The state of Texas is very large. Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso are easy to reach launch pads for scenic road trips. There are a lot of lonely roads in West Texas.
Route 66 in the Panhandle Plains is one of the best road trips in Texas. What's the top tip? Wherever you are, brake for dance halls.
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San Antonio–Austin is 200 miles.
In the spring, the Hill Country is one of the prettiest places in Texas. If you want to see the bats swoop out from beneath the South Congress Bridge, you can go to Austin. The small town of Jester King Brewery is known as the Gateway to the Hill Country. Wine country starts here as well.
The Lyndon B Johnson National Historic Park highlights the local roots of the 36th president of the United States. After hiking up the granite dome at the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, you can visit antique shops and museums in the city of Fredericksburg. San Antonio has The Alamo and the gorgeous River Walk.
New San Antonio Rose by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, On the Road Again by Willie Nelson, Amarillo by Morning, and What I Like about Texas are some of the Texas songs you should plan on listening to.
The El Paso– El Paso area is 900 miles long.
The Big Bend region of West Texas is not the center of nowhere. El Paso is a starting point for exploration of West Texas. The highest peak in Texas can be seen from a drive through the high desert. After cooling off in the spring-fed pool at Balmorhea State Park, go to the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis to see the stars.
There is a school desk at the top of the hill that attracts hikers. Go through Marathon and then drive into the park. Stargazing, hiking in the Chisos Mountains, and looking at Santa Elena Canyon are some of the highlights here. The Rio Grande feels like your sidekick as you drive through the park. MarFA is the right kind of weird because of its minimalist art, mysterious lights, and delicious Marfalafel. Just as you think you are driving back into normal on your return to El Paso, Prada MarFA says, "Not quite yet."
Houston and South Padre Island are 600 miles apart.
There are many beaches on the Gulf Coast. Space Center Houston is where the tram passes the Apollo Mission Control Center on your way to the coast. The barrier island of Galveston is the first stop on the Gulf. The Aransas National Wildlife refuge has cranes that winter there.
Port Aransas is a small beach town with a large personality. You can kayak, windsurf, and drive on the beach at Padre Island National seashore. After visiting museums and the aquarium in Corpus Christi, you can take a drive to South Padre Island. It may be too festive during spring break.
You can let the Texas landscape surprise you. There are at least 35 ecoregions here. White-sand beaches are not the only part of the picture. The head of cattle here is outnumbered by animals. There are many reasons to visit Texas.
Amarillo– Amarillo is 450 miles long.
The Mother Road and the Panhandle Plains are covered in wind. Amarillo is located halfway between Chicago and Los Angeles on the old Route 66. The Big Texan Steak Ranch has a neon sign. Diners can get a free 72oz steak if they can eat it in an hour. The Leaning Water Tower, the World's Tallest Cross, the barbed wire museum, and the U-Drop Inn are all located on Route 66.
The second largest canyon in the US behind the Grand Canyon is located south of the plains. The Panhandle Plains Historical Museum and the Buddy Holly Center are both located in Lubbock. Cadillac Ranch is on the western outskirts of Amarillo and is where 10 Cadillacs are buried. Route 66 overlaps with I-40 in Texas.
The distance from Fort Worth to Jefferson is 250 miles.
There are museums, oil derricks and stockyards. It's all Texas on this road trip. You can explore the historic stockyards in Fort Worth, a stop for cattle drives on the Chisholm Trail, then check out art and history in Dallas. The Sixth Floor Museum is located in the city and tells the story of JFK's assassination.
Northeast Texas is known as the Piney Woods because of it's extensive pine forests. Oil wells bring money to Kilgore, while roses and azaleas bring charm to Tyler. The cypress trees in Caddo Lake are moss-covered and ready-made for canoes and kayaks. The Greek Revival homes, brick streets, and gentile Southern spirit of Jefferson are what make it famous.
In Dallas, stretch your legs. You will appreciate the fact that the major art and history sights are close together. You can walk or take the McKinney Ave trolley to get to the downtown museums and arts district.
If you take the detour, you'll be able to reach Austin–Gruene in 100 miles.
There are two things Texas does very well. Dance halls and BBQs. The road trip isn't the most scenic or the most direct, but it is still a blast. Bring a portable chair and rest your legs while waiting in the line at Franklin BBQ in Austin, you're going to need them at full strength later with all the two-stepping going on at the legendary BrokenSpoke. If you want to dance, go west to the Hill Country and then go to Salt Lick for the all-you-can- eat platter.
There's a BBQ quadruple threat in Lockhart. Designated the BBQ capital of Texas by the state legislature, it is home to several BBQ restaurants. It takes 45 minutes to get to the dance floor. It is the oldest continuously operating dance hall in Texas. Every night, there is music. The beer was cold. It's guaranteed that you'll be happy.
It takes 75 miles from Driftwood to Llano to get to Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ. They are Texas classics and worth a trip if you are serious about barbecue. You can stop by the state natural area on your way to Luckenbach. One of the most famous dance halls in the world is located in Luckenbach. It is a laid back place to drink a beer on a lazy day.
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