Matagorda Beach
Matagorda, TX
A driveable beach on the Texas coast where locals bring trucks right onto the sand and fish the surf as much as they swim in it. It sits far enough from Houston and Galveston that it rarely feels crowded, even on a summer weekend.
A four wheel drive vehicle makes the soft sand sections much easier to manage.
More Gulf Coast beaches
Siesta Key Beach
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Fine quartz sand that stays cool underfoot even in summer, sloping gently into calm Gulf water, and consistently rated among the best family beaches in the country.
Clearwater Beach
Clearwater, FL · Gulf Coast
A lively Gulf-front strip with a fishing pier, a nightly sunset celebration at Pier 60, and calm, shallow water that makes it an easy family favorite.
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach, FL · Gulf Coast
Sugar-white sand within the Gulf Islands National Seashore, with dunes protected from development and water clear enough for snorkeling near the jetties.