Are you able to tick off an journey to the enduring Lone Star state? Texas is big in dimension and repute. If you wish to transcend the standard, weekend getaways in Texas are a unbelievable strategy 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 many weekend journeys up its sleeve, from nationwide parks with mountaineering trails for nature lovers to small cities with historic locations and rural hospitality. So are you able to discover Texas? Let’s go!
Best Weekend Getaways in Texas
These prime 26 weekend getaways in Texas will hold you busy crisscrossing the Lone Star State. Texas is the proper place for planning a weekend journey. from romantic getaways to out of doors getaways. Whether 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 Sites to historic districts, this put up has all of it lined up for you – so buckle up, and let’s get going.
1. Big Bend National Park
When it involves weekend getaways in Texas, Big Bend National Park is a prime contender. This nationwide park spans greater than 800,000 acres of canyons, deserts, and mountains, making it a haven for mountaineering and biking trails. It is the place to go in Texas for a weekend journey full of out of doors journey and delightful views.
For nature lovers, and people in out of doors sports activities like horseback using, mountaineering, and mountain biking, Big Bend National Park is a dream come true. It can also be a prime spot {for golfing}. Lajitas Golf Resort has a world-class golf course that pulls weekenders from world wide.
Big Bend National Park is situated in West Texas, proper subsequent to the Mexican border. The closest metropolis to Big Bend National Park is San Antonio, which is roughly a 6-hour drive.
There is each tenting and lodging close by. The solely lodging obtainable inside Big Bend is Chisos Mountain Lodge.
2. San Antonio
Now that we’ve talked about the gorgeous San Antonio, it’s only becoming that we point out it subsequent. The metropolis is likely one of the hottest getaways in Texas. Undoubtedly, its historic district and San Antonio River Walk are main points of interest that impress even probably the most sully of weekend guests.
San Antonio makes for the proper cultural getaway with historic buildings and stay music venue selections. If you’ve but to go to town, a Texas weekend journey right here needs to be up your sleeve. For us, its historic background earned it a spot in this information. It is house to San Antonio Mission, in spite of everything, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The metropolis is a breeze to achieve by air, with common flights scheduled there internationally and domestically. It can also be only a 4-hour drive from Dallas, which is a dream to arrange.
3. South Padre Island National 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 can go tenting on sandy seashores, and boating on serene lagoons. The island has 66 miles of protected shoreline, blessed with many mountaineering trails to admire the gorgeous fauna and luxuriate in actions akin to hen watching and horseback using. If you desire a seashore vacation spot with a wow issue, the National Seashore ticks that field.
The turtles are the first draw of the National Seashore. The barrier island is a vital nesting seashore for Kemp Ridley turtles, one of the endangered turtles in the world. While the plight of the Kemp Ridley turtles is heartbreaking, visiting the National Seashore and studying extra about their conservation is a worthy strategy to spend a weekend journey.
4. Dripping Springs
Dripping Springs won’t be the primary weekend getaway that pops into your thoughts. However, this stunning small city makes the proper Texas weekend getaway for anybody desirous to expertise the agricultural fantastic thing about the Texas Hill Country.
Dripping Springs is surrounded by verdant hills and greenery, reducing 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 reality, Dripping Springs is so stunning that it is named the Wedding Capital of Texas, with 1000’s of {couples} heading to get pleasure from its small-town appeal city welcoming company to get pleasure from scenic out of doors ceremonies.
Wedding or not, attending to Dripping Springs is a brief 50-minute drive from Austin. It is likely one of the most accessible weekend getaways in Texas if you’d like a brief drive, not a weekend getaway that calls for a flight or highway journey. Simple and fairly, it’s a nice contender and stands out as an emblem of the Texas Hill Country.
5. Hamilton Pool Preserve
If you might be heading to the Texas Hill Country, Hamilton Pool Preserve is likely one of the greatest weekend getaways. The pure pool is nearly totally encircled by putting cliffs. For those that head all the way down to the water’s edge, you possibly can entry a magical limestone grotto.
When you go to Hamilton Pool Preserve, make sure that to hike all the way down to the pool to take solace in the grotto’s shade to admire the water and picnic earlier than heading again up. Leave the swimsuit at house although, there isn’t a swimming.
For these questioning what makes Hamilton Pool a standalone vacation spot, there are many issues to do. You can cease by Hamilton Pool Vineyards for a wine-tasting expertise. There are additionally tons of locations to eat and simply take in the agricultural nature in the Texan Hills. It can also be only a 50-minute drive from Austin.
6. Guadalupe River State Park
You’ve simply bought to like Guadalupe River State Park. While swimming at Hamilton Pool is a no-go, this state park is a free-for-all. The 4-mile stretch of river is a sizzling spot for swimmers, fishing, and canoeing. If you need water actions, it is likely one of the greatest Texas weekend journeys. And if you’d like a weekend getaway to get pleasure from river views, it’s dreamy for horseback using, mountaineering, or mountain biking.
While the river itself stretches for 4 miles, the mountaineering and biking community is 13 miles. Guadalupe River State Park is an absolute heaven on Earth. On a sizzling weekend, the shady riverside walks and swimming spots are a complete solace.
You can simply attain Guadalupe River State Park from San Antonio in lower than 50 minutes by automobile. Austin is equally good as a place to begin for touring to the state park.
7. Guadalupe Mountains National Park
On the opposite facet of the state in West Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park shares a part of a reputation however no different similarities. This nationwide park makes the proper weekend getaway for anybody wanting a mountainous setting for out of doors actions.
The park straddles the Texan and New Mexico border. It is kind of the mission to achieve – round 6 hours from San Antonio by automobile or 5 hours from Albuquerque when 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’d like that wow issue, it’s undoubtedly value the additional effort to get there. If you might be visiting the Guadalupe Mountains National Park for a weekend, we’d counsel choosing one most important hike to finish after which one or two different non-time-demanding points of interest.
8. El Paso
The historic city of El Paso is for anybody who needs to enterprise out of central Texas. El Paso is a border city, sitting proper on the US border with Mexico. It is likely one of the greatest 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 robust sense of tradition and id that we simply had so as to add it to this listing.
It is definitely 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 slightly below 4 hours. For this motive, it’s simpler to fly to Albuquerque and hire a automobile to drive to El Paso if touring from East Texas.
9. Dallas
It is time for Dallas to inevitably shine. This main Texan metropolis is undoubtedly probably the greatest locations to go to in your complete state. It can also be probably the greatest contenders for weekend getaways in Texas.
A weekend is the proper time to expertise a bitesize of Dallas that packs a punch. With a weekend, you possibly can go to the main museums and artwork galleries, in addition to embrace the native eating scene and lingering cowboy heritage. The mixture of artwork galleries and Texas historical past, just like the Sixth Floor Museum, make it superb for an action-packed, compact itinerary
Getting to Dallas is straightforward. There are direct flights from all around the world, together with the US and past. Furthermore, you possibly can simply drive or catch a shuttle to Dallas from Texas’ main cities.
10. Fort Worth
Fort Worth is Cowboy nation. This central Texas metropolis has a wealth of Wild West heritage. If you desire a extra genuine expertise than the sprawling metropolis of Dallas, Fort Worth is a good possibility.
It is named the middle of the buying and selling of Texas Longhorn cattle, which has lengthy helped keep its Western tradition and heritage. It is much less touristy and extra laidback – mainly simply an genuine Wild West getaway. And its Stockyards National 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.
Getting to Fort Worth is a breeze from any of the main cities in Texas. From Dallas, it’s simply 40 minutes by automobile and in addition possible by public transport – a uncommon factor relating to weekend getaways in Texas. You can catch public transport from Dallas to Fort Worth in lower than 2 hours.
11. Rio Grande City
As a weekend getaway, how are you going to not be drawn to this little off-the-beaten-track city full of tradition and sat on the Mexican border? It is likely one of the oldest settlements in the southern area of Texas and is filled with historic buildings and tales.
Rio Grande City was additionally as soon as a major buying and selling put up between the US and Mexico. With BnBs and picturesque buildings, this small city makes for the proper romantic weekend getaway. This border city is blessed with conventional structure, although, plus mountaineering and biking trails.
To attain this too usually ignored city, it’s slightly below a 4-hour drive from San Antonio. You’ll be reducing via a few of Texas’ least touristy cities en route, so it is a wonderful drive for anybody wanting an genuine perception into Texas.
12. Austin
Austin is simply cool. The capital of Texas, it’s superb for anybody wanting a giant metropolis ambiance and a contemporary weekend break in Texas. It is broadly praised for its stay music scene, and it has a glitzy skyline of iconic high-rises that sit alongside the Lady Bird Lake waterfront. Downtown Austin is gorgeous, with Nineteenth-century structure that features the Texas State Capitol and lots of locations to drink and dine. Read 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 likely one of the most simple Texan cities to achieve and simple to mix with the close by San Antonio.
13. Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is top-tier relating to romantic getaways in Texas. Why? There are two most important causes: wine and loads of tradition because of town’s German historical past.
Fredericksburg is the place to go for wine tasting, with tasting rooms for wine lovers galore. You can even add to the wine expertise with visits to locations just like the National Museum of the Pacific War and the Pioneer Museum. Fredericksburg is a gateway to the Texas Hill Country and wineries in Texas.
To get there, it’s a simple 1-hour drive from San Antonio. If you might be already visiting San Antonio, it’s straightforward so as to add to Fredericksburg.
14. Houston
Houston is likely one of the most fun weekend getaways in Texas and has tons of house points of interest. If you desire a massive metropolis ambiance or to go to the Space Center Houston, it is likely one of the greatest weekend getaway selections. You can study NASA’s astronaut coaching and the historical past of US house exploration. It is straightforward to see why Houston tops the listing of greatest locations to go to in Texas. There’s simply a lot to do, and the house historical past makes it a prime journey for anybody in house journey and exploration.
Another bonus of selecting Houston as your weekend journey is that it’s straightforward to achieve. You can catch shuttle companies like FlixBus or Greyhound from main cities like San Antonio in beneath 3.5 hours.
15. Gruene
Gruene is likely one of the greatest small-town weekend getaways in Texas and is good for music lovers. The city has Gruene Hall – the oldest regularly working dance corridor in Texas, constructed in 1878 and recurrently internet hosting stay music occasions.
Gruene is kind of a romantic getaway alternative as nicely, with a robust German affect that leaks into its structure and a picturesque location alongside the Guadalupe River. Music, structure, and hospitality are the three most important points of interest of Gruene.
To attain this little city, it’s simply an hour’s drive from Austin or San Antonio. Gruene is tremendous conveniently situated, and we love how straightforward it’s to achieve and its daring character, to not point out all of the music.
16. Amarillo
Does anybody acknowledge the tune “Is This The Way to Amarillo”? Amarillo has earned itself an virtually legendary repute because of its distant location in the far West of Texas.
The desert metropolis is in 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 town of Amarillo needs to be in your playing cards. While it’s best tackled by highway journey (it’s Route 66 in spite of everything), you can even fly to Amarillo to chop the journey time if you’d like weekend journeys in Texas.
While there, you possibly can go to the Cadillac Ranch – colourful vehicles dumped higgledy-piggledy nostril down in the sand – the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Amarillo has various blocks to discover and a comparatively action-packed heart for such a distant metropolis. Amarillo isn’t the place to go for seashore city vibes, nevertheless it is likely one of the greatest 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 issue in bundles. The crimson rock and shrubbery appeal to thousands and thousands of tourists every year, and Palo Duro Canyon is likely one of the prime weekend getaways in Texas.
You can take in the views from the community of multi-use trails. Or, for one thing barely completely different, head out to look at a musical manufacturing in an enormous out of doors amphitheater. If you need crimson rock aesthetics and dramatic ravine surroundings, Palo Duro Canyon State Park is good.
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 Worth. The state park is in the far West of Texas, close to the Route 66 and New Mexico border.
18. Big Spring State Park
Big Spring State Park is a 382-acre beast of a recreation park, looped by a 3-mile observe that includes picnic tables and scenic overlooks. If you need an easy-to-tackle hike, staying close to Big Spring State Park is a unbelievable concept. You can spot the cacti and luxuriate in stunning lookouts, all inside the confines of a single park.
Big Spring State Park is in the western Texas city of Big Spring, filled with facilities and issues to do. It is a wonderful compromise for an city base with entry to stunning areas of pure magnificence.
To get to Big Spring State Park, it’s a 4.5-hour drive from San Antonio. Therefore, it’s a nice weekend journey when you go away as early as potential on Friday. It is a scenic and adventurous drive, too, reducing via central Texas.
19. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge covers a humongous space of over 70,000 acres. It is basically a wetland oasis – making it a sizzling spot for hen watching, particularly recognizing cranes. You can discover this wildlife refuge by way of a community of wood boardwalks, and you’ll peer all the way down to attempt to spot gators as you stroll. The Heron Flats Trail is the most well-liked and needs to be on the prime of your itinerary.
To get to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, it’s best to achieve Corpus Christi, taking simply an hour and 40 minutes by automobile. Drop into the Claude F. Lard Visitor Center 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 is ideally situated to get pleasure from a metropolis break with proximity to seashores and state park greenery with wetlands. Its vacationer part in town heart can also be walkable – making it a dream for weekend getaways in Texas.
If you fancy a seashore break, Galveston has the seashores with all the thrill of a metropolis break. You can benefit from the cheesiness of the Pleasure Pier earlier than heading to benefit from the nightlife.
To attain Galveston, it’s a 50-minute drive from Houston, which is breezy to arrange over a weekend. It is likely one of the shortest driving distances in case you are already staying in Houston and in search of 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.
Where to Stay: Grand Galvez Where to Eat: Tito’s Chow Down
21. Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi is likely one of the greatest weekend getaways in Texas if you’d like big-city vibes in a coastal setting. It is the largest metropolis in east Texas. It is scenically set alongside the Corpus Christi Bay inlet, that means guests are handled to beautiful waterfront views.
From Corpus Christi, you can even spend a day at Padre Island, a terrific base to detour additional. You might spend sooner or later in town heart and sooner or later on the seashore on one of many barrier islands. Museums just like the Selena Museum and Art Center are the perfect counterpart to a seashore day.
The metropolis is only a 2-hour drive from San Antonio, so it’s simple to squeeze right into a weekend. You can even fly there immediately.
22. Glen Rose
Glen Rose is a city in central Texas that may have skipped your radar. If so, don’t fear, we’re right here to introduce it to you. The little city is superbly situated in a inexperienced space and break up in half by a well-liked river for native fishermen.
It is principally recognized for its parks and inexperienced house. However, it was additionally a main moonshine space in Prohibition, and it gained the nickname of the Texas ‘whiskey woods capital’.
Glen Rose can also be situated close to many dinosaur fossils, together with Dinosaur Valley State Pakr, which additionally earned a spot in this information. The two 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 go away it as much as you to determine whether or not you mix them or not.
To attain Glen Rose, it’s an hour’s drive from Fort Worth. Consider detouring to Cleburne State Park alongside the best way.
23. Pedernales Falls State Park
Pedernales Falls State Park is likely one of the most beautiful weekend getaways in Texas. This 5,200-acre state park is so lush and inexperienced that it virtually feels surprising that you’d discover it in Texas.
The entire park is located across the river, with designated swimming areas and sections of white seashore. If you need greenery, Pedernales Falls State Park is your spot. You can get pleasure from the whole lot from mountaineering to horseback using, however we’d undoubtedly deliver cameras and bathing fits. You can 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 is an excellent handy detour from Austin and a very good alternative for a weekend journey in case you are staying in the east of Texas.
24. Odessa
Odessa is an odd little city so as to add to your weekend getaways on a Texas bucket listing. The city is situated in the far West of Texas and is principally recognized for its oil rigs and cowboys. If you desire a head-dunk-under-the-water fashion of immersion in Texan tradition, Odessa is ideal.
It is off the usual vacationer path, nevertheless it has loads of points of interest, together with a protracted listing of galleries and music venues. It is a diamond in the tough and superb for any seasoned Texas vacationers trying so as to add a extra unconventional cease on their listing.
The solely strategy to attain Odessa is by automobile, and it’s roughly 5 hours by automobile from San Antonio. As far as Texan driving distances go, it’s a possible journey for a weekend. However, it’s best to set up an early departure on Friday and insure a few individuals on the car to separate driving time up.
25. Dinosaur Valley State Park
Dinosaur Valley State Park is a gorgeous state park that covers over 1,500 acres in a scenic riverside setting. You can get pleasure from miles of mountaineering trails, and spot two life-sized dinosaur fashions, plus the fossilized dinosaur footprints that give the park its title. Dinosaur Valley Park is good for households wanting a enjoyable weekend break in Texas. There are youngsters’ 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 automobile, making it a simple detour in case you are staying in Dallas already. The park is tremendous central and very easy to entry from any of the main cities in the east of Texas.
26. Mustang Island State Park
Mustang Island State Park is an almost 4,000-acre protect on a barrier island in the east of Texas. If you desire a coastal escape from Texas’ manic cities, the state park is likely one of the main weekend getaways in Texas.
You can spot turtles, in case you are fortunate, which nest up on the sands. You can even get pleasure from fishing, sunbathing, and scenic mountaineering trails. To actually immerse your self in the distant fantastic thing about the state park, it’s greatest to go for a tenting expertise. There are campsites all through the state park, so it is possible for you to to seek out stunning spots.
The state park is most simple to achieve from Corpus Christi, taking simply half-hour by automobile. It is likely one of the greatest weekend getaways in case you are already on the Texan shoreline.
Weekend Getaways in Texas: FAQs
Feeling impressed and able to choose your ‘winner’ from these prime weekend getaways in Texas? Great stuff. Before you hurry up with a suitcase in hand, although, bear in mind to verify the fundamentals. These widespread FAQs may appear brief and snappy, however they will make or break your journey. Take 30 seconds to scan this part for the necessities.
Where is greatest to go for a weekend break?
Texas has sensible metropolis break locations, together with Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. If you need artwork galleries, historical past, and rodeos galore, these cities are prime contenders for weekend breaks in Texas.
How do I plan a weekend journey on a price range?
Look at price range lodging like hostels and contemplate touring in the low season to lock in decrease room charges. Similarly, weigh up your transport choices. It could also be cheaper to get an in a single day Greyhound bus one-way. You must also try free issues to do in the vacation spot of your alternative.
How do I plan a weekend getaway alone?
Weekend getaways in Texas alone are so enjoyable. You ought to plan to reach in new locations in daylight and analysis the world of your lodging and its scores beforehand. Consider guided excursions or hostel lodging so you possibly can meet new individuals.
What is near Texas?
There is a lot near Texas, together with inside the state itself. You might head to the east of Texas for a gorgeous shoreline, or you can head West for Route 66 and cowboy tradition. You might additionally journey to the neighboring states of New Mexico, Louisiana, or Oklahoma
As you possibly can see, weekend getaways in Texas are fairly particular. There is a lot selection for weekend journeys throughout the state, and it’s best to a minimum of choose a number of – if not, attempt to full this whole listing. We love Texas’ sturdy sense of individuality, but in addition simply how a lot you possibly can expertise in completely different corners of the state. From West Texas to the east of Texas, you’ve got a whole bunch of weekend journeys to contemplate; these are simply the highest 26.
With that in thoughts, bear in mind to take a look at these prime seashores in Texas. A Texas seashore day is all the time sensible. You’ll actually respect that well-known Texan sunshine whereas absorbing vitamin D on white sands. Have an exquisite time in your Texas journey of alternative.