Take A Drive Down One Of Texas' Oldest Roads For A Picture Perfect Day
By Katie Lawrence|Published August 23, 2018
×
Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Want to travel the same path as Spanish Conquistadors did nearly 500 years ago? Just hop on the Old Spanish Trail – it spans the entirety of our state and showcases rich history, miles of uncharted territory, and breathtaking natural wonders. Plus, you can hop on and off at any point, so the drive can be completely tailored to suit your needs!
The trail once spanned 2,750 miles of roadway from sea to shining sea, crossing eight states and 67 counties. The center and headquarters was in San Antonio.
In Texas, the trail is still intact in many places. It runs across I-10 through Orange and Vidor before crossing the Purple Heart Bridge and detouring through Downtown Beaumont.
Entering Houston on the iconic Navigation Blvd, it passes Rice, UH, and the Astrodome before exiting the city as U.S. 90. Consider stopping at Ninfa's to fuel up for the rest of your drive!
As you inch closer and closer to West Texas, the OST passes through a town called Menard. It was the site of two Spanish missions in the mid-1700s before serving as a trading post and overnight stop on cattle trails over a century later.
There are so many interesting sights to take in along the way: defunct buildings, unique roadside attractions, and traces of the Spanish conquistadors that ruled the area so long ago, to name a few.
Some stretches of the road lead you through towns with more tumbleweeds than people, while other parts are nothing but untouched land for hundreds of miles. It's truly an amazing experience.
The final portion of the trail is part of U.S. 290, west of Ozona in Crockett & Pecos Counties. It crosses the Pecos River on an old iron bridge and passes through Sheffield before once again merging with I-10.
From rich history to unadulterated nature, the Old Spanish Trail encompasses everything we love most about the Lone Star State. It's absolutely worth the drive, and the best part is you can hop on and off at any point along the way!
Have you ever driven on the Old Spanish Trail? What about any of these scenic roads in Texas? Where do you go when you just need to jump in the car and get away for a while?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
