Bolivar is a free ferry ride from Galveston. Here you can drive onto the beach, open a beer and light a small campfire. You need a $10 county sticker to park on the sand, and the county, not the City of Galveston, sets the rules.
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Bolivar is unincorporated Galveston County, so the county makes the beach rules. Three of them differ from Galveston's: you pay to park on the sand, you may drink alcohol, and small campfires are allowed.
Where
The strip of land across the ship channel from Galveston, between Galveston Bay and the Gulf. From west to east the towns are Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, Gilchrist and High Island
You can drive and park on the sand. Outside two free zones, parking needs a $10 county sticker
Alcohol
Adults may drink on the beach. Glass is banned, and so are open containers in vehicles
Where to stay
Beach houses and RV parks. Our guides don't cover hotels on the peninsula
On the peninsula
Crystal Beach, Fort Travis and Bolivar Flats
Crystal Beach and the beach pavilion
Crystal Beach is the busiest stretch. The county's beach pavilion at 941 South Crystal Beach Road has beach access, parking, restrooms, rinse showers and drinking water, and in season there are restroom trailers at Alma Street and Gilmore Street. The pavilion lends out one Mobi-Chair beach wheelchair and one beach mat for free, 9 am to 3 pm every day, for up to 6 hours. Book between one week and 24 hours ahead. You need a valid driver's license, a signed waiver and a companion who stays with the person using the chair. Book on 409-692-7283 or through the county office at 409-934-8103, and call 409-692-7283 when you arrive. The chair can go in the water only on green-flag days.
Fort Travis Seashore Park
The site of a historic fort at 800 Anderson Avenue, about 1.5 miles from the Port Bolivar ferry landing. It has picnic areas, a playground and restrooms, and it is open from 8 am to 8 pm. The gate closes automatically.
Houston Audubon's sanctuary is a Globally Important Bird Area. From the ferry, drive 3.7 miles along Highway 87 to Rettilon Road and turn right to the beach. Turn right again onto the sand and park at the vehicle barrier, where you need a beach sticker. Past the barrier you go on foot. No vehicles are allowed, bicycles included, and Houston Audubon asks you to leave dogs behind, because birds treat them as predators. Keep your distance from the birds, stay out of the dunes and the marsh, and don't light fires. More spots: birding in Galveston.
The free ferry from Galveston runs around the clock and takes about 20 minutes to cross. From Crystal Beach to the Strand it is about 17 miles including the crossing, plus any wait in the ferry line. Pets stay in your car on board.
The only road onto the peninsula is Highway 124 through Chambers County. From Crystal Beach to downtown Houston that is about 97 miles, or two hours.
On the peninsula you mostly stay in a vacation rental or at an RV park. The county's sticker vendor list names several rental agencies and RV parks.
Port Bolivar is the western end, by the ferry. From here you reach Galveston and Bolivar Flats fastest.
Crystal Beach is the busiest stretch, about 15 minutes from the ferry, and has the county's beach pavilion. Check how far a house is from the pavilion and from the nearest beach access.
Gilchrist is further east, about 27 minutes from the ferry, near Rollover Pass and the eastern free parking zone.
Highway 87 runs the length of the peninsula. Houses on the Gulf side are closer to the sand. From the bay side you cross the highway or drive to the beach.
Before you book, ask whether a beach parking sticker for your car comes with the house. Our Galveston vacation rentals guide compares rentals with hotels. Its Galveston city registration rules don't apply on the unincorporated peninsula.
Staying in Galveston
A hotel near the ferry
To visit Bolivar for the day and sleep in a hotel, stay on Galveston's east end near the ferry landing.
1.1 mi to the ferry
Photo: Expedia
East end of the Seawall
Homewood Suites by Hilton Galveston
Your base for a day trip to Bolivar: the ferry landing is about a mile away. Every room is a suite, the hot breakfast is free, and dogs and cats are welcome.
The beach is free; you pay only to park on it. The county spends the money on restrooms, rinse stations, trash pickup and sheriff patrols. No other parking permit is accepted on the peninsula.
Price
$10 per vehicle for the calendar year (January 1 to December 31). In January and February it costs $5, for up to 5 vehicles and 5 golf carts per household. The $5 price applies only by mail (postmarked by the end of February), at the Gulf Coast Market/Big Store in Crystal Beach (Thursday to Sunday, 10:30 am to 3 pm) or at the county parks office in La Marque, and you can't pay it by card
Who needs one
Every vehicle parked on the beach outside a free zone, including motorcycles, golf carts and ATVs. You don't need one to drive along the beach or to walk onto it. Trailers don't need their own
Free zones
In the west, from Rettilon Road east to the washout, about a quarter of a mile. In the east, from Dirty Pelican Pier, about 2.5 miles east of Rollover Pass, to the Chambers County line
Where to buy
Best before you park, at local shops such as the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce (1750 Hwy 87) and The Big Store (2385 Hwy 87), by mail or at the county office. On the sand, beach attendants sell them for cash or card
Where it goes
Bottom right of the windshield, on the passenger side. On golf carts and ATVs, on the right front bumper or the windshield
The county's Bolivar pages don't mention lifeguards, and the Galveston Island Beach Patrol works for the City of Galveston. Assume nobody is watching the water.
For flags, check Visit Galveston's beach conditions page. For bacteria, check Texas Beach Watch and pick the Bolivar station nearest you. For tides, use NOAA Tides & Currents. Our beach safety page explains the flags and rip currents.
You may drive on the sand, but check the tide first. If the sand looks soft or the water reaches up near the dunes, park at the access road and walk. The county's beach access map is on TxCoasts.com.
15 mph on the beach. People on foot always have the right of way
Vehicles
Anyone driving a motor vehicle, golf carts included, needs a driver's license. ATVs and UTVs must come to the beach on a trailer, and ATV riders need a DOT helmet and goggles
Drinks
No glass. The beach counts as a road, so open containers in vehicles and drinking and driving are banned
Fires
Small campfires are allowed unless a burn ban is on. Put the fire out and take away nails, screws and leftover wood
Camping
Not on the beach: the county bans it under Texas Penal Code 48.05. Questions: Galveston County Parks, (409) 934-8103
Dogs
On a leash. At Bolivar Flats, Houston Audubon asks you to keep dogs behind the vehicle barrier
Dunes
Keep off. The law protects them
Trash
The beach barrels take beach waste only, not household trash
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