If you’re heading to Galveston Island for a family vacation, you probably want to know where to find the best beaches.
After all, nothing beats a beach day with kids and Galveston, Texas is an ideal place to go.
In This Article – We’ll tell you about 10 of the best beaches in Galveston for families. So grab your swimsuit and beach towel, and let’s go.
1. Babe’s Beach
One of the most popular beaches for families in the area is Babe’s Beach.
Named after A.R. “Babe” Schwartz, who helped to create the Texas Open Beaches Act, this stretch of sand goes for 15 blocks and has shallow water, making it perfect for young children.
Babe’s Beach also has restrooms, showers, and lifeguards, and there are also lots of shops and restaurants close by too.
After sunset, there’s plenty to do still. You’ll find Seawall Boulevard a hubbub of activity.
It’s been a popular tourist venue since the 1920s when it hosted the first international beauty contest, the International Pageant of Pulchritude and continues to be a lively promenade to this day.
2. Beachtown
Located on the eastern end of Galveston, Beachtown is another family-friendly location.
It has wide and sandy beaches that make it perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and playing in the sand.
Beachtown also has shops, restaurants and other attractions that make it a great family place.
Beachtown’s unique position means its beaches are naturally getting wider and grow several feet each year.
The area is home to many holiday rentals too for those who want to base their vacation from here.
3. Crystal Beach
This beach is located in the Bolivar Peninsula and is also known as Patton.
It is a 7-mile stretch right in the middle of the peninsula and is a popular place because it offers unique fishing, camping and open fire opportunities.
There’s also a picnic area on the beach as well as a pavilion and playground.
So, if you like to combine sandcastles, swimming, and fishing, this is the place for you.
If you don’t fancy cooking fish on open fires, don’t worry, there are lots of shops and restaurants nearby too.
4. East Beach
Galveston’s East Beach has lots of open space, gentle waves, and soft sand.
It’s an ideal location for the whole family.
Besides the sea and sand, you’ll find picnic tables, restrooms, and showers as well as activities for those seeking a little more fun. You’ll find go-karting, mini-golf, and water slides.
5. Jamaica Beach
Jamaica Beach is an ideal family location that’s situated on the West End of Galveston Island.
Here, you’ll find lots of family-friendly amenities, including:
- picnic tables
- a pavilion
- and a playground
It’s also fantastic for taking in the scenery of the Gulf Coast either from the beach itself or on a boat.
Jamaica Beach has calm, warm waters which make it perfect for little ones to play in.
6. Pirate’s Beach
This wide and sandy beach is popular among families seeking to enjoy the sun and sand.
The water is calm and warm, which makes it great for paddling and swimming.
In terms of amenities, you’ll find lots of bars and restaurants too so whether it’s lunch or a cold drink after sunset, you’ll never go without.
For those who enjoy fishing, you’ll find a seawall nearby too.
7. Palm Beach
On Galveston Island’s East End, Palm Beach is a wonderful family destination that’s less crowded than some of the other places in our list.
Here, you have wide expanses of clean sand that makes it ideal for sandcastle building. With all of the space available, flying kites is possible here too.
You’ll also find the waters calming with gentle waves that are big enough for a spot of boogie boarding.
If you’re not ones for spending the entire day at the beach, you’ll also find walking trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds nearby.
A little further afield is the Historic Strand District, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and Moody Gardens.
8. Porretto Beach
Another great beach for families in Galveston is Porretto Beach.
This is one of the greatest places for surf and sun on the Island.
It’s a great place for beach games, sunbathing, and swimming. The shoreline slopes gently, which make it a great ocean for smaller children to paddle in.
There are also lots of restaurants close as well as attractions like Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Moody Gardens close by.
9. San Luis Pass Park
San Luis Pass Park is a fantastic family location that has a wide beach that has lots of room for sandcastle building, sunbathing and swimming.
You’ll also find a picnic area and playground too.
If you’re looking for a beach that’s close to all of the amenities, downtown Galveston is a short drive away so it’s easy to make a day of your trip here.
10. Stewart Beach
This is one of Galveston’s most popular beaches.
It has clear waters on a wide stretch of sand with lots of things to do for the whole family.
You’ll find shops, restaurants, volleyball courts and a playground. There is also a defined swimming area on the beach, which makes it much safer for families to enjoy.
If you’re wanting a beach that’s close to downtown Galveston, Stewart Beach is a good fit. It’s just a short drive away from the center.
Why choose Galveston Island?
This barrier island is 27 miles long with its widest point being 3 miles.
This makes it a geographically interesting location for visitors. It’s around 50 miles southeast of Houston in the Gulf of Mexico.
The only part of the island that isn’t within the City of Galveston is Jamaica Beach.
Despite being a popular tourist destination, it’s also home to around 49,000 residents who tend to classify themselves as either IBC (islander by choice) or BOI (born on the island).
Final Thoughts
Despite being a small island, Galveston has a huge number of family-friendly beach locations to explore.
There are so many that it can be hard to know which place to choose. Hopefully, our list of ten of the best beaches in Galveston for families will have helped you to decide!
