Notes

Galveston's Beaches: So Many to Choose From!

Summer fun on the island is just around the corner. So when the temperatures soar in the weeks and months ahead, what’s the best Galveston beach to hit the waves? That depends on what you’re looking for – whether it be family fun, volleyball and games, pristine sand or gentle surf, Galveston has it all.

Stewart Beach. Located on the island’s eastern side where Broadway ends at the Seawall, this beach is the most popular with families. In fact it’s regarded as Galveston’s most family-friendly beach. Amenities include a pavilion, children's playground, showers, concessions, chair and umbrella rentals, and a gift shop. Lifeguards are on duty. Leave the beer and other alcoholic beverages at home.

East Beach. Drive right up to the water in your car at Galveston’s premier party beach, with sponsored activities including festivals, live bands and an annual sandcastle competition. Located along the island’s easternmost shores, East Beach is also a good spot for bird watching to see cormorants, egrets, herons, seagulls, waders, terns, black skimmers and more. Amenities include a pavilion, boardwalk, music stage, and chair and umbrella rentals. Alcohol is permitted.

Seawall Beaches. Known as Seawall Urban Park, the beaches along Seawall Boulevard stretch for 10 miles. The Seawall itself overlooks all the beaches and is convenient to the many beachfront restaurants, hotels including the century-old Hotel Galvez and the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier amusement park. Bicycle riding, jogging or just strolling along the Seawall’s continuous sidewalk is one of the island’s most popular pastimes. Glass containers and alcohol are prohibited.

Galveston Island State Park. Great for family activities including kayaking excursions, beach and surf exploration, bird walks and nature field trips at no cost. Wildlife abound including shore birds, ducks, raccoons, armadillos and marsh rabbits. Angler can look forward to fishing for seatrout, sandtrout, redfish and flounder, to name just a few.

Dellanera RV Park. This beachfront camping site stretches across 1,000 feet of beach and has 65 RV hook-ups. Renovations now accommodate larger RVs while providing water, sewer and electricity, and picnic table and barbeque pit. Pavilion with laundry and shower facilities. Free wireless Internet.

Jamaica Beach RV Resort. This RV park is one of Galveston’s newest with an unobstructed view of the Galveston Bay area and the Gulf of Mexico. The park offers 111 full hookup, pull-though sites. Amenities include cable TV, wifi, two pools, indoor Infinity Spa and hot tub. There’s also a kids’ playground. Green lawns and palm trees.

Beach Pocket Parks 1 and 2. Both parks require a $50 seasonal pass. Pocket Park 1 is on Galveston’s West End and near 61st Street and island attractions Moody Gardens and Schlitterbahn Waterpark. Beachfront parking is available. Also on the West End, Pocket Park 2 has educational wetland preserves, beach access points and public parking. Amenities include outdoor rinse-off showers and umbrella and chair rentals.

Seawolf Park. Although not a beach for swimming, this park has fishing piers, picnic sites and a playground. Seawolf Park got its name as a memorial to the USS Seawolf, a navy submarine mistakenly sunk during World War II. It’s now home to the WW II submarine USS Cavalla and the destroyer escort USS Stewart, now tourist attractions.