Galveston trip planner

An old colonial city and a busy cruise ship port less than an hour's drive from Houston, Galveston sits on Galveston Island and serves as a popular vacation destination for both domestic and international travelers. Named after an early colonial administrator, the city served as a major naval port during the Texas Revolution of 1835, and later became the capital of the short-lived Republic of Texas. Today, the city of about 50,000 boasts a thriving economy centered on the tourism, healthcare, shipping, and financial industries. Home to one of the country's largest collections of well-preserved 19th-century buildings, the city includes over 60 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Plan how to spend your time in Galveston and other destinations in United States using our United States vacation tool.