| Galveston Island has beaches just about from end to | | | | bathrooms, showers, or anything. Just miles of open |
| end, over 30 miles of sand, sea, and fun. But each | | | | beach that many people like to walk along or |
| area has some unique aspects and several areas are | | | | sunbathe. Great for a quick stop to look at the |
| designed for different activities. There are some | | | | ocean and waves. There are steps every often for |
| standard rules for all beach area. These rules below | | | | access from the street level down to the beach. The |
| apply to all beach areas and are designed to keep | | | | area directly west of the city offers three smaller |
| everyone safe and prevent any problems. | | | | beach areas that are open daily from March to Labor |
| - No overnight camping - No open fires | | | | Day and on the weekends in September. |
| - No glass containers - No alcohol except East Beach | | | | Sea Gull Shores Beach Pocket #1 |
| - Pets must be on leashes - No walking on dunes | | | | This is located at the 71/2 mile Road along FM 3005 |
| - No four wheelers - No diving into water | | | | (Seawall Blvd turns into FM 3005). This area was still |
| Galveston has a Beach Patrol that enforces these | | | | being worked on from the ravages of Hurricane Ike |
| rules and they are visible everywhere on the | | | | and may or may not be fully open until April. So there |
| beaches. Other good rules to follow are not to swim | | | | may be facilities like a pavilion, restrooms, and parking |
| within 100 feet of jetties or piers and never swim in | | | | when it does open again. But check before entering. |
| the ship channel. Some areas do have lifeguards but | | | | Sand Castle Beach Pocket Park #2 |
| many don't. Never underestimate the power of the | | | | Sand Castle Beach is located at the 9 mile Road along |
| surf, even a small 2-foot wave can cause you | | | | FM 3005 (Frank Carmona Pocket Park 2) and includes |
| problems and this is especially true for young children. | | | | a public beach pavilion, an educational wetlands |
| Since Galveston is an island, the beaches stretch | | | | preserve, beach access points, and public & private |
| from end to end, the line up of beaches from east | | | | parking. |
| to west is as follows: | | | | Sea Shell Beach Pocket Park #3 |
| East Beach - Also called R.A. Apffel Park | | | | Sea Shell Beach is located just west of the 13 mile |
| East Beach is the largest beach in Texas and is | | | | Road along FM 3005, offers 10 acres of beaches, a |
| located on the far eastern side of the island. If you | | | | beach pavilion, showers, a snack bar, beach chair |
| drive east on Seawall Blvd until it ends, then take a | | | | rentals, picnic tables, and wheelchair accessibility. |
| right on Boddeker Road and follow it to the end (less | | | | Galveston State Park |
| than a mile) you will be at East Beach. East Beach is | | | | Right after Pirate's Beach subdivision and 13 Mile Road |
| unique since you can buy alcohol and drinking is | | | | is Galveston State Park. The park was created in |
| allowed. There are also chairs and umbrellas to rent, | | | | 1975 and has over 2,000 acres of space. Entrance |
| bathrooms and showers, snacks and drinks, | | | | Fee is $5 per day, per persons 13 and older and |
| souvenirs, and an outside bar. There are volleyball | | | | camping is available. A maximum of 8 people and 14 |
| tournaments and events all summer long. It's loud, | | | | days per campsite (out of 28 day period) and there |
| rowdy, and definitely for the party crowd. It's open | | | | are RV hookups also. Besides admission there are $15 |
| from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm on weekdays and till 7:00 | | | | to $25 campsite fees depending on the facilities. The |
| pm on weekends during the summer season. | | | | State Park is open 7 days a week all year. |
| Admission is $8 per car. | | | | Far West End Beaches |
| Steward Beach | | | | After the Galveston State Park there are numerous |
| Stewart Beach is located at Seawall Blvd and 6th | | | | free beach areas that are clearly marked with blue |
| Street. Stewart offers all that East Beach does | | | | signs that have Beach Access written in white letters. |
| except alcohol and also has a children's playground. | | | | All of these areas are public but have no facilities or |
| It's much more laid back and family oriented. Same | | | | lifeguards. |
| cost, $8 per car, and same operating hours. They do | | | | Well, there you go. There is something for just about |
| have Community Rooms for rent for company | | | | every kind of beach lover. The busiest times on all |
| parties, family events, wedding receptions, and etc. | | | | the beach areas are May through September. But |
| You can call 409-797-5182 for more information on | | | | some of the best times to go are when the crowds |
| rentals and availability. | | | | aren't around in early spring or late fall. And the |
| Seawall Beaches - 16th Street to 61st Street | | | | weather is often mild all through he winter months |
| There is public access from all along the Seawall Blvd | | | | too. |
| and free parking is available. There are no facilities, | | | | |