West Beach, Galveston Public Beach... with Free & Easy Drive Up Beach Access!
Houston moms have been telling me about Galveston's West Beach for years... but I was never really sure of where to go. Stewart Beach and East Beach have clearly marked entrances, but West Beach is a long strip of sand on the Galveston public beach map.
We finally decided to just figure out this beach. So we drove down Seawall (away from East Beach) and saw a lot of signs for "Beach Access". We turned into several. Some had an entrance fee, some had parking but no car-on-beach access... and then others had direct beach access.
It was "Beach Access #10" where we found a good spot to drive right up to the water on the Galveston public beach.
West Beach Drive Up Access:
Before moving to Texas, I had never seen cars on the beach... and that first time a friend told me to drive onto Crystal Beach, I thought she was insane. But now I think that cars on the beach are not beautiful, but it sure is easy.
Just drive on to the packed sand, back up to the water and have everything you need without hauling bags and chairs and coolers and kids.
Just know that if it hasn't rained in a while, the sand is much softer. Look before you drive onto it... so you don't get stuck!
Also, note that at this beach entrance, the cars drive behind the parked cars. This is away from the kids playing in the wet sand. (At Surfside, we saw cars driving on the wet sand, way too close to kids playing.)
Only on one trip to West Beach did I see cars parked weird at West Beach #10 and the cars were too close to the kids. All other times they were parked as advertised above!
Easy Trip to West Beach:
So, since we found the drive-on beach, this trip to West Beach was very fun and incredibly easy.
We drove down from Houston, were at the water in about 45 minutes. We parked, played, made a castle, found a hermit crab, ate snacks and drank water, packed up and drove off. And it was free!
On the way out of Galveston, we stopped at Palm Beach at Moody Gardens for a few laps around the lazy river (and non-sandy-salty water). (The membership makes this do-able... otherwise it would be expensive!)
If you are looking for a very easy trip to the beach, check out West Beach... and if you know of another good Beach Access Point, tell us! For a guide to all over Galveston's beaches, go HERE!
Mike says
Can you park a truck and trailer on this beach?
Jill Jarvis says
Look for any official rules, but I did see an RV parallel to the water. If there is no space, there is some room to park a little ways from the water.
Nechama Fiddle says
Thanks for this info! I'm sure its different now, but was it very crowded when you went?
Jill Jarvis says
We've never seen it as crazy as the Surfside drive on beach, but I don't know what it looks like everyday!
Barbara DeLira says
Do any of these beaches have a bathroom?
Jill Jarvis says
Stewart and East Beach have restrooms and amenities!
Jill Jarvis says
And I forgot to say that West Beach just has portapotties (as far as I know).