Galveston in July: What to Expect

Photo Credit: Mark Taylor Cunningham

July offers prime beach weather on the Texas coast, with hot afternoons that will make you want to jump right into the waves. Whether you prefer splashing in the shallows, building sandcastles, or sipping a frozen drink under an umbrella, there’s a beach experience for everyone here.

• Stewart Beach: This Seawall beach is a great choice in July, with amenities like food vendors, gear rentals, and restrooms that make it easy to stay in one spot all afternoon.
• East Beach: Located at the eastern end of Galveston, this long stretch of sand is also great for beach days, with services, concessions, restrooms, and chair rentals available.
• Galveston Island State Park: The beachfront in this state park is stunning and typically less crowded than other spots, thanks to capacity limits and a small entry fee. Plus, it’s tucked away on the island’s mostly residential West End.
• Babe’s Beach: Extending along several miles of the Seawall, this centrally located beach is close to eateries and shops and offers plenty of spots to find your own patch of sand.
• Jamaica Beach: This West End beach is in a residential area, with fewer crowds and parking directly on the sand.

2. Visit a Waterpark

Photo Credit: Christine Tran

Galveston waterparks are perfect for hot July afternoons. With refreshing pools, fun slides, kid play zones, shady cabanas, and on-site food and drinks, they make it easy to spend a whole day outdoors.

• Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston: Schlitterbahn is a Galveston family favorite, with twisty slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers. For the ultimate water park experience, rent a private cabana and bring a picnic or order a meal package.
• Moody Gardens Palm Beach: This waterpark comes with a sandy beach, splash pads, and thrilling tower slides. Beach chairs and umbrellas are free with your ticket, or you can upgrade to private, shaded cabanas with amenities.

3. Take a Boat Ride

Photo Credit: Fabien Monteil

If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy the water than just splashing around on the beach, Galveston has tons of options, like charter boats, boat tours, fishing, and kayaking. Boat rides are perfect for summer visitors, as you can enjoy the sun and views while taking breaks in the shade or cooling off with sea breezes.

• Boat rentals: Local vendors offer catamarans, jet skis, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards that you can take out on independent adventures.
• Wildlife watching tours: Dreaming of seeing dolphins off Galveston island? Book one of these boat rides to spot sea life in the Gulf and Galveston Bay.
• Deep sea fishing charters: Sign on for a half or full day of fishing and sightseeing in the Gulf with a pro captain on a charter boat.

4. Visit Mansions and Museums

Photo Credit: Victoria Ditkovsky

Galveston is full of history, and the island’s storied mansions and museums are a great way to experience it. Plus, they offer a welcome break from the beach on extra hot or rainy days.

• Bishop’s Palace and  Moody Mansion: These two mansions in the East End Historic District are distinct in appearance, and both open their doors to tourists to explore their 1800s interiors full of antique furniture and collectables.
• Moody Gardens: Moody Gardens is one of Galveston’s most popular attractions and the perfect place to spend a summer day. The trio of glass pyramids here hold a large aquarium, a rainforest, and a museum with rotating exhibits.
• The Bryan Museum: The Bryan Museum preserves a collection of American West memorabilia covering more than 12,000 years of history, including artifacts, photos, paintings, and more.
• Galveston Railroad Museum: The Galveston Railroad Museum is a family favorite, with a rail yard full of train cars, cabooses, locomotives, and more. The 1930s train station also has museum displays about the history of railways in Galveston.
• Galveston Naval Museum: The perfect little day trip from Galveston, the Galveston Naval Museum is located on a smaller island just off the coast and has a pair of World War II ships you can tour, plus a park and fishing dock.

5. Hang Out on The Strand

Photo Credit: Mark Taylor Cunningham

You can’t vacation in Galveston without visiting the  Downtown Historic Strand Seaport Area. A hub of shopping and dining just steps from the piers on the Bay, the street is lined with Victorian buildings that now hold gift shops, boutiques, restaurants, and bars. Venture towards the waterfront to eat seafood at Pier 21, and further inland for art galleries and cafes along Postoffice Street.

July Events on Galveston Island

From 4th of July parades to outdoor movies and concerts, these are the festivals and upcoming events for the summer season in Galveston that you don’t want to miss.

1. 4th of July Events

Photo Credit: Roniuru

A parade along the Seawall and fireworks over the Gulf are part of the typical 4th of July lineup in Galveston.

2. Strand Summer Series

From April to September, the Strand Summer Series features free movies and live music nights in July. Concerts are held at Saengerfest Park, and community movie nights are at Hendly Green, both located along The Strand.

3. Sandcastle Days

Photo Credit; Dejan Lazarevic

Ready to become a sandcastle master builder? On Saturdays in July, you can join free lessons with a pro on East Beach, “Sandcastle Days,” to learn how to build creative castles.

Packing for July in Galveston

Plenty of sunscreen, sunglasses, swimwear, and lightweight outfits are all you need for Galveston in July. Check the forecast before packing to see if you should bring rain gear.

• Swimsuits
• Sunglasses
• Hats and visors
• Beach bags and totes
• Sand toys and games
• Sunscreen
• Shorts, tank tops, and sundresses
• Sneakers and sandals
• Camera, tablets, earbuds, and chargers

Visit Galveston in July

If you’re craving a sun-soaked beach trip, the perfect getaway to Galveston Island awaits in July. Summer means hot days, perfect for water parks and swimming in the Gulf, plus lots of special events and festivals to celebrate the season.

Start planning your July escape now by searching for vacation rentals at Sand ‘N Sea. With large homes on the beach and the bay side of Galveston Island, these accommodations offer ample space for the whole family or a large group of friends.