How to get to Galveston Island, Texas?

Posted on April 30th, 2009 by admin in Galveston island

How do you cross from the mainland to Galveston Island, Texas if you do not want to drive on the I-45 Galveston causeway and you are coming to Galveston from Houston, I-45?
Port Bolivar is not the answer.
Didn't there use to be a ferry from the Houston (mainland) side near HWY 3 at the coast area?
Ok to make it easier.. in the 60-80's was there ever an alternate route (other than Galveston Causeway) from the mainland to the island heading in from Houston/Clear Lake?
Thank you all for you answers but was there or is there an alternate from this location?

Okay, let's get our answers straightened out.

Other than I45 Causeway, the only other land routes are the SanLuis Pass bridge from the Freeport/Surfside area and the Bolivar Peninsula ferry from the Bolivar area.

You can always fly in or charter a boat.

The most direct route is the I45 Causeway.

From East side of Houston, I10 to Winnie, 124 to High Island, and 87 from there to the ferry is not too bad.

From Southwest Houston, 288 to Freeport, Coastal Highway to Galveston isn't bad.

If you are looking to avoid bridges, you can't. It's an island.

If you are worried about the construction on the new Causeway, don't. It's not very bad.

Any route other than I45 will take you miles out of the way and cost you more in time. The drive from Freeport is okay but the ferry from Bolivar can sometimes have a wait, usually long during summer.

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7 Comments

7 Responses to “How to get to Galveston Island, Texas?”

  1. arklatexrat Says:
    May 1st, 2009 at 12:12 am

    I-45 Causeway and ferry from Port Bolivar are the only ways I know to get to the island. To get there from the ferry side you will have to take I-10 East, and from there you have several options to get to Port Bolivar.

    What's wrong with the causeway?
    References :
    http://www.mapquest.com

  2. Texas Happy Horn Says:
    May 1st, 2009 at 12:23 am

    Take 45 South . Eventually 45 will run out and become a main street in Galveston. Once in Galveston look for the ferry signs.

    EDIT: CK per their own comment they are not asking about what you answered either. Mike H answered it best. No one really knows what the hell the question is asking.
    References :
    This is how I go to the ferrys. Sorry I don't known the name of the streets.

  3. ck Says:
    May 1st, 2009 at 12:42 am

    There used to be a passenger train where you're thinking of, but not a ferry. But, to my knowledge, the trains don't carry passengers anymore–just cargo. You can take 288 South from Houston into the Lake Jackson area. There you can cross a small bridge that will get you to Galveston, but that's a really really long way around. But, if you want to avoid the causeway, that's what I'd do.

    EDIT: Houston# and HappyHorn, that's not what the question is asking. They're not asking about the ferry from Galveston to Bolivar.
    References :

  4. Houston#1 Says:
    May 1st, 2009 at 12:53 am

    I go the same way TexasHorn goes. 45 does end at the ocean. If you see the ocean you went too far. There are several signs that direct you to the Ferry once in Galveston.

    60's or 80's??? I was born in1980 and I am sure there has been so many changes since then that whatever you are referring to no longer exists.
    References :

  5. mike h Says:
    May 1st, 2009 at 1:43 am

    Okay, let's get our answers straightened out.

    Other than I45 Causeway, the only other land routes are the SanLuis Pass bridge from the Freeport/Surfside area and the Bolivar Peninsula ferry from the Bolivar area.

    You can always fly in or charter a boat.

    The most direct route is the I45 Causeway.

    From East side of Houston, I10 to Winnie, 124 to High Island, and 87 from there to the ferry is not too bad.

    From Southwest Houston, 288 to Freeport, Coastal Highway to Galveston isn't bad.

    If you are looking to avoid bridges, you can't. It's an island.

    If you are worried about the construction on the new Causeway, don't. It's not very bad.

    Any route other than I45 will take you miles out of the way and cost you more in time. The drive from Freeport is okay but the ferry from Bolivar can sometimes have a wait, usually long during summer.
    References :
    Bolivar Peninsula resident, Houston native

    OKAY, to make this easier,NO, there has never been any other way to Galveston but those listed above.
    To get to the Causeway, there are many other routes other than I45. Highways 146, 6 & 3(Old Galveston Highway). The answers are only as good as the questions.
    There is the old Causeway for trains that still runs next to the new and newer Causeway. Vehicle traffic is not allowed. When it was built in the thirties, it was a engineering marvel. No other means of travel to and fro existed, ever.

  6. Texican_0_0_7 Says:
    May 1st, 2009 at 2:10 am

    You cannot get to Galveston and stay on I-45 without going over the causeway. I-45 and the causeway are the same thing. There has never been a ferry from the Houston mainland to Galveston except for the Bolivar Ferry and I have lived here since 1987.
    References :

  7. itchianna Says:
    May 1st, 2009 at 2:53 am

    There is a fairy from Hwy 87, but not 45.
    References :

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