Rockport Beach

We don't often think of sand and waves when we think of Texas. However, Texas beaches are some of the best, and Rockport Beach is no exception. In fact, this award-winning beach is known for its long, sandy coastline and stunning views.

Visitors enjoy various activities at the beach, from sunbathing and playing beach volleyball to collecting shells and birdwatching. Its calm, clean waters also welcome swimmers and anglers.

In this guide, we're going to tell you everything you need to know about visiting Rockport Beach.

About Rockport Beach

Also known as Rockport Beach Park, it's been rated as the #1 beach in Texas. This mile-long, exceptionally clean beach sits on the Aransas Bay in Rockport. The beach itself boasts gentle waters, beautiful sand, various shells, and great weather nearly all year long. Not to mention, it's almost always sunny!

Since Hurricane Harvey damaged the area in 2017, Rockport Beach Park has come a long way. The entire Rockport area suffered, but the community has worked to build it back up. In fact, it's been recognized as the first "Blue Wave Beach" by The Clean Beaches Coalition as one of the cleanest, most well-managed beaches.

The beach is very family-friendly and has many amenities, including portable restrooms, a fishing pier, and plenty of parking. It's especially great for children and beginner swimmers as the water is pretty calm and rarely more than 3 feet deep.

Like many Texas beaches, the sand at Rockport Beach isn’t remarkably soft. However, there are plenty of shells and pebbles to collect and decorate sandcastles with.

There are also pavilions to rent for parties and events. Rockport Beach is actually a great place to hold a wedding!

Rockport Beach Activities

While Rockport Beach Park is beautiful, it also has various beach activities for visitors to enjoy. Here are the top beach activities at Rockport:

• Water Activities: swimming, fishing, windsurfing, and boating
• Bird watching: the beach is a bird sanctuary and a slice of paradise for bird watchers
• Fishing Pier: a public pier for enjoying the scenery and catching fish
• Beach Volleyball: multiple beach volleyball nets provided on a first-come, first-serve basis
• Saltwater Pool: a natural saltwater pool at the north end of the beach
• Texas Maritime Museum: a unique, historical museum close to the beach

Where to Stay

If you're looking to visit Rockport for a vacation, there are plenty of accommodations to choose from. While there aren't many waterfront options, you can find various hotels and vacation rentals near the beach. Most options are low-key, nothing fancy. But, that's okay if you're looking to spend most of your time at the ocean and exploring the city.

We recommend checking out Whooping Crane Manor. This unique bed & breakfast is just a few blocks from downtown Rockport and a couple of miles from Rockport Beach Park.

Rockport Beach Review

The sun is almost always shining at Rockport Beach. However, the shallow water is perfect for cooling off. Families and beginner swimmers love the small faves and gentle currents, too.

If you're going to the beach with your dog, there's a small pet area just outside of the beach. It's at the far end, where you can find tiki umbrellas for shade.

Most visitors appreciate the amentities at Rockport Beach Park, especially the public shower, bbq pits, picnic tables, and playground. It's also a great place to find seashells, as beaches on the Gulf Coast are more pebbly than sandy.