Every time is a great time to plan road trips by yourself or with family and/or friends, don’t you think? Luckily, Texas offers many fun-filled road trip ideas, whether you want to go hiking, tubing, sightseeing, or simply drive through beautiful countryside. If you’re short on ideas for road trips, these are some of the best road trips in Texas you could possibly take:

1) Dinosaur Valley State Park
Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glen Rose, TX 76043, USA
Randall Chancellor/Flickr
Walk in the tracks of dinosaurs along the Paluxy River in Glen Rose, just outside of Fort Worth. You can actually see old dinosaur tracks in the riverbed, and track sites are clearly marked on a map so you can easily locate the footprints of these ancient creatures. Probably one of the coolest road trips you will ever take. Learn more about the park here.
2) Enchanted Rock
Enchanted Rock, Texas 78643, USA
Grauke/O/Flickr
This giant mount of molten magma is an absolute must-see for every Texan; while you're in Fredericksburg, you can also explore this charming small town full of bakeries with a German flair, main-street boutiques, and family-owned peach orchards. Read more about this intriguing state park here.
3) Cascade Caverns
Cascade Caverns Road, Cascade Cavern, Boerne, TX, USA
Amy the Nurse/Flickr
Take a tour of this cave system just north of San Antonio; if you want to beat the Texas summer heat, this is a perfect way to do it, since the cave doesn't get about 64 degrees all year round. Click here to learn more!
4) West Texas
Wes Browning/Flickr
You'll have to drive pretty far to get here, but it's well-worth it to see the Guadalupe Mountains, Big Bend National Park, and the Franklin Mountains in El Paso. You can also go down into Marfa and check out the famous Marfa lights.
5) East Texas
Daniel/Flickr
East Texas has its own small-town country charm, with hundreds of miles of thick forests, towering pine trees, and little towns to stop in for some serious southern comfort food done right. From Beaumont it takes about 4 hours to reach Texarkana, so this makes for a perfect family road trip, and you can stay at a bed and breakfast somewhere along the way to get the full East Texas experience.
6) Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX, USA
Brandon Watts/Flickr
Take a drive into South Texas and relax on some of the best beaches in the state, see aquatic life up-close-and-personal at the Texas State Aquarium, or take a tour of the famous USS Lexington battle ship, now transformed into a museum. While in Corpus Christi, you might want to try out this handy itinerary!

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7) Texas Hill Country
David/Flickr
With so much to see in this part of a state, a road trip to the hill country is definitely in order. Drive through the cascading hills of Marble Falls, tube the Guadalupe, Comal and San Marcos Rivers, explore the many state parks in the area such as Pedernales Falls, or spend the day splashing and sliding at Schlitterbahn. The beauty of the hill country is just something everyone should experience, especially in the summertime. When it comes to the very best road trips in Texas, this one is among the most scenic!
8) Austin
Austin, TX, USA
Ed Schipul/Flickr
Arguably the best city in Texas, you will never get bored in the capital city. Eat at some of the most unique restaurants in the state, see the bats fly out from under the Congress Ave Bridge in the summer, take a tour of the Texas Capitol Building, visit one of the many music festivals held in the city, or go paddle-boarding on Lady Bird Lake. Oh, and if you really can't find anything to do, you could always get a tattoo (there's a shop on almost every street in Austin). You won't believe how beautiful Austin can be!
9) Houston
Houston, TX, USA
Mr. Jason Hayes/Flickr
You can eat almost every single kind of cuisine in the world and never even leave this city. Aside from the wide variety of food, Houston also has one of the largest gallerias in the country for the shopaholics out there, plus plenty of museums and theaters for art and science lovers. Read more about Houston here.
10) Paris
Paris, TX, USA
Drriss & Marrionn/Flickr
You don't have to go to France to see the Eiffel Tower..we have our own little replica right here in Paris, Texas! In addition to this widely popular landmark, you can also tour the historic district with beautiful old homes, art galleries, museums, and shopping at the Town Square. Click here for more about this quirky little place.
11) Route 66
U.S. Route 66, U.S. Rte 66, Amarillo, TX, USA
Albert Mock/Flickr
Drive along the legendary Route 66 in the Texas Panhandle, which will take you 178 miles through old ghost towns and historic relics and attractions, such as the Devil's Rope Museum and Phillip's 66 Service Station in McLean, Bugg Ranch in Conway, and the highly-visited Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo. While I-40 has replaced much of the original route, some remnants of 66 parallel the interstate as a frontage road. Click here for the ultimate Route 66 road trip!
12) San Antonio
San Antonio, TX, USA
Brandon Watts/Flickr
This city is overflowing with a mix of the Spanish culture, lively nightlife, fun family attractions, and historic sites like The Alamo. Top things to do include taking a stroll down the River Walk, trying the delicious authentic Mexican food, visiting SeaWorld and Six Flags, and sight-seeing in the historic districts of the city. Read more about the beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk here.

Ready to hop in your car and hit the road yet? What do you consider to be the best road trips in Texas? Tell us all about them in the comments – we love to hear from you!

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Best Road Trips in Texas

Tori Jane | September 04, 2021

What are some must-visit attractions in Texas? 

Texas is an enormous state with lots to see and do, so it can be a little overwhelming to try and narrow it down when you visit. But, hey, we’ve done the hard work for you – some of our picks for the must-visit attractions in the Lone Star State include the world-famous San Antonio River Walk, which extends for several miles along the San Antonio River. It’s scenic, especially for a cityscape, and definitely worth a trip. Of course, there’s also the Alamo, which is easily one of Texas’s most major points of historical pride. Even if you’re not a big fan of history, this one is still one you’ve got to experience at least once. Nature Lovers have cause to rejoice as well; Texas is home to places like Big Bend National Park, which is unbelievably beautiful year-round, and Padre Island National Seashore is another naturally beautiful must-see.  

What are some must-do things to do in Texas?  

There are plenty of things to add to your must-do list in Texas. For example, the State Capitol is a fascinating place to visit. If you’re looking for more nature-oriented must-dos, you’re in luck; Texas is home to 80 state parks and two National Parks. They are each filled with wonder and intrigue, as well as all the natural beauty you could ever ask for. Who says Texas isn’t beautiful? Someone who’s never been there, probably. You should also visit the beaches and caverns throughout the state. Texas has an amazing 367 miles of perfect shoreline that is sure to thrill you, especially when you see it for the first time.  

What places to visit in Texas should I add to my bucket list?  

It might be easier to list things you should skip putting on your bucket list because it doesn’t get a whole lot more epic than most of Texas! Other than the more obvious places like The Alamo and downtown San Antonio, you’ll want to visit places like Deep Ellum, which is located in downtown Dallas. It’s an awesome arts district with theatres, music venues, breweries, local shops and restaurants, and more. You’ll also want to check out the beautiful Palo Duro Canyon, and the world-famous Hamilton Pool in Dripping Springs cannot be passed up by any reasonable visitor. You should check out some of the awesome small towns around the state, too! For more of our favorite gems in Texas, take a look at this article.

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