Galveston Island State Park
Galveston, TX
Galveston Island State Park splits into two sides, a bay side full of marsh trails and a Gulf side beach that feels noticeably less crowded than the seawall a few miles east. The walk from the parking area crosses the dunes on a boardwalk, and once you're through, the beach itself stretches wide and mostly open.
The entry fee and the walk over the dunes filter out a lot of the casual crowd, which is exactly why locals like it, though the smaller lot means it can still fill early in peak season.
How we score beachesGo early on a weekend. The beach side lot is smaller than you'd expect for a state park and does fill by midday in summer, well before the bay side does.
Entry is five dollars per person, paid at the park headquarters, with parking included at the beach side lot.
A boardwalk crosses the dunes from the parking area straight to the sand, manageable for strollers though it narrows in spots.
Leashed dogs, six feet or shorter, are allowed on the beach but not in the designated swimming areas.
Spring and fall bring the mildest crowds and the best birdwatching on the bay side, while summer water on the Gulf side warms into the low 80s. Hurricane season runs June through November.
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