Wind in Your Hair, Salt in the Air — Golf Cart Guide to our Little Slice of the Coast

There's something about a golf cart that just fits Rockport-Fulton. Maybe it's the way the Gulf breeze rolls in off Aransas Bay, or the way the streets feel a little slower, a little friendlier than anywhere else on the Texas coast. Whatever it is, locals and visitors alike have figured out a secret: you don't need four doors and a V8 to have the best morning of your life here.

Picture it — you ease out of the driveway just after sunrise, the air already carrying that perfect mix of salt and coffee. You cruise past the harbor, pelicans doing their thing on the pilings, and roll up to your favorite breakfast spot with a smile that didn't cost you a parking ticket or a single moment of stress. That's the golf cart life in Rockport-Fulton, and once you try it, it's hard to go back.

Know before you roll — the key rules

Rockport-Fulton allows golf carts and off-highway vehicles on city streets, and the rules are pretty straightforward. Here's what you need to know to stay legal and keep the good vibes going.

Stick to 35 mph roads or under

Golf carts and utility vehicles are only permitted on public streets with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less. Headlights and taillights must be on while operating.

Get your cart inspected and permitted

Before hitting city streets, your cart must be inspected annually by an authorized inspection facility and display a valid city permit sticker. The fee is $40 per year.

Gear up your cart

Your cart needs headlamps, tail lights, front and rear reflectors, a parking brake, rearview mirrors, turn signals, seat belts, a slow-moving vehicle triangle on the rear, and a flag on a six-foot pole.

Valid license and insurance required

You must carry a valid driver's license and maintain insurance coverage at least equal to Texas state minimums for motor vehicles — your homeowner's policy may cover this.

Stay off state highways and farm-to-market roads

Golf carts are prohibited on any road in the state highway system, including farm-to-market roads within city limits — regardless of the posted speed limit. Sidewalks and hike-and-bike trails are also off limits.

For the full list of rules visit: Golf Carts and Off-Highway Vehicle Laws