Freeport, located in Southern Brazoria County, is a great place to visit along the Gulf Coast of Texas.
This beach city was founded at the mouth of the Brazos River by European American settlers in 1912.
It was also home to the world’s largest Sulphur mines and a prominent railroad town.
Today, Freeport is famous for its pretty, laid back Gulf Coast beaches.
Surfside Beach, Bryan Beach, Brazoria County Beach park, and Quintana Beach County Park are the most popular beaches in Freeport, Texas.
Also Read: 14 Amazing Beach Towns in Texas to Visit Now
Because of its location along the banks of the Brazos River, the city is also a great destination for birding and enjoying watersports.
Fun Fact: The motto of Freeport, Texas is “Where Fun Happens”.
Considering that Freeport is home to Surfside Beach, we totally agree!
Also Read: 17 Best Beaches to Visit in Texas
Where is Freeport, Texas located?
Freeport is located about 60 miles south of downtown Houston on the southeast Texas coast.
This charming Texan beach town is also about 40 miles drive away from Galveston, Texas.
Freeport makes a perfect day trip from the Houston metro area because of its proximity.
Freeport also makes a great weekend trip from Corpus Christi, Austin, or San Antonio.
Best Things to do in Freeport, Texas
We frequently visit Freeport and Surfside Beach from Houston, Texas.
The coastal town has an excellent mix of outdoor and cultural attractions and makes for a great fun family getaway near the Gulf Coast.
Freeport has over 27 miles of coastline and water activities and beaches naturally dominate this list.
However, there are many other attractions in the city and it makes a perfect romantic weekend getaway in Texas.
This coastal town on the Gulf Coast of Texas is also popular as a spring break destination.
Here are our favorite things to do in Freeport TX.
Go birding at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge is a must-visit while in Freeport.
It is spread over a vast area and is home to innumerable birds and animals.
It is an excellent place to visit for birders and wildlife lovers.
Begin your visit at the Discovery Center.
Here you will find brochures and free audio tour guides.
The driving tour takes you to many excellent places from where you can spot birds.
You can get down from the car and walk, take photos, and see the birds.
You can also spot several alligators on the Big Slough boardwalk hiking trail by the Visitor Center in the refuge.
The best time to visit Brazoria Wildlife Refuge is during the spring migration in March and April.
You will be able to spot many migrating birds including storks, ibis, egrets, hawks, and even the majestic sandhill cranes.
We recommend bringing along a pair of binoculars and zoom lenses to make the most of your experience.
The wildlife refuge also has excellent trails, picnic tables, and other amenities.
It is a great place to spend a couple of hours enjoying outdoor activity in nature in Freeport.
Make sure to bring an insect repellent during summer as you’ll encounter several flies and mosquitoes.
Enjoy the crowds at Surfside Beach
Surfside Beach in Freeport is one of the most popular beaches near the Houston metropolitan area.
It is not as crowded as Galveston Island beaches and hence, offers a great alternative for beach lovers.
Related: 17 Best Beaches in Texas
The beach area is free, about 4 miles long, and has several amenities.
The small community of Surfside Beach has been established here and is home to several restaurants, cafes, seafood shacks, bars, souvenir shops, and more.
Our favorite restaurant is the Beachfront Deck Bar & Grill.
Here you can enjoy fresh seafood while enjoying the ocean views.
Activities to do in the pedestrian beach area of Surfside Beach include swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, relaxing on the sand, fishing, crabbing, picnicking, and birding.
Surfside is also one of the cleanest and prettiest beaches in Texas.
Revel in the naturally pristine Bryan Beach
Bryan Beach, in complete contrast to Surfside Beach, is devoid of any development.
At this Freeport beach, you will find a three miles long stretch of natural sandy beach area and panoramic views.
Beachcombing is also excellent at Bryan Beach.
You can spot seashells, driftwood, and sea glass.
Drive on the beach at Freeport
Did you know that visitors can drive directly on the beach in Texas in several places including Freeport?
This is one of the most popular activities here and you will find trucks and campers driving on the sandy beaches in Freeport.
The area east of Highway 332 is the driving area of the beach.
Visitors need to get a $12 annual beach permit for driving.
You can also drive on the beach at Bryan Beach.
Camp next to the water’s edge
Freeport is one of the best places to go camping on the beach in Texas.
While camping is not allowed anywhere within the Surfside Beach City limits, you can camp for free at the Brazoria County Beach located along the Bluewater Highway.
Pitching a tent on the soft brown sand at the park close to amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico is an amazing experience.
You can go for moonlit walks while enjoying Freeport Beach camping and wake up to the sound of the sea gulls.
For RVers, Quintana Beach, Bryan Beach, or Brazoria County RV park are great options.
You will find hookups and well maintained showers and other facilities in the parks.
Enjoy birding and wildlife watching at Freeport Wetlands Trail
Wondering what to do in Freeport Tx for nature lovers?
Freeport is an excellent destination for birding and wildlife enthusiasts.
The Wetlands Trail and Bird Observatory are great places to visit year-round for excellent bird watching.
From here, you have excellent views of the saltwater marshes.
On the one mile loop trail, you can spot ducks, geese, and other migrating birds.
The trail is good for all skill levels and also open to dogs on leash.
You can also occasionally spot blue herons and ibis.
Freeport is also a great place to watch the colonies of Roseate Spoonbills.
These long-legged wading birds are about three feet tall and pale pink in color.
You can see them on the Bluewater Highway and Intracoastal shoreline.
See the exhibits at Freeport Historical Museum
The Freeport Historical Museum is an excellent place to visit to learn the history of the area and spend a couple of hours.
Here you will find several historic artifacts and memorabilia including photographs, documents, and more.
Fun fact: Did you know that Freeport was once a shrimping capital of the world?
You can know about the shrimping history of the city at the museum!
The museum also has a vast maritime collection and a hands-on Children’s exhibit targeted towards the little ones.
You can also see an informative movie in the Theater.
The museum has free admission and you can easily spend 2 to 3 hours looking at the various exhibits.
The Freeport Visitor Center is also located inside the museum.
The museum is one of the most interesting Freeport Texas things to do for history lovers.
Explore the historic buildings in downtown Freeport
Downtown Freeport Texas is home to several historic buildings and the Freeport Historical Museum.
Most of the structures were built in the early 1900s and are still in excellent condition.
There are several historical markers through downtown area that narrate the history of these buildings.
You will find most of the buildings surrounding Memorial Park.
Memorial Park itself is a great place to relax after your downtown stroll.
On busy weekends, you will see local markets, rallies, and live music events happening here.
This is one of the best free things to do in Freeport TX.
Play a round of golf at the Freeport Golf Course
If you love golf and are looking for a golfing vacation, then visit the Freeport Municipal Golf Course.
This 18 hole golf course has amazing views and the slight gulf breeze makes playing here an excellent challenge for enthusiasts.
Beginners can also take golfing lessons here or rent golf clubs and other gear.
Golfing is one of the most popular recreation activities in Freeport, Texas.
Go crabbing at Stahlman Park
One of the unique attractions in Freeport Tx!
This charming seaside park in Surfside Beach is known for its crabbing pier.
The beach in Stahlman Park is also very pretty with soft white sand.
The park has a gazebo, deck, and event venue which is popular for weddings and corporate events.
Enjoy a swim in the Gulf of Mexico at Freeport Texas beaches
Swimming in the warm Gulf Coast waters is a popular year-round activity in Texas.
At Freeport Beach Texas, you can go swimming at any of the area’s clean and soft beaches.
Most popular beaches in Freeport TX include Surfside beach, Quintana Beach, Bryan Beach, and Brazoria County Beach.
Remember that there are no lifeguards and be cautious while you swim.
Go surfing at Surfside Beach
While South Padre Island may be famous as the best surfing spot in Texas, Surfside Beach is also a popular surfing destination for those who can handle big swells.
The area north of the jetty is a great place for novices to expert surfers.
It is one of the most popular things to do near Freeport TX.
Enjoy fishing in Freeport
Due to its location on the mouth of the Brazos River and on the Texas Gulf Coast, Freeport has some of the best fishing in Texas.
The city has numerous bait shops and can provide for all your fishing needs.
You can go saltwater fishing at either Surfside Jetty Park or Bryan Beach or Quintana Beach.
The Surfside Jetty Park has one of the best surf fishing piers in the area.
For freshwater catches, go fishing on the Brazos River.
You can also go offshore or deep sea fishing by chartering a boat at the Freeport Marina.
Expect to catch a variety of fish including redfish in the Brazos River, flounder and speckled trout, and even an occasional red snapper, tuna, or mahi-mahi in the deep seas.
Spend a day catching fish and sailing on the waters in Freeport with your entire family.
Go for a horseback ride on the beach
To enjoy the beaches in Freeport from a different perspective, indulge in horse riding at the beach.
Beach Bum horse rides located in Surfside Beach is a great place that offers guided horseback rides and tours.
This is fun for the whole family.
Jet ski or go kayaking on the Brazos River
Freeport is a great place to enjoy jet skiing, water skiing, and other watersports on the Old Brazos River.
The river is also popular for paddling, canoeing, and kayaking.
You can launch kayaks and canoes at the RiverPlace boat ramp in Freeport Municipal Park.
You can also go paddling along the Christmas Bay Trail all the way from San Luis Pass to Surfside.
This is one of the popular paddling trails in the state.
Attend events in Freeport
Freeport hosts several events and festivals throughout the year.
The most popular ones are Riverfest, Fishing Fiesta, and Joyride.
Fishing tournaments for all ages are held during the Fishing Fiesta and there is also a carnival and barbecue cook off to enjoy the event.
The Blues Festival held in September is also a great time to visit for listening to great music.
Enjoy dining at restaurants in Freeport, TX
Freeport, Texas offers a number of excellent dining options for visitors.
For seafood lovers, Rudy Roo’s Seafood Restaurant is a great option with its fresh fish, shrimp, and stuffed crab.
If you’re craving a nice romantic dinner, head over to On the River Restaurant.
For something wholesome, visit Sweet T’s Diner.
Marias Kitchen has some of the best Mexican dishes around that are sure to tantalize your taste buds.
Things to do near Freeport, Texas
Besides the attractions and things to do in Freeport, there are many other events, points of interest, and things to do in the surrounding Brazosport area.
Here are some of our favorite things to do in the surrounding communities of Lake Jackson, Surfside Beach, and Clute.
Drive the scenic Bluewater Highway
The Blue Water Highway located in Surfside Beach is one of our favorite scenic drives in Texas.
This is officially the State Highway 332.
The over 15 miles long road parallels the Gulf Coast of Texas and has public beach access at frequent intervals.
Driving the scenic Bluewater Highway on a sunny winter morning or a cloudy spring day is an amazing experience.
The road goes all the way up to Galveston and makes for a great trip.
You can eat fresh seafood, observe the birds, go fishing or crabbing along the highway, play on the beach, and enjoy the vibrant colored houses in Surfside.
We definitely recommend driving the Blue Water Highway while visiting Freeport.
Hike the Bluewater Highway trail
A 3 miles long section located along the Bluewater Highway in Surfside is popular for biking, walking, and jogging.
This is known as the Bluewater Highway Trail. It begins at Highway 332 and Bluewater and is great for families.
You can also rent a golf cart and complete the trail.
Scuba dive the Flower Gardens
Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary is a beautiful coral reef located about 100 miles from Freeport.
This is the northernmost coral reef in the country.
The reef is a premier diving destination in Texas and you can easily charter diving excursions to the reef from Freeport.
The dive site is best suited for intermediate or advanced divers.
Here you can see hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and loggerhead sea turtles in the water.
From July to September, divers might even encounter whale sharks.
The reef is also excellent to spot various types of corals.
Touch the sea anemones at Sea Center Texas Lake Jackson
Sea Center Texas is an aquarium, fish hatchery, and informational museum located in nearby Lake Jackson.
It also has a boardwalk hiking trail and is free to visit.
We recommend taking the hatchery tour.
The Sea Center is a great place to take the kids to learn about Texas coastal and marine life.
The small aquarium also has touch tanks for kids where they can touch sea animals and other marine creatures.
See dinosaurs at the Brazosport Museum of Natural Science
The Brazosport Museum of Natural Science located in Clute is a great place to visit with kids.
The free museum has amazing fossils including a mosasaurus skull, triceratops skull, megalodon jaws, and more.
It is amazing for those who love dinosaurs.
You can also see several excellently preserved fossils of Gulf Coast Marine animals.
Understand Antebellum life at Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historical Park
Located a little distance away in West Columbia, you will find the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site.
This was once the home of Martin Varner, who fought in the Texas Revolution.
Visitors can walk through the beautiful 1835 Antebellum Plantation building on a guided tour and learn about its history.
You can also see other buildings including the smokehouse, carriage house, and kitchen.
Visit the Brazoria County Historical Museum in Angleton
located near the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, you will find the Brazoria County Historical Museum.
The museum is located inside the former Angleton Library, a charming historic structure.
The museum has many exhibits about the history of Brazoria County.
You can learn about the Native Indians who first settled the area, the Texas War of Independence, and the local relation to the Civil War and World wars.
The free museum can be easily seen in an hour and is a good place to go for history enthusiasts.
This is definitely a hidden gem in Brazoria County.
Where to stay in Freeport
Freeport has many hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, home rentals, beach houses, and campgrounds for all kinds of travelers.
Grab a splurge-worthy vacation rental or a beach house in Brazoria County, reserve a spot at the RV park, or camp on the beach for free.
Freeport has the perfect mix of properties to spend the night.
We hope you liked our post on the best things to do in Freeport Texas.
What are your favorite Freeport TX attractions? Let us know below.
This was very interesting. Have a wedding soon to go to and I will absolutely be stopping by these suggested destination’s.
Thank you