Sea Rim State Park

Sea Rim State Park is a Gulf beach and coastal marsh park on TX-87, about 10 miles west of Sabine Pass in Jefferson County and about 2 hours east of Houston. It’s best for quiet beach camping, crabbing, birding and paddling the marsh. Mosquitoes are bad year-round after dark, so pack strong repellent.

On This Page

• The Beach and Swimming
• Camping and the Cabin
• Paddling Trails in the Marsh
• Gambusia Nature Trail and Boardwalks
• Fishing and Crabbing
• Birds, Alligators and Mosquitoes
• Best Time to Visit
• What Visitors Say
• Getting There
• Know Before You Go
• Nearby Parks
• FAQ
• Sources and Official Links

The Beach and Swimming

Sea Rim State Park’s beach is an undeveloped stretch of Gulf shoreline for swimming, surf fishing, shelling and camping. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) gives it as nearly 2 miles on its park pages and 5.2 miles in its 2022 park guide. Swimming is allowed in the Gulf only, with no lifeguards.

• Driving on the beach: only in the East and West Beach camping areas. The beach by the dune boardwalk is day use only, with no vehicles
• East Beach: closed to camping and vehicles. Hurricane Beryl washed out its entrance in July 2024, and TPWD’s current notice dates from February 11, 2026
• Tides: West Beach camping closes for extreme high tides, as it did in May and October 2026. Check tides before driving onto the sand
• The water: shallow and often brown or murky, visitors report. Seaweed and trash complaints peak from May to July and after storms
• Shells: beachcombers report rows of shells and the odd shark tooth. TPWD asks visitors to leave any artifacts or fossils in place and tell staff
• Safety: TPWD warns of undercurrents and jellyfish, with first aid for stings at headquarters
• Access: the 0.1-mile dune boardwalk leads to the beach and its rinse showers. Beach wheelchairs are free to borrow, and horses are allowed on Middle Beach only

Camping and the Cabin

Sea Rim State Park has water and electric sites in the Piping Plover loop, primitive sites on West Beach and one cabin. There’s no bathhouse: campers report vault toilets and cold outdoor rinse showers only.

Campsite Types

Prices are TPWD’s per-night rates, plus the daily entry fee.

• Water and electric (15 sites, $20): the Piping Plover loop, by the dune boardwalk. 30- and 50-amp electric, water, picnic table and grill. The reservation site lists 14 sites, 9 of them pull-through. No sewer; campers report the dump station is on the marsh side of TX-87
• Beach primitive (75 sites, $10): drive-up sites on West Beach with no water, electricity or restrooms. They can’t be reserved ahead: campers register on arrival, and the area closes for high tides. Horses are allowed with a portable pen
• Cabin (1, $120): by the boat ramp on the marsh side (details below)
• Floating campsite (closed): a boat-in platform 2 miles from the ramp, closed for repairs since December 15, 2023

The Cabin

Sea Rim’s one cabin opened in June 2014 and sleeps 6 on two bunk beds (twin over full). It has air conditioning, a bathroom, a kitchen with a stove, oven, microwave and refrigerator, and an accessible paved route from parking. Bring bedding and cookware. No pets, and a $50 cleaning deposit is taken by credit card at check-in.

Reservations and Camp Rules

Book the hookup sites and the cabin early for spring and summer weekends.

• Campsites and the cabin book up to 5 months ahead, online or at (512) 389-8900
• Check-out is noon; up to 8 people per site
• Late arrivals call (409) 971-2559 before 6:30 p.m. for the gate code and cabin key, and register at headquarters by 9 a.m.
• Ground fires are allowed at the beach sites unless a burn ban is on. One camper reported an unposted fire ban in October 2026, so ask at check-in
• Raccoons and feral hogs roam at night, and raccoons climb into open vehicles. Lock food away and close windows

Campers like the level concrete pads and the short walk to the beach. The downsides they mention: no shade, strong wind and occasional power outages at the hookup sites.

Paddling Trails in the Marsh

The Marsh Unit across TX-87 has three marked paddling trails through the coastal marsh, all starting from the boat ramp and canoe and kayak launch beside the cabin. The launch isn’t within walking distance of the beach.

Miles from TPWD’s trails page and 2026 trails map; its overview page still gives an older 1.79 to 9.59 miles.

• Rentals: none confirmed. Visitors were told in March 2026 that kayak rentals had ended, though one TPWD page still mentions them. Bring a boat, or call the park first
• Fence Lake: a wildlife viewing platform on Fence Lake is reached by paddling
• Boats: motorboats share the marsh. The ramp suits shallow-draft boats up to 18 feet, and airboats over 10 horsepower are banned in the Marsh Unit
• Hunting season: waterfowl hunters use the ramp from 4:30 a.m. On the 2026–27 hunt dates (September 19–27, October 31–November 1 and November 7–January 31), non-hunters stay out of the marsh until noon
• Safety: children under 13 must wear life jackets while boating, and TPWD discourages bringing pets on the paddling trails because of alligators

Gambusia Nature Trail and Boardwalks

The Gambusia Nature Trail is a boardwalk loop through the marsh and the park’s most praised feature. TPWD lists it as 0.9 mile, about 20 minutes, on its trails page and as a 0.7-mile accessible loop on its accessibility page.

• Rebuilt: storm damage closed the old boardwalk, and it was torn down in early 2020 and rebuilt. Visitors in 2025 called it almost new
• Along the way: benches, shade shelters and viewing scopes, with bird viewing at the northeast end
• What visitors see: alligators, fiddler and blue crabs, raccoons and wading birds, often in one short walk
• Other boardwalks: the 0.1-mile Dune Boardwalk to the beach and the Willow Pond boardwalk near the camping loop. Both are accessible
• No other trails: TPWD lists no hiking trails beyond the boardwalks and no bike trails

Fishing and Crabbing

Surf fishing and crabbing are the main day activities at Sea Rim State Park. No fishing license is needed to fish or crab from shore inside a Texas state park; a license is required when fishing from a boat.

• In the surf: red drum, spotted seatrout, flounder and sharks, per TPWD
• In the marsh: fishing in the Marsh Unit runs sunrise to sunset, with rod and reel, handline, throwline, crab net, cast net, pole or bow
• Crabbing: the Blue Crab Day Use Area is the park’s crabbing spot. Rangers run Crabbing 101 programs that visitors rate highly
• Loaner gear: TPWD loans fishing gear free, and visitors report crabbing gear too. Bring bait. One visitor found the loaner program closed for maintenance in March 2026
• Fish cleaning station: on site
• Alligators: stop fishing or crabbing when an alligator is near, and cut the line if one takes a catch

Birds, Alligators and Mosquitoes

Sea Rim State Park sits on the Central Flyway, so migrating birds rest here in spring and fall. TPWD lists roseate spoonbills, egrets, herons, night herons, ducks and geese, and publishes a bird checklist for each season.

• Birds visitors report: American avocets, plovers, northern harriers and many winter shorebirds. McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge borders the park
• Alligators: common in the marsh and seen from the boardwalk and docks. TPWD says to stay at least 30 feet away and not to throw sticks or balls into the water for dogs
• Other wildlife: river otters, mink and coyotes, per TPWD. Visitors also report feral hogs at night and the odd water moccasin or rattlesnake

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the top complaint at Sea Rim, in about 35 recent Google reviews, and TPWD warns they can be a nuisance year-round. Breezy days are usually fine; dusk and dark are the worst, even in winter.

• Bring strong repellent, long sleeves and long pants; campers add head nets
• Sites close to the marsh get more bugs than the beach, campers say

Best Time to Visit

Spring and fall are the best seasons at Sea Rim State Park, with milder weather and migrating birds. TPWD calls April through July the busy season, and July highs average 93°F.

• Spring (March to May): spring bird migration and warming water. High tides closed beach camping in spring 2025 and May 2026
• Summer (June to August): hot, with no shade. Beach trash and seaweed complaints peak, and hurricane season runs through fall
• Fall (September to November): September is the wettest month. Hunt dates start in September; reviewers found the beach cleanest from fall into winter
• Winter (December to February): January lows average 42°F. Quiet beaches and wintering shorebirds, but mosquitoes can still bite at dusk, and prescribed burns may close areas from December to March

What Visitors Say

Sea Rim State Park averages 4.4 stars across 258 Google reviews from November 2024 to October 2026, and 4.5 stars across about 1,800 reviews overall. Visitors love the quiet and the wildlife; mosquitoes and beach trash are the steady complaints.

• Quiet: the most common praise. Visitors often had the beach to themselves, especially on weekdays, and one 2026 Reddit thread found it far less busy than Mustang Island or Goose Island
• Wildlife: the boardwalk and crabbing get the most praise, for alligators, crabs and birds up close
• Mosquitoes: the top complaint in every season. A few campers left early
• The beach: split between clean, shell-covered visits and trash, seaweed and brown water, mostly in summer
• Facilities and signal: no hot showers, mixed reviews of restroom cleanliness, and weak or no cell signal

Getting There

Sea Rim State Park is at 19335 S. Gulfway Drive (TX-87), Sabine Pass, about 24 miles from Port Arthur. From Houston, take I-10 east and TX-73 to Port Arthur, then TX-87 through Sabine Pass to the park. TX-87 splits the park: the Beach Unit is on the Gulf side, and the Marsh Unit (boat ramp, cabin and paddling trails) is across the highway.

Drive times to the park:

• Houston: about 2 hours
• Austin: about 5 hours
• San Antonio: about 5.5 hours
• Dallas: about 6 hours 10 minutes

A few things to know before driving out:

• One way in: every route comes through Port Arthur and Sabine Pass; TX-87 isn’t a through road west to High Island
• Traffic: the drive runs past Port Arthur refineries, with heavy afternoon traffic, visitors say
• Supplies: beyond the park store at headquarters, little is nearby. Stock up in Port Arthur
• After hours: a self-pay station takes entry fees after headquarters closes

Know Before You Go

Sea Rim State Park is remote, buggy and exposed to the weather. Confirm fees and closures with TPWD before driving out.

• Fees and passes: $4 a day for ages 13 and older; children 12 and under get in free. The Texas State Parks Pass ($70 a year) covers entry for the holder and guests
• Booking: TPWD says the park often reaches capacity and recommends reserving day passes. Campsites and the cabin open 5 months ahead; beach sites are first come, first served
• Hours: the park is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Headquarters hours vary by day: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday
• Dogs: allowed on a 6-foot leash, but not in the cabin or designated swim areas. Visitors report walking leashed dogs on the beach and boardwalk. Keep dogs out of the marsh water because of alligators
• Water and shade: no drinking water at the beach sites, and almost no shade anywhere
• Rules: no glass on the beach. Burn bans happen, so check before bringing firewood
• Hunts and burns: on hunt dates, non-hunters stay out of the marsh until noon. Prescribed burns may close areas from December to March
• What to bring: strong repellent, sunscreen, a canopy, trash bags, bait for crabbing, and a kayak or canoe for the paddling trails

Nearby Parks

Three other TrekTexas guides are within about 2.5 hours of Sea Rim State Park.

• Big Thicket National Preserve: about 76 miles north, with hiking trails and paddling routes through East Texas forest and bayous
• Lake Livingston State Park: about 135 miles northwest, with lakeside camping and fishing
• Brazos Bend State Park: about 151 miles west, known for alligators along its lakes and the George Observatory
• More parks within reach of Houston: Parks Near Houston

FAQ

How much does it cost to get into Sea Rim State Park?

Entry is $4 a day for ages 13 and older, and free for children 12 and under. The Texas State Parks Pass covers entry.

Can visitors rent a cabin at Sea Rim State Park?

Yes. The park has one cabin by the boat ramp. It sleeps 6, costs $120 a night plus entry and books up to 5 months ahead.

Can visitors drive on the beach at Sea Rim?

Only in the beach camping areas. With East Beach closed, vehicle access is on West Beach, and it closes during extreme high tides.

Can visitors swim at Sea Rim State Park?

Yes, in the Gulf only, at their own risk. There are no lifeguards, and the water is often murky.

Is there a map of Sea Rim State Park?

Yes. TPWD publishes a park map (PDF) and a trails map (PDF) with the paddling trail routes.

Sources and Official Links

Facts in this guide were last checked in October 2026 against these sources.

• Sea Rim State Park (TPWD)
• Entrance fees (TPWD)
• Electric campsites, beach campsites and cabin (TPWD)
• Trails and paddling trails, park map (PDF) and trails map (PDF) (TPWD)
• Fishing guide (PDF) and nature and wildlife (TPWD)
• Park rules and accessibility (TPWD)
• Park alerts (TPWD)
• Texas State Parks reservations

Featured photo: Photo: John Perry, Flickr via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)