Pretty much the whole coast line of Galveston is a beach and they all have public access! That means that if you like sunbathing and playing volleyball with a crowd or in isolated loneliness(keep your clothes handy though, there are still laws about that) there’s probably a beach for you. Let us show you where the best Galveston beaches are.
All Galveston beaches are pet friendly, as long as they’re on a leash, some are beer friendly, and some are keep it hidden in your red solo cup because there’s no alcohol allowed on this beach friendly. Some beaches allow you to drive on them which leads to hilarious situations of people getting too close to the water and not realizing that there’s a high tide.
No open fires are allowed on Galveston Beaches(boo). But you can bring a firepit, or some other form of container to contain your fire. What I’m saying is that fires are allowed as long as you have some way to contain them. And no, smart guy, a ring of rocks in the sand is not a container.
There is a cost to park on Seawall Blvd, either pony up the cash for a windshield sticker good for a year, or pay by the hour/day on your phone. Not sure how the pay by phone parking works? Then just stand there staring at the sign with a clueless look on your face and one of the friendly parking attendants will zoom over to you on their three wheel scooters and assist you. There are also public lots along the seawall where you can park if you don’t want to try your hand at parallel parking in the middle of rush hour. Finally, be careful if you’re going to try to game the system and park on the streets, some are resident sticker only, some are two hour max parking, and you will get a ticket if you disobey either one.
And do I really have to say this? Beaches are hot, beaches are sunny (hopefully), so be sure to wear hats, use sunscreen, and stay hydrated.
Cheat Sheet
East Beach
Also known as R.A. Apffel Park is located on the far eastern side of Galveston, is a wide beach with plenty of parking(fee), restrooms and a bar/snackbar. Alcohol is allowed here and it will usually be crowded on weekends.
Stewart Beach
Drive to the end of Broadway and you’ll run into McDonald’s. Don’t do that, you’ll wreck your car. Stop at the light and turn left and into the parking lot and you’ll run into Stewart Beach. Just stop before you hit the water. There’s plenty of parking (fee alert) and it’s a wide beach with a concession area complete with a big inflatable slide, no wonder it’s always considered one of the best beaches of Galveston. No alcohol is allowed here so you know what that means…plenty o kids.
9th Street to 61st Beaches
In 2017 The Army Corps of Engineers dredged up sand from offshore and widened these beaches. Now there’s plenty of room to stretch out. Bring your easy up tent, bring your volleyball net, bring your grill. Don’t feel like grilling? That’s okay because this section of the Seawall has plenty of restaurants that will allow your bathing suit clad, sandy self, in. No alcohol allowed on these beaches and there is no beach access fee. They have chairs and umbrellas available for rent (in season).
The kids are driving you mad because they’re tired of the beach? Well, say no more, check out Fun Things to do in Galveston here.
Babe’s Beach
Slow your roll middle-age-single-man, this beach is named for A.R. “Babe” Schwartz. Schwartz grew up in Galveston and was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1955 to 1980. Babe’s Beach starts at the 6400 block of Seawall and runs for 15 blocks. It’s a nice wide beach easily accessible if you ‘re staying at one of the condo/hotels across from it. No alcohol is allowed at this beach.
West End Beaches
The west end beaches start where the sea wall ends. As you drive south on Termini-San Luis Pass Road you will pass numerous beach access points, you’ll be able to identify them by the “Public Beach Access” signs along the roadway. There is no cost for these beaches, and parking will either be a lot or along the road in a neighborhood. Usually these beaches are less crowded than the east end beaches, that’s why these are considered some of the best beaches of Galveston. If you’re going to park in a neighborhood please don’t be “that guy” and block the driveways of the residents.
Galveston Island State Park
Camping at the beach! Yay! Bring your oversized, slide out, flip out, trailer and park it, there’s room and hook ups. Bring your two person pup tent, there’s even more room! While the campsites aren’t actually on the water, there’s a dune in between the campsites and the Gulf, you will still get a breeze and hear the waves. If this is your thing, check with the park as reservations are needed up to a year in advance.
