Beaches Within Driving Distance Of Houston Texas

Texas has many famous cities – among them Dallas and Austin – but only Houston has beaches. Its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico means it has all the sun and sand that a city dweller craves after a long week trekking down miles of pavement, and its beaches are some of the best in the US.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Galveston Beach

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While Galveston Beach is not the closest to the city, it’s Houston’s most popular beach destination. It’s located on Galveston Island, which features 32mi (51km) of beautiful beaches and enough entertainment venues and activities to fill multiple holidays. The main beach features a long stretch of sandy shoreline and a promenade, but if that doesn’t take your fancy, you’re within walking distance of a beach for every type of holidaymaker. It only takes an hour from Houston by car to reach this island paradise of endless entertainment.

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One of the smaller beaches in the area without entertainment venues nearby, El Jardin is a little gem – a quiet oasis away from the noise and crowds of the larger and more popular beaches. It’s perfect for people who seek peace and quiet and want to lay on a beach towel and maybe dip their toes in the water. Take a 40-minute drive from central Houston to truly feel like you’ve escaped the bustling city.

Sea Rim State Park

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Situated on 5mi (8km) of shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico, the Sea Rim State Park lets you paddle, kayak and have all sorts of fun in the tranquil waters. You can even camp on the beach at certain times of the year. It’s also home to thousands of acres of marshes, which you can explore along the Gambusia Nature Trail Boardwalk. However, the marshes’ waters are off-limits to the public due to the alligators hiding just under the surface. A two-hour drive from central Houston leads you to this coastal gem.

Sylvan Beach Park

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Rather than nature reserves, boardwalks, hiking paths or any other extras you can find at beaches around Houston, Sylvan Beach Park offers white sand, no seaweed and calm waters. It’s perfect if you’re after simple pleasures. It’s also the closest beach to Houston, at only a 30-minute drive away, so your escape from the urban jungle is just around the corner.

Stewart Beach

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Stewart Beach is a perfect choice for families, as alongside its broad, clean, sandy shores is a host of facilities, such as showers, restrooms and plenty of places to buy food and drinks. The calm waters and lifeguard patrols also ensure this is among the safer options for groups with younger members. This beach is also located on Galveston Island.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.