Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

About Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Situated 80 to 125 miles off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, the beauty and biological diversity of the Flower Garden Banks prompted researchers and recreational divers to seek protection for this area. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary protects thriving shallow water coral reefs, algal-sponge communities, and deeper mesophotic reefs full of black coral, octocoral, and algal nodule habitats. While this sanctuary may be a challenge to visit, visitors can enjoy it by diving and fishing in these waters.

How to Get There

Roughly 110 miles south of the Galveston, Texas border.

Plan Your Visit to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Heading to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• Park map (PDF)
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)