Beach Overview of Texas Beaches at the Gulf Coast from the east to the southwest:

Galveston:
Galvestons beaches are leveled sandy beaches with small waves. The waters colour is brown. The water next to the beach is low. Swimming is only possible if you walk farther away from the beach (into the Gulf of Mexico). There are various parking possibilities at the coastline. The beaches of Galveston island are crowded during the weekends and holidays. A lot of visitors are from Houston, which is one of the biggest cities in the USA.

Apffel Park / East Beach - Apffel Park and East Beach are situated at the eastern end of the island of Galveston. The sandy beach at Apffell Park is leveled. The entrance fee is $8.- (as at: September 2009).

Steward Beach Park - Most visitors get to Galveston via Interstate I-45 south. The road leads you directly to the beach at Galveston island and the Steward Beach Park. The beach at Steward Beach Park is sandy, wide and leveled. The entrance fee is $8.- (as at: September 2009).

Beach bzw. Strand am Seawall Boulevard - The Beach at the city of Galveston is a leveled sanyd beach with small waves. The waters colour is brown. Swimming is only possible if you walk farther away from the beach (into the Gulf of Mexico). There are various parking possibilities at the roadside of Seawall Boulevard.
Note: The picture of the sand is slightly enhanced.

Galveston Island State Park - Galveston Island State Park is situated west of the city of Galveston. The sandy beach is leveled. At Galveston Island State Park is a camping groung. The entrance fee is $5.- (as at: September 2009).

Indianola:
The beach at Indianola is rough and stony. Picnic Facilities are available. There are no restrooms or showers at the beach of Indianola. No parking fees are charged. (as at: Mai 2009).

Corpus Christi:
A white leveled sandy beach is situated next to the aircraft carrier USS Lexington. The waves are small. There are no restrooms or showers available.  There is a parking fee: parking meter or private parking lots (as at: Mai 2009).

Mustang Island State Park:
Mustang Island State Parks beach is a white leveled sandy beach. At Mustang Island State Park, there are showers, restrooms and a Campground. The entrance fee is $4.- (as at: October 2009).

Padre Island:
There are various municipal beach accesses at Padre Island. An entrance fee is charged at these beach accesses. A paved road leads directly to the sandy beach. The only parking possibilities is the beach. Waves at Padre Island are small. There are no restrooms or showers available. Restrooms and showers are available at Mustang Island State Park, which is situated at the northern side of Padre Island and at Padre Island National Seashore, at the southern end of the island.

Padre Island National Seashore:
At Padre Island National Seashore there are three beach accesses. The entrance fee at Padre Island National Seashores is $10.- (as at: October 2009).  The “America the Beautiful - Interagency Annual Pass” (formerly known as: “National Parks Pass”) is valid at the Padre Island National seashore. A paved road leads directly to the sandy beaches at the first and third beach access. The only parking possibilities is the beach. The only paved parking lot is situated next to the Visitor Center (second beach access). Close to the Visitor Center are showers and restrooms. There is also a campground at Padre Island National Seashore.
(The upper row of the pictures show the beach at the Visitor Center, which is the second beach access and the lower row shows the third and last beach at Padre Island National Seashore.)

Informations at USAXL.com: Corpus Christi - Galveston - Houston - Indianola - Padre Island National Seashore