About Galveston Surf Travel
Often referred to as the “Third Coast,” the Texas surf scene has a lot going for it. The common cliché is that there’s no surf in Texas, which is fine with the locals because it keeps all the yocals and out-of-towners away. The dirty little secret is that on its day, coastal towns like Galveston get pretty dang good. Hurricane season can fire when a properly aimed low-pressure system moves in (but as we learned with the Hurricane Harvey in 2017, a direct hit to the coast can be cataclysmic). Summer’s busy, and spring’s hit or miss, and while the winter months are cold, they can actually turn on if you know when to go. And, of course, if it goes flat for too long there’s always the option of riding a few tanker waves. Made famous after being featured in The Endless Summer II, there’s a proper surf scene dedicated to riding the wakes of large oil tankers as they move through the Galveston shipping channels. So don’t believe what you hear, Texas ain’t all swinging doors and dusty boots, the surf scene’s legit and the locals are proud of where they come from.
Flagship
Reminiscent of the New Jersey shoreline, Galveston Island possesses a seawall, plus several piers, rock groins and piling strands. In addition to its strong local scene, its close proximity to Houston and variety of surf locations makes it a popular destination among surfers in Austin, Dallas and Houston. By driving south from Houston on I-45, surfers can reach Galveston in under an hour. In Galveston, streets number consecutively, starting with 1st Street, increasing to the south. Approximately 25 blocks equate to one mile.
Because it’s so close to Houston, Galveston sometimes has some trouble with pollution runoff. The Port of Houston ranks among the top five polluters in the nation, and, unfortunately, the shipping channel runs right by Galveston Island to within five miles of downtown Houston. Many of the city sewer lines (for rainwater runoff) flow directly into the bayous and creeks that feed into the shipping channel; and refineries, chemical plants and mineral processing facilities dot the length of the waterway. Though regulations exist to protect the watersheds from pollution, let’s face it: some funk is going to make its way into the water. Unfortunately, this can, on occasion, affect the water quality of the breaks on Galveston.
The pier at 25th Street takes its name from The Flagship Hotel. Flagship can produce mediocre-to-good surf but attracts a competitive lineup of Houston and Galveston locals. Though shortboardable, Flagship also maintains a strong longboarding sect, and is almost always packed, even when the surf is small or when neighboring beaches are breaking better.
The pier at Flagship stabilizes sand and can produce a definitive singular peak with a firing bowl section, but can also be inconsistent, thanks to its location on the coast and the wide continental shelf offshore. Like other spots on Galveston Island, Flagship makes up for its inconsistency by providing surfers with a beach audience, as well as nearby convenience stores and restaurants for post-surf food fixes. So what? A Circle K or taco joint within walking distance is a rarity in the Lone Star State.
37th Street
The jetty at 37th Street, like all the jetties and piers in Galveston, provides just enough enhanced stabilization to attract fun waves and the watchful eyes of the local surf crew. The waves dump, left and right, comparatively hard on either side of the jetty, earning the place the nickname “37 Dump Street.”
37th Street is close to all the action in Galveston, making it a great place to hang out even if the surf isn’t all that great. Texans really do know how to generate an exciting and interesting beach scene, which takes the sting out of the fact that you’ve showed up to surf messy Gulf peaks.
51st Street
Like “37 Dump Street” just up the beach, 51st Street is another chunky option in Galveston. You’ll notice that both breaks tend to feature more shortboarders and increased competition in the lineup because of the grinding, hollow nature of the surf, so if you’re a just-beginning surfer in the area, you might want to look for other peaks up or down the beach that aren’t being so intensely surfed.
61st Street
61st Street Street has a jetty/pier combination that provides a consistent bottom. The north side of the jetty tends to be better, but either side can fire. Typically attracts a mixed crowd, with shortboards dominating the numbers game.
Surf Crowds
Given that it’s the preferred surfing grounds for Houston—a city of 2.3 million people—crowds can definitely be a factor around Galveston, but day in and day out local beaches remain relatively quiet. Spring break and summer are the peak travel seasons, which is worth noting if you’re thinking of planning a trip there.
Surf Hazards
There are a few things to be mindful of when surfing in Galveston. First, if you’re there in the summer months the sun and heat can be exhausting. Stay hydrated and stay properly protected. Jellyfish abound in the Gulf waters and poisonous Portuguese man-o-war are the biggest threat. Stingrays are also prevalent and can cause serious pain if stepped on. Depending on what the swell is doing, ocean currents may also pose a danger.
Surf Pollution
Water quality is a constant concern for surfers in the Galveston area. For starters, the coast of the Gulf of Mexico doesn’t generally experience massive, sweeping currents like the Atlantic and Pacific, meaning trash doesn’t get flushed out unless there’s a large weather event. There are also a number of shipping channels, which present problems with fuel spills and other waste. The oil industry is also famously entrenched in Texas, which means there’s always some sort of threat of a spill somewhere. Most days around Galveston are pleasantly surfable, but do pay attention to the water quality before jumping in.
Best Surf Seasons in Galveston
1) Fall
(September-November) tropical swells brewed in the Gulf of Mexico are a staple for Galveston around this time of year. Depending on what the hurricane season is doing, low-pressure systems can fire off swells right in Galveston’s swell window, but those same storms can also be hugely destructive when they made landfall like Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
2) Winter
(December-February) for the local surfers that know how to read a weather map and understands the idiosyncrasies of local weather patterns, the winter months can see some great days with offshore winds and proper head-high plus surf. Of course, it can be bitterly cold, but the crowds are pretty much nonexistent.
3) Spring
(March-May) expect mainly inconsistent wind swell days throughout the spring months in Galveston. As winter storms begin to subside and the tropical energy hasn’t kicked into overdrive yet, springtime in Galveston can be pretty underwhelming.
4) Summer
(June-August) summertime means tourist season in Galveston. With everyone trying to beat the all-encompassing heat of Houston, Galveston serves as an obvious pressure valve. Surfing is permitted on the west end of the island at the beach access roads and between the Flagship pier and 53rd Street. These are called “multi-use areas” and permit surfboards and they also require that you wear a leash.
Directions to Galveston, Texas
Flying into Houston is pretty much your only option unless you’re driving through Texas. Hobby Airport’s the closest to the Lone Star surf. From Houston, it’s about 45 minutes to an hour down I-45. You’ll cross over the Galveston Causeway as you head out to the barrier island that is Galveston. Highway 341 will get you to the beach, from there navigating isn’t too tricky.