SURFSIDE BEACH
Location: Freeport, TX
To Do:
- Camping on the beach
- Sand / Cycle Riding, Mile Long Beach, Historic Fort
- Gulf of Mexico / Swimming, Watersports, Boating
From:
- Galveston: 1:00
- Houston: 1:15
- Austin: 3:30
- Galveston Island State Park
- Fort Velesco
- Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
Cost: Free
[Photos]
Notes:
My Ride from Florida included:
- Overnight in Panama City Beach
- First night in the van
- Pass through Alabama & Mississippi
- Overnight in New Orleans
- First time in NO
- Pass through the TX/LA border
My arrival at Surfside Beach was one of pure joy. I've never camped on the beach but knew this would be memorable. The Van, Himalayan, e-bike and I were all ready to get our feet in the sand.
This oasis was discover while at the Texas Travel Information Center located at the Louisiana/Texas Border in Orange, TX. Oddly enough, I did not get my intel from the nice ladies at the front desk, though they were helpful. They greeted me with the question: "What's your home zip code". Being that I just moved and had a new one I found it hard to pull an answer. Then i realized the ole battle ax didn't give a hell so I spouted off the first one I could remember to make her and my life easier.
I wonder how many times she has to ask that a day?...a year?
Google made this one simple....listed it as FREE BEACH CAMPING. You can also find it by the name Brazoria County Beach Free Camping - reviews for both are great. Located just down the coast from Galveston, north of San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. Follow the signs for the beach access and they will guide you further.
As soon as you pull in (sand!!) you will drive through a variety of signs displaying the rules and such The tide warnings are what grabbed my attention. Be mindful of these if you plan on staying a bit. From my research, I was in the clear but that didn't stop me from thinking about it all through my first night.
My arrival was on a quiet weekday in January where I only saw a dozen campers out there, half of which were vans...one or two of which were in a tent, which ended up being pretty rough for them i have to assume. The sunset was beautiful, the waves hitting the beach - A+. The wind on this particular night flew with malice and shook those tents like it was going for a magic carpet ride. There was a rotation of people the second day. Turned out just as quiet during the day and just as windy at night. No tide problems, I was good
the weekend turned the place into a different animal. Now the beaches were lined with people. There were 4 wheelers, trucks, e-bikes, motorcycles....all the fun stuff. The water had kite surfers, paddle boarders, windsurfers and all around nut cases. I didnt go into the water, I often don't when its not really hot out.
Even with the population growth the beach was still a great place to be, everyone was polite, hard not to smile out here. Never felt overwhelmed, plenty of garbage or bins, seagulls and seashells. 2 days was good for me.
[SURFSIDE BEACH VIDEO SOON]