The Texas coast stretches for 367 miles along the Gulf of Mexico between South Padre Island and the Louisiana border. And while the best beaches in Texas don’t always come with swathes of sugar-white sand or groves of palm trees like those in Florida or Hawaii, they hold their own charm. An influx of sediment gives the water along the upper coast a caramel-colored hue, but farther south, the water runs clear. In some areas, it’s legal to drive your vehicle along public beaches (watch out for nesting sea turtles and other humans, please!). And when the weather’s right, surfers can catch a wave or two. Another bonus? In Texas, temperatures on a “cold winter’s day” sometimes hover in the 60s or 70s—so you can visit any time of year.
We’ve scouted the state and discovered beaches where you can look both ways and hardly see another soul, beaches brimming with seashells, beaches where you can cast a line and reel in dinner, and beaches with grass-thatched beer bars and a laid-back vibe. And don’t forget to look up. Two migratory flyways converge over the state, making the Texas coast a prime birding spot. Go ahead and dig your toes into the sand and allow yourself to be surprised. Here are some of the best beaches in Texas—plus, where to stay nearby.
Matagorda Bay Nature Park
The sandy stretch next to where the Colorado River opens into the Gulf of Mexico tops our list as the best shelling beach in the entire state, but you’ll have to work a little to get there. From Matagorda Bay Nature Park, rent a kayak (or bring your own) and paddle across the river. Besides the state shell, a spiral-shaped beauty called the lightening whelk, you’ll find scallop shells in muted shades of orange and red, smooth and shiny lettered olive shells, and Atlantic giant cockles, which look like ridged potato chips. Birders will appreciate the abundance of egrets, ibis, and pelicans here too.
Where to stay near Matagorda Bay: