Galveston Island State Park

Galveston Island State Park

  • Kayaking at Galveston Island
    Explore one of our paddling trails or forge your own path.
  • GISP Fishing
    Fish in the bay, in ponds or in the surf. No license is needed to fish from shore.
  • GISP Photography
    Hone your photography skills on the wildlife and scenery of the Gulf Coast.
  • GISP RVing
    Camp on island time - book a bay side or beach side campsite.
  • GISP Ranger Program
    Attend a ranger program to learn more about the plants and animals here.
  • Driftwood and Beach at Sunset
    Stroll the beach and enjoy the sun, wind and waves.

A Place of Refuge

Come to the island to stroll the beach or splash in the waves. Or come to the island to fish or look for coastal birds. No matter what brings you here, you’ll find a refuge at Galveston Island State Park. Just an hour from Houston, but an island apart!

Things to Do

With both beach and bay sides, Galveston Island State Park offers activities for every coast lover.

You can swim, fish, picnic, bird watch, hike, mountain bike, paddle, camp, geocache, study nature or just relax! Visit our nature center to learn more about the park and its programs.

Be safe in the water: Review our water safety tips before your visit.

Stay

Reserve one of our beach or bay campsites or rent one of our lodges.

Fish

Try your luck fishing in the bay area or beach-side. We have canoe/kayak launches and a fish cleaning station. Remember, you do not need a fishing license to fish from shore in a state park.

Hike or bike

Explore four miles of trails through the park’s varied habitats. Stop at the observation platform or photo blinds, and stroll boardwalks over dunes and marshes.

Paddle

Take your kayak or canoe on one or all of our paddling trails

Take a virtual tour with our Interactive Trails Map.

Rentals

Rent beach chairs, umbrellas and cabanas, kayaks and paddleboards, bike and e-bikes from Texas Camp Company. Reserve online or by phone: (409) 692-0065. 

Borrow a beach wheelchair to use in sandy areas of the park. These chairs are not self-propelled. Contact the park for more information.

Get involved

Volunteer by asking at headquarters or contacting the Friends of Galveston Island State Park.

Donate to the Friends of Galveston Island State Park.

Ranger Programs

We lead programs on the plants and animals of Galveston Island, and host art programs, star parties, paddling tours and more.

Kids

Become a Junior Ranger!

  • Borrow an Explorer Pack, loaded with tools for exploring the park.
  • Pick up a free Junior Ranger Activity Journal at headquarters or the Nature Center. Complete tasks to earn a badge.

Teachers

This is a Texas Aquatic Science Certified Field Site.

Area Attractions

Visit Galveston, with its many museums, shops and restaurants. Moody Gardens, an educational theme park, features aquarium and rainforest pyramids.

Explore America’s fourth-largest city - Houston! On your way to the park, stop by Space Center Houston, the visitor center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

14901 FM 3005
Galveston, TX 77554

Latitude: 29.198755

Longitude: -94.956212

(409) 737-1222

Entrance Fees
  • Adult: $5 Daily
  • Child 12 Years and Under: Free
Hours

Open daily. 


We often reach capacity and highly recommend reservations for both camping and day use. To guarantee entry, reserve passes online or by calling the customer service center, before you visit.

Busy Season

March through October, especially weekends

Climate

January average is 46.2 degrees. July average is 85.9 degrees. First freeze occurs late November. Last freeze occurs mid-March.

National Weather Service forecast for this area
Elevation

1 foot