When you think of beach towns do you think of Texas? Probably not, but the Gulf Coast offers some cool beach towns you should consider for your next seaside getaway.

With a coastline of over 350 miles Texas has a bunch of beaches for you to explore. From surfing and parasailing to quiet quaint coastal towns there’s something for everyone. While you can visit the Gulf Coast anytime of the year the most popular season is during the hot summer months. One big plus, besides the beaches, is the cooler temperatures on the coast compared to the concrete jungles of Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. And if you’re someone who loves fishing you’ll find superb spots to cast a line in most of these towns, but especially in Port Aransas and South Padre.

Here’s my list of 9 Texas beach towns you will love exploring.

Best Beach Towns in Texas

Galveston

Thanks to its location along the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston is a great place to visit year round.

Did you know that only 50 miles from Houston you can find 30 miles of beaches at Galveston Island?

The name Galveston comes from a Spanish military officer Bernardo de Galvez from the province of Malaga in Spain. Interesting fact: Galvez never set foot on Galveston Island Texas.

When the weather isn’t ideal for visiting Galveston Beach there are plenty of other things to do in Galveston:

The Strand Historic District
The Seawall
Moody Gardens and Moody Mansion
1892 Bishop’s Palace
Railroad Museum
Galveston Island State Park
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier features rollercoasters

Enjoy amusement park rides at Galveston’s Pleasure Pier

Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach in Texas makes up part of the Bolivar peninsula. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Texas.

But you should not miss out on visiting a few of the local attractions near Crystal Beach. Point Bolivar Lighthouse is well worth a visit, and you should take a ride on the Bolivar Ferry.

Go birdwatching, golfing, or fishing and enjoy outdoor life on the Texas coast.

Freeport (Surfside Beach)

Only one hour’s drive from Houston, Surfside Beach at Freeport Texas is a relaxing spot for a family vacation.

Things to do at Surfside Beach include fishing, surfing, beachcombing, biking, walking or jogging the Bluewater Highway Trail, and birdwatching.

When you are looking for a more relaxing and quieter beach vacation, you should check out Surfside beach. It’s a lot smaller than Galveston Beach.

Bryan Beach and Quintana Beach are also close to Freeport so you can explore each one and find your favorite beach.

Rockport

Rockport Texas is perhaps best known for its fantastic weather. Over the years, it has become a popular retirement town in Texas. Rockport really is one of the best beach towns to live in Texas. I spent a month there and loved the relaxed vibe and the seafood!

You’ll find lots of fun things to do around Rockport including excellent fishing and birding opportunities.

Along with whooping cranes you can also find the oldest oak tree in Texas at the Goose Island State Park in Rockport.

Rockport beach is a great place to relax with a good book and watch the waves roll in, it’s one of the cleanest Texas beaches too!

Port Aransas

When you visit Port Aransas, you will find that the pace is much slower compared to city life. Imagine waking up to serene waves and sandy beach every day.

You can do that in Port Aransas (also known as Port A) because you can camp right on the beach. Port A boasts 18 miles of pristine beaches and some of the best swimming spots in Texas.

During the summer, the Port Aransas area comes alive with festivals and other events. Of course, there are also many water-based activities you can enjoy.

Fishing from the pier is an excellent way to spend your time in Port A. But if you don’t manage to catch your dinner, no worries, Port Aransas is also well-known for its fine seafood and casual family restaurants.

Port Aransas is one of the best beach towns for families.

Padre Island National Seashore

North Padre Island is a stretch of land of the Texas coast that creates a barrier island. Padre Island National Seashore is operated by the National Park Service.

While South Padre is where the college kids love to party, the Padre Island National Seashore on the north side of the island is for enjoying nature.

You can camp on the beach at North Padre or at one of the campgrounds and enjoy everything this protected seashore has to offer.

Bring your binoculars for birding, walk the Grasslands Nature Trail, go kayaking, canoeing, and enjoy fishing along the seashore.

South Padre Island

With nearly 35 miles of tropical beach South Padre Island is your Texas beach paradise. It stays pleasant and warm almost all year around.

South Padre Island is one of the Texas coastal towns that sees a spike in visitors during spring break in the US.

College kids crowd the beaches during March so it’s best to book your beach rental either in late February or later in April to avoid the spring break peak.

When you enjoy doing a little bit of everything on your vacation, South Padre Island is a great place to visit.

Rent a condo or beach house and enjoy a beachside vacation. You can swim off the beautiful beaches, take to the sea on a boat and enjoy fishing and bird watching.

Good dining and entertainment are also very much part of the experience.

South Padre Island TX

Port Lavaca

Port Lavaca offers three beaches to choose from:

Magnolia Beach where you can beachcomb for seashells
Lighthouse Beach with relaxing beachside cabanas
Alamo Beach which is great for paddle boarding and swimming

Try your hand at saltwater fishing either from one of the piers in Port Lavaca or hire a boat and head out into Lavaca Bay.

And Port Lavaca is an exceptional place for birdwatching so bring your binoculars especially during the seasonal migrations.

Corpus Christi

When you visit Corpus Christi, you are spoiled for choice in one of the best Texas beach cities. You can enjoy spending time on beaches, visiting museums, and sightseeing.

No visit to Corpus Christi is complete without a visit to the Texas State Aquarium. It is one of the best marine and sea-life exhibits in the United States.

Next tour the USS Lexington, nicknamed The Blue Ghost, an aircraft carrier turned museum that features flight simulations, escape rooms, 3D movies, and virtual battle stations.

Other excellent museums in Corpus Christi include the Selena Museum, Corpus Christi Museum of Science, and the Art Museum of South Texas.

The Bob Hall Pier is a fantastic place to do some fishing. If you have not brought your fishing gear, you can rent it on the pier.

Dip your toes in the water or go swimming at North Beach and McGee Beach in Corpus Christi. Or visit any of the other Corpus Christi beaches a short drive away.

And beaches in Corpus Christi are dog friendly so you can enjoy walking your dog on the beach.

Corpus Christi Texas

Final Thoughts on Texas Beach Towns

Texas beach towns make great vacation destinations at any time of the year. There’s plenty to see and do year round on the Texas Gulf Coast and something fun for everyone from fishing and birding to boat tours and bike rentals. Have some fun in the best gulf coast towns.