No Texas summer is complete without a beach trip! Here’s a list of uncrowded, under‑the‑radar beaches within 1.5 hours of Houston. These are the best beaches near Houston to visit!
The Best Beaches Near Houston
Sylvan Beach
🌊 Sylvan Beach (La Porte, TX) is a small beach inside a public park with a stretch of sandy sand and a short area roped off to swim. This one is great bc it’s just 30 minutes from Houston!
El Jardín Beach
🌊 El Jardín (Seabrook, TX) is located in a neighborhood and has a rather small parking lot compared to the beachfront length which keeps crowd size down. I had to wait a minute to get a spot but it was totally worth it to spend an afternoon by the water and was only a 40 min drive home!
Lake Conroe
🌊 Lake Conroe (Montgomery, TX) has two beaches for swimming: Lake Conroe Park (50 min drive) and Scott’s Ridge Swim Area (60 min drive).
Lake Raven
🌊 Huntsville State Park (Huntsville, TX) has a small swimming area about an hour away on Lake Raven that’s open 10am ‑ 8pm. To enter, reserve passes online for $7 per person. @huntsvillestatepark
Quintana Beach
🌊 Quintana Beach (Freeport, TX) is 70 minutes from Houston and has 6 miles of natural sandy beach. I spent a chill morning here when my husband golfed in Freeport. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend there is a $5 parking fee.
Surfside Beach
🌊 Surfside Beach (Freeport, TX) is
just 1 one hour from Houston, Surfside Beach, TX offers beautiful white sand beaches and is the perfect escape from some of the more populated beaches on the coast. Bring your dog and plan a beach bonfire here! @surfsidebeachtx
Matagorda Beach
🌊 Matagorda Beach (Matagorda, TX) at just over 1.5 hours away this is the farthest beach on the list but included because it’s pup friendly also the least crowded! $10 to park on the beach and watch out for rip tides!
Want more outdoor activities adventures near Houston?
Other fun outdoor activities within a 1.5 hour drive of Houston include: