Overview
Clear Lake is a district of Houston. It is home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. The area's boating opportunities are considered second only to those of Miami. Fishing, swimming, hiking, and history are also popular activities in the area.
4 sights · 7 things to do · 3 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Clear Lake
Space Center Houston
Indoor fun space museum with lots of hands-on space-science exhibits and artifacts from the full history of U.S. space exploration. A big hit with kids, but informative and interesting for adults. A highlight are the thr…
Armand Bayou Nature Center
The largest urban wilderness preserve in the US, containing 2500 acres of the natural wetlands forest, prairie and marsh habitats once abundant in the Houston/Galveston area. ABNC is home to over 370 species of birds, ma…
El Jardin del Mar Beach
The beach, referred to by locals as 'The Dean', is located along the shores of Galveston Bay.
Seabrook Wildlife Refuge & Park
Hiking and trailing location.
Kemah Boardwalk
An amusement park on the boardwalk. Includes a roller coaster, numerous other rides, restaurants, boats, and more.
At the Helm Charters and Sailing School
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Apr. Summer highs reach about 95°F; winter lows dip to about 44°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Oct. (climate data from nearby Houston)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HOU William P. Hobby Airport, Houston — 12 mi away (major hub). Directions
- IAH George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston — 33 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $7 per person at listed restaurants.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Space Center Houston, Seabrook Wildlife Refuge & Park
- Lunch Merlion
- Afternoon Captain Kidd Charters, Lighthouse Charters
- Dinner Tokyo Bowl
- Evening Molly's Pub
Day 2
- Morning Armand Bayou Nature Center, Kemah Boardwalk
- Lunch BJ's Restaurant and Brewery
- Afternoon Gateway Charters/Southwest Sailing Ventures, Flipt
Day 3
- Morning El Jardin del Mar Beach, At the Helm Charters and Sailing School
- Afternoon Houston Yacht Sales Inc.
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Clear Lake lies to the southeast of downtown, towards Galveston. The Clear Lake area includes the communities of Clear Lake City, Clear Lake Shores, El Lago, Kemah, League City, Nassau Bay, Seabrook, Taylor Lake Village, and Webster.
A large sheltered bay and the area around it is a local recreation center. The area is home to a growing medical center, and seafood vendors.
See
See Space Center Houston
Indoor fun space museum with lots of hands-on space-science exhibits and artifacts from the full history of U.S. space exploration. A big hit with kids, but informative and interesting for adults. A highlight are the three tram tours of NASA's Johnson Space Center, one of which includes a visit to Mission Control and actual Apollo and Mercury launch vehicles, and another focuses on astronaut training facilities. The trams are "open air" so be prepared for them to be delayed during the summer months, if there is a significant thunderstorm (which is frequent in the afternoons). Riders can also get wet in rain storms. Tram tickets are timed and the Mission Control tickets are grabbed up quickly, so book a ticket earlier in the day to visit the Space Center. Discount coupons are found in many local hotel brochures.
See Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC)
The largest urban wilderness preserve in the US, containing 2500 acres of the natural wetlands forest, prairie and marsh habitats once abundant in the Houston/Galveston area. ABNC is home to over 370 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. ABNC offers hiking trails, exhibits, field trips, Scout programs, birding, a historic farm and fun for all. This is a swampy area so be prepared for mosquitoes in the warmer months.
See El Jardin del Mar Beach
The beach, referred to by locals as 'The Dean', is located along the shores of Galveston Bay.
Do
Sail
There are several marinas that offer various yachting services. Consider chartering a sailboat for half a day, or looking into a weekend-long sailing certification course.
Do At the Helm Charters and Sailing School
Do Captain Kidd Charters
Do Gateway Charters/Southwest Sailing Ventures
Do Houston Yacht Sales Inc.
Do Lighthouse Charters
Fish
The area is renowned for its fishing. Red Drum are a popular hunt, as are croaker, flounder, and trout.
Buy
Shop Baybrook Mall
Eat
- Pho 21, 2443 Bay Area Blvd., +1 281-990-8099 Vietnamese Pho noodle soup
Eat BJ's Restaurant and Brewery
A brewpub with several BJ's signature brews (their recipes brewed locally by St. Arnold's Brewery in NW Houston) and a variety of microbrews available.
Eat Merlion
A great Thai restaurant that buys fresh local seafood and creates spicy Thai shrimp and fish dishes with it.
Drink
Drink Molly's Pub
Neighborhood pub offering games, TVs & drink specials, plus an ample covered patio in relaxed digs. Great tap selection and Wednesdays are Big Ass Beer Nights with $3.75 20oz. schooners of any beer on tap.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Stay Microtel Inn & Suites - Clear Lake
Economy/budget hotel offering guests free local and free long distance calls in the continental United States, and free wireless high-speed Internet access in every room of their hotels, as well as advance online check-in and check-out with unlimited access to online folio information.
Go next
- Alvin - About 10 miles down Route 528 is the hometown of famous baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan.
Nearby
Webster
City / town · 5 listings · 1 mi away
Kemah
City / town · 23 listings · 6 mi away
Pearland
City / town · 2 listings · 11 mi away
Pasadena
City / town · 4 listings · 11 mi away
Alvin
City / town · 3 listings · 12 mi away
Baytown
City / town · 8 listings · 16 mi away
Texas City
City / town · 17 mi away
Galveston
City / town · 68 listings · 26 mi away
My experience
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