Dog Friendly Beaches in Texas

The Texas Gulf Coast Region spans about 60 miles and offers some great scenic views that include state parks, wildlife refuges and the Colorado River. Pet owners considering an outing to the beach with their dogs may find a few places worth considering. Dog-friendly beaches provide pet owners the opportunity to take their dogs on the sandy shores and enjoy some of the best features of the coast.

  1. Surfside Beach

    • Surfside Beach, a village community about 40 miles south of Galveston on the Gulf Coast, is well-known for its small swells, deep water and long jetties that provide ultimate surfing conditions. It also affords pet owners an opportunity to bring their dog to shore and enjoy a day at the beach. Dogs can enjoy Surfside Beach year-round and may share the coastline with horses during the spring and winter seasons. Dogs can play in the sand or run through the seashores alongside their owners as long they are kept on a leash.

      Surfside Beach
      1304 Monument Drive
      Surfside Beach, TX 77541
      979-233-1531
      surfsidebeachtx.org/

    Stewart Beach

    • Dogs and their owners can enjoy the cool waters of some of the beaches in Texas.

      A family oriented beach in Galveston that hosts numerous events such as volleyball tournaments and sandcastle competitions, Stewart Beach allows visitors to bring the entire family, pets included. Dogs visiting Stewart Beach must remain on a leash while on the shoreline, and owners must be sure to never leave their pet alone. The beach is open as early as the first week of March, but closes from November through February.

      Stewart Beach
      6th and Seawall Blvd.
      Galveston, TX
      409-797-5182
      galveston.com/stewartbeach/

    Padre Island National Seashore

    • Padre Island National Seashore features 70 miles of sandy beaches that resemble a land unaffected by touristy flair and loud attractions. The beach provides a peaceful unobtrusive outing for dogs and their owners along the longest barrier island in the nation. All dogs visiting the beach must remain on a leash. The beach, open year-round, offers camping, fishing and birding activities that can be enjoyed by owners and their pets. Dogs can explore the park, but may not be allowed in the Malaquite Visitor Center deck or picnic area.

      Padre Island National Seashore
      20402 Park Road 22
      Corpus Christi, TX 78418
      (361) 949-8173
      (361) 949-8068
      nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit/things2know.htm

    Corpus Christi Beach

    • Dogs can enjoy watching the seagulls or sailboats while relaxing on a Texas beach.

      Corpus Christi Beach, a neighbor to Padre Island, allows dogs to accompany their owners and spend the day relaxing on the sand and checking out the waves, surfers, sailboats or seagulls. While on the beach, dogs need to be kept on a leash, but are free to run along the shores with the owners.

      Corpus Christi Beach
      P.O. Box 9277
      Corpus Christi, TX 78469-9277
      361-826-2489
      cctexas.com/?fuseaction=main.view&page=2484

    Galveston Island State Park

    • Galveston Island State Park, a 2,013-acre site, provides a long unpopulated stretch of land along the Texas Gulf Coast, where pet owners can bring their dogs and admire the landscape. Visitors can take their dogs camping, bird-watching, fishing or hiking. If visitors decide to go swimming, they need to be careful of the strong ocean currents as Galveston Island State Park has unsupervised beach swimming areas. All dogs must be kept on a leash, retractable or other, while cruising the shores.

      Galveston Island State Park
      14901 FM 3005
      Galveston, TX 77554
      409-737-1222
      tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/galveston/