The airports nearest to Galveston are in Houston, which has two major airports served by about 22 airlines between them. (Be sure to check which airport you will be using, as many airlines serve both.)
W. P. Hobby Airport (HOU) (7800 Airport Blvd., TX, 77061, USA. PHONE: 713/640-3000, www.houstonairportsystem.org), about 7 miles south of downtown Houston, is served by domestic flights.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) (2800 North Terminal Rd., TX, 77032, USA. PHONE: 281/230-3100, www.houstonairportsystem.org), about 23 miles north of downtown Houston, is Houston's international airport.
Scholes International Airport at Galveston (GLS) (PHONE: 409/741-4609, www.galvestonairport.com), 3 miles southwest of Galveston, is served by private charter planes.
Flying times to Houston are 4 hours from New York, 3 hours from Los Angeles, and 10 hours from London.
Carriers
Southwest Airlines (PHONE: 281/922-1221 or 800/435-9792), headquartered in Dallas, has particularly extensive, frequent, and inexpensive service among nine Texas cities and other U.S. destinations.
Continental Airlines (PHONE: 800/523-3273), headquartered in Houston, offers competitive flights on both domestic and international routes.
Air Canada (PHONE: 888/247-2262).
America West (PHONE: 800/235-9292).
American (PHONE: 800/433-7300).
Delta (PHONE: 800/221-1212).
Frontier (PHONE: 800/432-1359).
Northwest (PHONE: 800/225-2525).
United (PHONE: 800/241-6522).
US Airways (PHONE: 800/428-4322).
From the U.K.
American (PHONE: 0345/789-789).
British Airways (PHONE: 0345/222-111).
Continental (PHONE: 01293/776-464; 0800/776-464 toll-free).
Delta (PHONE: 0800/414-767).
Northwest (PHONE: 0870/507-4074).
United (PHONE: 0845/844-4777).
Transfers Between the Airport and Town
By Limousine
Galveston Limousine Service (PHONE: 409/744-5466 in Galveston; 800/640-4826 elsewhere in TX) has regularly scheduled service to island locations from both Houston airports. Adult fare is $30 between Galveston and Hobby, $35 between Galveston and IAH.
By Car
From George Bush Intercontinental Airport, follow signs to US-59 (Eastex Freeway) and take US-59 South to I-45. Travel south on I-45 for 45 miles to Galveston. From William P. Hobby Airport, follow the signs to I-45 and go south on I-45 for 35 miles to Galveston.
Greyhound (PHONE: 800/231-2222) provides service from U.S. destinations to Houston. Kerrville Bus Company (PHONE: 409/765-7731) provides connecting bus service to Galveston. Buses arrive at and depart from Kerrville Bus Station (714 25th St., Galveston, TX, USA.).
Galveston is about an hour southeast of Houston via I-45. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, tollways, and crosstown connectors have reduced traffic congestion, but highways around Houston can be extremely crowded during rush hour.
The Amtrak (PHONE: 713/224-1577 or 800/872-7245) destination closest to Galveston is Houston, served by the Sunset Limited between Orlando, FL, and Los Angeles. Trains arrive in Houston at the old Southern Pacific Station (902 Washington Ave., TX, USA.). Amtrak's Texas Eagle which initiates in Chicago, serves Dallas and San Antonio; passengers for Galveston switch to a through bus at Longview, TX.