18 Fabulous Beaches in Texas

Given the fact that there are over 350 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico, it’s a given that there are loads of beaches in Texas!

We aren’t talking just about a simple spot of sand by the sea either; we are talking about long stretches of sandy shores hugging the ocean.

Of course, these beaches are some of Texas’s best places to visit.

These Texas beaches are also fabulous romantic getaways in Texas.

Here, you can enjoy jet skiing, kayaking, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, and diving before checking out everything the local town offers.

Let’s dive in and look at some of the best beaches in Texas!

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Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island National Seashore is located about 30 minutes southeast of Corpus Christi.

Offering over 70 miles of gorgeous sandy beaches, Padre Island National Seashore is the perfect beach to escape city life’s hustle and bustle.

As the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world, this beautiful Texas beach offers visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre, one of the world’s saltiest lagoons.

In addition to the usual beachcombing activities that beachgoers love, you can also catch a glimpse of Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Sanctuary.

If you’re lucky, you might even witness a baby sea turtle release while visiting this barrier island!

Padre Island National Seashore is one of the prettiest beaches in Texas and a nature lover’s paradise!

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Boca Chica Beach

There are numerous beautiful Texas beaches on South Padre Island, but none seem as special as Boca Chica Beach.

Boca Chica Beach is never too crowded, always clean, and just a relaxing place.

Boca Chica Beach has escaped development just east of Brownsville in Boca Chica State Park. There are a few stilt houses in the area, but overall, you will feel like you are on a deserted island.

The water here is great for snorkeling, swimming, and fishing, all of the things you want to do on a quiet beach.

Boca Chica Beach is one of the best Texas beaches.

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Texas Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach is one of the best beaches in Texas.

Its location on the Bolivar Peninsula separates Galveston Bay from the Gulf of Mexico.

Accessible by ferry from Galveston Island, Crystal Beach is the perfect beach to enjoy fishing or build a sandcastle.

If you are a bird lover, then Crystal Beach should be on your Texas bucket list, as over 100 species of migratory birds make their way to the peninsula yearly.

This makes Texas Crystal Beach perfect for bird-watching!

Also, this is one of the best beaches in Texas for beach camping. You can get a permit to camp on the beach and build your campfire in the sand!

Check Out This Galveston Ghost Tour!

Surfside Beach

Surfside Beach is a favorite beach for many Texans as it is within easy driving distance from Houston, Texas.

The major draw to Surfside Beach is that it is considered one of the cleanest beaches in Texas.

A day at Surfside Beach could include horseback riding, walking the beach, or driving on the sandy shore.

If you don’t want to drive your car on the beach, don’t worry; Surfside Beach offers free parking close to the beach entrance.

Surfside Beach is known for its deep water. This means surfing, windsurfing, and kayaking are great water sports in Surfside Beach.

Take note, though; there are few services on this beach, so keep that in mind before your visit.

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Rockport Beach

Now, to talk about clean beaches in Texas, you must speak of Rockport Beach. Rockport Beach is the first Texas beach recognized as a Blue Wave Beach by the Clean Beaches Coalition.

This recognition means that Rockport Beach is the cleanest beach in Texas.

This crescent-shaped beach, located in Aransas Bay, also offers visitors many amenities.

Rockport Beach has picnic tables, volleyball courts, and a great fishing pier.

A 3/4-mile-long walking path also runs along the Little Bay Shores.

Of course, as a designated bird sanctuary, Rockport Beach is also one of the best beaches for bird-watching.

You can enjoy a day basking in the Texas sun before you watch the sunset over the water in the evening.

South Padre Island

We have already mentioned beaches in Padre, but we would be amiss if we left South Padre Island off our list of the best beaches in Texas.

South Padre Island is a tourist hot spot, especially during Spring Break!

When you consider all that South Padre Island has to offer, it makes total sense.

This is a popular beach for Spring Breakers. They love the vast sandy beaches, beachfront restaurants, and the great bar scene South Padre offers.

Families make this one of their Texas road trips in the summer months to enjoy a day out at the beach.

The fact that you can take dolphin cruises and book deep-sea fishing trips from Padre Island also helps to make it one of the great Texas beaches.

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Mustang Island State Park

One visit to Mustang Island State Park, and you will agree that this is one of the best beaches in Texas.

Mustang Island is just one of the Texas beaches that speaks to your soul.

Whether you fall in love with the miles of beach, the Texas Gulf waves, or the feeling of solace you will achieve here, you will fall in love with Mustang Island State Park.

Located just east of Corpus Christi, this is one of the best Texas beaches for overnight camping.

During your visit to Mustang Island, check out the 20 miles of shallow water canals that make the perfect waterways for paddling your kayak.

The 18 miles of sandy shoreline on the Texas coast will surely be the perfect escape to South Texas for you!

Matagorda Bay Nature Park

Matagorda Bay Nature Park is one of the best beaches in Texas for nature lovers.

This is thanks to the unique location of Matagorda Bay Nature Park. Sharing both the Gulf of Mexico and the Colorado River, Matagorda Bay Nature Park offers visitors a unique Texas beach.

This Texas beach offers shifting dunes and one of the best bird-watching areas in the country.

Matagorda Bay also offers guests several amenities to enjoy. These include campsites, shaded picnic tables, and a kayak rental shop.

The Redfish Hall that is on-site is perfect for a Lone Star State beach wedding, birthday, or family reunion.

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San Jose Island

Hop on a Port Aransas ferry to the pristine San Jose Island.

San Jose Island is a privately owned island that is used as a wildlife sanctuary. The public part of the island has one of the prettiest beaches in Texas that is perfect for an afternoon of strolling or relaxing.

Offering 21 miles of shoreline, San Jose Island is a great place to comb the beach for shells.

No matter what you choose to do with your time on San Jose Island, we think you will agree that this is one of the best beaches in Texas!

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Magnolia Beach

The small town of Magnolia Beach offers visitors an 8-mile quiet and peaceful stretch of sand.

Magnolia Beach is a great place to enjoy a day at one of the great Texas beaches.

Amenities include barbecue grills, a playground area, picnic tables, and a volleyball court.

Magnolia Beach is the perfect place to look for hermit crabs, enjoy some time in the surf fishing, or build the perfect sand castle.

You can also use the public boat launch or the small fishing pier nearby.

When you’re tired of being at the beach, you can hit up the gambling boats that are a short drive from Magnolia Beach.

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Port Aransas Beach

Port Aransas Beach is one of the best beaches in Texas for a great family beach vacation.

The 18 miles of sand in the small town of Port Aransas is the perfect place for snapping some pictures with your list of perfect beach quotes.

This Port Aransas beach is perfect for body surfing, hiking the dunes, swimming, snorkeling, or playing beach volleyball.

The town of Port Aransas offers some great beach bars, boutique shops, and great restaurants for you to explore.

Port Aransas also offers some fun museums and a good winery!

Note that Port Aransas and Port Aransas Beach are super popular during Spring Break and the summer months. So, keep that in mind when planning your beach getaway to Port Aransas.

Honestly, there are lots of great beaches in Port Aransas to explore!

Stewart Beach

During your time on Galveston Island, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Stewart Beach.

Unlike several other beaches in Texas, Stewart Beach offers visitors many great amenities to enjoy.

In our opinion, the best is that Stewart Beach rents beach chairs and umbrellas. This means you can enjoy a day at the beach without lugging some extra stuff.

Combining that with the fact that there are trained lifeguards on Stewart Beach makes it easy to see why this Galveston Island beach is one of the best beaches in Texas.

After enjoying a day of fun and sun on the beach, you can use the showers and bathrooms to clean up before heading to one of the fun restaurants on the island’s north end.

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Lighthouse Beach

Lighthouse Beach is a popular beach in Port Lavaca, a small town on the Texas Gulf coast.

While adults enjoy swimming in Lavaca Bay, parents will happily let their kids splash around on the beach’s splash pad.

If you are a bird lover, then you will be happy to know that Lighthouse Beach is another of the Texas beaches that is also a bird sanctuary.

Of course, this is also one of the best beaches in Texas for loads of other great beach activities, making this one of the jewels of the Lone Star State.

Jamaica Beach

Jamaica Beach is known as one of the best beaches in Texas for clear water.

Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t the turquoise water you see in Cancun or the Riviera Maya, but it is clear, especially for Texas beach water. LOL!

Another of the fun beaches on Galveston Island, Jamaica Beach, is far enough removed to be a little less crowded than some of the other beaches in the area.

After finding the perfect vacation rental on Jamaica Beach, head out to the beach itself to enjoy some windsurfing, fishing, or swimming.

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South Packery Channel Beach

You will find South Packery Channel Beach (also known as South Packery Jetty Beach) located between Mustang Island and Padre Island.

You can usually count on South Packery to be less crowded than other Texas beaches. This makes it a great place for a family day out on the beach.

People love to fish at the beach off the jetty. It is common for fishermen to catch trout, grouper, or kingfish at this Texas beach.

Of course, you can enjoy all of the usual beach activities during your visit. Have fun snorkeling, windsurfing, or just relaxing on the beach.

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Malaquite Beach

If you are in the market for a Texas beach that guarantees a peaceful and relaxing day, then head to Malaquite Beach.

Since this is one of the Texas beaches you are not allowed to drive on, Malaquite Beach is one of the best beaches in Texas for a family day out.

Spend the day throwing frisbees, enjoying a beach barbecue, or building sandcastles.

Malaquite Beach is also one of the prettiest beaches in Texas, so be sure to bring your camera to capture the perfect pictures of your day.

North Beach (formerly Corpus Christi Beach)

Not only is Corpus Christi one of the best small towns in Texas, but it also boasts some of the best beaches in Texas.

While people often go to the beaches surrounding Corpus Christi, they fail to visit the beaches right in the heart of town.

North Beach, formerly called Corpus Christi Beach, is a great beach that is close to loads of other Corpus Christi attractions.

At North Beach, you can swim, enjoy the shoreline, and book a boat for a day on the ocean.

When tired and ready to leave Corpus Christi Beach, you can easily head to local attractions like the USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium.

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