Texas · United States

Galveston

City of Galveston is a municipality on Galveston Island, a Gulf barrier island in Galveston County, Texas. Beaches face the Gulf of Mexico. For a first visit, start at Seawall Urban Park along Seawall Boulevard, Stewart Beach (401 Seawall Blvd), or East Beach (1923 Boddeker Rd).

SeawallStewartEast Beach

Choose your stretch

  • Stewart Beach — Park Board family park at Broadway & Seawall · $15/vehicle one-time, no re-entry
  • R.A. Apffel Park (East Beach) — east tip; alcohol permitted · same $15 / $50 East and Stewart structure
  • Seawall Urban Park — walk-on corridor; vehicles prohibited on sand · City curb $2/hr, $16/day max; free north-side blocks
  • West End Pocket Parks — City Parks · #1 on-beach $15; #2 free lot; #3 $15 on-beach / $10 lot
  • Galveston Island State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife · $5/adult 13+, no lifeguards, capacity

Full stretch cards

Parking at a glance

Stewart Beach and East Beach (Park Board): $15 per vehicle one-time entry with no re-entry during amenity hours (ParkMobile Stewart 60701, East 60703). Seasonal/annual pass $50 via zone 60755, valid exclusively at East and Stewart.

Seawall Urban Park: City paid parking $2/hour with a two-hour minimum, not to exceed $16/day, enforced 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily (PayByPhone 5004). Free spots posted on the north side of Seawall between 12th–19th, 33rd–39th, 53rd–61st, and 85th–91st. Annual Seawall pass $45 (City page). Vehicles prohibited on the beach.

West End Pocket Parks (City): Pocket Park #1 on-beach parking $15; Pocket Park #2 parking lot, free entry; Pocket Park #3 $15 on-beach, $10 lot, 30 free spaces FCFS.

Seawall paid parking · Stewart Beach · East Beach · Beach user fee maps

Best stretches and who they’re for

Stewart Beach

401 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77550; Broadway meets Seawall. Park Board family beach park. $15/vehicle one-time, no re-entry; $50 annual East and Stewart (ParkMobile 60755; single-entry 60701). Alcohol not permitted. Glass prohibited. Pets on leash. Lifeguards listed; Beach Patrol primary season Memorial Day–Labor Day (ended Sep 7, 2026). Amenities 6 a.m.–8 p.m.; automated pay 6 a.m.–8 p.m. year-round from May 1, 2026.

R.A. Apffel Park (East Beach)

1923 Boddeker Rd, Galveston, TX 77550 (Park Board); far eastern tip. Same $15 / $50 fee structure (zone 60703). Alcohol permitted (published public-beach exception). Glass prohibited. Pets on leash. Amenity/Cantina hours beginning Aug 9, 2026: Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Seawall Urban Park

Seawall Boulevard corridor (Park Board: more than 10 miles); Pleasure Pier at Seawall & 25th (2501 Seawall Blvd). Walk-on access; vehicles prohibited on beach. City curb parking $2/hr (2-hr min) max $16/day, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; free north-side blocks 12th–19th, 33rd–39th, 53rd–61st, 85th–91st. Alcohol prohibited; glass prohibited; pets on leash. Restrooms (flushing) south side at 19th, 29th, 39th, 45th, 61st (7 a.m.–6 p.m. subject to change).

Pocket Park #1

City Parks & Recreation. 11102 Termini-San Luis Pass Rd, Galveston, TX 77554; Mon–Sun 8 a.m.–7 p.m. On-beach parking $15 (City page). Drive-on sand; pets leashed.

Pocket Park #2

City Parks & Recreation. 11745 Termini-San Luis Pass Rd, Galveston, TX 77554; Mon–Sun 8 a.m.–7 p.m. City page: parking lot, free entry.

Pocket Park #3

City Parks & Recreation. 13315 Termini-San Luis Pass Rd, Galveston, TX 77554; Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat–Sun 8 a.m.–6 p.m. $15 on-beach, $10 lot, 30 free spaces north of main lot FCFS (thin lot risk on free spaces).

Galveston Island State Park

Texas Parks & Wildlife. 14901 FM 3005, Galveston, TX 77554. $5 daily per person age 13+ (12 and under free); often reaches capacity — reserve day use. Swim at your own risk — no lifeguards. Beach and bay sides.

Porretto Beach

Privately operated stretch near Seawall (~10th St). Check the operator before you go — summer 2026 coverage said closed amid a drainage dispute.

Notes before you pack

  • Beach Patrol lifeguards staff the towers from Memorial Day through Labor Day, on the Gulf beaches from East Beach to 61st Street. Beach Patrol answers water emergencies year-round from Big Reef to San Luis Pass, so call 911 in an emergency. Read the beach flags before you swim. Beach Patrol.
  • Alcohol is prohibited on all Galveston public beaches except R.A. Apffel Park (East Beach) — Park Board rules. Glass prohibited at Park Board parks and Seawall. Vehicles prohibited on Seawall sand; ATVs/dirt bikes prohibited at Stewart/East. Pets on leash permitted at Stewart, East, Seawall, and Pocket Parks per those pages. Park rules.
  • Stewart Beach and East Beach: $15/vehicle one-time, no re-entry; $50 annual via ParkMobile 60755 valid exclusively at East and Stewart. Seawall: City curb $2/hour (2-hr min), max $16/day, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (PayByPhone 5004); free north-side blocks as listed under Parking.
  • East Beach amenity/Cantina hours: beginning Aug 9, 2026, Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (summer had been daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.) — midweek pavilion hours thinner than peak summer. East Beach.
  • Leave No Trace (canopies/gear unattended sunset–sunrise): Park Board cites ordinance enforced Spring Break until Labor Day — seasonal window ended Sep 7, 2026 for this filing.

FAQ

What is there to do near Galveston?

Near Galveston: dolphin and wildlife tours, food tours, and sunset sails and cruises. See Off the sand for tours and tickets.

Beach safety — who to trust