Beaches in Galveston good for dipping/swimming?

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  • Riksors

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    We have always preferred Surfside vs Galveston. Theres not as many crowds & you can drive on the beach. We usually turn off on beach access 4 & drive down till we find a area with some space between us & others.

    Can a regular 2wd vehicle manage if we drive on the sand? What’s the sand like?

    Over ferry to Crystal beach area.

    Thanks. That would be an option. Looks like white sand from the pics that I searched.
     

    Vaquero

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    I'm not quite sure what you expect, but I'm gonna be straight up.
    I've been on beaches from the east coast to the west coast. California, Mexico, Maryland, Florida, Alabama......
    You get the idea. Most all of those are pretty, and the water is clear.
    The Texas coastline is long. It's also tepid. White sands and clear water is uncommon. Windswept and murky is to be expected. Good fishing is for sure. Pristine white sands and blue waters are probably not going to be found.
    Plan on non groomed sands and brown water.
    When it comes to shorelines, Texas got quantity, not quality.
     

    busykngt

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    ^^^^What Vaquero said^^^^
    (With the exception of South Padre)
    Galveston is the pits as far as I’m concerned. Even north Padre, around Corpus is much better than anything on the upper Texas coast. Of course, those involve a helluva drive!
     

    TreyG-20

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    I agree with what has been said. Texas beaches are lacking as far as clean looking water. Galveston is especially nasty. Really South Padre is the only beach worth going to IMO.
     

    Riksors

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    Glad I asked here.

    As for the doggos, it’ll be their first salt water experience. I hope we don’t get sick.
     
    Last edited:

    SQLGeek

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    Having spent many summers dipped in the Pacific and a bit of time in the Atlantic, Vaquero is right. But that doesn't stop us from going into the water at Galveston. The times we've gone, we park on the seawall closer to Jamaica Beach where it's not quite as crowded.

    There's a ton of people that drive down on the beach at San Luis Pass but I don't know anything more about how accessible it is.

    EZ-E is spot on about the stretch between Jamaica Beach and Surfside. It's also a nice drive through there.
     

    busykngt

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    If you’ve got dogs, might want to check with your vet if he/she recommends any meds for Portuguese-Man-O’War burns (just in case). No doubt, the dogs will learn fast, AFTER their first encounter. Fortunately, they’re not real common but if a dog can find them....they will.
     

    EZ-E

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    Middle of no where
    The water clarity all depends on the wind direction. South east or east winds bring in green water, a west wind will muddy the beach front up.

    As for beaches on the Texas Coast there is nothing that compares to Padre Island National Seashore. We have done 4 day Jeep/kayaying trips several times over the years on PINS. Lots of memories with great friends on those trips. The Big Beach Clean up that was hosted by Billy Sandifer was also a great event to go down & support with 4x4's & trailers to haul trash.
     

    avvidclif

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    My son and his family was at Crystal Beach over the weekend. He said never again, it was a party beach and nowhere close to a place you want your kids. Just a heads up. If you're looking to party might be just the spot.
     

    Brains

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    Crystal Beach is definitely party beach, and I've got the scar to prove it. Some (very!) good memories though ;)
     

    oldag

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    Tar balls and seaweed. If you are lucky, you might be able to see the bottom at a depth of 2.5-3'.

    Possibly jelly fish and sometimes Man-O-Wars.

    But it is saltwater and there are waves.
     

    Moonpie

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    Gunz are icky.
    Galveston Island beaches are generally the suck.
    Crowded.
    You can not drive on the beach there except for a short portion down at San Luis Pass. So you have to haul all your crap by hand from the vehicle to the water. Access is limited in most areas.
    Water conditions vary day by day. EZ-E said it correctly. An east to southeast wind brings in fresh clean offshore water. Any wind south to southwest brings up the muddy water. Wind speed also causes the surf to be rough and unadvisable to get in the water. Strong rip currents due to large wave action will kill yo azz so be careful.
    Usually tho its not that bad.
    Go on a weekday. Weekends are crazytown. Just this weekend was insane. Literally hundreds of thousands came. It was huge traffic jams with wrecks, drownings, fighting, knifings, and other assorted lunacy.
    Leash laws too. In most places you can't let phideaux just run loose.
    Bring a pet carrier box for the dorg. He WILL find the most rotting pile of old fish or dead shrimp to roll in before he gets back in the vehicle. Put his stinking arse in the back of the truck and hose him off once your back at the place you're staying. Don't forget he'll be coated in sand too. Its always nice to have beach sand on the dash top.

    Brazoria county has a free, vehicular accessible beach from San Luis Pass all the way down to Surfside city limit. Its about 12 miles long.
    Again, go during the week. Early in the day is best.
    Since this is the only free beach left on the upper gulf coast traffic on it is getting thick.
    Wear some kind of surf shoes. Scum leave all manner of trash on the beach including broken beer bottles and other, nastier crap.

    A word about San Luis Pass.
    Most of the Pass has been closed to public water entry because stupid mo'fugs drown their dumb drunk arses there.
    The water currents during tidal movement are fierce. Very dangerous. So what do the 'tards do? Hey I KNOW! Let's go swimming. And they're never heard from again. Sometimes. Sometimes their dead arse bodies are found half-way to Cuba. Do NOT enter the water there. Always wear a PFD if you do.
    There is a $2.00 toll(each way) to cross the bridge at San Luis Pass.
    The bridge crosses from Galveston county to Brazoria county over the pass itself.

    Surfside city and Matagorda county have a paid beach pass you must purchase to legally be on their beach. And yes Deputy Dog patrols looking vigilantly for scofflaws. $$$$ ticket.
    Matagorda county beach is quite rough terrain wise. Don't go in a low ground clearance vehicle. Use a pick-um-up truck or better.

    Take several gallon jugs of fresh water.
    Some for fido.
    Some for washing off your feets when you leave.

    So if you can chose a calm wind day, head on down and enjoy.
    Post pics.
     

    Mowingmaniac 24/7

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    Also, I don't think I saw mentioned the ever present 'sting-ray'.

    These creatures wait on the bottom for the unsuspecting to step on them and 'pow' the agony begins often ending with surgery to remove the barb.

    How do I know about them?

    Been hit, but lucky me the barb didn't stay, but the pain after being stung took about an hour and a half of building to a point I was so much in pain I started to hyperventilate. The barb is covered in some sort of crud that acts like venom. It's freaking brutal.

    After that experience, I never entered salt water or even brackish without stingray boots...ever.
     
    Every Day Man
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