shore winners

3 Texas beaches surf into top 20 spring break destinations for 2025

Jamaica Beach ranked among the top 20 best spring break destinations nationwide.

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It may still be February, but it's never too early to start thinking about spring break. Now, one beach in Texas has been singled out on a national list (and it's not Padre Island): Crystal Beach, located in the Galveston Bay southeast of Houston, has been named one of the top 10 destinations for a beachy spring break in 2025.

The 2025 Beach Index, compiled by vacation rental company HomeToGo, examined 35 beaches around the country based on metrics such as a "hidden gem" status, affordability for accommodations during the key spring break months of March and April, and a "local secret score" based on vacationers' average distance traveled to reach each destination.

Crystal Beach came in as the No. 7 best beach.

Located on the Bolivar Peninsula, about 70 miles southeast of Houston, Crystal Beach earned high praise for its affordability, clear skies score, and local secret score, earning 9.52 out of 10 possible points in all three categories.

It also earned 9.11 points for the report's "heat score" which measured the average temperatures in March and April (where higher temperatures received higher scores).

This is how Crystal Beach performed in the remaining three metrics:

7.33 – Food and drink score
7.19 – Hidden gem score
5 – Visitor satisfaction score

Facilities at Crystal Beach include Camp Margaritaville RV Resort which opened in 2022 with a beachside concert venue, pool with a swim-up bar, 50 private poolside cabanas, large turf playing field, RV accommodations — and access to 27 miles of beaches along the peninsula.

Get ready for a fun vacation at Crystal Beach. Bolivar Peninsula Tourism and Visitor Center

Five of the top 10 beaches on the list were in Florida, but No. 1 was Avila Beach in California, a sleepy beach town 200 miles south of San Francisco; followed by two beaches in the Carolinas: Kure Beach, North Carolina and Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina.

Two other Texas beaches made the list: Surfside Beach, a tiny beach town about 30 miles south of Galveston that came in at No. 11; and Jamaica Beach, another tiny beach town located right next to Galveston Island State Park, which came in at No. 17.

Surfside Beach came in as the most affordable destination out of all 35 beaches, with visitors paying a median $66 nightly rate per person for accommodations.

According to HomeToGo, spring breakers can expect to pay a median nightly rate of $121 per person for accommodations across all of these coastal areas, but prices will likely fluctuate depending on peak travel periods.

"Spring Break continues to be a highly popular time for beach trips across the United States, and with so many destination options available, we are excited to share our annual Beach Index to help travelers navigate the vacation planning waters," said HomeToGo spokesperson Eleanor Moody. "Whether travelers are after blue-sky breaks, savvy stays, or under-the-radar retreats, we hope this report will help pinpoint ideal trips exactly according to personal preferences."

The top 10 best beaches in America for spring break vacation in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Avila Beach, California
No. 2 – Kure Beach, North Carolina and Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina (tied)
No. 4 – Saint Joe Beach, Florida
No. 5 – Vilano Beach, Florida
No. 6 – Bethany Beach, Delaware
No. 7 – Crystal Beach, Texas
No. 8 – Pensacola Beach, Florida
No. 9 – Miramar Beach, Florida
No. 10 – Navarre Beach, Florida

beach texas vacations spring break spring break destinations rankings lists

coming in 2027

Texas hotel near NASA to get a Margaritaville makeover with lazy river

Rendering courtesy of Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Nassau Bay

Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Nassau Bay will open in late 2027.

One of the signature hotels of the Houston Bay Area is undergoing a massive transformation. When it opens in late 2027, the new Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Nassau Bay will bring a boutique-style experience to one of the most popular vacation destinations in the state.

Located roughly 250 miles, about four hours, from Dallas in the former Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake (3000 E NASA Parkway), the Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Nassau Bay will feature a comprehensive set of upgrades. Launched in 2020, Compass Hotels carry on the brand’s vibes in smaller markets and without the full resort price point.

Plans call for four Margaritaville-themed restaurants, a lazy river, conference and meeting spaces, and “fully reimagined guestrooms,” according to press materials. Once complete, the 229-room property will also offer marina access, boat parking, and a store.

“We are excited to introduce Compass Hotel Nassau Bay and bring this new destination to the Clear Lake community, just minutes from NASA/Space Center Houston,” Nassau Bay Resorts LLC CEO Kam Miramadi said in a statement. “We look forward to transforming this property into a welcoming hotel and recreational experience that reflects the character of the surrounding area while providing guests with a comfortable place to stay and explore.”

Nassau Bay Resorts LLC acquired the property in 2025. In June, it filed a notice with the Texas Workforce Commission that it would lay off all of its employees on July 31 to facilitate the renovations.

Margaritaville, named after the Jimmy Buffett hit, has expanded the singer’s easygoing vibes into a global empire. The company is also working on a $250 million, 334-room property on Galveston Island.

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