Galveston Beach Information

Find the right Galveston Beach!

Galveston Island has beaches for over 30 miles with plenty of sand, sea, and fun. But each beach area can have different rules and many are designed for different activities and even different types of people. There are some common rules that apply to any beach area unless otherwise stated.

Before going to any Galveston Beach area, you might want to take a quick look at our Galveston Beach Safety Tips page. Most beaches are safe and present little threat but some basic precautions can keep the possibilities to a minimum. Better safe than sorry.

These rules below apply to all Galveston beach areas and are designed to keep everyone safe and prevent any problems.

No overnight camping
No open fires
No glass containers
No alcohol except East Beach
Pets must be on leashes
No walking on dunes
No four wheelers
No diving into water

Galveston does have an organization called the Beach Patrol that ensures these rules are followed and are highly visible everywhere on the beaches.

Another good rule to follow is not to swim within 100 feet of any jetties or piers and never swim in the ship channel. Some areas do have lifeguards but many don’t. Never underestimate the power of the surf, even a small 2-foot wave can cause you problems and this is especially true for young children.

Galveston is an island but most of the popular beaches stretch from end to end, on the southern side of the island. Here's a list of the beaches from east to west is as follows:

East Beach – Also called R.A. Apffel Park

East Beach is the largest beach in Texas and is located on the far eastern side of the island. If you drive east on Seawall Blvd until it ends, then take a right on Boddeker Road and follow it to the end (less than a mile) you will be at East Beach. East Beach is unique since you can buy alcohol and drinking is allowed. There are also chairs and umbrellas to rent, bathrooms and showers, snacks and drinks, souvenirs, and an outside bar. There are volleyball tournaments and events all summer long. It’s loud, rowdy, and definitely for the party crowd. It’s open from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm on weekdays and till 7:00 pm on weekends during the summer season. Admission is $8 per car.

Steward Beach

Stewart Beach is located at Seawall Blvd and 6th Street. Stewart offers all that East Beach does except alcohol and also has a children’s playground. It’s much more laid back and family oriented. Same cost, $8 per car, and same operating hours. They do have Community Rooms for rent for company parties, family events, wedding receptions, and etc. You can call 409-797-5182 for more information on rentals and availability.

Seawall Beaches – 16th Street to 61st Street

There is public access from all along the Seawall Blvd and free parking is available. There are no facilities, bathrooms, showers, or anything. Just miles of open beach that many people like to walk along or sunbathe. Great for a quick stop to look at the ocean and waves. There are steps every often for access from the street level down to the beach.

The area directly west of the city offers three smaller beach areas that are open daily from March to Labor Day and on the weekends in September. These areas are popular but have less crowds to deal with and some great features.

Sea Gull Shores Beach Pocket 1

This is located at the 71/2 mile Road along FM 3005 (Seawall Blvd turns into FM 3005). This area was still being worked on from the ravages of Hurricane Ike and may or may not be fully open until April. So there may be facilities like a pavilion, restrooms, and parking when it does open again. But check before entering.

Sand Castle Beach Pocket Park 2

Sand Castle Beach is located at the 9 mile Road along FM 3005 (Frank Carmona Pocket Park 2) and includes a public beach pavilion, an educational wetlands preserve, beach access points, and public & private parking.

Sea Shell Beach Pocket Park 3

Sea Shell Beach is located just west of the 13 mile Road along FM 3005, offers 10 acres of beaches, a beach pavilion, showers, a snack bar, beach chair rentals, picnic tables, and wheelchair accessibility.

Galveston State Park

Right after Pirate’s Beach subdivision and 13 Mile Road is Galveston State Park. The park was created in 1975 and has over 2,000 acres of space. Entrance Fee is $5 per day, per persons 13 and older and camping is available. A maximum of 8 people and 14 days per campsite (out of 28 day period) and there are RV hookups also. Besides admission there are $15 to $25 campsite fees depending on the facilities. The State Park is open 7 days a week all year.

Far West End Beaches

After the Galveston State Park there are numerous free beach areas that are clearly marked with blue signs that have Beach Access written in white letters. All of these areas are public but have no facilities or lifeguards.

Well, there you go. There is something for just about every kind of beach lover. The busiest times on all the beach areas are May through September. But some of the best times to go are when the crowds aren’t around in early spring or late fall. And the weather is often mild all through he winter months too.

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