While Texas is known for its highways, we’re not all about roads. Texas has a significant marine transportation system that’s used commercially, for recreation, and for tourism. The Port of Galveston is the base of operations for several cruise lines, and several ports along the Gulf coast are destination points for freight entering and leaving the state.

TxDOT operates ferries in Galveston and Port Aransas as part of the highway system. They’re in service year-round, 24 hours a day. Consult the ferry schedule for more information.

TxDOT also sponsors the 423-mile Texas stretch of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The waterway is a key part of the department's multimodal transportation system that uses the state highway system, rail system and ports to move freight around the world.