Road trips in Texas are an iconic experience that offers travelers independence, adventure, and a dash of Southern charm as they travel through the heart of the country. So, if you’re looking for a way to unwind and have memorable experiences, tour this Lone Star state to enjoy the vibrant cities, vast desert landscapes, and rolling hills.
The wide roadways of Texas beckon, whether you’re a resident or simply visiting, enticing you to discover undiscovered treasures, enjoy regional cuisine, and create lifelong memories. The Lone Star State is the ultimate road trip! So pack your bags, and let’s explore all Texas offers.
1. Lajitas to Presidio
One of the most breathtaking drives in the nation is Highway 170, located in the remote regions of West Texas. It is in the empty but stunning borders separating Mexico and the United States. In 2008, National Geographic Traveler listed it as one of the country’s most picturesque roadways, right up there with old favorites like California’s Highway 1.
Along the route, visitors can take in views of ancient ranches, undulating golden meadows, and mountaintops brimming with species unique to the state. There are several charming locations to pause for a picnic, one of which is the imaginatively called Dead Man’s Canyon. Legend has it that the 1880s discovery of young Horace Powe’s body propped up next to a boulder led to the naming of this spot—he had been shot eleven times.
The iconic McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas and 33,000 acres of untamed mountain land managed by the Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve are also along the route.
Scholars come from all over the world to study at the operational McDonald Observatory, which covers a large portion of West Texas’s Big Bend region. On the other hand, guests can discover everything about the history and present operations of the research center at the campus museum. The loop starts and finishes in Fort Davis. So, spend some time in this sleepy mountain hamlet without a single traffic light. A favorite is Blue Mountain Bar & Grill, which cooks with foods from the area.
2. Big Bend National Park Driving Loop
This location is one of the best road trips in Texas. Not exactly in the middle of nowhere, but possibly just next door is the West Texas region known as the Big Bend. El Paso, the hardy hub for exploring West Texas, has powerful visual impact murals. Visit the isolated Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which is home to Texas’ highest mountain, by taking a trip east through the high desert.
Enjoy a refreshing dip in the spring-fed pool at Balmorhea State Park. Then, head to the McDonald Observatory in little Fort Davis for some of the best star gazing around.
Around here, Alpine counts as a metropolis, and brave hikers are drawn to the summit of Hancock Hill by a worn school desk. Before entering the core of Big Bend National Park, pass through Marathon.
Here are some of the best things to do: stargaze, hike in the Chisos Mountains, and take in the stunning Santa Elena Canyon. Glamorous FM 170 west through Big Bend Ranch State Park makes the Rio Grande feel like your partner. Marfa is just the right amount of strange, focusing on minimalism, enigmatic lighting, and delicious Marfalafel. As you head back to El Paso, Prada Marfa appears out of the desert and says, “Not quite yet,” just when you think things are returning to normal.
3. Mineral Wells to Marble Falls
This less-traveled path will bring you closer to this small Texas town than the Dallas-Austin route. It’s among the best road trips in Texas. Traveling the picturesque US Highway 281 in Texas to these two eccentric locations takes two hours, with plenty of places to stop. It’s among Central Texas’s most incredible weekend escapes.
The abandoned Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells is a must-see. It was a posh resort that some of the best baseball teams in the nation used as their spring training facility. This city derives its name from the mineral springs that flow through it. There are still bottles available if you wish to try this water. Many claim it has magical healing abilities.
Visit Hico, which has less than 1,500 residents, if you’d like a taste of true tiny-town life while traveling south! Hancock Springs Park near Lampasas is another excellent place to stop if the Texas heat is getting to you on your journey. This location, the oldest swimming pool in the state is supplied with pure spring water from the area. It is always calm and refreshing—but it becomes even more so after spending several hours in the automobile.
Once you arrive in Marble Falls, there are plenty of natural beauties to discover. The small city is home to miles of well-known Texas Hill Country vineyards, old-growth woodlands, and limestone caverns. The city is known for some of the state’s greatest homemade pies. However, thrill-seekers may also enjoy zip lining, mountain biking, and hang gliding.
4. Austin to San Antonio
Austin to San Antonio is a considerably shorter, simpler road trip route in Texas that links two distinctive and vibrant cities. The trip along the I-35 is a leisurely eighty kilometers long. Most people find that the drive only takes 1.5 hours. However, if you make the most of the trip, it may (and should) take considerably longer. You should add it to your list of road trips in Texas.
You’ll catch glimpses of Canyon Lake’s breathtaking natural landscape while driving, but taking a few breaks from the highway to see the quirky diners and little towns right off the main route is worth taking a few breaks. Visit the communities of New Braunfels and San Marcos to go river rafting or swimming.
Take a refreshing inner tube ride on the San Marcos River (ideal in the summer heat) by renting one from Texas State Tubes or Lions Club Tube Rental. The Comal and Guadalupe rivers converge near New Braunfels. This provides an opportunity to observe, capture images, or go floating in the water.
5. Galveston to Port Aransas
Although the West Coast is often considered the best, what about the third coast? Texas has the sixth-longest coastline in the nation, spanning 367 miles. Compared to the East and West coasts, where some of the most expensive real estate in the world has an ocean view, most people who live in Texas’ beach areas are from the working class.
Start your journey 50 miles from Houston on the island city of Galveston. Galveston is home to attractions like the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and the Moody Gardens. The state’s nicest beaches are a bit further south, but fortunately, there’s a lovely route down State Highway 35 to get there.
The path winds through marshlands, offering glimpses of the Gulf Coast as it meanders through charming villages like West Columbia. West Columbia was the Republic of Texas’s capital for eight months in 1836, and the fish lover’s paradise of Rockport. At last, the trip will end in Port Aransas, one of Texas’s most picturesque beach communities.
Fresh seafood from the Gulf Coast may be found there, along with 18 miles of white sand beaches. During the winter, don’t forget to detour at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. It is home to the final wild flock of endangered whooping cranes. Sea turtle hatchlings travel great distances to reach the ocean between April and August. After this, we bet you’ll conclude that this is one of the best road trips in Texas.
7. Houston & the Gulf Coast
There are a ton of beaches, birdwatching options, kayaking, and coastal socializing to be had on a drive around the Gulf Coast. Enjoy the food and culture of Houston, then stop for a visit to Space Center Houston on your way. Galveston is the first destination on the Gulf, a barrier island renowned for its classic Southern charm and sunny beaches.
While restaurants and galleries flourish in pedestrian-friendly Rockport, whooping cranes spend the winter at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Go kayaking, windsurfing, and driving on the beach at Padre Island National Seashore to escape the crowd. After visiting Corpus Christi’s museums and aquarium, head south to South Padre Island to finish your journey with a joyful embrace of beach living.
8. El Paso Road Trip
An El Paso road trip is a must-do if you want to experience what it’s like to be a cowboy exploring Texas for the first time—although in a cool, air-conditioned vehicle rather than on horseback. El Paso is a vast metropolis surrounded by low, undulating Texas highlands and desert habitats. It’s a great Texas road trip idea.
Several state and national parks in the vicinity are excellent for hiking. We suggest doing the 281-mile El Paso loop throughout at least a long weekend. But, if your schedule allows, you can extend the journey to five days or a whole week. The first visit is Hueco Tanks State Park, a small park about an hour away that offers guided tours of its historic rock art and unique granite landscapes that are ideal for climbing.
After that, travel for a further one and a half hours to reach Guadalupe Mountains National Park, home of the four highest mountains in Texas as well as the largest fossil reef in the world. Don’t forget your ultimate road trip checklist on this journey. It comes in handy!
9. Route 66 and The Texas Panhandle
The well-known Route 66 travels 177 miles through the Texas Panhandle, connecting it to New Mexico at the border with Oklahoma. Depending on whatever Texas city you fly into, travelers can start in Texola in the extreme east or embark on the journey west from any little villages along the route, such as Adrian.
The Panhandle’s must-see towns along Route 66 are McLean, Shamrock, Groom, Conway, and Amarillo. Compared to other parts of the state, the Texas Panhandle offers utterly unique scenery. Its broad, grassy plains are breathtaking. Also, visitors can also stop by Palo Duro Canyon State Park while traveling this route.
10. Twisted Sisters Motorcycle Route
The Twisted Sisters motorcycling Route, which consists of three Farm to Market roads, is often regarded as the most difficult motorcycling loop in the state. It’s also one of the most scenic drives and road trips in Texas.
The Twisted Sisters run northwest of San Antonio through the center of the Hill Country. Expect mild hills, rich live oaks, and limestone outcroppings. However, the road can be dangerous for motorcycle riders; a sign along FM 336 cautions that ten bikers have died on the Twisted Sisters since 2006. For seasoned motorcycle lovers, however, the legendary loop’s twists bends, and occasionally rough roads are a thrill to experience.
Leakey, Texas, is the starting and ending point of The Twisted Sisters. After visiting the Twisted Sisters, think about unwinding along the Frio River’s banks, dotted with bald cypress trees that turn an exquisite shade of umber in the fall.
11. Gruene to Fredericksburg
Anybody who grew up in Central Texas knows there aren’t many options for easy day trips in the area. But the drive between Gruene and Fredericksburg is breathtaking. The state’s longest running dance hall, Gruene Hall, is the main attraction of this small German-Texan town called Gruene. Gruene Hall is a legendary Texas venue worth seeing on its own.
Notable performers include Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, and George Strait. Originally founded by German immigrants interested in cotton growing, Gruene is home to the Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar, formerly powered by the flowing waters of the Guadalupe. The gin was a massive structure in town that had been converted into a fine dining establishment.
12. Dallas, Fort Worth & Northeast Texas
This is the last on our list of the best road trips in Texas. Outdoor adventure, oil derricks, museums, and stockyards. It’s all Texas on this road trip. Explore the ancient stockyards of Fort Worth, a stop for cattle runs on the Chisholm Trail. Then explore art and history in Dallas, a luxury oil industry city. These are all incredible ways to have fun on your trip. The city also has the Sixth Floor Museum, which investigates JFK’s assassination here in 1963.
Drive through Northeast Texas, sometimes called the Piney Woods because of its vast pine trees, eastward from Dallas. While oil wells in Kilgore evoke thoughts of wealth, roses and springtime azaleas, provide Tyler with a well-manicured beauty. The marshy Caddo Lake’s moss-covered cypress trees, which branch off into bayous and rivers ideal for daring paddlers, are where the beauty gets wild—and a little scary. Relax in charming Jefferson, a spirited 1800s riverboat town today renowned for its brick streets, Greek-revival mansions, and soft Southern charm.
Conclusion
So there you have it – the ultimate guide to road trips in Texas! With its stunning landscapes, rich history, and warm hospitality, the Lone Star State is the perfect destination for your next adventure. Hit the road, and let Texas leave you in awe.
