1
South Padre Island
Resort island at the southern tip. Beaches, dolphin cruises, and the southernmost drive on the Texas coast.
Enjoy Gulf Coast
Your Authoritative Guide to the Texas Gulf Coast
Sun, sand, seafood, and small towns with big character. From South Padre Island to Sabine Pass, this is the coast the locals love — and now you can explore it too.
Find Your Coast
Six regions, 26 destinations. Pick a region to start exploring.
Rio Grande Valley
Brazoria County
Upper Coast
Coastal Experiences
What makes the Texas coast worth the drive.
Take the Coastal Road
Ten stops from the border to Louisiana. Ferries, causeways, fishing villages, and historic ports. This is the Texas coast as a journey, not a list.
2
Port Isabel
Historic port town across the causeway. Lighthouse, shrimp fleet, and gateway to the island.
Causeway from South Padre
3
Corpus Christi
The Coastal Bend's city. Bayfront, USS Lexington, Texas State Aquarium, and miles of seawall.
Inland highway north
4
Port Aransas
Island fishing town. Deep-sea charters, birding, and a laid-back beach vibe.
Ferry from Aransas Pass
5
Rockport-Fulton
Art colony and fishing village. Galleries, historic Fulton Mansion, and Aransas Bay.
Short drive north on TX-35
6
Port Lavaca
Working bay town. Lighthouse Beach, fishing piers, and Matagorda Bay sunsets.
Coast highway north
7
8
Freeport / Surfside
Industrial port meets surf town. Quintana Beach, sea turtles, and Gulf fishing.
Inland detour east
9
Galveston
Historic island city. Seawall, Strand district, Moody Gardens, and 32 miles of beach.
Causeway to the island
10
Port Arthur
Where Texas meets Louisiana. Boardwalk, museum district, and Sabine Lake.
Bolivar Ferry, then east on TX-87
Smaller towns along the way — Seadrift, Palacios, Sargent, Jamaica Beach, Bolivar Peninsula, Sabine Pass — are linked from the regional galleries above. This route uses highways, causeways, and two ferry crossings. It is not a continuous beachfront drive.
More Than a Beach Trip
The Texas Gulf Coast is a little more relaxed, a little more friendly, and a lot more fun. Whether you are here for the weekend or a lifetime, you will find sandy shores, great food, live music and plenty of reasons to smile.
Plan Your Visit →