Sunny Beach
Galveston, TX
Sunny Beach sits at the end of 8 Mile Road on Galveston's West End, a wide stretch where the sand used to double as the parking lot, tents pitched right next to the car. The city has been pulling back on that arrangement in recent years, citing misuse of the beach, so the drive on culture that made this spot known is quietly changing.
It's still a wide, uncrowded stretch of West End sand, but the ongoing parking changes have made it a less reliable plan than it used to be, worth checking ahead rather than just showing up.
How we score beachesCheck current signage before assuming you can park on the sand here. The rules have shifted a few times as the city works out a longer term plan for the lot.
Parking access has changed recently as the city moves spaces off the sand and onto land near Beachside Village, so check current signage rather than assuming beach parking is open.
A flat approach from 8 Mile Road leads onto open sand, with seasonal restrooms but no showers.
Summer draws the biggest crowds despite the parking changes, with water warming into the mid 80s. Hurricane season runs June through November.
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