21 Best Beaches in Texas

Published on June 22, 2023 at 7:23 am by Insider Monkey Staff in Lists, News

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In this article we are going to take a look at the best beaches in Texas. Tourism is one of the world’s fastest-growing businesses. It is a major source of employment generation and foreign cash for many countries. It is one of the most astounding economic and social developments to have ever occurred. Travel and tourism have become the number one industry in many nations throughout the world.

Accommodations, recreation and entertainment, food and beverage services, transportation, and travel services are the main five industries of the tourism sector. Amid growing demand in this sector, service providers like Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB), Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER), PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: APPL) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) have reported increasing businesses activity.

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has been calculating the economic impact of travel and tourism, emphasizing the sector’s importance to the global economy. In 2019, travel and tourism contributed for 10.4% of global GDP ($9.2 trillion), 10.6% of total employment (334 million), and generated 1 in every 4 new jobs globally. The sector has lost over $4.5 trillion as a result of COVID-19. Its’s world-wide contribution to GDP decreased by 4.9% in 2019 to $4.7 trillion in 2020.

It is one of the largest services sectors in the US that has a positive trade balance. Like every other sector this has been hit hard by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. According to an analysis by Tourism Economics, in 2020, travel spending was only $679 billion, a staggering 42 percent decrease (almost $500 billion) from the previous year. International travel spending decreased by 76%, while corporate travel spending decreased by 70% in the US. Similarly domestic travel spending reduced by 34%, while corporate travel spending declined by 27%. The industry made substantial progress from April to September, but momentum stagnated in the fourth quarter owing to increase in COVID-19 cases. Tourism industry in every state of the US was severely affected by the pandemic. Hawaii suffered the most, while Mississippi suffered the least. Since March 2021, a decline in travel spending has resulted in a $64 billion loss in federal, state, and local tax revenue.

Before listing the best beaches in Texas let’s take a look at the tourism industry in one of the most important states of America: Texas. The economy of Texas is heavily reliant on travel and tourism. Today, the Lone Star State provides a plethora of options for leisure and business visitors. Texas truly is “like a whole other country”, with its beautiful towns, winding country roads, huge high-tech theme parks, outstanding museums, fishing holes, nature trails and cultural enrichment activities. According to Nature Tourism Development, in 2015, the travel industry in Texas generated $31.1 billion in GDP. In 2015, Texas’ total direct travel spending was anticipated to be $69 billion. Over 653,000 people were directly supported by the tourism industry, and $6.2 billion in tax revenues were generated. Had it not been for this tax generated revenue, every household in Texas would have had to pay $630 extra taxes.

From 2011 to 2019, the travel industry grew at a rapid pace and was a major economic driver in Texas. There are around 5,000 hotels in Texas, and the tourism industry employs over 1.2 million people in this state. The industry was one among the worst-affected by the pandemic. According to preliminary economic effect estimates, direct travel spending in Texas in 2020 will be $56.9 billion, down 31.5 percent from the previous year. During 2019 a total of 580,000 people, related to the travel and tourism industry, lost their jobs. As reported by Texas Travel Alliance approximately 200,000 of those workers are still unemployed. Travel spending fell by $53.5 billion, resulting in a loss of economic activity. Approximately 74% of hotels intend to lay off more employees in the coming months, with Black and Brown women bearing a disproportionate share of the job losses.

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Texas has 400 miles of beautiful coastline, great for warm summer days. Let’s take a look at some of the best beach sites in Texas.

We carried out extensive research using popular forums like Reddit and Quora. Based on popularity and reviews posted by people we have compiled a list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

With this context let’s start to discuss our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

21 Best Beaches in Texas

21. Big Shell Beach

Big Shell Beach acquired its name from the huge shell deposits carried in by southerly currents. This beach is located south of Corpus Christi, Texas, and it features stunning landscape and vistas.

It is ranked at 21^st on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

20. High Island

The beach exemplifies what a tranquil and peaceful existence in Texas should be like.

You may relax and enjoy the sun while silently observing the many birds. The beaches are littered with shells, and there are horses owned by locals that you can glimpse from time to time. If you’ve had enough of the city’s bustle, High Island Beach is the ideal spot for a calm and restful retreat.

The beach is ranked 20^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

Amid growing demand in tourism sector, service providers like Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB), Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER), PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: APPL) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) have reported increasing businesses activity.

19. El Jardin Beach

Swimming, sunbathing, and pleasant picnics are all available here. The beach is located at El Jardin near Seabrook, Texas. It’s a small but lovely beach with a surprising number of attractions. Certain pets, such as dogs, are permitted on the beach. It boasts a diverse marine life as well as a welcoming and relaxing ambiance.

The beach is ranked 19^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

18. Brazoria County Beach

The high tides and high tide lines at Brazoria County Beach are well-known. The beach is open to the public for free. It’s a great spot for campers, even though it may get a little busy during the day. Apart from local stores and eating, there are no facilities. Rental gulf carts are available to drive along the beach, and they are pretty safe.

The beach is ranked 18^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

17. East Beach

Thinking of having festivals. Consider East Beach! This beach on Galveston Island’s extreme eastern point is where parties and other beach festivities take place. A boardwalk, bathrooms, a pavilion, an entertainment stage, a children’s playground, showers, refreshments, chairs, and umbrella rentals are all available at the beach.

If you need a festive fun filled day at the beach, this is definitely your go to beach. It is ranked 17^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

16. Malaquite Beach

This beautiful beach is located as part of a section on Padre Island. The Malaquite Beach water is crystal clear and therefore very safe for swimming for both children and adults. The beach is well-maintained, and it has excellent camping sites. It is definitely one of the best Texas tourist beaches for a short stay, and it is also very family friendly. The beach is ranked 16^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

15. Surfside Beach

This lovely beach is located in Surfside, Texas, in Brazoria County. Of course, you may surf all day, as the name indicates. But surfing isn’t the only thing to do. You may sunbathe and get a tan, go fishing, cycle, walk, or sightsee your way through the Butterfly Trail. There are also local eateries along the beach that are ready to serve you after a day of fun.

The beach is ranked 15^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

14. Isla Blanca Park

This beach area, which is located on the southern tip of South Padre Island, has a lot to offer. It is sometimes referred to as South Padre Island Park’s crown gem since it offers so many recreational opportunities. Two big beachside pavilions, restaurants, rental packages, parking, walking paths, tent sites, restrooms, showers, picnic spots, and a variety of other amenities are available. This beach is ranked 14^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

13. Alamo Beach

Ranked at 13^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas, Alamo Beach is a small, beach near to the renowned Magnolia Beach. Beautiful resort houses and apartments are available for rent. Several picnic sites and all essential amenities including power, water, sewage, and phone service are available within the vicinity of the beach. Port Lavaca, which is close to the beach, has businesses like Walmart where travelers may buy and sightsee throughout the area. Around the shore, there are walking routes with a beautiful view of the sky.

12. Boca Chica Beach

Boca China beach located in South Padre Texas. This lovely beach is located near to Elon Musk’s Space X launch pad. Boca Chica Beach is ideal for a quick, calm, and relaxing vacation. It’s a hidden gem that only a few people know about. The beach is ranked 12^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

11. Porretto Beach

Pareto Beach, in Galveston, Texas, is one of the cleanest beaches in the city. It is also less crowded and cleaner in comparison to other beaches. It provides a positive experience for tourists, particularly for those coming with young children. If you grow weary of swimming or playing on the sand, take a walk around the beach. The beach is a private beach with several stunning views and easy access to nearby eateries for dining.

It is ranked 11^thon our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

10. UFO Beach

This beach, located north of South Padre, is tucked away in a relatively calm section of the island. Visitors who take the time to thoroughly explore the Island are the only ones who find the beach. Depending on the weather or your preference, you can trek or drive there. The term “UFO Beach” comes from a washed-up ocean buoy that washed up during a hurricane years ago. This buoy, which resembles a flying saucer, has become a landmark for many people. The beach is ranked at 10^th position on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

9. San José Island

From Port Anransas, San Jose Island is a short ferry ride away. Visitors may only reach the sands below the vegetation line on the island’s 21-mile-long pristine shoreline. However, there is enough to do on the beaches. Birding, shelling, and fishing are all popular pastimes. A frequent attraction of the beach is sea turtles while swimming or fishing off the island’s jetties; the marine mammals are frequently seen in the vicinity.

The beach is ranked 9^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

8. Surfside Beach, TX

It’s hardly surprise that the beach is the main draw in this little hamlet located 40 miles southwest of Galveston. The deep water at Surfside Beach makes for ideal surfing, kayaking, and windsurfing conditions. When you’re not in the water, the clean atmosphere and soft sand of the coastline make an excellent backdrop for resting or reading a book.

The beach is ranked 8^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

7. Matagorda Bay Nature Park

The Colorado River runs across Texas for more than 800 miles before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico at Matagorda Bay Nature Park. The beautiful beach park spans two miles of shoreline and 1,333 acres of land, with camping, fishing, and swimming among the available activities. Horseback riding on the beach and bird watching in the park’s coastal wetlands are additional options for visitors. The beach park service rents paddleboards, beach chairs, and beach carts to visitors who don’t have their own beach equipment. It’s the perfect getaway for a vacation.

The beach is ranked 7^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

6. Crystal Beach

The Bolivar Peninsula, which divides Galveston Bay from the Gulf of Mexico, is home to Crystal Beach. Because of the beach’s remote position (it’s only accessible by ferry from Galveston), the ratio of hermit crabs to beachgoers is typically extremely high. Travelers may go fishing or birdwatching when they aren’t looking for hermit crabs. Every year, about 100 species of migrating birds visit the peninsula. Crystal Beach also invites campers and allows campfires to be built right on the sand.

The beach is ranked 6^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.

Amid growing demand in the tourism sector, service providers like Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB), Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER), PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: APPL) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) have reported increasing businesses activity.

5. Rockport Beach

In southwestern Texas, Rockport Beach looks out over Aransas Bay. Vacationers will discover volleyball courts, picnic tables, and a pier that is a popular fishing site at this crescent-shaped beach. Travelers often like to take a stroll down the beach’s promenade or put up chairs for resting and sunbathing on the beach, which has been praised by previous sun-seekers for its cleanliness. In fact, the beach is so clean that the Clean Beaches Coalition named it the first Blue Wave Beach in Texas.

The beach is ranked 5^th on our list of 21 Best Beaches in Texas.