Why visit Port Arthur
Townapedia lists 39 museums and landmarks, 29 parks and trails, 57 places to eat, 21 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Rainbow Bridge, B&B Port Arthur Central Mall 10, Pompeiian Villa and Museum of the Gulf Coast.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; January lows average 44°F.
Weather in Port Arthur
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Port Arthur
Port Arthur is a city in the state of Texas, United States of America, located 90 mi (140 km) east of metropolitan Houston. Part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area, the city lies primarily in Jefferson County, with a small extension in Orange County. The second-largest oil refinery in the US, the Motiva Refinery, is located in Port Arthur.
From the Wikipedia article Port Arthur, Texas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Rainbow Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 5.7 mi
Cantilever bridge crossing the Neches River, Texas, United States
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Martin Luther King Bridge
Bridge · 4.6 mi
Bridge in Port Arthur, Texas
Port Arthur Little Theatre
Cinema and theater · 5.8 mi
4701 Jimmy Johnson Boulevard, Port Arthur
Museums and landmarks39
Pompeiian Villa
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Building in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas
Port Arthur Federated Women's Clubhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Building in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas
Rose Hill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Building in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas
Clubhouse of the Federated Women's Clubs of Port Arthur
Monument and historic site · 2.1 mi
27 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds29
Port Arthur Water Park
Sports field and stadium · 2.6 mi
600 Gilham Circle, Port Arthur
17 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes57
The Schooner Restaurant
Restaurant · 6.9 mi
1507 South Highway 69, Nederland
Mo 11:00-20:30; Tu,We 11:00-21:00; Th 11:00-21:30; Fr,Sa...
Buffalo Wild Wings
Restaurant · Wings · 6.9 mi
8845 Memorial Boulevard, Port Arthur
IHOP
Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake · 6.7 mi
8685 Memorial Boulevard, Port Arthur
J&J Wings & Seafood
Restaurant · Seafood · Baptist · 3.4 mi
4849 Highway 73, Port Arthur
McAlister's Deli
Restaurant · Sandwich · 6.4 mi
8393 Memorial Boulevard, Port Arthur
45 more on the map.
History
Aurora was an early settlement attempt near the mouth of Taylor Bayou on Sabine Lake, about 14 miles (23 km) long and 7 miles (11 km) wide. It is a saltwater estuary formed by the confluence of the Neches and Sabine Rivers. Through its tidal outlet, 5-mile-long (8 km) Sabine Pass, Sabine Lake drains some 50,000 sq mi (100,000 km2) of Texas and Louisiana into the Gulf of Mexico. The town was conceived in 1837, and in 1840 promoters led by Almanzon Huston were offering town lots for sale. Some were sold, but Huston's project failed to attract many settlers. The area next was known as "Sparks", after John Sparks, who moved his family to the shores of Sabine Lake near the site of Aurora. The Eastern Texas Railroad, completed between Sabine Pass and Beaumont, Texas, passed 4 miles (6 km) west of Sparks. However, the American Civil War soon began, and rail lines were removed. In 1886, a destructive hurricane hit the coast, causing the remaining residents to dismantle their homes and move to Beaumont. By 1895, Aurora had become a ghost town.
Arthur Stilwell led the resettling of the area as part of his planned city as the southern terminus of his Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad, predecessor to the Kansas City Southern Railway. Stilwell named the city Port Arthur after himself, not the British Royal Navy lieutenant who gave his name to Port Arthur, China.
From the History section of Port Arthur, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay21
Comfort Inn & Suites Port Arthur-Port Neches
Motel and hotel · 6.1 mi
7800 Memorial Boulevard, Port Arthur
Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Port Arthur
Motel and hotel · 5.7 mi
7340 Memorial Boulevard, Port Arthur
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Port Arthur near Sabine Pass
Motel and hotel · 3.3 mi
4500 Highway 73, Port Arthur
Americas Best Value Inn & Suites Port Arthur
Motel and hotel · 5.8 mi
7440 Memorial Boulevard, Port Arthur
Churches and places of worship79
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church & Shrine
Church · Roman Catholic · 4.9 mi
3648 South Sgt Lucien Adams Drive, Port Arthur
Sacred Heart-Saint Mary Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 4.0 mi
920 Washington Avenue, Port Arthur
Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.9 mi
3706 Woodrow Drive, Port Arthur
Giáo Xứ Nữ Vương Việt Nam;Queen of Vietnam Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.1 mi
801 9th Avenue, Port Arthur
Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 5.5 mi
620 53rd Street, Port Arthur
Memorial Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 3.5 mi
4011 Memorial Boulevard, Port Arthur
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 6.2 mi
3939 Turtle Creek Drive, Port Arthur
Shopping16
Gas and EV charging20
Schools, colleges and libraries55
Healthcare11
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 6.5 mi
8445 Memorial Boulevard, Port Arthur
Map of Port Arthur
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°F | 44°F | 5.3 in |
| Feb | 67°F | 48°F | 3.1 in |
| Mar | 73°F | 53°F | 3.6 in |
| Apr | 79°F | 60°F | 3.9 in |
| May | 86°F | 67°F | 4.7 in |
| Jun | 91°F | 73°F | 6.7 in |
| Jul | 93°F | 75°F | 6.8 in |
| Aug | 93°F | 74°F | 6.9 in |
| Sep | 90°F | 71°F | 6.7 in |
| Oct | 82°F | 61°F | 5.5 in |
| Nov | 72°F | 52°F | 3.9 in |
| Dec | 66°F | 46°F | 5.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Port Arthur Se Tx Ap 72241 (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Jefferson County has had 20 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-07-09: Hurricane Beryl (Hurricane)
- 2021-02-19: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2021-02-14: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-12-09: Hurricane Laura (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-24: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 miles away.
- Groves 3 mi northwest, about 6 min by car
- Port Neches 6 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Nederland 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Bridge City 10 mi north, about 16 min by car
- Orange 18 mi northeast, about 28 min by car
- Beaumont 20 mi northwest, about 32 min by car
- Lumberton 31 mi northwest, about 50 min by car
- Sulphur 39 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
- Lake Charles 46 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Moss Bluff 50 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Port Scene., Sewtex at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Eddingston court apts port arthur tx 2014, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Port Arthur, TX, USA - panoramio (1), JAGarcia, CC BY 3.0
- Port Arthur, TX, USA - panoramio (2), JAGarcia, CC BY 3.0
- Port arthur masonic temple 2014, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Port arthur federated womens clubhouse, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- EF2 damage Port Arthur, Texas 2024 (1), National Weather Service Lake Charles LA, Public domain
- Marconi Tower-Port Arthur Texas by Michael Reed fastturtles.org 01, Michael Reed, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Marconi Tower-Port Arthur Texas by Michael Reed fastturtles.org 02, Michael Reed, CC BY-SA 3.0
- EF2 damage Port Arthur, Texas 2024 (2), National Weather Service Lake Charles, Louisiana, Public domain
- Port Arthur, TX, USA - panoramio (3), JAGarcia, CC BY 3.0
- Port Arthur, TX, USA - panoramio, JAGarcia, CC BY 3.0
- South county office building port arthur tx, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- RainbowBridge (Texas), Aren Cambre, CC BY-SA 2.5
- MLK Bridge PA TX, Junglecat at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- ISS023-E-8298 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS023-E-8299 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS052-E-11995 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS023-E-8486 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS023-E-8485 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS055-E-110086 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Eddingston court conch shell fence, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Eddingston court conch shell gate, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Eddingston court rock fountain, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Rose hill by Michael Reed fastturtles.org, Michael Reed, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 920 Dequeen - panoramio, JAGarcia, CC BY 3.0
- Pompeiian Villa by Michael Reed fastturtles.org, Michael Reed, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Awesome - panoramio (1), Alex Garrido, CC BY 3.0
- Gates Memorial Library by Michael Reed fastturtles.org 02, Michael Reed, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gates Memorial Library by Michael Reed fastturtles.org 01, Michael Reed, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sabine lake 2007, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
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