Best Gulf Coast Beaches To Visit In Every State
The Gulf of Mexico ties together people and nature to create a beautifully rich beach culture. Home to robust tourist and fishing industries, history, and oceanic beauty, the beaches on the Gulf Coast are wonderful vacation destinations. Whether you’re interested in learning about marine life or just spending your days relaxing under a colorful umbrella with a tropical beverage and good book, there’s a beach along the Gulf Coast for you.
Like all our favorite southern destinations, the beaches we’ve picked are our favorites based on their southern charm, hospitality, culture and general good vibes. The warm tropical waters and white sand beaches of this region are hard to beat. Shell hunting, swimming, fishing, snorkeling, dolphin watching, dining, gambling, parasailing, jet skiing, or just chilling are all things you’ll find along the beaches of the Gulf Coast.
Best Gulf Coast Beaches In Florida
Florida’s Gulf Coast runs 770 miles along the western side of the Panhandle. With so much space, it’s not surprising there are some phenomenal beaches along the west Florida coast. Most of these beaches boast sugary-white, soft powdery sand and clear, iridescent blue water that melt your worries away.
Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers stretches along the entire length of Estero Island, bordered by the Matanzas Pass to the east and Gulf of Mexico to the west. It’s a water sports fanatic’s dream vacation spot. Snorkel, swim, stand-up paddle, or kayak are in the serene waters. If you’re more of the “don’t go in the water” person, you can hunt for shells while shelling is a favorite pastime while meandering along the white sandy shore.
Boca Grande
Boca Grande has all the charm of Old Florida. You can only get there by taking a toll bridge from Placida. It costs around $6 round trip and is a wonderful hidden gem. Gasparilla Island has a quiet, posh air about it. Most people get around by bicycle, golf cart or walking. Take an early morning beach walk to see the dolphins playing around the island.
One of Boca Grande’s best hidden gems is the Gasparilla Inn & Club. It is a luxurious resort built in 1911 and maintaining the highest standards of accommodations and service. They open seasonally from October to July each year. It’s worth visiting just to see the historic landmark inn.
Venice Beach
Just south of Sarasota, Venice Beach is a quiet spot on the Gulf of Mexico to set up a sun-brella, lay on a beach blanket and soak up some warm Florida sun. Spend some precious time with your family or enjoy the calm serenity all by yourself. Hunt for shells and shark teeth in the shark tooth capital of the world.
Hang out at the sail style pavilion or walk out onto the Venice Public Fishing Pier. Enjoy a round of sand volleyball on one of the two courts or just putter along the boardwalk. As a Blue Wave Beach, Venice is dedicated to keeping beach goers safe and having clean, healthy water and shorelines. This is part of the appeal of visiting this beautiful beach. Parking is free, concession are available at the Pavilion and there are som great picnic spots available as well.
Clearwater Beach To St. Pete Beach
This is our favorite Gulf Coast Beach by far. This area has immaculate beaches, lively arts, family entertainment and a delicious dining scene. It’s a place that has it’s on vibe and invites you to do your own thing. 35 miles of white sandy beaches, warm Gulf waters and world-class arts give St. Pete/Clearwater a soul of its own. Gulf-to-table restaurants, vibrant nightlife and neighborhoods all encourage and appreciate creativity in their own way.
Indian Rocks Beach
Indian Rocks Beach is a local favorite. On a barrier island between Clearwater and St. Pete and easy distance from Tampa or St. Petersburg Indian Rocks is also a great tourist destination. This beach has 27 public beach accesses and some of the most beautiful Gulf of Mexico sunset views in Florida. Low rise condos and a small population provide a small town feel.
St. Pete Beach
St. Pete’s coastline offer tons of excellent waterfront attractions. The new St. Pete Pier offers a nature discovery center, splash pad, playground, walking paths, and an open-air market.
Madeira Beach
Madeira Beach on the Intercoastal Waterway has John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk. Which is a charming collection of fun shops and dining scenes offering cute beach life fashion and fresh seafood. This is a great place to find beach excursions and activities like jet-ski rentals, dolphin and sunset cruises and even a pirate-themed cruise.
Clearwater Beach
A gem in Clearwater Beach, Pier 60 is where artisans, performers, and craftspeople, concession stand owners gather with beachgoers each night for their sunset celebration. Just across the road is Clearwater Marina. Visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium where you’ll find a marine life hospital caring for injured dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and more.
Best Gulf Coast Beaches In Alabama
Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores is home to 32 miles of white sand beaches. The Gulf Place access point offers volleyball, beach bars, restrooms and is very accessible for those who might otherwise struggle to get out onto the sand. If you’re looking for family activities, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, the USS Alabama and Waterville USA are some off-beach places to visit. Oysters are the area’s specialty and fresh gulf caught seafood abounds!
If you’re looking for a fun side trip while at Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan is a great stop for history buffs and beach bums alike. It’s a “resting zone” for migrating birds in the spring and fall which incidentally is also one of our favorite times to visit the area. It’s also a great spot for launching your kayak or boat and is a favorite fishing spot for locals.
West Beach
A quieter alternative to Gulf Shores, West Beach is perfect for travelers seeking a tranquil experience. Situated on the Fort Morgan peninsula, the beach offers beautifully appointed hotels, excellent restaurants and privately owned homes and condos to rent. Though it promotes a serene atmosphere, West Beach is within an easy distance of fun beach activities like Adventure Island and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.
Orange Beach
Orange Beach, with its ivory sands is favored for its outdoor pastimes. If you feel restless after a few days relaxing by the beach, grab a tee time at The Preserve on Soldier’s Creek or Glen Lakes Golf Club. You can rent a bike or clear kayak for a different kind of adventure.
Robinson Island, a bird sanctuary, is a day trip option for boaters and kayakers in the Orange Beach area. It’s accessible exclusively by boat, paddle board or by kayak and once you’ve arrived, it’s very much an undeveloped island. If you’re seeking a serene place to meditate, listen to the water and enjoy the local birds, this is the place for your. There are no facilities on the island so this is a pack in and pack out “leave no trace” location.
Dauphin Island
This “Sunset Capital of Alabama,” lies at the southernmost point of Alabama. East End Beach offers some of the best views of the Gulf. If you’re more into shelling in the mornings, head to West End Beach to find everything from sand dollars to shark teeth. Dauphin Island is home to a several kid friendly attractions, including Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island Sea Lab and Audubon Bird Sanctuary.
Browse the the boutique shops, enjoy the local fresh-caught seafood and enjoy the relaxed vibes of the island. If you want to do something a little different, take the 40 minute ferry ride across scenic Mobile Bay to Fort Morgan.
Best Gulf Coast Beaches In Mississippi
Biloxi Beach
Biloxi Beach, Mississippi’s most famous beach draws in a multitude of visitors each year. The warm clear water and alabaster sands make this the perfect swimming beach. Lounge in the shade of an umbrella with your favorite beach read or build an extravagant sand castle with a group of new found friends.
Book a fishing charter if you’re feeling adventurous or take a sunset riverboat cruise to spend a romantic evening with your partner. Biloxi is home to casinos, restaurants, resorts and entertainment of every variety. Climb the Biloxi Lighthouse, visit Beauvoir (home of President Jefferson Davis), or stop by the Hurricane Katrina Memorial to engage in a little history on your travels. No matter what kind of fun you’re looking for on a beach vacation, you can definitely find it in Biloxi.
Gulfport Beach & Ship Island
Gulfport, Mississippi’s second largest city, sits just under a half hour away from Biloxi. The Gulfport Beach and the harbor are very adored by tourists and locals alike. This beach has remarkable standards of cleanliness and safety while providing the opportunity to enjoy a plethora of diversions. There are tons of equipment rentals up and down the beach for jet skis, paddle boards, and kayaks. If you want a little less excitement than zooming over water at breakneck speeds, take the round trip ferry to Ship Island and check out the unspoiled beaches and waters teeming with sea life.
Gulfport is also where you will find Gulf Islands Waterpark and Ocean Adventures Marine Park for fun for the whole family. If you want to indulge in the art scene, check out the murals in Fishbone Alley during one of the many festivals or live performances. There are so many great restaurants and bars in Gulfport, but if you’re looking for unique, check out Half Shell Oyster House with it’s French Quarter style or Shaggy’s Beach Bar to enjoy spectacular gulf views.
Ocean Springs: Front Beach & East Beach
Across the bridge from Biloxi is Ocean Springs, a city that boasts two notable beaches. The first is Front Beach where you will find incredible, panoramic views of the Mississippi Sound. Because of this stunning sight, Ocean Springs is a photographer’s dream for capturing beautiful beach and ocean photographs. The water here is shallow and flat, making it one of the best places around to go for a swim. You’ll find fishing piers, sand volleyball courts, and even bonfire pits dotting the beach.
East Beach is the second beach in Ocean Springs and is more of a local-yocal kind of place. If you want to avoid crowds and other tourists, this is the Mississippi beach for you. People come here to fish, kayak, and swim in calm waters. Here, you’ll typically find more bed and breakfasts, cafes, bistros and art galleries.
If you’re looking to get a few steps in, walk the short Weeks Bayou Nature Trail and enjoy the two scenic overlooks of Weeks Bayou. East Beach is also a short drive to a section of the Gulf Islands National Seashore where you can find additional nature trails, campsites and even more beautiful, white-sand beaches.
Best Gulf Coast Beaches In Louisiana
Grand Isle State Park
Once this lovely location reopens, it’s the best beach front camping vacation destinations along the Gulf Coast. This stunning state park is in the little fishing village of Grand Isle, which hosts fun annual events like the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo and Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival.
The wildlife watching here is exceptional, however, keep a lookout for stingrays, jellyfish and riptides when you’re in the water! There are many species of migratory birds that call this adorable little island home at various times of year. This is also a prime location to fish for redfish and tarpon. The entrance fee is $3/person but seniors 62 and up or kids 3 and under are free.
Unfortunately, as this is being written (Aug. 2022), the park is still closed due to damage from Hurricane Ida. We still think this beach is worth mentioning because it will reopen and when it does, it’s absolutely worth visiting! Even though the state park isn’t open at this time, the town of Grand Isle is full of fun activities, restaurants, dockside seafood vendors, and fishing and kayak outfitters.
Port Fourchon
Port Fourchon beach has something that none of the other Louisiana beaches can offer, surfing! The beach has enough of a swell that you can catch some pretty good waves and put your board to use. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the kind of surfing you’d find in California, but the waves are decent and you’ll definitely have a lot of fun.
The swell here also makes for great boogie boarding or just wave riding with your older kids.Being close to fresh seafood restaurants while being super dog friendly makes Port Fourchon one of our favorite hang out spots.
Holly Beach
Picturesque stilt houses and a brown sandy shoreline let you know you have arrived at Holly Beach. Known as the Cajun Riviera, this is an excellent beach for a day trip if you’re staying at Lake Charles or Sulpher.
You won’t find large resorts or a ton of entertainment, but it’s a wonderful place to relax for a day. Also, Holly Beach is another beach where you can camp in Louisiana. Grab a tent and sleeping bag so you can fall asleep to sound the ocean waves rippling along the shore.
You won’t find many amenities here other than a few portajohns, which also means you won’t find many people either. You can spend the day crabbing or sunbathing or spend the evening stargazing. When you’re ready to grab a bite to eat, you can take the $1 ferry across to Cameron to Anchors up Grill and spend a little time exploring this tiny quaint community.
Best Gulf Coast Beaches In Texas
Boca Chica
Located on a sandy peninsula with Mexico just across the Rio Grande, Boca Chica is a serene and laid-back Texas beach destination. As part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Boca Chica is eight miles of beach with tidal salt flats, mangrove marshes and clay dunes. Though you may find little in terms of modern amenities, you’ll find great recreational activities including surfing, surf fishing, swimming, snorkeling, birdwatching and kiteboarding. Just remember you’ll need to bring your own gear.
Padre Island National Seashore and South Padre Island
South Padre Island
South Padre Island’s beaches now welcome families in droves as well as the traditional spring breakers. The island’s sparkling blue waters, wide open beaches, and affordable lodging options attract new tourists each year. The best time to visit for families or “adult types” is from September to February. Of course, if you’re looking for rowdy fun all day and all night, hit this lovely little town up during March for all the spring break madness.
Something we really like about South Padre Island is the Island Metro which is a free public shuttle that runs all through town and across Laguna Madre to Port Isabel. There’s also Island Airport Shuttles if you’re flying into Brownsville. This shuttle will take you to Port Isabel so you can jump onto Island Metro.
Padre Island National Seashore
Situated about 30 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, Padre Island National Seashore stretches across 66 miles of beaches, dunes, prairies and tidal flats. It’s the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world. Beachgoers often camp, kayak, windsurf and swim in this area. Plus, budding naturalists can learn more about wildlife conservation efforts through park programs and public sea turtle hatchling releases.
The Laguna Madre is a rare hyper saline lagoon separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Padre Island. It is only three feet deep and is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth. Here people often wind surf, boat and fish and even hunt waterfowl in season.
Rockport Beach
Rockport Beach is a fishing community that also welcomes artisans and tourists alike. The beach offers long sandy beaches and lovely views overlooking Aransas Bay in southeastern Texas. The calm waters make for a great place to swim, however there are no lifeguards on duty at this beach.
Stroll along the promenade, walk out on the pier or sunbathing on the beach. Kids can enjoy shelling or finding interesting pebbles along the shoreline. There are a number of picnic areas, public restrooms and the beach even offers free first-come-first-serve umbrella cabanas. There’s a laid back feel to Rockport that makes for great family or couples vacations.
Bolivar Peninsula
Drive on the beach, get some sand between your toes and enjoy this resort community. Bolivar Peninsula separates Galveston Bay from the Gulf of Mexico and has plenty of shopping, fishing guides, birding, and day trips to enjoy. Search for hermit crabs which are naturally here in abundance or head to High Island to enjoy the bird sanctuaries which are hotspots for birders on the Gulf Coast. Visit Fort Travis or the Bolivar Lighthouse or head over to the San Jacinto Monument and explore the U.S.S. Texas if you’re a history buff.
Other great day trips to Galveston Island and the Bay Area offer excellent opportunities for amusement. Visit the city of Kemah with it’s waterfront boardwalk, amusement park rides, and astonishing sunsets if you’re looking for good old fashion beach entertainment.
Otherwise, spend a day at Space Center Houston, NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s official visitors center. You can check out space exploration artifacts, enjoy hands-on exhibits, mission simulations and a high-def theatre experience. You can even see the mission control center when you take a NASA Tram bus tour and let the little ones play in the Space Place.
Surfside Beach
This adorable coastal village is located 40 miles southwest of Galveston and about an hour south of Houston which makes it a perfect beach destination for so many. The deep waters create superb conditions for windsurfing, kayaking and surfing. The beach also provides a fishing jetty and a 10 feature splash pad along with tons of southern coastal charm.
Take time to bike, hike or jog along the three mile long concrete footpath of the Bluewater Highway Trail. Stop along the way to enjoy some delicious food at one of the restaurants you pass along the way. End your day with a pleasant beach stroll. Better yet, enjoy the cool Gulf breeze and pristine shoreline as you take time to relax on the sun-kissed sands of this seaside getaway all day long.
Corpus Christi
Welcome to the Gulf Coast Capital…Corpus Christi. Spend a weekend on a family beach destination at McGee, North or Whitecap beach. All within an easy distance of great restaurants, parking and shopping, you can swim, build sandcastles, boogie board or just enjoy playing in the water. Spend some time at the Texas State Aquarium where you can even have the unique thrill of snorkeling with sharks (safely enclosed in a cage of course).
Hit up some games at Funtrackers in Flour Bluff for mini-golf, go-karts, bumper boats and arcade games or hit the lazy river or wave pool at Hurricane Alley Waterpark. Check out the USS Lexington Museum and even try your hand at the flight simulators onboard this historic aircraft carrier.
Looking for something different? Check out the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center or the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History to add some hands on learning experiences to your vacation. Take a guided ghost tour or hop on an open-air touring boat at Harrison’s Landing for a waterfront tour of the city.
The Wrap Up
The Gulf Coast is dotted with so many amazing seaside villages, towns, cities and nature preserves. The year round warm water and southern culture make any beach you decide to visit on the Gulf a good choice. Great fresh seafood, open water activities, art, shops, and wildlife flourish all along this blue water coastline. Whether you’re looking to visit for a weekend or month, you’ll find a Gulf Coast beach that’s right for you.
When you’re ready to plan your Gulf Coast getaway, be sure to connect with Travel Triptastic for the latest lodging, dining and activities deals and discounts. There are many other great Gulf Coast beach options and we encourage you to get out and explore the coastline and all these amazing beaches have to offer. After all, you can’t really go wrong with sand, sun and southern charm.