6420 FM2031, Matagorda, TX 77457, USA 
88 miles from Houston, TX
Matagorda Beach is a huge 26-mile long beach near the mouth of the Colorado River on the Texas coast. It’s a perfect place to spend time with your family, with your pet, or even alone – enjoying nature and the peace and quiet. Most of the time, it’s not crowded at all. On weekdays, you’ll likely have the whole beach to yourself! If you’re an RV traveler, you can comfortably stay at Matagorda Bay Nature Park near the beach, which provides all the necessary facilities.
Car Access and Parking
Matagorda Beach is one hour from downtown Houston, which makes it the closest ‘paradise-like’ beach to the city. Here, you can leave your vehicle on a paved parking lot at Jetty Park or drive it right up to your spot on the beach, which many tourists find quite convenient.
You should be especially careful with two-wheel drive vehicles, however, since the sand is very soft and sometimes vehicles get stuck. Note that you’ll have to pay a $10 fee for a year-round vehicle beach permit; they’re available at various nearby places, such as Stanley’s General Store.
Peace and Quiet for Families and Nature Lovers
The beach is clean and not very crowded. On weekdays, you can enjoy lovely walks along the seaside with beautiful views, crying seagulls, and the smell of saltwater. And you can take your dog with you. There’s a long pier where you can stroll or fish.
There isn’t much seaweed in the water since it is scraped up regularly. The beach is great for swimming and shelling; your kids are going to have a blast here! Nevertheless, once you’ve decided to swim, make sure you’re far enough away from the joining of the river and the gulf as rip currents often appear there.
It should also be noted that the beach has become more popular lately, and it can get extremely busy on weekends and noisy in the evening when local teenagers from Bay City arrive. So, if you’re looking for peace and quiet, the best time to come is during the day on weekdays.
Bars and restaurants
The town is small and, in contrast to Port Aransas or Galveston, the beach is really off the beaten track. So there aren’t many restaurants and shops nearby. There are some bars on the beach, but if you want anything other than seafood, snacks and summer cocktails, you’d better go to Bay City or bring your own food to the beach.
Fortunately, there are well-maintained picnic areas with grills, as well as neat and clean restrooms. You can cook and eat your dinner there.
Nature Park
Matagorda Bay Nature Park is a beautiful and well-kept campground for RV travelers with all the necessary facilities. The staff is friendly and always ready to help you. The toilets and showers are always clean. Dogs are allowed. The only significant drawback is the mosquitoes, which can make your stay uncomfortable if you don’t take special repellents with you.
Summary
Matagorda Beach is a beautiful place with soft light sand and clear water where you can have a great time picnicking with your family, shelling with the kids, playing with your pet, or strolling with a date. Most of the time, the beach is clean and the only problem you’ll encounter is the annoying mosquitoes.
Driving Time
- 1 hour 50 minutes from Houston, TX
- 2 hours 35 minutes from Corpus Christi, TX
- 3 hours 25 minutes from San Antonio, 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 Matagorda Bay Nature Park Beach which you can visit:
- King Fisher Beach (28 miles)
- Magnolia Beach (34 miles)
- Bryan Beach (43 miles)
- Quintana Beach (46 miles)
- Surfside Beach (48 miles)
.jpeg)
Matagorda, 77457, United States
Drag and zoom the map to view lodging options near the beach.
28 mi away