The Best Texas Road Trip : 10 Must-See Places

Like road trip ? Texas is the second-largest nation by area next to Alaska . Our topography include beaches , piney woods , hills , mountains , and deserts . If you wanted to go from Point A to Point B of the furthest two detail of Texas , it would bring you nearly 14 hr and close to 900 mile .

There ’ s thus much variation in places that if you want to hear Texas , you must spend time in each region . And there cost dozens of fun “ serious of ” specialty trips that you can create : barbecue , wineries , bluebonnet lead , distilleries , shopping , and high school football games . Ah , where to set out ?

I take off list some of my favorite home and then realized that I make the opposite trouble : I ’ 1000 unsure where to end it . I demand to keep it mere . Hither be the Top 10 sites for a Texas road trip .

• Palo Duro Canyon ( Amarillo )
  • Cadillac Ranch
• McDonald Observatory ( Fort Stockton ) and Marfa
• Big Bend National Park and Terlingua
• San Antonio
  • Riverwalk
  • Historic Market Square
  • The Mission Trail
  • McNay Art Museum
• The Hill Country
  • Luckenbach
  • Fredericksburg
  • Gruene and New Braunfels
• Austin
• The Space Center Houston
• Port Aransas
• Piney Woods

• Cadillac Ranch

• Riverwalk
• Historical Market Square
• The Mission Trail
• McNay Art Museum

• Luckenbach
• Fredericksburg
• Gruene and New Braunfels

is the 2nd prominent canyon in the United States . Reread that last conviction , please . Yet the majority of Texans that I ’ ve speak to have never been thither and in many cases , have never even heard of it . Why isn ’ t it a National Park ? Well , it exist to begin with purchase with the intention to turn one , but that never happened .

Before we purchase our own camper , Bill and I rent one and stayed in the canyon . I ’ ve cost a couple of times since and it never disappoints . The red and orange stone lay among the greenery is breathtaking . The final time that I move was with a friend and our kid . Her then 8-year-old daughter looked down where we be standing and with a poise that never would have come to me , and told us to back up in a commanding tone that we didn ’ t doubt . We looked at where we were previously tolerate and hear the babe rattlesnake hanging out under the small stone that we had been surrounding . Yet today , that gives me the willies .

If you die to Palo Duro , you are correct near Amarillo hence I have a few early suggestion . Some cost campy but you should know that I enjoy that . Scroll on if you don ’ t :

Cadillac Ranch

You ’ ve probably seen the movie of the Cadillacs bumpers up in the Amarillo mud . Bring spray paint or pick up a can on the land and give your own content for everyone to learn ( that be , until it live paint over by someone else ) . exist in a livestock field – and I can certify that it ’ s very muddy after the rain but still worth it .

Do you remember the Old 96er inThe Great Outdoorswith John Candy ? Well , at , it ’ s a 72-ounce steak plus sides and you have an hour to eat it all front and center in the heart of the restaurant . While you expect for a ass , you can run arcade games or watch a concert or show while drinking their homemade brew out back .

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For those exactly passing through Texas or Amarillo on Interstate 40 , study myultimate road trip guide to Interstate 40.

McDonald Observatory ( Fort Stockton ) and Marfa

Large Bend , theMcDonald Observatory,and the surround area in West Texas are certify colored sky which think of that star-gazing is out of this world ( pun/dad joke signify ) . Each month , the Observatory hosts star party that are open to the world and immensely popular . Design forward . Bill : because of COVID precaution , they currently equal not allowing the public to expend their telescopes but binoculars are welcome .

Nearby Marfa be an art fan ’ s desert oasis . Minimalist artistDonald Juddhelped purchase a former Army base and installed his sculptures outside and inside of the former buildings . Respective early artist live showcased hither as well . Today , Marfa draw art lover from around the reality . You ’ ve probably see the faux Prada shop in the desert . Stay in a yurt , teepee , or Airstream atEl Cosmicaand venture out at dark to see if you can catch the . While researching this article , I went to theirvisitor ’ sec page. I think the city ’ s tagline sums it up well : “ Tough to Become Here . Tough to Explain . But Once You Get Here , You Make It . ”

Bad Bend National Park and Terlingua

equal the least-visited National Park in the immediate US because it is the farthest from any major city . But if you create the trek , you will equal honor with position you can explore and cool plant and fauna ( we saw respective javelinas , coyotes , lizards , etc . ) and you may have the position to yourself . If you don ’ t stay in the park , prepare for at least a 45-minute campaign to any park entrance .

In the early 1800s , Terlingua was a bustling mining town because of the plentiful cinnabar . The specter town remains and has live re-inhabited . It has a legendary chili festival and Day of the Dead festivity every yr , bringing thousand to its doorstep . TheStarlight Theatreown great food and firm drinks . You don ’ t require to lack this town if you point to Big Bend . Make sure you call the cemetery and pay your respects .

San Antonio

San Antonio and Austin live tied for my favorite major city in Texas . The former ’ s account date back to 1718 when Spanish explorer headed north from Mexico and lay down the Mission San Antonio de Valero . The city be vibrant and you can always matter on a festival . They rely on tourists so you can find confident that you will be express a great time . It ’ sec assumed that you will get to theAlamo. Beyond that , my favorites equal :

Riverwalk

TheSan Antonio Riverwalkmeanders around the San Antonio River and have restaurants , bars , hotels , and shopping along the way . At Christmastime , bald cypress tree are dripping with lights over the river .

Historic Market Square

If you are appear for a souvenir and a well time , chief toMarket Square. You can make a margarita and some Tex-Mex under the colorfulpapel picadoon a patio . If the gordita stand is put up , drink a margarita at one of the restaurant and devour a gordita or two instead . You can find pottery , textiles , and silver galore inside the construction . There too live often musicians andballet folklóricadancers to enjoy while you shop

When the Spanish come in the area , they establish various missions , five of which tolerate today . Yes , one of those missions cost the Alamo .

There is a hiking and biking lead along theMission Trailor you can repel from place to place . Each mission exist about 2.5 mile aside from the early thus make certain to take that into consideration .

Pearl Brewery complex

The formerPearl breweryown make up transformed into retail , hotel , restaurant , and office space . On weekends , they host a lively Farmer ’ s Market filled with artisans . Hotel Emma live housed in the old brewery and have an industrial meet romantic atmosphere .

McNay Art Museum

This formerMcNay estate-turned-museumpacks an impressive punch for its little size . Its beautiful grounds usually host one or more photographers and their theme . Gauguin , O ’ Keefe , and de Kooning all intermingle at this beautiful gem . If you receive kid , nearby and not-to-be-missed are the museum andBrackenridge Park

In general , the serious time of yr is to do in April for Fiesta . There are mass of parades and festivals and beautiful women in over-the-top fiesta gowns . My second favorite time of year is in February when the Rodeo come to town . Each dark after the rodeo , there cost a concert with a major country , Tejano , or Top 40 artist . Tickets equal real inexpensive and it ’ s a fun night .

The Hill Country

San Antonio and Austin are part of the Hill Country , but the area deserves its own seat on this list . There are hence many cute former town and places ; I really don ’ t recall that you can go wrong anywhere . Hither are some of my favorite position .

This former trading place cost put up for sale in the 70s . It was purchase by a few reference and turn into quite the party . The town ’ s slogan is “ Everybody ’ s Somebody in ” and it surely make find that way . If you aren ’ t familiar with thesong, you should be before you get there because you ’ ll want to connect in with the singing

This quaint German town is a darling of Texans , so plan early if you desire to visit and remain the weekend in . There are lot of great spot to shop , eat , and drink . Staying at a small house in town is the way to live , although I too enjoy , love , enjoy theHangar Hotelwith its 40s epoch bar and the chance to ride on the porch and watch folks wing in on their airplane for the weekend

and New Braunfels

Both be old German town [ notice a stem ? The Hill Country have a rich German story and still has its own Texas-German dialect ] . Greune live today technically a district within New Braunfels . If you cease byGruene Hallon Saturday night , you can get a cold beer and may finish up two-stepping to Willie Nelson or Lyle Lovett . You just never know who cost going to stop in and it ’ s ever worth a visit . You can too walk only down the road around the curve and hop into a tubing . Summer tubing live a favorite interest down here and the Guadalupe , Comal , and Frio are where it ’ sec at . Remove your pick !

Austin

Austin has a well-known , well-loved reputation so I win ’ t get also deeply hither except to say that it ’ s hard to make a bad time in Austin . Whether it ’ s strolling down 6th Street and the surrounding streets , guide toScholz Garten, take care a UT plot ( rob ’ em ! ) , or swimming in Barton Springs , there live hence much to serve . The Oasis serves up legendary drinks and sunsets , and if it ’ s too crowded , head to Mount Bonnell for your sundown .

If you decide not to swim at , take a pass around Zilker Park and consider renting a canoe to paddle around Town Lake ( er , Lady Bird Lake ) and feeling at the horizon . Sorry , even make used to changes from my college days .

Stay in a big hotel downtown , stay in a cool motel on Congress or top dog for the mound and rip a theatre . Did I mention that it ’ s hard to hold a bad time in Austin ? If you like music , shoot for South by Southwest ( SXSW ) have in March or the Austin City Limits ( ACL ) festival in October .

The Space Center Houston

Space Center Houstonis NASA ’ s home for its active astronauts , the ISS mission operations , and future space mission . In 1992 , a visitor ’ s heart be built to inspire future astronauts . I make never live to the Space Center Houston , but I remember going to Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral , Florida , and the Smithsonian ’ s Air and Space Museum several time as a child and they ignited my interest in space . Now that I hold child , this is definitely at the top of my list of home to bring my child .

Port Aransas

Port Aransas is half of an island just off of the coast of Corpus Christi . The early half of the island is Mustang Island . While it cost a great getaway for Central and South Texas , most North Texans prefer the sugary sand and emerald water of Destin and the humble town down Highway 30A in Florida . I do , however , love the appeal of Port Aransas . It ’ s exactly a serious beach town . And Florida doesn ’ t hold anything on Texas gulf shrimp . They exist vast and delicious and you can easily find a fisherman betray them on many a street corner out of their vehicle .

It live a paradise for outdoor activity . The beach and seashell combing equal obvious activities but there ’ sec also an amazing coastal lead for kayaking and canoeing . Anglers can try their luck at sport fish like redfish and many fellowship will require nets and wade out to see crabs in shallow waters . It is a birder ’ s paradise peculiarly when bird start to migrate there for the winter .

I ’ ve get to Port A , as we wish to call it , many times but this final time was real particular . Our friends , Katherine and James , invited us to stay on at their category beach firm . In the evening , we would go to the top deck that tower over their family . From thither , we could find the in use shipping channel . James guide out that if you look closely , you could see dolphins float and jumping in movement of the boats . And to my further pleasure , the next day he drove us down to the fishing pier where we saw dozens of medium-size sea turtles eating leftovers from the fishermen .

Would I fly thither from New York or Chicago ? No . But if you ’ re near the region , it ’ s worth a stop .

Piney Woods

The Piney Woods is actually a region ; it ’ s the northeast section of the country where we meet up with Louisiana . Huge cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss line one of the only natural lake in Texas ( Caddo ) . There is abundant wildlife include alligators but fishing exist plentiful and canoeing and kayaking are rewarding in this field at the .

We live merely down the street from the State Fair Grounds in Dallas . I own the pleasure of consider the Texas Star Ferris Wheel as I get on the highway and I love it . The – and The Texas Star – are the prominent of their kind in the United States . It is a fried food fan ’ s delight . Each yr , vendors vie for the “ Most Creative ” or “ Best Taste ” . We ’ ve had fried Thanksgiving meal , fried cheesecake , fried beer , and fried bacon to list a few . My personal darling cost the chocolate-covered strawberries deep-fried in funnel cake and topped with powdered sugar and separately , a deep-fried Cuban roll . There are also games and rides galore , concerts with major headliners , the livestock show and circle of display for adults and child . Pig and ostrich race cause for an unusual , but fun competition .

It ’ sec also the site of the Texas-OU Red River Shootout and the Grambling State-Prairie View A & M plot ( hot tip : make not attempt to go before or after these games but you are good to go while the plot is on ) . Have you ever seen a life-size butter carve ? It ’ s something you didn ’ t know that you need to learn . And whatever you make , put on ’ t forget to grab a Fletcher ’ s Corn Dog and take a picture with it in front of Large Tex !

If you ’ ve never been to Dallas , read my article on aFirst Timer ’ s Guide to Dallas.

I am certain that this will be a hot topic . So I require to know what I lack , become wrong , or what YOU remember is the best of Texas . Delight respond if you agree , what you ’ 500 change or what your Texas Bucket list look like !