Are you able to tick off an journey to the enduring Lone Star state? Texas is big in measurement and repute. If you wish to transcend the same old, weekend getaways in Texas are a implausible option to join with this stunning place on a deeper stage. Texas is understood for its meals scene, southern hospitality, and – in fact – that love-it or -hate-it cowboy tradition.
Texas has some fabulous cities, together with Austin and Dallas, however the state is way from simply massive cities and desert landscapes. There are lots of weekend journeys up its sleeve, from nationwide parks with climbing trails for nature lovers to small cities with historic locations and rural hospitality. So are you able to discover Texas? Let’s go!
Greatest Weekend Getaways in Texas
These high 26 weekend getaways in Texas will maintain you busy crisscrossing the Lone Star State. Texas is the right place for planning a weekend journey. from romantic getaways to outside getaways. Whether or not you’re a native or visiting one of many cities in Texas, these getaways have sufficient oomph to encourage you. From its UNESCO World Heritage Websites to historic districts, this submit has all of it lined up for you – so buckle up, and let’s get going.
1. Massive Bend Nationwide Park
With regards to weekend getaways in Texas, Massive Bend Nationwide Park is a high contender. This nationwide park spans greater than 800,000 acres of canyons, deserts, and mountains, making it a haven for climbing and biking trails. It’s the place to go in Texas for a weekend journey full of out of doors journey and delightful views.
For nature lovers, and people interested by outside sports activities like horseback using, climbing, and mountain biking, Massive Bend Nationwide Park is a dream come true. It is usually a high spot {for golfing}. Lajitas Golf Resort has a world-class golf course that pulls weekenders from all over the world.
Massive Bend Nationwide Park is positioned in West Texas, proper subsequent to the Mexican border. The closest metropolis to Massive Bend Nationwide Park is San Antonio, which is roughly a 6-hour drive.
There’s each tenting and lodging close by. The one lodging out there inside Massive Bend is Chisos Mountain Lodge.
2. San Antonio
Now that we’ve talked about the attractive San Antonio, it is just becoming that we point out it subsequent. Town is among the hottest getaways in Texas. Undoubtedly, its historic district and San Antonio River Stroll are main sights that impress even essentially the most sully of weekend guests.
San Antonio makes for the right cultural getaway with historic buildings and stay music venue decisions. In the event you’ve but to go to the town, a Texas weekend journey right here needs to be up your sleeve. For us, its historic background earned it a spot on this information. It’s residence to San Antonio Mission, in any case, a UNESCO World Heritage Website.
Town is a breeze to achieve by air, with common flights scheduled there internationally and domestically. It is usually only a 4-hour drive from Dallas, which is a dream to prepare.
3. South Padre Island Nationwide Seashore
South Padre Island National Seashore is a dreamy Texas weekend getaway. This stunning barrier island has sand for days, sea turtles, and sunshine. You may go tenting on sandy seashores, and boating on serene lagoons. The island has 66 miles of protected shoreline, blessed with many climbing trails to admire the attractive fauna and luxuriate in actions similar to chicken watching and horseback using. If you’d like a seaside vacation spot with a wow issue, the Nationwide Seashore ticks that field.
The turtles are the first draw of the Nationwide Seashore. The barrier island is a vital nesting seaside for Kemp Ridley turtles, one of the crucial endangered turtles on the earth. Whereas the plight of the Kemp Ridley turtles is heartbreaking, visiting the Nationwide Seashore and studying extra about their conservation is a worthy option to spend a weekend journey.
4. Dripping Springs
Dripping Springs won’t be the primary weekend getaway that pops into your thoughts. Nonetheless, this stunning small city makes the right Texas weekend getaway for anybody eager to expertise the agricultural fantastic thing about the Texas Hill Nation.
Dripping Springs is surrounded by verdant hills and greenery, chopping a stark distinction to the dusty roads out in West Texas. You’ll have the ability to spend hours paddling in creeks and visiting breweries and wineries galore. In truth, Dripping Springs is so stunning that it is called the Marriage ceremony Capital of Texas, with hundreds of {couples} heading to take pleasure in its small-town appeal city welcoming friends to take pleasure in scenic outside ceremonies.
Marriage ceremony or not, attending to Dripping Springs is a brief 50-minute drive from Austin. It is among the most accessible weekend getaways in Texas if you need a brief drive, not a weekend getaway that calls for a flight or highway journey. Easy and fairly, it’s a nice contender and stands out as a logo of the Texas Hill Nation.
5. Hamilton Pool Protect
If you’re heading to the Texas Hill Nation, Hamilton Pool Protect is among the finest weekend getaways. The pure pool is nearly fully encircled by hanging cliffs. For many who head right down to the water’s edge, you may entry a magical limestone grotto.
If you go to Hamilton Pool Protect, ensure to hike right down to the pool to take solace within the grotto’s shade to admire the water and picnic earlier than heading again up. Depart the swimsuit at residence although, there is no such thing as a swimming.
For these questioning what makes Hamilton Pool a standalone vacation spot, there are many issues to do. You may cease by Hamilton Pool Vineyards for a wine-tasting expertise. There are additionally tons of locations to eat and simply absorb the agricultural nature within the Texan Hills. It is usually only a 50-minute drive from Austin.
6. Guadalupe River State Park
You’ve simply acquired to like Guadalupe River State Park. Whereas swimming at Hamilton Pool is a no-go, this state park is a free-for-all. The 4-mile stretch of river is a scorching spot for swimmers, fishing, and canoeing. If you’d like water actions, it is among the finest Texas weekend journeys. And if you need a weekend getaway to take pleasure in river views, it’s dreamy for horseback using, climbing, or mountain biking.
Whereas the river itself stretches for 4 miles, the climbing and biking community is 13 miles. Guadalupe River State Park is an absolute heaven on Earth. On a scorching weekend, the shady riverside walks and swimming spots are a complete solace.
You may simply attain Guadalupe River State Park from San Antonio in lower than 50 minutes by automotive. Austin is equally good as a place to begin for touring to the state park.
7. Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park
On the opposite facet of the state in West Texas, Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park shares a part of a reputation however no different similarities. This nationwide park makes the right weekend getaway for anybody wanting a mountainous setting for outside actions.
The park straddles the Texan and New Mexico border. It’s fairly the mission to achieve – round 6 hours from San Antonio by automotive or 5 hours from Albuquerque should you fly and head over from the New Mexico facet. So, what precisely makes it worthwhile?
In a phrase, nature. The mountains have fossilized reef mountains, white sand dunes at Salt Basin, and delightful summit and canyon hikes. The entire park is breathtaking, and if you need that wow issue, it’s positively price the additional effort to get there. If you’re visiting the Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park for a weekend, we’d recommend choosing one principal hike to finish after which one or two different non-time-demanding sights.
8. El Paso
The historic city of El Paso is for anybody who desires to enterprise out of central Texas. El Paso is a border city, sitting proper on the US border with Mexico. It is among the finest weekend getaways in Texas if you wish to embrace the state’s Mexican affect.
From delicacies to tradition, you’ll see proof of El Paso’s Mexican affect all around the city. El Paso has such a powerful sense of tradition and identification that we simply had so as to add it to this record.
It’s truly simpler to achieve El Paso from Albuquerque than from the principle cities in Texas. From San Antonio, El Paso is a 7.5-hour drive away. From Albuquerque, it’s just below 4 hours. For that reason, it’s simpler to fly to Albuquerque and rent a car to drive to El Paso if touring from East Texas.
9. Dallas
It’s time for Dallas to inevitably shine. This main Texan metropolis is undoubtedly the most effective locations to go to in the whole state. It is usually the most effective contenders for weekend getaways in Texas.
A weekend is the right time to expertise a bitesize of Dallas that packs a punch. With a weekend, you may go to the main museums and artwork galleries, in addition to embrace the native eating scene and lingering cowboy heritage. The combo of artwork galleries and Texas historical past, just like the Sixth Ground Museum, make it splendid for an action-packed, compact itinerary
Attending to Dallas is simple. There are direct flights from all around the world, together with the US and past. Moreover, you may simply drive or catch a shuttle to Dallas from Texas’ main cities.
10. Fort Value
Fort Value is Cowboy nation. This central Texas metropolis has a wealth of Wild West heritage. If you’d like a extra genuine expertise than the sprawling metropolis of Dallas, Fort Value is a good possibility.
It is called the middle of the buying and selling of Texas Longhorn cattle, which has lengthy helped preserve its Western tradition and heritage. It’s much less touristy and extra laidback – mainly simply an genuine Wild West getaway. And its Stockyards Nationwide Historic District nonetheless has a each day cattle drive. Hop between honky tonks and cattle reveals, maybe pausing to purchase a cowboy hat or boots.
Attending to Fort Value is a breeze from any of the foremost cities in Texas. From Dallas, it’s simply 40 minutes by automotive and likewise possible by public transport – a uncommon factor relating to weekend getaways in Texas. You may catch public transport from Dallas to Fort Value in lower than 2 hours.
11. Rio Grande Metropolis
As a weekend getaway, how will you not be drawn to this little off-the-beaten-track city filled with tradition and sat on the Mexican border? It is among the oldest settlements within the southern area of Texas and is filled with historic buildings and tales.
Rio Grande Metropolis was additionally as soon as a major buying and selling submit between the US and Mexico. With BnBs and picturesque buildings, this small city makes for the right romantic weekend getaway. This border city is blessed with conventional structure, although, plus climbing and biking trails.
To achieve this too typically neglected city, it’s just below a 4-hour drive from San Antonio. You’ll be chopping by means of a few of Texas’ least touristy cities en route, so it is a superb drive for anybody wanting an genuine perception into Texas.
12. Austin
Austin is simply cool. The capital of Texas, it’s splendid for anybody wanting an enormous metropolis environment and a contemporary weekend break in Texas. It’s extensively praised for its stay music scene, and it has a glitzy skyline of iconic high-rises that sit alongside the Woman Fowl Lake waterfront. Downtown Austin is gorgeous, with Nineteenth-century structure that features the Texas State Capitol and plenty of locations to drink and dine. Learn extra: 29 Best Things to Do in Austin, Texas
Austin can also be simple to achieve, with worldwide and home flights scheduled all yr spherical. It is among the most simple Texan cities to achieve and straightforward to mix with the close by San Antonio.
13. Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is top-tier relating to romantic getaways in Texas. Why? There are two principal causes: wine and loads of tradition due to the town’s German historical past.
Fredericksburg is the place to go for wine tasting, with tasting rooms for wine lovers galore. You may as well add to the wine expertise with visits to locations just like the Nationwide Museum of the Pacific Conflict and the Pioneer Museum. Fredericksburg is a gateway to the Texas Hill Nation and wineries in Texas.
To get there, it’s a straightforward 1-hour drive from San Antonio. If you’re already visiting San Antonio, it’s simple so as to add to Fredericksburg.
14. Houston
Houston is among the most enjoyable weekend getaways in Texas and has tons of area sights. If you’d like an enormous metropolis environment or to go to the House Middle Houston, it is among the finest weekend getaway decisions. You may find out about NASA’s astronaut coaching and the historical past of US area exploration. It’s simple to see why Houston tops the record of finest locations to go to in Texas. There’s simply so much to do, and the area historical past makes it a high journey for anybody interested by area journey and exploration.
One other bonus of selecting Houston as your weekend journey is that it’s simple to achieve. You may catch shuttle providers like FlixBus or Greyhound from main cities like San Antonio in below 3.5 hours.
15. Gruene
Gruene is among the finest small-town weekend getaways in Texas and is right for music lovers. The city has Gruene Corridor – the oldest regularly working dance corridor in Texas, inbuilt 1878 and often internet hosting stay music occasions.
Gruene is sort of a romantic getaway alternative as effectively, with a powerful German affect that leaks into its structure and a picturesque location alongside the Guadalupe River. Music, structure, and hospitality are the three principal sights of Gruene.
To achieve this little city, it’s simply an hour’s drive from Austin or San Antonio. Gruene is tremendous conveniently positioned, and we love how simple it’s to achieve and its daring character, to not point out all of the music.
16. Amarillo
Does anybody acknowledge the music “Is This The Solution to Amarillo”? Amarillo has earned itself an virtually legendary repute due to its distant location within the far West of Texas.
The desert metropolis is within the Texas Panhandle and alongside the world-famous Route 66. If you wish to get deep into Texas and its most distant areas, a go to to the town of Amarillo needs to be in your playing cards. Whereas it’s best tackled by highway journey (it is Route 66 after all), you may as well fly to Amarillo to chop the journey time if you need weekend journeys in Texas.
Whereas there, you may go to the Cadillac Ranch – colourful vehicles dumped higgledy-piggledy nostril down within the sand – the American Quarter Horse Corridor of Fame, and the Panhandle-Plains Historic Museum. Amarillo has quite a lot of blocks to discover and a comparatively action-packed middle for such a distant metropolis. Amarillo isn’t the place to go for seaside city vibes, but it surely is among the finest Texas weekend journeys to expertise Route 66 nation.
17. Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a shocking 800-ft ravine with a wow consider bundles. The purple rock and shrubbery entice hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, and Palo Duro Canyon is among the high weekend getaways in Texas.
You may absorb the views from the community of multi-use trails. Or, for one thing barely totally different, head out to look at a musical manufacturing in an enormous outside amphitheater. If you’d like purple rock aesthetics and dramatic ravine surroundings, Palo Duro Canyon State Park is right.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is best to achieve from Amarillo in only a 40-minute drive or by driving 5.5 hours from Fort Value. The state park is within the far West of Texas, close to the Route 66 and New Mexico border.
18. Massive Spring State Park
Massive Spring State Park is a 382-acre beast of a recreation park, looped by a 3-mile monitor that includes picnic tables and scenic overlooks. If you’d like an easy-to-tackle hike, staying close to Massive Spring State Park is a implausible concept. You may spot the cacti and luxuriate in stunning lookouts, all inside the confines of a single park.
Massive Spring State Park is within the western Texas city of Massive Spring, stuffed with facilities and issues to do. It is a superb compromise for an city base with entry to stunning areas of pure magnificence.
To get to Massive Spring State Park, it’s a 4.5-hour drive from San Antonio. Subsequently, it’s a nice weekend journey should you depart as early as doable on Friday. It’s a scenic and adventurous drive, too, chopping by means of central Texas.
19. Aransas Nationwide Wildlife Refuge
Aransas Nationwide Wildlife Refuge covers a humongous space of over 70,000 acres. It’s primarily a wetland oasis – making it a scorching spot for chicken watching, particularly recognizing cranes. You may discover this wildlife refuge through a community of wood boardwalks, and you may peer right down to attempt to spot gators as you stroll. The Heron Flats Path is the preferred and needs to be on the high of your itinerary.
To get to Aransas Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, it’s best to achieve Corpus Christi, taking simply an hour and 40 minutes by automotive. Drop into the Claude F. Lard Customer Middle in your means.
20. Galveston
Galveston is a gulf coast city by itself barrier island, proper subsequent to the beautiful Galveston Island State Park. It’s ideally positioned to take pleasure in a metropolis break with proximity to seashores and state park greenery with wetlands. Its vacationer part within the metropolis middle can also be walkable – making it a dream for weekend getaways in Texas.
In the event you fancy a seaside break, Galveston has the seashores with all the joy of a metropolis break. You may benefit from the cheesiness of the Pleasure Pier earlier than heading to benefit from the nightlife.
To achieve Galveston, it’s a 50-minute drive from Houston, which is breezy to prepare over a weekend. It is among the shortest driving distances if you’re already staying in Houston and searching for a fast detour. From additional inland cities like Dallas, it’s a 4.5-hour drive however nonetheless completely possible for a coastal weekend break.
- The place to Keep: Grand Galvez
- The place to Eat: Tito’s Chow Down
21. Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi is among the finest weekend getaways in Texas if you need big-city vibes in a coastal setting. It’s the largest metropolis in east Texas. It’s scenically set alongside the Corpus Christi Bay inlet, that means guests are handled to beautiful waterfront views.
From Corpus Christi, you may as well spend a day at Padre Island, an amazing base to detour additional. You can spend at some point within the metropolis middle and at some point on the seaside on one of many barrier islands. Museums just like the Selena Museum and Artwork Middle are the best counterpart to a seaside day.
Town is only a 2-hour drive from San Antonio, so it’s simple to squeeze right into a weekend. You may as well fly there straight.
22. Glen Rose
Glen Rose is a city in central Texas which may have skipped your radar. If that’s the case, don’t fear, we’re right here to introduce it to you. The little city is superbly positioned in a inexperienced space and cut up in half by a well-liked river for native fishermen.
It’s primarily recognized for its parks and inexperienced area. Nonetheless, it was additionally a major moonshine space in Prohibition, and it gained the nickname of the Texas ‘whiskey woods capital’.
Glen Rose can also be positioned close to many dinosaur fossils, together with Dinosaur Valley State Pakr, which additionally earned a spot on this information. The 2 are shut sufficient to mix in a single journey, however they each justify a weekend’s go to in their very own proper. We’ll depart it as much as you to resolve whether or not you mix them or not.
To achieve Glen Rose, it’s an hour’s drive from Fort Value. Contemplate detouring to Cleburne State Park alongside the best way.
23. Pedernales Falls State Park
Pedernales Falls State Park is among the most beautiful weekend getaways in Texas. This 5,200-acre state park is so lush and inexperienced that it virtually feels sudden that you’d discover it in Texas.
The entire park is located across the river, with designated swimming areas and sections of white seaside. If you’d like greenery, Pedernales Falls State Park is your spot. You may take pleasure in all the things from climbing to horseback using, however we’d positively carry cameras and bathing fits. You may keep close by for a weekend after which enterprise into the park each days.
To get to Pedernales Falls State Park, drive from Austin in simply an hour. It’s a tremendous handy detour from Austin and a very good alternative for a weekend journey if you’re staying within the east of Texas.
24. Odessa
Odessa is an odd little city so as to add to your weekend getaways on a Texas bucket record. The city is positioned within the far West of Texas and is principally recognized for its oil rigs and cowboys. If you’d like a head-dunk-under-the-water model of immersion in Texan tradition, Odessa is ideal.
It’s off the usual vacationer path, but it surely has loads of sights, together with an extended record of galleries and music venues. It’s a diamond within the tough and splendid for any seasoned Texas vacationers trying so as to add a extra unconventional cease on their record.
The one option to attain Odessa is by automotive, and it’s roughly 5 hours by automotive from San Antonio. So far as Texan driving distances go, it’s a possible journey for a weekend. Nonetheless, you must manage an early departure on Friday and insure a few folks on the car to separate driving time up.
25. Dinosaur Valley State Park
Dinosaur Valley State Park is a fantastic state park that covers over 1,500 acres in a scenic riverside setting. You may take pleasure in miles of climbing trails, and spot two life-sized dinosaur fashions, plus the fossilized dinosaur footprints that give the park its title. Dinosaur Valley Park is right for households wanting a enjoyable weekend break in Texas. There are children’ play areas dotted across the park, too, which is an additional little bit of family-friendly enjoyable.
Dinosaur Valley State Park is simply 1.5 hours away from Dallas by automotive, making it a straightforward detour if you’re staying in Dallas already. The park is tremendous central and very easy to entry from any of the foremost cities within the east of Texas.
26. Mustang Island State Park
Mustang Island State Park is a virtually 4,000-acre protect on a barrier island within the east of Texas. If you’d like a coastal escape from Texas’ manic cities, the state park is among the main weekend getaways in Texas.
You may spot turtles, if you’re fortunate, which nest up on the sands. You may as well take pleasure in fishing, sunbathing, and scenic climbing trails. To actually immerse your self within the distant fantastic thing about the state park, it’s finest to go for a tenting expertise. There are campsites all through the state park, so it is possible for you to to search out stunning spots.
The state park is most simple to achieve from Corpus Christi, taking simply half-hour by automotive. It is among the finest weekend getaways if you’re already on the Texan shoreline.
Weekend Getaways in Texas: FAQs
Feeling impressed and able to choose your ‘winner’ from these high weekend getaways in Texas? Nice stuff. Earlier than you hurry up with a suitcase in hand, although, keep in mind to test the fundamentals. These widespread FAQs may appear quick and snappy, however they will make or break your journey. Take 30 seconds to scan this part for the necessities.
The place is finest to go for a weekend break?
Texas has sensible metropolis break locations, together with Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. If you’d like artwork galleries, historical past, and rodeos galore, these cities are high contenders for weekend breaks in Texas.
How do I plan a weekend journey on a price range?
Take a look at price range lodging like hostels and contemplate touring within the low season to lock in decrease room charges. Equally, weigh up your transport choices. It might be cheaper to get an in a single day Greyhound bus one-way. You also needs to try free issues to do within the vacation spot of your alternative.
How do I plan a weekend getaway alone?
Weekend getaways in Texas alone are so enjoyable. You need to plan to reach in new locations in sunlight hours and analysis the world of your lodging and its rankings beforehand. Contemplate guided excursions or hostel lodging so you may meet new folks.
What’s near Texas?
There’s a lot near Texas, together with inside the state itself. You can head to the east of Texas for a fantastic shoreline, or you would head West for Route 66 and cowboy tradition. You can additionally journey to the neighboring states of New Mexico, Louisiana, or Oklahoma
As you may see, weekend getaways in Texas are fairly particular. There’s a lot selection for weekend journeys throughout the state, and you must at the very least choose a couple of – if not, attempt to full this whole record. We love Texas’ sturdy sense of individuality, but additionally simply how a lot you may expertise in numerous corners of the state. From West Texas to the east of Texas, you may have a whole lot of weekend journeys to think about; these are simply the highest 26.
With that in thoughts, keep in mind to take a look at these top beaches in Texas. A Texas seaside day is all the time sensible. You’ll actually admire that well-known Texan sunshine whereas absorbing vitamin D on white sands. Have an exquisite time in your Texas journey of alternative.
