin on this iconic Texas beach stretching for seven miles and found on the Bolivar Peninsula. Additionally, Crystal Beach is a great fishing destination, and people are allowed to camp and enjoy the fires.

1 Stewart Beach

Colorful beach umbrellas at Stewart Beach on Galveston Island, Texas
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Colorful beach umbrellas at Stewart Beach on Galveston Island,  Texas

Those visiting Galveston will find it amazing to add Stewart Beach to their trip. They will have fun with their pets at this charming beach in Texas. Moreover, people are encouraged to attend exciting sponsored events during peak season, such as volleyball tourneys, that increase their enjoyment levels. Additionally, one does not need to bring their chairs or umbrellas with them to Stewart Beach since rentals are available there. Furthermore, there are on-site showers for people to remove all that sand off of themselves before getting into their cars or heading back home.