What's the best Galveston beach for a day trip, preferably with easy parking and showers?

East Beach has all of that and is pretty easy to get to. I believe it's $20/vehicle so you have one filter between yourself and the peasants.

IIRC, they also sell bags of ice and have a snack bar. Pretty decent facilities, really.

ETA: because you pay for entry, you can bring alcohol. It's prohibited, otherwise.

How is Crystal Beach these days? Pre-hurricane it used to be one of the better upper Texas coast beaches.

Pocket park by Woodys is nice. It has showers and bathrooms. Costs a few bucks, so that keeps the trash away.

Other option is the state park. It has showers, bathrooms and really keeps the riff raff away.

If you want to park on the beach, go west and turn onto the beach at the big water tower. No showers, no nothing, but you can park on the beach.

My parents always took us to the state park when we were growing up. Showers, bathrooms, picnic tables and usually easy parking.

Crystal Beach is better than it ever has been. Unlike Galveston, you can drive on the beach.

Went to Surfside for the first time ever a few weeks back. Best Galveston experience to date. $12 and you can just drive right up on the beach.

Is surf side considered galveston??

Uhh no

My bad.

Head to Surfside.