Are you looking for Texas road trips?
Then you are in the right place!
Texas is a huge state that is best discovered by hitting the open road.
Famous for delicious Texas barbecue, cowboy culture, and true southern hospitality, Texas will not disappoint!
We were born and raised in the great state of Texas and still call it home.
This means you are in good hands while exploring this list of road trips in Texas.
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1. Texas Road Trip to the Hill Country
Towns Include:
- Austin
- Wimberley
- Fredericksburg
- San Antonio
The beautiful Texas Hill Country draws visitors from all over the world.
People come to this part of Texas to see the beautiful rolling Texas hills and explore the Texas wine country.
Some of our favorite small towns in Texas are in this area, too!
Austin
Begin your trip in the Texas State Capitol, Austin.
Here, you can explore the state capitol building, eat some great food, and enjoy the live music scene that Austin is so famous for.
Austin is also full of outdoor activities. Hike Mount Bonnell to get a great view of the area, or paddle your day away on Lady Bird Johnson Lake, one of the lakes in Austin.
Of course, visitors flock to Austin’s Congress Street Bridge to see the bat colony go out for their nightly feeding.
Wimberley
Driving about 45 minutes southwest of Austin, you will find the Wimberley, Texas, artsy community.
Wimberley is home to the spring-fed Jacob’s Well and the Blue Hole Regional Park, both popular Texas swimming holes.
You can also visit the popular Hamilton Pool swimming hole to swim and see one of the waterfalls in Texas.
While in the small town of Wimberley, Texas, you can visit the many wineries and distilleries that are called this part of the Texas Hill Country home.
Fredericksburg
Our next stop is Fredericksburg, a German settlement that is today one of the premier wine regions in Texas.
While here, you should visit one of the best wineries in Fredericksburg and do a wine tasting (or two).
You should also stay in one of the charming family-owned bed-and-breakfast hotels in Fredericksburg.
This Texas road trip is great anytime, but it is especially beautiful in the spring when all the Texas wildflowers bloom.
If you are visiting in spring, add the gorgeous Willow City Loop to your Texas Hill Country itinerary.
If you have extra time in Fredericksburg, consider taking a day trip to Marble Falls.
Marble Falls is a great little lakeside town with fun boutique shops and an epic pie shop, Bluebonnet Cafe.
Of course, it is also a great area to see all of the Texas bluebonnets if you visit during spring.
If you have time, you can also check out nearby Johnson City, TX. Johnson City is full of history and well worth exploring!
San Antonio
Our final stop on this epic Texas road trip is San Antonio.
The most popular attraction in San Antonio is the San Antonio River Walk.
The River Walk is a great place to grab a great meal, drink a margarita, and do some serious people-watching.
Of course, the River Walk isn’t the only thing to do in San Antonio.
Be sure to visit the San Antonio Mission Trail, including the famous Alamo.
San Antonio also has a great botanic garden, fabulous parks, great shopping, and many beaches and state parks nearby!
2. Route 66 Road Trip in Texas
Attractions on the road trip:
- Route 66
- Amarillo
- Cadillac Ranch
Amarillo and Route 66
The historic Route 66 cuts through a portion of the Texas panhandle from Oklahoma to New Mexico.
If you make the entire Texas portion of the trip, it is only 178 miles!
Granted, there aren’t many towns on this Texas road trip, but it should be on your bucket list.
Many people who stop in Amarillo on a road trip go to the Big Texan Steak Ranch to try the 72-oz steak challenge.
If you can eat the steak and all the side items within the allotted time, your meal is free, and you will get your picture on the wall.
Of course, along the way, you will want to visit the popular roadside attraction, Cadillac Ranch.
This 1974 art exhibition comprises ten cars (Cadillacs) stuck nose down in the desert landscape.
Other stops along Route 66 include Dot’s Mini-Museum, the Vega Motel near the New Mexico border, and Midpoint Café, a 1950s dining establishment.
3. Road Trips in Texas to the Gulf Coast
Cities Include:
- Galveston
- Corpus Christi
- South Padre Island
Galveston
A Texas road trip along the Gulf of Mexico will have you traveling to some of the best cities on the Texas coast.
It’s hard to believe that Texas has over 3,000 miles of coastline. That makes for an epic road trip, for sure!
The first stop on this road trip is in the fun seaside town of Galveston, Texas.
Galveston has played a big role in Texas history. Thanks to its bustling port, it was once one of the wealthiest towns in the United States.
Galveston is a great city to enjoy the best beaches in Texas, do some bird watching, or ride the amusement park rides at the Historic Pleasure Pier.
Corpus Christi
After leaving Galveston, hit the road for the next stop on this Texas road trip, Corpus Christi.
While in Corpus Christi, visit the Texas State Aquarium and tour the USS Lexington.
South Padre Island
Our final stop on this Texas road trip is South Padre Island.
South Padre Island is popular for the epic spring break parties that happen here each spring, but there is more to South Padre Island than that.
Along the way, explore the island’s 113 miles of Texas coastline before heading into town to discover what Padre Island offers.
You can enjoy Schlitterbahn Water Park or get your adrenaline fix at Gravity Park.
Of course, taking a fishing or sailing charter from Padre is always a good idea.
Many are offered year-round thanks to the tropical climate found here.
4. West Texas Road Trip
This road trip includes:
- Marfa
- Terlingua
- Big Bend
Marfa
The vast land in West Texas will help visitors understand why we always say, ‘Everything is bigger in Texas.’
The sprawling landscape of this area is something that should be on everyone’s bucket list.
You don’t want to miss it!
Road trips in Texas that include Big Bend should also include stops in Marfa and Terlingua along the way.
The small town of Marfa will have you trying to decide if the Marfa lights are one of the area’s natural wonders or are from aliens.
It will also have you exploring Texas history museums and eating great food.
Terlingua and Big Bend
Terlingua is an eccentric Texas town known as a Texas ghost town.
This tiny town is home to some quirky places to stay, some interesting roadside attractions, and a population of 50 people!
This is one of the best Texas road trips for outdoor lovers, and it ends up in Big Bend National Park.
Big Bend National Park encompasses over 1,200 acres of land just waiting to be explored.
Take note, though, that this national park is known for its harsh environment, so be careful!
While in the area, don’t forget to visit Big Bend Ranch State Park.
The largest state park in Texas, Big Bend Ranch, has incredible night sky views, hiking trails, and canyon views.
Another great small town in this area is Alpine, Texas.
5. El Paso Loop Road Trip
This road trip includes:
- El Paso
- Guadalupe Mountains State Park
- Fort Davis
El Paso
Many people don’t know about the El Paso Loop road trip, but I am here to tell you that it should be on your Lone Star State road trip list.
This road trip will take you to a remote area of far west Texas, where you will see some amazing views and explore the landscape.
You can start by exploring Franklin Mountain State Park before visiting the town’s attractions, such as the El Paso Museum of Art.
There are some great restaurants and lots of pretty murals around El Paso.
You can leave the city and visit Hueco Tanks State Park, where you can see the unusual granite features that draw many rock climbers to this area.
Guadalupe Mountain State Park
About 1.5 hours from the Hueco Tanks State Park is the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, home to the world’s largest fossil reef!
Fort Davis
The small town of Fort Davis is also on this Texas road trip.
You can explore Davis Mountain State Park, the Fort Davis Historic Site, and the historic downtown area here.
6. Piney Woods of East Texas Road Trip
Cities include:
- Canton
- Tyler
- Longview
Canton
A road trip through the Piney Wood of East Texas is one of the best Texas road trips for nature lovers.
Drive a couple of hours east of Dallas-Fort Worth, and you will feel like you are in a different area of Texas.
The first stop here is the small town of Canton, Texas.
This little town is known for the world’s largest flea market, which takes place on the first Monday weekend of every month.
When they say the world’s largest flea market, they mean it.
The population of the town skyrockets during these weekends!
Tyler
After exploring Canton, head to Tyler, Texas, which has many great restaurants, shopping, and a fabulous lake.
They are also famous for their Tyler roses and are home to the largest rose garden in the United States.
Longview
Your final stop on the Piney Woods road trip is Longview.
Longview is a great place to visit when the fall foliage covers this area.
Longview is also home to great museums, restaurants, and cute shops.
This is also one of the best road trips for festival lovers, as Longview is known to host several festivals throughout the year.
You can also do the Piney Woods Wine Trail while in this area.
This wine trail has you visiting some of the great Texas wineries that call this region of Texas home.
While in the area, check out the wineries in East Texas!
7. International Cities of Texas Road Trip
Cities Include:
- Dublin
- West
- Fredericksburg
- Castroville
- Paris
Thanks to the road trips in Texas that include the cities formed by international immigrants, you don’t have to leave Texas to feel like you have traveled internationally.
These towns are evidence of the diversity and culture of the people of Texas.
Dublin
About 1.5 hours southwest of Fort Worth, you will find the small central Texas town of Dublin.
Dublin is a small Texas city big on personality and fully embraces its Irish culture.
While visiting, you can make your soda at Dublin Bottling Works before eating one of their delicious hamburgers on-site at Doc’s Soda Shop.
Take your picture with the 4-leaf clover sign and the other murals you will find around town. You can also shop for Irish souvenirs at Things Celtic.
This fun store has everything from kilts to keychains.
While in Dublin, you must visit Veldhuizen Cheese and taste some delicious homemade cheeses.
West
West is a small city about an hour south of Dallas.
West is best known for its amazing kolaches. That is thanks to the Czech heritage that shaped this town.
The best time to experience all things Czech is during their annual Westfest.
Westfest celebrates all things Czech!
Visitors to West during this festival can enjoy dancing the polka to a live band, shopping the many great vendors, and eating their hearts full of Czech food!
Fredericksburg
Immersing yourself in the German heritage of Fredericksburg is easy.
The German influence is everywhere in this city.
Start by visiting Fredericksburg’s Pioneer Museum to learn how the first German settlers lived. Here, you can tour homes and see artifacts from this era.
You can also drink German beer and wine and eat delicious German food here.
Castroville
A visit to Castroville, Texas, will make you think you have been transported to a small town in the French countryside.
The half-timbered Steinbach Haus is the perfect place to start your journey.
This house was built in the early 1600s and was imported to Castroville!
This isn’t the only house, though; there are examples of Alsatian architecture all over town.
Visit the boutique shops in town to find the perfect ‘French’ souvenir before grabbing a tasty treat from Haby’s Alsatian Bakery.
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About the Author
Michelle Snell-Founder/Writer
Born and raised in Texas, Michelle Snell graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and her Master’s Degree from Texas Wesleyan University. Her passion for travel has taken her all over the world. She has received multiple awards for her writing. She has been featured in numerous publications, including Travel Awaits, Fort Worth Magazine, Fort Worth Weekly, NewsBreak, Voyage Dallas, Ella Inspires Magazine, and more. You can view her complete profile on MuckRacks.
Jen | Local Love & Wanderlust
Saturday 8th of July 2023
Good reference, my inlaws moved to Texas - if we ever visit them this will come in handy.
texasonly
Monday 10th of July 2023
Thanks for checking it out, Jen!
A Capone Connection
Saturday 8th of July 2023
I'm going to be in San Antonio in September so this is super helpful. Thanks so much! I love road trips.
texasonly
Monday 10th of July 2023
I'm so glad to hear this! I hope you have fun!
Alyssa
Saturday 17th of June 2023
These are so great! I went to Austin for a wedding a few years ago and had an awsome time checking out the music scene. I would love to spend more time there and do some Texas road tripping!
texasonly
Sunday 18th of June 2023
Yes, Austin has an awesome music scent. Texas is a great place to road trip option. The sheer size means there are so many fun itineraries you can create!
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