Freeport, Texas.

Freeport is a working port city at the mouth of the Brazos River, home to major chemical and industrial facilities. But beyond the industry, Freeport has some of the most accessible beaches on the upper Texas coast. Surfside Beach is just minutes away, and the Freeport Fishing Pier extends into the Gulf. The town has a gritty, authentic coastal character and is a popular launch point for deep-sea fishing charters.

Freeport sits at the mouth of the Brazos River on the upper Texas coast, about 60 miles south of Houston. It's adjacent to Surfside Beach and the Freeport Fishing Pier.

For day-trippers from the Hill Country, Freeport offers a different kind of coastal experience than the polished resort towns. Surfside Beach is wide, flat, and driveable — you can park on the sand and set up for the day. The Freeport Fishing Pier, one of the longest on the Texas coast, draws anglers year-round for speckled trout, redfish, and sheepshead. And the Brazos River itself provides calm-water boating and kayaking, with access to miles of inland waterways that feel a world away from the Gulf's bigger waves.

The seafood scene is authentic and no-nonsense. A handful of waterfront restaurants serve Gulf shrimp, fried oysters, and fresh catch without the tourist prices you might find farther south. The nearby Quintana Beach County Park offers a quieter shoreline with a historic jetty and excellent birding. For anyone considering a second home or investment property with reliable beach access at a reasonable price point, Freeport and Surfside Beach represent some of the most affordable coastal real estate within driving distance of the Hill Country.

Drive time from Boerne

Freeport is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes from Boerne via I-10 East and TX-36 South. The route takes you through Houston's western suburbs, then south through farmland and marshland toward the coast.

What to know before you go

• Best time to visit: Spring and fall offer the best weather. Summer is hot and humid, but the beach breeze is constant.
• Surfside Beach: Drive-on beach access is available with a permit. Weekdays are much quieter than weekends.
• Fishing pier: The Freeport Fishing Pier is open 24 hours and is well-lit at night. Rod rentals are available on-site.
• Deep-sea charters: Several charter operations run out of Freeport for offshore fishing, including snapper, grouper, and kingfish.
• Brazos River: The river offers calm-water kayaking and paddleboarding. A few launch points are scattered along the Freeport side.