Best beach towns on the Gulf Coast

Summer vacation is mostly over across the U.S., with kids already headed back to school. So now is the perfect time to start planning next year’s beach vacation.

Travelers were busy this summer. On Memorial Day weekend, largely considered the unofficial start of summer, the Transportation Security Administration screened 9.8 million people, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Trips abroad spiked in popularity as people made up for time lost during pandemic-era travel restrictions.

However, as inflation made travel more expensive, budget-conscious travelers cut costs by driving to their destinations and staying stateside. During the July 4th holiday, AAA projected 43.2 million people would travel by car, a new record.

Beach destinations are popular this year, according to a survey from vacation-rental platform Vacasa, and outdoor recreation remains a top priority. Not only are beaches a great place to unwind and create family bonding moments, but they also boost people’s mental health.

So what makes a good beach town? Access to a beach, of course, but also plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to keep kids entertained, warm weather, and a long beach season (the average number of days beaches are open for swimming).

Stacker determined rankings by several factors, giving the most weight to the number of beaches within a quarter mile of a city or town and the total shoreline of those beaches. Weather patterns and the duration of each beach’s swim season affect town scores. The ranking also takes into account the prevalence of beach-related businesses, unemployment rates, and median home prices.

The EPA lists more than 200 beaches on the Gulf Coast, totaling more than 400 miles of beach shoreline.

Correction

A previous version of this article contained multiple errors in data analysis that skewed the overall ranking of beach towns, including incorrectly identifying the number of beaches in some towns and mischaracterizing some municipalities as beach towns. The article has been updated to correct the errors.

Canva

#50. Alvin, Texas

– Number of beaches: 1
– Beach length: 1.27 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
– Median home price: $189,900

Engi Caribe // Shutterstock

#49. Pascagoula, Mississippi

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 0.52 miles
– Average swim season length: 213 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.1 degrees
– Median home price: $124,900

digidreamgrafix // Shutterstock

#48. Henderson Point, Mississippi

– Number of beaches: 1
– Beach length: 1.09 miles
– Average swim season length: 213 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
– Median home price: $168,700

LindaPerez // Shutterstock

#47. Seadrift, Texas

– Number of beaches: 1
– Beach length: 0.62 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.9 degrees
– Median home price: $106,800

EQRoy // Shutterstock

#46. Ocean Springs, Mississippi

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 2.31 miles
– Average swim season length: 213 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.1 degrees
– Median home price: $189,800

David ODell // Shutterstock

#45. Port O’Connor, Texas

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 0.72 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.9 degrees
– Median home price: $236,500

Canva

#44. Fairhope, Alabama

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 1.26 miles
– Average swim season length: 152 days
– Average county summer temperature: 81.7 degrees
– Median home price: $370,100

Philip Arno Photography // Shutterstock

#43. Magnolia Beach, Texas

– Number of beaches: 1
– Beach length: 1.37 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.9 degrees
– Median home price: $266,200

Grossinger // Shutterstock

#42. Rockport, Texas

– Number of beaches: 1
– Beach length: 0.85 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.7 degrees
– Median home price: $289,300

Philip Arno Photography // Shutterstock

#41. Point Comfort, Texas

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 0.41 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.9 degrees
– Median home price: $96,300

brueckenweb Frank Sellke // Shutterstock

#40. La Porte, Texas

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 1.04 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 86.0 degrees
– Median home price: $173,900

George Dodd III // Shutterstock

#39. Dauphin Island, Alabama

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 5.75 miles
– Average swim season length: 152 days
– Average county summer temperature: 81.9 degrees
– Median home price: $287,100

Silvio Ligutti // Shutterstock

#38. Baytown, Texas

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 1.06 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 84.5 degrees
– Median home price: $155,100

clayton Harrison // Shutterstock

#37. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 4.54 miles
– Average swim season length: 213 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.5 degrees
– Median home price: $205,200

An RPM Anthology // Shutterstock

#36. Port Mansfield, Texas

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 1.27 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 86.0 degrees
– Median home price: $86,900

Felix Mizioznikov // Shutterstock

#35. Gulf Shores, Alabama

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 8.2 miles
– Average swim season length: 152 days
– Average county summer temperature: 81.7 degrees
– Median home price: $261,200

Judy M Darby // Shutterstock

#34. Waveland, Mississippi

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 4.76 miles
– Average swim season length: 213 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.5 degrees
– Median home price: $175,600

Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock

#33. Grand Isle, Louisiana

– Number of beaches: 9
– Beach length: 9.53 miles
– Average swim season length: 81 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83.6 degrees
– Median home price: $241,400

Mark Taylor Cunningham // Shutterstock

#32. Pasadena, Texas

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 1.06 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 86.0 degrees
– Median home price: $160,200

Canva

#31. Orange Beach, Alabama

– Number of beaches: 7
– Beach length: 8.58 miles
– Average swim season length: 152 days
– Average county summer temperature: 81.7 degrees
– Median home price: $344,900

Canva

#30. Marco Island, Florida

– Number of beaches: 6
– Beach length: 11.11 miles
– Average swim season length: 182 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83.0 degrees
– Median home price: $676,000

Mark F Lotterhand // Shutterstock

#29. Manasota Key, Florida

– Number of beaches: 5
– Beach length: 7.24 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.5 degrees
– Median home price: $746,200

Canva

#28. Pass Christian, Mississippi

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 6.75 miles
– Average swim season length: 213 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
– Median home price: $192,500

Andriy Blokhin // Shutterstock

#27. Fort Walton Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 6.65 miles
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.2 degrees
– Median home price: $236,500

Damon Rushing // Shutterstock

#26. Sargent, Texas

– Number of beaches: 1
– Beach length: 9.59 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.2 degrees
– Median home price: $215,700

Billy McDonald // Shutterstock

#25. Venice, Florida

– Number of beaches: 7
– Beach length: 6.48 miles
– Average swim season length: 312 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.4 degrees
– Median home price: $307,600

Jim Schwabel // Shutterstock

#24. Laurel, Florida

– Number of beaches: 5
– Beach length: 7.37 miles
– Average swim season length: 218 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.4 degrees
– Median home price: $389,600

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#23. Tampa, Florida

– Number of beaches: 7
– Beach length: 8.14 miles
– Average swim season length: 208 days
– Average county summer temperature: 83.8 degrees
– Median home price: $292,900

alisafarov // Shutterstock

#22. Sarasota, Florida

– Number of beaches: 8
– Beach length: 10.8 miles
– Average swim season length: 182 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.4 degrees
– Median home price: $272,200

Ruth Peterkin // Shutterstock

#21. Miramar Beach, Florida

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 10.15 miles
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.0 degrees
– Median home price: $436,600

JHDT Productions // Shutterstock

#20. Quintana, Texas

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 8.85 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
– Median home price: $250,300

Canva

#19. Biloxi, Mississippi

– Number of beaches: 4
– Beach length: 5.59 miles
– Average swim season length: 213 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
– Median home price: $180,800

Edward H. Campbell // Shutterstock

#18. Portland, Texas

– Number of beaches: 5
– Beach length: 4.35 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.5 degrees
– Median home price: $190,600

Norm Lane // Shutterstock

#17. Long Beach, Mississippi

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 9.13 miles
– Average swim season length: 213 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
– Median home price: $163,800

Pugalenthi Iniabarathi // Shutterstock

#16. Lower Grand Lagoon, Florida

– Number of beaches: 2
– Beach length: 11.62 miles
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
– Median home price: $272,600

Bonnie Taylor Barry // Shutterstock

#15. Lamar, Texas

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 0.96 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.7 degrees
– Median home price: $173,500

Frank Bobe III // Shutterstock

#14. St. George Island, Florida

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 19.16 miles
– Average swim season length: 244 days
– Average county summer temperature: 81.6 degrees
– Median home price: $541,200

Cheri Alguire // Shutterstock

#13. Port Aransas, Texas

– Number of beaches: 6
– Beach length: 12.17 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 86.1 degrees
– Median home price: $448,300

Michael Gordon // Shutterstock

#12. Clearwater, Florida

– Number of beaches: 6
– Beach length: 6.83 miles
– Average swim season length: 182 days
– Average county summer temperature: 84.7 degrees
– Median home price: $248,100

RaulCano // Shutterstock

#11. South Padre Island, Texas

– Number of beaches: 8
– Beach length: 9.75 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 86.3 degrees
– Median home price: $364,300

Droneandy // Shutterstock

#10. Surfside Beach, Texas

– Number of beaches: 3
– Beach length: 15.33 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
– Median home price: $198,300

Nicolas Henderson // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Palacios, Texas

– Number of beaches: 6
– Beach length: 2.37 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.2 degrees
– Median home price: $161,800

Vicki L. Miller // Shutterstock

#8. Gulfport, Mississippi

– Number of beaches: 6
– Beach length: 8.76 miles
– Average swim season length: 213 days
– Average county summer temperature: 82.3 degrees
– Median home price: $140,700

Marathon Media // Shutterstock

#7. Freeport, Texas

– Number of beaches: 4
– Beach length: 15.75 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
– Median home price: $143,600

srhtk // Shutterstock

#6. Texas City, Texas

– Number of beaches: 4
– Beach length: 8.85 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
– Median home price: $159,900

Canva

#5. Aransas Pass, Texas

– Number of beaches: 5
– Beach length: 5.5 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 86.1 degrees
– Median home price: $160,900

Antonio Cabo // Shutterstock

#4. Jamaica Beach, Texas

– Number of beaches: 4
– Beach length: 20.85 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
– Median home price: $280,400

Dollar Travelers // Shutterstock

#3. Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

– Number of beaches: 17
– Beach length: 27.21 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
– Median home price: $244,300

Mark Taylor Cunningham // Shutterstock

#2. Galveston, Texas

– Number of beaches: 17
– Beach length: 49.18 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 85.4 degrees
– Median home price: $250,800

Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock

#1. Corpus Christi, Texas

– Number of beaches: 40
– Beach length: 53.83 miles
– Average swim season length: 364 days
– Average county summer temperature: 86.6 degrees
– Median home price: $174,800