Back to results

Galveston, United States

Stay in Galveston: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Galveston

Watch this spot We email you when Galveston is worth the trip.

About Galveston

Known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces W, so wind from the E blows out to sea (our estimate from the coastline). Facts: verified.

Water about 26°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.

A spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, as OpenStreetMap maps it, on a shore facing W. Wind from the W blows onshore, wind from the E blows out to sea, and wind from the N or S runs along the shore. It is sheltered to the open sea. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 5.6 km out (1 in 556). The sea is about 15°C in January, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 30°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For kitesurfing at beginner level the best month is usually February, with about 2 good days in 7; in August and September, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Galveston. Within 5 km we also list 3 surf spots and 1 wind sports spot.

Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.

Book the trip

From Chicago: about 5 h 45 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), direct.

    See flights MDW → HOU · Skyscanner from about £150 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 1 h 20 from the airport to Galveston.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in GalvestonAd

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

    Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

    See all places to stay on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Kitesurfing lessons in Galveston · GetYourGuideAdKite and board hire in Galveston · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Galveston on Google Maps · Directions

The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.

One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Forecast

The score for kite, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor

DayScoreWindGustsShoreWater
Sun 18Oct023knoffnot safechop
Mon 19Oct023knoffnot safechop
Tue 20Oct020kncross-offchop
Wed 21Oct018knoffnot safechop
Thu 22Oct013kncross-offflat
Fri 23Oct09kncross-offflat
Sat 24Oct015knoffnot safechop
Sun 25Oct023knoffnot safechop
Mon 26Oct023knoffnot safechop
Tue 27Oct016knoffnot safechop

Day scores are the conditions out of 80. Wind is the day's best reading: the mean and the gusts in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); the arrow points where it blows to. Shore: "side" is side-shore, blowing along the beach, the safe way; "side-on" and "on" blow in towards it; "cross-off" and "off" blow out to sea, and offshore scores nothing for kite and windsurf. Water is the open sea's waves near the spot: flat under 0.3 m, chop to 0.8 m.

The season

Good kite days in a typical week, each month, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).

  1. Jan1of 7
  2. Feb2of 7
  3. Mar1of 7
  4. Apr1of 7
  5. May1of 7
  6. Jun1of 7
  7. Jul1of 7
  8. Aug0of 7
  9. Sep0of 7
  10. Oct1of 7
  11. Nov1of 7
  12. Dec1of 7

Typical, not a forecast. Reanalysis wind misses some local thermal winds, so a spot known for an afternoon breeze may do better than this.

Your trip, day by day

6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for kite. Change dates

  1. Mon 19 Oct
    Travel out

    Direct flight MDW to HOU, then 1h 20 by road. About 5h 45 door to door

  2. Tue 20 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 14 kn gusting 20, cross-offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.

  3. Wed 21 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 13 kn gusting 18, offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.

  4. Thu 22 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 9 kn gusting 13, cross-offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: flat.

  5. Fri 23 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 6 kn gusting 9, cross-offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: flat.

  6. Sat 24 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 11 kn gusting 15, offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.

  7. Sun 25 Oct
    Travel home

    Direct flight MDW to HOU, then 1h 20 by road. About 5h 45 door to door

Rough cost

About £830–£1,505 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Kit hire is not in it yet: we have no sourced price for it.

  • Flights £150–£315
  • To the UK airport £35–£65
  • Hire car £115–£190
  • Stay £270–£455
  • Food £260–£480

Places to eat near Galveston

Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits

Book the trip

Getting thereAd

Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

Where to stayAd

Places to stay · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Kitesurfing lessons · GetYourGuide Kite and board hire · GetYourGuide

Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.