We all know Texas has islands – after all, the Lone Star State is settled right on the Gulf of Mexico. However, most Texans have only heard of Galveston and South Padre Islands, the two major touristy islands in the state. There are actually a few other lesser-known islands that are worth a visit for many reasons, and here are some of our picks for the best of the best:

1. Ward Island
Simiprof/Wikipedia
Ward Island, located directly off the coast of Corpus Christi, is popular among history buffs because of its significance during WWII. At the very beginning of the war, the uninhabited island was transformed into the Naval Air Technical Training Center, where technicians were trained in radar usage and other crucial electronic systems. The center closed in 1947 and the island is now home to Texas A&M's Corpus Christi branch, which is a beautiful campus that makes the island worth visiting all on its own.
2. Mustang Island
Marcus Calderon/Flickr
Mustang Island (otherwise known as Port Aransas - it's the only established city on the island) is a popular spring break and summer vacation destination for a variety of reasons. The beaches are beautiful, colorful fish are abundant in the water, and there's even a resort village to make you feel like you're in a tropical paradise. Also, every April, Port Aransas hosts the annual Sand Fest, where you can watch as sculptors craft elaborate sand castles to compete for a prize. You might even find some buried treasure if you're lucky - you do know the area used to be inhabited by pirates, right?
3. Pelican Island
Nsaum75/Wikipedia
Pelican Island, technically part of the city of Galveston, is home to Texas A&M Galveston as well as two Navy warship memorials: the USS Stewart, and the USS Cavalla. Both ships have been converted into museums open to the public as part of Seawolf Park. There are various other preserved war artifacts at the park as well, and it's definitely worth a visit.

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4. Padre Island
Bendini/Flickr
Padre Island is the world's longest barrier island, and it's known all over Texas for its shimmering turquoise waters and gleaming white sands. There's plenty to do on the island like the Schlitterbahn Water Park, leisurely days at the beach, water sports, and if you come at the right time, you might just witness the hatching of adorable Kemp's Ridley sea turtle babies, the rarest species of sea turtle in the world. If that's not magical, we don't know what is!
5. Matagorda Island
Adam Reeder/Flickr
Matagorda Island is Galveston's much less frequented sister island, so if you're looking for a relaxing beach day without being constantly surrounded by pesky tourists, this is the place for you. There are also numerous wildlife refuges on the island, so you might see some interesting endangered animals you've never seen before.
6. Galveston Island
eutrophication&hypoxia/Flickr
And here we have it, folks: the most popular island in Texas by a long shot. The beaches here may not compare to those of South Padre, but the plethora of tourist attractions definitely makes up for it. Between Schlitterbahn, Moody Gardens, Pleasure Pier, the historic Strand, the myriad delicious restaurants like Gaido's, and the gift shops on every corner, you're bound to find plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

So, what are your thoughts? Which of Texas’ islands is your favorite to visit? Share with us in the comments!

Craving a little more Lone Star beachy goodness? Check out this list of some of the most pristine Texas beaches you’ll ever visit.

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More to Explore

Best Islands in Texas

Tori Jane | April 21, 2021

What are some interesting places to visit in Texas? 

Texas is a humongous state (over 268,000 square miles) with plenty of interesting, unique, and offbeat things to do. Some interesting places to visit in Texas include places like the Museum of the Weird, in Austin, which is exactly what it sounds like, and Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo, which is simply an art installation that involves… well, entire Cadillac cars sticking out of the ground. In Cedar Creek, Texas, there’s a vending machine that offers fresh, homemade pecan pies. There’s an enchanted rock in Fredericksburg (supposedly). There are literally hundreds of unusual, unique, or otherwise interesting destinations to add to your Texas bucket list. 

Where are some unique destinations in Texas?

Oh, goodness. Where to begin? Texas is home to some of the strangest, most unique destinations out there! In Austin, there’s a spot known as the Cathedral Of Junk, which is just as weird as it sounds. If you’re a soda-pop fan, there’s always the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco. There’s plenty of weird museums, like the Museum of Toilet Seats (seriously) and the Museum of Funeral History. In Houston, there’s a house covered in beer cans (more than 50,000 of them, to be exact). There are seriously so many that come to mind right away that there’s no way we could ever list them all in one sitting, so be sure to check out this article for more Texas weirdness.

Are there any island getaways in Texas?

There sure are. Texas is a state with a ton and a half of beautiful coastline, and just off those coasts are several islands that you can absolutely plan a visit to. For example, Padre Island is the largest barrier island Texas has and is a popular spot for parties and vacationers. Galveston Island is beautiful and filled with lovely historic houses and buildings, and you can go camping on Mustang Island. Whether you want to get away from it all or don’t actually want to travel far, Texas islands are a woefully underappreciated vacation spot.

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Featured Addresses
Ward Island, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
Mustang Island, Texas, USA
Pelican Island, Galveston, TX 77550, USA
Padre Island, Texas, USA
Matagorda Island, Texas, USA
Galveston Island, Texas, USA