Kemah
🏙️1 attractions

Kemah

Kemah, Texas

Gateway to the Bay

About this city

Also known as: Gateway to the Bay

Kemah is a bustling, entertainment-rich coastal city located in Galveston County, dynamically positioned along the western shores of Galveston Bay at the scenic entrance of the Clear Creek Channel, just southeast of Houston. Taking its poetic name from a Karankawa native word meaning 'wind in my face,' the community long existed as a tranquil, hardworking frontier commercial shellfishing and oystering village. In the late 1990s, Kemah's destiny was permanently supercharged with the creation of the Kemah Boardwalk, a highly acclaimed, 60-acre open-air coastal entertainment district that features nostalgic wooden roller coasters, seafood restaurants, and vibrant marinas. Today, the city acts as a premier, high-energy holiday sanctuary for Houston metropolitan city escapees looking for seaside fine dining and yachting.

Location & Administrative

County
Galveston County
Time Zone
CST
State Code
TX

Transportation & Accessibility

Nearest Airports
HOUIAH
Getting Around
Car RequiredWalkable

Weather & Timing

Best Months
MarAprMayOctNov
Average Temperature
Peak Season
Beach Season
Off Season
Hurricane Season

Economics & Local Vibe

Population
City proper 1.8K · Metro area 7.5M
Sales Tax
8.25%
Key Industries
Coastal Theme Park & Waterfront HospitalityYachting & Commercial Marinas

Practical Tourism Metadata

Suggested stay: 1 day

Ride the thrilling 'Boardwalk Bullet' historic-style wooden roller coaster at the Kemah Boardwalk, feed live stingrays and sharks at the Aquarium Restaurant, embark on a high-speed speedboat cruise across Galveston Bay, and watch heavy luxury yachts slide along the channel.

Must-See