State Hwy Park Rd, Galveston, TX 77554, USA 
47 miles from Houston, TX
Galveston Island State Park is a great tourist destination where you can enjoy the sun, the sea, and the nature. There are many short-time visitors as well as campers who tend to stay for several days in a row.
Apart from camping and beach activities, this place offers great opportunities for communing with nature. This park is an undeveloped habitat for the barrier island wildlife, including many bird species, especially in the periods of spring and autumn migrations.
In these relaxing and soothing natural surroundings, you can swim, sunbathe, fish, picnic, camp, fly kites, build castles, or birdwatch. Most of the beach is clean and not crowded. Nevertheless, get ready to see much more visitors on holidays and during summer weekends.
Access, Parking, and Facilities
The park is open daily and the entrance fee is reasonable ($5 per person, except for children under 12 who can enter for free). Parking is easy and ample. The parking lot is near the entrance, and the path down to the beach isn’t difficult. There is a boardwalk with such facilities as changing rooms, restrooms with flush toilets, and showers to rinse the sand off. There is also a large picnic area.
If you’re an RV traveler, you can stay in a campground area with water and electric hookups (no sewer drainage), fire pits, covered picnic tables, and grills. There are more than 60 sites available for rent, and the prices range from 15 to 35 dollars per night.
Sand and Water
The sand on this beach is soft, without sharp shells, and hard-packed, convenient for strolling along the shore, which goes on for many miles. There are some shells in the sand, so shelling is an option, too.
The water is usually brown and murky, with seaweed and suspended sand, which is typical for Galveston. Nevertheless, you can swim and there are sandbars at various distances from the shore, allowing little children to play in warm and shallow water.
Fishing, Kayaking, and Hiking
There are various fishing options on the shore and in the Gulf. Anyway, you should follow all Texas fishing rules and regulations. There is a fish cleaning station at the end of the bayside road.
If you’re looking for a more active pastime, you may go to the kayak launch area (before the camping area) and travel along the kayak trails in the bay. Another good option is hiking along the numerous trails leading through marshes and prairies.
Note that the area sometimes gets flooded and it’s better to have some mud boots with you. If you like birdwatching, your walks in the park are going to be twice as pleasing, since many birds tend to stop here during their seasonal migrations.
Driving Time
- 25 minutes from Galveston, TX
- 1 hour 5 minutes from Houston, TX
- 2 hours 15 minutes from Beaumont, TX
Hotels and rentals
If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:
- Nearby rentals from VRBO.
- Nearby rooms and properties from Booking.com.
Beaches nearby
Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Galveston Island State Park Beach which you can visit:
- Jamaica Beach (1 mile)
- West End Pocket Parks Beach (5 miles)
- Sunny Beach (6 miles)
- Dellanera RV Park Beach (6 miles)
- Galveston Seawall Beaches (9 miles)
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Galveston, 77554, United States
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1 mi away