Housing in Port Bolivar and the surrounding peninsula is dominated by beach houses and elevated stilt homes, many built or rebuilt to modern coastal codes after past hurricanes. Buyers find a mix of modest beach cottages, larger waterfront homes, and canal- and bay-side properties with boat access, along with vacant lots for new construction. The market leans toward second homes and vacation rentals, though a full-time resident base remains. Drive-on beach access and ferry proximity make the peninsula a distinctive, value-conscious Gulf Coast alternative to Galveston Island.

Port Bolivar is the westernmost of the Bolivar Peninsula's communities, clustered around the ferry landing, State Highway 87, and the bay and Gulf shorelines. Development is spread out along the beach, with beach-front homes on the Gulf side and bay-front and canal properties on the bay side. Neighboring Crystal Beach, Caplen, Gilchrist, and High Island continue east along the peninsula, each with its own small commercial and residential pockets. The overall character is coastal and unhurried, with wide-open beaches rather than dense neighborhoods.

Life on the Bolivar Peninsula is defined by the beach, the bay, and the ferry. Residents fish and crab from the shore and piers, drive golf carts and vehicles onto the sand, and watch migratory birds at Bolivar Flats. The pace is casual and outdoor-oriented, with seafood shacks, bait shops, and beach bars replacing big-box retail. Weekends bring a flow of ferry passengers and beach-goers, while the year-round community is close-knit and resilient. Galveston's dining, shopping, and medical care are a free ferry ride away.

Public education in Port Bolivar is provided by Galveston Independent School District, which serves Galveston Island and a portion of the Bolivar Peninsula. Crenshaw Elementary and Middle School is located in Port Bolivar on Highway 87, keeping younger students close to home. Older students attend Galveston ISD secondary schools, with the district offering programs across its roughly ten campuses. The arrangement reflects the peninsula's small year-round population and its dependence on the ferry connection to the island.

Port Bolivar sits at the western terminus of State Highway 87, which runs the length of the Bolivar Peninsula. The free, 24-hour Galveston–Port Bolivar Ferry, operated by the Texas Department of Transportation since 1930, carries vehicles and passengers between Port Bolivar and Galveston Island around the clock. The ferry provides the most direct link to Galveston's services, while the inland route around Galveston Bay via Interstate 10 and State Highway 124 offers an alternative. Houston lies about 60 to 70 miles to the northwest.

Recreation in Port Bolivar centers on the coast. The peninsula's beaches are wide and drive-on, popular for swimming, surf fishing, and beachcombing, and the surrounding waters of Galveston Bay and the Gulf offer some of the Texas coast's best fishing, crabbing, and kayaking. Bolivar Flats, at the peninsula's western tip, is a renowned shorebird and migratory bird sanctuary, and Fort Travis Seashore Park preserves a historic fort with bay views. The free ferry itself is a favorite outing, offering dolphin sightings and views of passing ships.