Overview
Port Arthur is in the Gulf Coast region of Texas.
9 sights · 3 things to do · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Port Arthur
Museum of the Gulf Coast
Exhibits include history, natural history, fine and decorative art, and popular culture. The Museum's Music Hall of Fame features a permanent exhibit on the life and career of Janis Joplin who was born and raised in Port…
Buu Mon Buddhist Temple
Temple, lotus garden and water garden. Free tours by appointment. Hosts annual lotus and bamboo festival in summer and lunar new year celebration.
Pleasure Island
3,500-acre manmade island surrounded by Sabine Lake and the Sabine Neches Intracoastal Waterway. The Sabine Causeway at the south end of the island connects Texas and Louisiana. Activities include sailing, golfing, fishi…
Pompeiian Villa
Tours by appointment.
Queen of Peace Shrine
Rose Hill Manor
National Register of Historic Places-listed colonial-style home built in 1906. Tours by appointment.
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.
- BPT Jack Brooks Regional Airport, Beaumont/Port Arthur — 7 mi away. Directions
- LCH Lake Charles Regional Airport, Lake Charles — 46 mi away. Directions
- HOU William P. Hobby Airport, Houston — 82 mi away (major hub). Directions
Jack Brooks Regional Airport, formerly Jefferson County Airport (BPT).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Buu Mon Buddhist Temple, Pompeiian Villa
- Afternoon Texas Artists Museum, Charter fishing
Day 2
- Morning Museum of the Gulf Coast, Queen of Peace Shrine
- Afternoon Vuylsteke Dutch Home, Lakeshore Drive
Day 3
- Morning Pleasure Island, Rose Hill Manor
- Afternoon White Haven, Southeast Texas Mardi Gras
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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
The town of about 60,000 sits at the bottom right corner of the state. Its downtown was devastated in 2005 by Hurricane Rita and again in 2017 by Hurricane Harvey. The city is flanked by oil refineries and by water. Both provide interesting scenery and jobs to the locals.
Get in
Jack Brooks Regional Airport, formerly Jefferson County Airport (BPT).
See
See Pleasure Island
3,500-acre manmade island surrounded by Sabine Lake and the Sabine Neches Intracoastal Waterway. The Sabine Causeway at the south end of the island connects Texas and Louisiana. Activities include sailing, golfing, fishing, crabbing, boating, hiking, biking, birding, disc golfing, and camping.
See Vuylsteke Dutch Home
The Consul of the Netherlands built this home in 1905. Owned by Lamar State College - Port Arthur. Tours by appointment.
Do
Do Charter fishing
With rivers, a saltwater lake and the Gulf Coast surrounding Port Arthur, fishing is a natural pastime. You can suit yourself and find lots of good fishing holes by land or on the water. You can also go out with a guide. There are quite a few charter businesses found at the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce website.
Do Lakeshore Drive
There is a nice walk or drive along Lakeshore Drive from Lamar State College to the White Haven house. A walkpath, sometimes open for car traffic, leads closer to the water. On one side you'll see the historic homes built along Lakeshore Drive in the early 20th century, on the other side you see the intracoastal waterway. If you are lucky a cargo ship or an oil tanker will pass by and remind you how small humans are. The walk is not recommended at night for safety reasons.
Sleep
Nearby
Nederland
City / town · 3 listings · 7 mi away
Beaumont
City / town · 37 listings · 18 mi away
Orange
City / town · 8 listings · 19 mi away
China
City / town · 2 listings · 26 mi away
Cameron
City / town · 4 listings · 38 mi away
Sulphur
City / town · 4 listings · 44 mi away
Bolivar Peninsula
City / town · 16 listings · 48 mi away
Lake Charles
City / town · 38 listings · 49 mi away
My experience
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