This Small Beach in Texas Lets You Know Surf’s Up in Time for Summer

Island Life, Texas Style. That’s Surfside Beach, in the south part of the state.

Views of the water, brightly colored houses, and a pier lined by rocks are what await you at Surfside, as the locals call it.

It’s your typical coastal town, with a slower pace of life, shops, beach days, and more.

It’s really more like the small towns you’d find throughout the Lone Star State, just transplanted for a view of the water.

The town grew from a handful of local businesses, built on the kind of tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone.

Parts of this small-town culture remain, with the added delight of setting up a chair to listen to the waves.

Beach rules and tips

Surfside Beach is a city in Brazoria County, Texas. It’s located on Follets Island by the Gulf of Mexico near the city of Freeport.

Staying true to small-town roots, the city had about 600 or so people several years ago.

The Surfside Beach website posts red alert warnings as pop-up banners regularly, for public safety. Remember to check there first before planning a visit!

For example, if there’s a Dangerous Rip Currents Warning, it’s considered a public safety warning.

If you see this alert on their website, you need to be aware that dangerous rip currents are present in the water.

Wear a life jacket, and encourage others to do so, too. Don’t go into the water alone, and if you’re unsure about swimming, don’t do it.

Rip currents are unpredictable and strong, and they can happen suddenly. If you see anyone who’s struggling to swim against the current, throw them a flotation device, and immediately call 911. Take care of yourself and others!

Beach warnings are also posted along the beach, so watch for those signs.

If it’s a Red Flag Day, meaning you spot red flags flying at different intervals at the back of the beach, don’t swim under any circumstances.

How about parking and permits? To go to Surfside Beach, you’ll need a beach permit. They’re $30 for the year or $15 for the day.

Cars are allowed on the beach east of Highway 332, a drive-on beach. Parking is only allowed on the dune side. Note that traffic is one-way going east. On some weekends, holidays, or during a very high tide, temporary beach closures are put in place. Be aware that the pedestrian beach that’s west of Starfish is closed to all cars.

Golf carts are allowed on the beach if you have a permit or a handicap sign. Make sure to have your driver’s license and insurance to ride a golf cart on the beach.

All cars and golf carts on any part of the beach will need a beach permit that’s on the front left windshield of your vehicle.

Note that parking on Beach Drive requires a beach permit. Paid parking is available from the city, too.

The speed limit on the beach is 15 miles per hour. Be respectful of others!

All-terrain vehicles aren’t allowed on the beach. You can’t bring any vehicles that aren’t street-licensed and legal onto the beach.

The dunes are protected by city, state, and federal laws. No cars or people are allowed to go up onto the dunes for safety reasons, mostly because of the snakes that live in the dunes.

Horses are permitted on the beach from November 1 through March 31, and on weekends between April 1 and May 15 and September 15 and October 31.

You can’t camp on the beach within the Village of Surfside Beach, but you’re allowed to go camping on the county beach that’s east of the city’s limits. This area is located at Beach Access Entrance 1, about 4 miles east of Highway 332 on County Road 257 (also known as Bluewater Highway).

How about a campfire? They’re okay as long as the campfire is on the beach only, is under control, and isn’t larger than 3 feet on all sides. Don’t burn any Christmas trees or sand fences. Watch your flames!

Fireworks of any kind aren’t allowed on the beach or within the city limits. Stay safe!

On Surfside Beach, fireworks of any kind aren’t allowed on the beach, or even within the city limits. Stay safe!

Respect your neighbors, and keep any sound system at a low volume so as not to disturb those around you. Leave glass containers at home, and take only what’s easy to set up and clean up for a picnic or beach day.

Alcohol isn’t permitted on the beach from 2 a.m. Sunday through 10 a.m. Sunday, as well as for anyone under the age of 21 years old.

Use trash cans nearby to throw away your trash, or take it with you to toss in a trash can at a later time. Don’t leave it on the beach, in the water, or blowing away from you in the wind.

It’s okay to bring your dog to the beach, but keep them on a leash.

Wheelchairs for the beach are available to rent at City Hall for a refundable $100 fee. Reserve it in advance!

Mobi chairs, also known as floating beach wheelchairs, are also available for rent.

If you notice any sea turtles, who lay eggs on the Texas Coast, be aware that they’re critically endangered and federally protected. Even if you want to help, it’s against the law to disturb or interact with sea turtles. If you see a turtle anywhere or if one is injured, call 866-TURTLE-5.

If you find a stranded dolphin or other sea creature, please call the Texas Marine Mammal Network at 800-9MAMMAL. If there’s an injured bird, call Gulf Coast Wildlife Rescue.

Events, parties, and more

Want to host an event here? Check out the Stahlman Park Event Center.

It’s a good venue for large events, such as weddings, reunions, or corporate gatherings, or even small events, such as a night out with friends.

The latest redesign of the event center equipped it with an even bigger space, A/C, heating, aesthetic updates, and energy-efficient systems.

Enjoy views of and direct access to the beach and water from this event center.

The space includes a large deck area, a gazebo, and a beach walkover section. There are also picnic tables, a daytime shower, and restrooms.

Inside, you’ll have everything you need to pull off a memorable event.

There’s a fully equipped kitchen, a fridge and freezer, a stove and oven, a microwave, a rolling trash can, and an ice machine.

The event space also has large dressing rooms for men and women with restrooms.

The Stahlman space has an audio system if you’d like to make any presentations. For those who love to dance, there’s a hardwood dance floor, too!

It’s a 4,000-square-feet, climate-controlled event venue; plus, it’s handicap accessible.

The dance floor area also includes a “band area,” if you’d like to have live music instead of playlists or tracks.

It comes with a 72-inch flat screen TV, as well as WiFi.

Guest seating includes twenty 60-inch round tables, twenty 3-by-6-foot rectangular tables, and 160 folding chairs.

Booking this space doesn’t include any linens, cookware, or set up and tear down. But you can take a tour to see if it’s a good fit for your event!

Surfing, shelling, crabbing

Ever gone crabbing? It’s worth a try!

Surfside Beach has a Crabbing Pier, with a sign and everything. It’s across the highway from Stahlman Park at 2211 Bluewater Highway.

You can “crab” from the beach, the marshes, or under the bridge.

If you love to collect shells, this beach is for you. There are more than 600 shell types on 27 miles of Brazoria County beaches. Surfside Beach is one of the best shell-hunting spots in the area.

What trip to Surfside Beach is complete without surfing? True to its name, Surfside Beach is known for some of the best and most consistent surf on the Texas coast.

There are small swells and even double overhead waves. Why’s that? Surfside Beach has deep water and long jetties.

The water’s deeper here than in Galveston, which allows a swell to pass without dropping in size due to shallow water.

The best surf? It’s typically a half mile or so north of the jetty, which is at or near Texas Street.

Check out local surf shops for advice on what gear to buy and what lessons to sign up for.

Love to bike along the beach? Rent bikes, and travel along a designated bike path by Surf Drive or one next to Bluewater Highway. Just be respectful of other bicyclists, walkers, joggers, kids, and golf carts.

If you like to observe birds, there’s a trail for you at Surfside Beach. It’s located at 418 Parkview Road and Monument Drive. It was specially designed by gardeners and native bird fans.

Plants and flowers on the trail attract native and migratory birds who pass through Surfside Beach throughout the year. Because of this trail, the beach has been awarded Bird City status by Texas Parks and Wildlife and a Monarch destination by Monarch Getaway.

The trail winds past the ship channel and makes its way back to the boat ramps. There are also 10 workout stations you can use!

What’s the best way to get to this beach? Plug Surfside Beach, Texas, in your Maps app.

Where: Village of Surfside Beach, 1304 Monument Drive, Surfside Beach, Texas 77541-9522

Trails, surfing, crabbing, and more make Surfside Beach a fun destination for the family or a relaxing trip with friends for the summer.

Island Life, Texas Style is felt in the smile of a surfer as you enter their shop for the first time, hesitant but excited to start lessons, or a trail built especially for people like you who share a hobby and a love for identifying and appreciating the birds of our Lone Star State.

It’s not the small town you picture — no single gas station, no lone family diner — but the soul of one is still very much alive.

Even so … The sound of the waves. The salt you taste on your tongue. That’s home, too.

Find them online at visitsurfsidebeachtx.org, follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and X, and pull up directions on Google Maps before you head out — because the waves won’t wait, and neither should you.