The Top 10 Texas Beaches for Your Family Vacation
It's finally time for you and your family to get away for a relaxing beach vacation, but as a parent, that means lots of planning for you. Finding fantastic places to go with your kids isn’t easy — beaches aren’t always family-friendly. We’ve taken on the task of exploring the beaches in Texas (we know, dream job alert!) to find the perfect ones for your family vacation. So let us take you on a tour of the best beaches in Texas for kids and parents alike.
The Lone Star State is an amazing vacation spot because it truly has something for everyone. Miles upon miles of white-sand coastline along the sparkling Gulf of Mexico await you and your family. So pack your bags and get the beach games ready because this is going to be a blast.
10 Best Texas Beaches for Families
In a perfect world, you would spend your time picking fun restaurants and putting together chic beach outfits — not stressing over where you and your family can go. You've worked hard and deserve to relax, so have a look at these top picks for family beach vacations in Texas. You'll find the perfect spots for lounging, swimming, and sharing those special moments that make the hard work of raising a family so worth it.
1. Padre Island National Seashore
When it comes to the best Texas beaches for families, the national park at Padre Island National Seashore is hard to beat. The kids will love it because it’s full of marine life, known for sea turtles and hatchling releases. This isn’t just for kids — who wouldn’t want to see adorable baby turtles scuttling across a sandy beach? Outdoor activities include kayaking the Laguna Madre, 4WD beach driving, fishing, camping, and of course, beachcombing.
2. Crystal Beach
Take a quick ferry trip from Galveston to Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula, #2 on our list of best family beaches in Texas. All 27 miles of shoreline are open for driving, allowing for unfettered accessibility (especially helpful if you’ve got some little ones in booster seats). Have a barbeque or a picnic on the beach, go for a dip, and watch your kids feed the seagulls.
3. Boca Chica
Boca Chica often makes the list of the best beaches in Texas thanks to its beautiful shoreline and water activities such as snorkeling and fishing. The beach itself isn't equipped with amenities, preserving its pure beach atmosphere so you can pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the natural beauty with your family.
4. Mustang Island
This unique beach is on a barrier island just south of Corpus Cristi and is also a state park, so expect pristine nature, wildlife, and great birdwatching. For the more outdoorsy families, Mustang Island features 48 campsites if you want to stay overnight and roast some s'mores at one of the most popular family beaches in Texas.
5. Matagorda Beach
With nearly 60 miles of sand and shore, Matagorda is an easy favorite on the list of best Texas beaches for families. Over half of the coastline at this beautiful beach is only accessible by watercraft, so this is a perfect choice if your family loves kayaking, boating, and canoeing.
6. Rockport Beach
In a contest for best beach in Texas, Rockport is definitely a top contender. Known as Texas's first "Blue Wave Beach" — a certification for clean and safe beach communities — Rockport is perfect for small children, featuring multiple playgrounds and a kid-friendly wading pool.
7. Whitecap Beach, Corpus Christi
Whitecap makes the list of best beaches in Texas for families because it’s one of the least crowded in the bustling Corpus Christi area. This 1.5-mile-long white-sand beach is wonderful for picnics and de-stressing from the hustle and bustle of city life.
8. Port Aransas
Port Aransas, known to locals as "Port A," is just north of Mustang Island. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can explore two of the best Texas beaches for families on the same day! Port Aransas offers parasailing, sport fishing, and a vibrant local community with family beach resorts, Texas home-cooking, nightlife, and culture.
9. Surfside Beach
Surfside Beach is a "Bird City Texas Certified Community" creating safe spaces for birds. You and your family can experience truly unique birdwatching on its various trails, such as its 2.5-mile Bird & Butterfly Trail. Surfside Beach is home to over 300 resident and migratory bird species. It also allows horses on the beach from mid-September to mid-May, and a local company offers horseback riding for tourists.
10. San Jose Island
If you're looking for private family beaches in Texas accessible only by boat, San Jose Island is the perfect beach for you. It's a short ferry ride from Port Aransas and situated in an area known as the "fishing capital of Texas," so if anyone in your family loves to fish, this is the place. There are 600+ species of native fish here and 300+ species of native birds.
Your Family Getaway is Just Around the Corner
Now that you have a shortlist of the best Texas beaches for families to choose from, it's time for the fun part: planning your perfect beach attire. At Hermoza, we have everything you need for a stunning and sophisticated beach look, with flattering designs and luxe fabrics. Check out our accessories for dazzling finishing touches, such as a straw hat and stylish sunglasses. Don't forget about the littles! We've got great looks for them, too, including mommy and me swimsuits.
Besos,
Hermoza